As the year quickly comes to a close, Google has released a round-up of its 2021 most searched people and questions, aptly reflecting the unique period in history we are all living through. From worldwide athlete Google trends to top Canadian movie searches, Toronto made quite the impression in 2021.

Mississauga’s own Simu Liu was behind the top-trending searched movie, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. You may recognize the star of these box office hits from CBC’s comedy Kim’s Convenience, of which all five seasons were filmed here in Toronto.

Toronto artists took up two spots in Canada’s most searched songs of the year- Drake’s Wants and Needs featuring Lil Baby ranked 7th and Justin Bieber’s Peaches, featuring Giveon and Scarborough’s Daniel Caeser, placed 8th.

But it was as athletes that we really made our mark. The top searched Canadian athletes list featured Andre De Grasse, Leafs star John Tavares, Penny Oleksiak, Jake Evans and Bianca Andreescu.

Andre De Grasse, John Tavares and Penny Oleksiak also made the top-searched athletes of any nationality list, along with Toronto-born Emma Raducanu.

The common thread weaved throughout the Google Search trends data is the theme of ‘recovery’ – a year in which Canadians searched for ways to come back stronger. We searched about getting vaccinated and looked to learn more about the history of residential schools. We also searched for information about important cultural moments that would help us bring some joy back into our lives, including the return of the NBA, NHL and Euro Cup.

Check out the full run-down of Canada’s 2021 Google Search trends below: 

Why…?

1. Why did Prime Minister Trudeau call an election?
2. Why were Residential Schools created?
3. Why is it so hot in British Columbia?
4. Why is lumber so expensive?
5. Why did Simone Biles withdraw?
6. Why did Taylor Swift re-record her music?
7. Why was Prince Philip not king?
8. Why is Bernie Sanders a meme?
9. Why did Daft Punk break up?
10. Why is Squid Game so popular?

How to…?

1. How to get a vaccine passport
2. How to buy Dogecoin
3. How to make money from home
4. How to book a COVID vaccine
5. How to register to vote in Canada
6. How to watch the Oprah interview
7. How to get a QR code for COVID vaccination
8. How to make hot chocolate bombs
9. How to apply for CERB
10. How to get rid of a stuffy nose

Top news searches

1. COVID vaccine near me
2. Federal Election
3. Severe thunderstorm warning
4. Afghanistan
5. Lockdown
6. Vaccine passport
7. BC Wildfires
8. Tokyo Olympics
9. Lytton fire
10. Residential Schools

Top Canadian athletes

1. Leylah Fernandez
2. Andre De Grasse
3. John Tavares
4. Carey Price
5. Penny Oleksiak
6. Jake Evans
7. Bianca Andreescu
8. Felix Auger-Aliassime
9. Denis Shapovalov
10. Damian Warner

Top athletes

1. Tiger Woods
2. Leylah Fernandez
3. Andre De Grasse
4. Simone Biles
5. John Tavares
6. Kyle Beach
7. Emma Raducanu
8. Carey Price
9. Aaron Rodgers
10. Penny Oleksiak

Top movies

1. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
2. Black Widow
3. Eternals
4. Dune
5. Red Notice
6. Army of the Dead
7. Halloween Kills
8. Godzilla vs. Kong
9. The Suicide Squad
10. Free Guy

Top TV shows

1. Squid Game
2. Bridgerton
3. Ginny and Georgia
4. Yellowstone
5. Manifest
6. Outer Banks
7. Cecil Hotel
8. Loki
9. Maid
10. Lupin

Top musicians

1. Travis Scott
2. Adele
3. Morgan Wallen
4. Daft Punk
5. Marilyn Manson
6. Dr. Dre
7. Olivia Rodrigo
8. Britney Spears
9. Lil Nas X
10. Travis Barker

Top songs

1. Drivers License – Olivia Rodrigo
2. All Too Well – Taylor Swift
3. Deja Vu – Olivia Rodrigo
4. Easy on Me – Adele
5. Montero – Lil Nax X
6. Good 4 U – Olivia Rodrigo
7. Wants and Needs – Drake ft. Lil Baby
8. Peaches – Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar, Giveon
9. Happier Than Ever – Billie Eilish
10. Industry Baby – Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow