2014: Canada’s #YearInSearch
2014 was the year Canadians searched for gold in Sochi. We searched for scores in Brazil. We searched for answers on Ebola. We searched for our favourite movies starring Robin Williams. In 2014 the world searched Google two trillion times. And Google’s 14th annual Year In Search offers a revealing look at the people, places and events that sent Canadians searching for answers this past year.
Top Trending Canadian Searches of 2014
- Robin Williams
- World Cup
- iPhone 6
- Winter Olympics
- Ebola
- Philip Seymour Hoffman
- Jennifer Lawrence
- Joan Rivers
- Jian Ghomeshi
- ALS
Year-In-Search uses data from multiple sources while filtering out spam and repeat queries, to build top-ten lists across pop culture, sports, music, politics, news, and more. And make sure to check out the interactive data visualization for Google’s global search trends - encompassing queries from over 70 countries!
Global and Local Conversations
The World Cup was the top trending search on mobile devices by Canadians in 2014, while the sudden passing of iconic funnyman Robin Williams in August dominated the year’s celebrity and entertainment searches. Closer to home, a scandal swirling around Jian Ghomeshi made the former radio host the top trending Canadian. Our nation also went online to honour Cpl. Nathan Cirillo and to mark the passing of a Habs legend. Meanwhile, Eugenie Bouchard’s incredible year on the professional tennis circuit made her the top searched Canadian athlete.
The Big Questions
‘What is ALS?’ Was Canada’s trending question of the year, proving that dumping cold water on a charity campaign can be a recipe for viral success. ‘How to Vote’ was the top trending ‘How to’ search in Canada, reflecting a number of provincial and municipal elections across the country. And – spoiler alert! – ‘Who killed Joffrey?’ was Canada’s top trending whodunnit, as Game of Thrones fans went online searching for answers. While the Polar Vortex dominated Canadian searches in January, searches for Frozen the Movie (the top trending film of 2014) suggest that Elsa the Snow Queen ruled the north in 2014.
Canada Went Mobile in 2014
Eight out of ten of the top trending technology searches in Canada were related to mobile devices or wearable technology. The larger format iPhone 6 and the Nexus 6 were one and two on the list, and the Moto 360 was a top trending gadget as Canadians went online to learn more about the next generation of wearable technologies.
As we set out to embark on another year of big global moments and national conversations, take a moment to pause and reflect back on 2014. From trending diets and recipes (Shepherd’s pie!) to the top musicians and federal politicians of 2014, enjoy a look back at the year that was through the lens of Google search.
Posted by Aaron Brindle, Google Canada
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