But before we spill the tea on what really got people Googling, let's set the stage: 2024 was packed with global events that kept our collective thumbs busy. From the awe of the total solar eclipse to the intrigue around Kate Middleton's mysterious absence that fuelled rumours across the Commonwealth, these moments united us all — one confused Google search at a time.
While there are some homegrown stories in the lineup, this year's list leans heavily into international vibes — proving that Canadians were just as invested in what's happening around the world as what's going on in our own backyard.
So, what did we Google the most this year? Spoiler alert: It wasn't all hockey and poutine recipes.
Headlines we tracked
When it came to trending news searches, the Euros scored the top spot, showing that Canadians are definitely here for the beautiful game — even if it's not happening on home turf.
Meanwhile, the U.S. election grabbed second place, with Canadians keeping a close eye on our southern neighbours' political drama.
There were some Canadian stories in the mix, like the Jasper wildfire and various labour disputes, but let's be real: the global stage stole the spotlight this year. Here are the top 10 trending searches in News & Events in Canada this year:
- Euro 2024
- U.S. Elections
- Copa América
- B.C. Elections
- Jasper Fire
- Hurricane Milton
- LCBO Strike
- Air Canada Strike
- Baltimore Bridge Collapse
- Canada Post Strike
Famous faces we lurked
It turns out that Canadians were royally curious this year, with Kate Middleton ranking as the most-searched person after an extended absence from the spotlight that, ironically, brought her closer than ever to the forefront of the public conversation.
U.S. politics also dominated this list, with Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, JD Vance, Tim Walz, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Jill Stein all cracking the top 10 in the People category.
Olympic athletes also made waves, with Canada's own Summer McIntosh, Alysha Newman and Andre De Grasse gaining attention — although they still weren't quite as searched as international sensations like Imane Khelif and Simone Biles.
Entertainment we binged
Over in Entertainment, Google revealed that Canadians were all about the blockbusters. Pixar's Inside Out 2 hit us right in the feels, ranking as the top-searched movie, followed closely by the buzz-worthy Saltburn.
On TV, Baby Reindeer had us hooked, with Fallout and The Perfect Couple taking the second and third spots.
Meanwhile, Kendrick Lamar owned the music scene with the top three most searched songs of the year — "Not Like Us," "Meet the Grahams" and "Euphoria" — all of which are Drake diss tracks. That might explain why so many people also Googled, "Why is Drake trending?"
While there's no Canadiana in this category (Drake's retaliatory tracks are conspicuously MIA), it's clear our taste in entertainment is anything but boring.
Burning questions we asked
Predictably, Canadians also turned to Google with all the "how," "what" and "why" questions you'd expect from a country that loves to stay informed.
The solar eclipse on April 8 took the country by storm, dominating the question list with top queries like "What time is the solar eclipse?" "Why can't you look at a solar eclipse?" "How often are total solar eclipses?" and even "How to make solar eclipse glasses?" It's clear Canadians weren't about to miss this cosmic event — or risk their eyesight in doing so.
Canadians also had no shortage of questions about U.S. politics, from the basics like "What is Project 2025?" and "What is fracking?" to truly hard-hitting ones like "How tall is Barron Trump?" and "Why did Trump win?" (Incidentally, if you happened to find the answer to that last one, will you let me know?)
Finally, there were some absolute wildcards that, admittedly, even I can't make sense of — like, "How does being barefoot affect your health?" Honestly, Google, you're on your own with that one.
So sure, this year's top searches might not scream "O, Canada!" but they definitely show how connected we are to the world around us. From practical concerns to outright quirky curiosity, this year's questions prove Canadians have a lot on their minds — and we're not afraid to hit "search" to find out more.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go Google how being barefoot affects my health — a question I'd never had until today, but now I won't rest until I find out.
