The challenges and issues faced by Canadians during 2021 are evident in the results of Google’s 2021 “Year in Search” report – but so are key cultural events in sports, politics, and entertainment. Canadians searched about getting vaccinated, the history of Residential Schools, and about the return of the NBA, NHL, and the Euro Cup.
In the list of questions posed to Google, vaccinations and the 2021 federal election topped the list. Canadians wanted to know “how to get a vaccine passport” and “how to book a COVID vaccine”. Ahead of the federal election in fall 2021, Canadians wanted to know why the election was called and made sure they were prepared by searching “how to register to vote in Canada.”
The top searches overall in Canada this year included “NBA,” “NHL,” “COVID vaccine near me,” “Bitcoin price,” and “Gabby Petito.” Not surprisingly, news searches were led by “COVID vaccine near me,” “federal election,” and “severe thunderstorm warning.”
The interesting list of “why” questions included: “Why did Simone Biles withdraw”; “Why did Taylor Swift re-record her music”; “Why was Prince Philip not king”; “Why is Bernie Sanders a meme”; and “Why did Daft Punk break up?”
In the world of sports, thanks to her appearance in this year’s US Open final, 19-year-old tennis star Leylah Fernandez was the top-trending Canadian athlete. The Olympics brought swimmer Penny Oleksiak and sprinter Andre De Grasse into the public eye and among the top Canadian athletes searched for this year.
In entertainment, Canadian stars dominated as did the world’s obsession with Squid Game. The top-trending searched movie this year was Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, which stars Mississauga’s Simu Liu, who is best known for the CBC comedy Kim’s Convenience. Meanwhile, Vancouver native Ryan Reynolds earned top trending search recognition a few times this year, starring in both Red Notice and Free Guy. Unsurprisingly, Squid Game was top of mind as the top trending TV show in Canada, with searchers even asking, “why is Squid Game so popular?”
Top Searches
- NBA
- NHL
- COVID vaccine near me
- Euro 2021
- AMC Stock
- GME Stock
- Bitcoin price
- Gabby Petito
- DMX
- Squid Game
Top Canadian News Searches
- COVID vaccine near me
- Federal Election
- Severe thunderstorm warning
- Afghanistan
- Lockdown
- Vaccine passport
- BC Wildfires
- Tokyo Olympics
- Lytton fire
- Residential Schools
Top “Why” Searches
- Why did Prime Minister Trudeau call an election?
- Why were Residential Schools created?
- Why is it so hot in British Columbia?
- Why is lumber so expensive?
- Why did Simone Biles withdraw?
- Why did Taylor Swift re-record her music?
- Why was Prince Philip not king?
- Why is Bernie Sanders a meme?
- Why did Daft Punk break up?
- Why is Squid Game so popular?
