2025 in Review

Happy holidays! Brandon here, and I’ll get it out of the way - there isn’t a new crossword this week. I’m taking a nice li’l break, but don’t worry - the note labelled “CROSSWORD IDEAS” on my computer only grows larger. Instead, I thought I’d say a few thank-yous and highlight some of my favourite puzzles from the last year.

First, I may be the face of YEGwords, but I couldn’t do it alone.

Heidi Johnson, my partner and faithful test solver, solves one (1) crossword every week to make sure that no issue of YEGwords is brutally hard or unsatisfyingly easy, and supports me and all that sappy sentiment. YEGwords would be less enjoyable if it weren’t for her. Thanks, Heidi!

Francis Nelson has been a huge help in getting crosswords out across Edmonton! I print around 1,100 copies every week, and Francis frequently helps with deliveries, splitting the route with me and saving me hours of time. Huge thank you to them!

2025 guest constructors, namely Glenn Cook, Michael J. Johnson, and Jeff Nachtigall. I love making crosswords, but collaborating and editing other people’s puzzles is a joy unto itself. Thanks to these gents for the contributions, and I hope they (and other folks) send more my way next year!

My local business sponsors - printing all those copies every week isn’t cheap. In no particular order, thank you to Porch Light Books, Audrey’s Books, The Woodrack Cafe, Aspen Coffee Roasters, Labo Coffee, Bent Stick Brewing, The Mika Method, Unbelts Denim Rescue, The Metro Cinema, Local Dining Pass, Taproot Edmonton, David Ross, and enjou. They have been fantastic financial and vocal supporters of YEGwords, and I couldn’t be happier to partner with each of them.

And finally, you! It’s lovely to know I’m not shouting into the void. From generous individual donors to those who have sent kind messages, to the quiet folks who I’ll never hear from - thanks for playing and telling your friends about my cheeky, silly puzzles.

Share the Gift of Crosswords

I’ve published 45 puzzles this year, and, like parents with children, I do have favourites but pretend I don’t. In case you’ve joined us recently, here are five of my favourite puzzles from the deep archives you can do (or share) over the holidays.

Thanks for a great 2025, and much more wordplay, laughs, and facepalms in 2026!

Until I next decide to write you,

Brandon

And if you’re still here, a short YEGwords Christmas story…

It’s the eve before Christmas (Christmas Eve, as they call it), and you’re sitting in the extra folding chair you only take out when you have guests over because you have guests over. Your grandparents (or parents) are visiting this year, and yes, you love them, but if you have to listen to them talk about why zucchinis would be a great starter vegetable for your now-dusty hydroponic garden or how cousin Suzanne started a business with some fellow graduates from Business College™ and now their luxury watch company (dropshipping) is making them millions, you’re going to drown yourself in eggnog. Not the worst way to go, you think, before remembering you’re lactose-intolerant. Does eggnog have lactose? You question, realizing that you just assumed for the last several years that it did. Mental note, google “eggnog” later and check.

“What was that?” A call from across the room, as you realize you must have said that last part out loud.

“Nothing (grand)pa,” you reply. You feel the hairs stand up on the back of your neck as the sound of a sharp inhale reaches your ears, the slight smack of damp lips parting, the sign that your reply was taken as an invitation for them to launch into another “hot take” (you regret teaching them what that meant - it was cute at first, but now they’ve used it to the point that it’s lost all meaning).

“Hey (grand)ma, (grand)pa, you know what would be fun? A crossword puzzle! You love crossword puzzles.” You reach into your bag, pulling out two slightly crinkled, home-printed YEGwords puzzles, as a once-primed lungful of air slowly leaks out of a nose across the room, the “hot take” dissipated for the moment (phew). You place a pencil and puzzle in front of each of them.

“This doesn’t look like the crosswords I like,” (grand)pa mutters, peering it over. “The grid’s not square. And who the hell is Charli XCX? That’s not even a valid Roman numeral.” About to answer, you turn just fast enough to catch a flurry of scribbles and the wood-on-wood clack of a pencil hitting your new coffee table (Structube, but no one even asked about it).

“Done,” (grand)ma says, leaning back into an unreclined recliner. “Do you have any more? I liked that he rambles on for too long in his clues, and how he uses brackets to give me unnecessary context.”