To be fifteen in Canada in 1988 was to have “I'm Still Searching” by Glass Tiger everywhere, Who Framed Roger Rabbit on every screen, and The Kids in the Hall on after school. That year, gas cost $0.51/litre and Calgary hosts the Olympics was the new thing. Born in 1973? You turned 15 in 1988 — a teenager from 1986 to 1992, right in the window a soundtrack bonds to you for life.
Compiled by the Original Lore archive from period charts, box-office and price records. How we build these · sources noted throughout.
Off the triple-platinum Diamond Sun, this was proof Don't Forget Me wasn't a fluke — a soaring, searching anthem that shot to #2 nationally and felt like it belonged to every kid glued to MuchMusic that year.
the year-end #1 was Peaked at #2 on RPM's Singles Chart in 1988, from the triple-platinum-in-Canada album Diamond Sun.
what topped the Canadian box office in 1988
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Big
Die Hard
Beetlejuice
A Fish Called Wanda
the tv shows you are binging in 1988
The Kids in the Hall
Degrassi Junior High
Night Heat
Hockey Night in Canada
MuchMusic
the games you are playing in 1988
Mega Man 2
Super Mario Bros. 2
Double Dragon
Contra
Duck Hunt
Alex Kidd in Miracle World
what things cost in 1988
What things cost in 1988
Gasoline
$0.51/litre
Minimum wage (Ontario)
$4.55/hour
Movie ticket
~$5.75
Stamp (domestic letter)
$0.37
the average income
~$24,600/year average individual employment income
trending this year
AI-generated illustrationHidy & Howdy Olympic mascotsPhoto by YTV (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:YTV_1988_logo.svg · CC BY-SA 4.0New cable channels launchPhoto by Lincolnshire County Council, Adam Daubney (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Modern_toy_token_(FindID_561658).jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toysPhoto by Kelisi (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MorgentalerClinicHarbordStTO1991.png · CC BY-SA 4.0Canada's abortion law struck downPhoto by Michel Rathwell (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_National_Gallery_of_Canada_Ottawa_(39348014150).jpg · CC BY 2.0National Gallery of Canada's new building
the gadgets you just got
Phalange7, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsSega Master SystemPhoto by Zalasem1 (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Camcorder_VHS-C,_Panasonic_NV-RX17.jpg · CC BY 4.0VHS-C camcorderWikimedia Commons, source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jaren_80_%E2%80%93_2009-046-096_(9624421792).jpg · CC0Cordless phone with memory dialIsabelle Hurbain-Palatin (Balise42), via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Sony DiscmanAI-generated illustrationTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figures
what everyone is snacking on
AI-generated illustrationHickory SticksAI-generated illustrationMr. BigAI-generated illustrationCaramilkPhoto by Peter Reichert (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Beaver_Tails_Byward_Market_Ottawa_Canada.jpg · CC BY 2.0BeaverTailsWikimedia Commons, source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Smarties-UK-Candies.jpg · CC0Smarties
what everyone is drinking
Arkpafisto, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Clearly_Canadian_Orchard_Peach.jpg) · CC0Clearly CanadianPhoto by Justin (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tim_Hortons,_extra_extra_large.jpg · CC BY-SA 2.0Tim Hortons double-doublePhoto by incommunicado (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Four_litre_bagged_milk,_Quebec.jpg · CC BY-SA 2.0Milk in a bagPhoto by Lynette (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Canada_Dry_ginger_ale_bottles.jpg · CC BY 2.0Canada Dry ginger alePhoto by AirIntake at English Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Caesar_Cocktail.JPG · CC BY-SA 3.0A Caesar
what made the news in 1988
Calgary Winter Olympics open (February)
Ben Johnson's doping scandal rocks Seoul (September)
Wayne Gretzky is traded from Edmonton to Los Angeles (August 9)
Mulroney wins re-election on free trade (November 21)
New cable channels YTV and The Weather Network launch (September 1)
Photo by Alberta Authentic (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Olympic_Plaza_Calgary_1988_winter_Olympics.jpg · CC0Calgary hosts the XV Olympic Winter Games, February 13-28Photo by Scarlet Sappho (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Seoul_Olympic_Stadium_in_1994.jpg · CC BY-SA 2.0Ben Johnson wins 100-metre gold in world-record time at the Seoul Olympics, then is stripped of it days later for steroid usePhoto by A1C LYNCH (U.S. Air Force) (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brian_Mulroney_in_1984.jpg · Public domainBrian Mulroney's Progressive Conservatives win re-election, with the Canada-US Free Trade Agreement as the ballot question (November 21)Photo by Håkan Dahlström (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wgretz_edit2.jpg · CC BY-SA 3.0The Edmonton Oilers win their fourth Stanley Cup; Wayne Gretzky is traded to the Los Angeles Kings that AugustPhoto by rabbleradio (Flickr) (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HenryMorgentaler.jpg · CC BY 2.0Canada's Supreme Court strikes down the federal abortion law in R. v. Morgentaler (January 28)
what everyone is saying
"eh"unretired, unbothered
"double-double"the Tim Hortons order shorthand everyone understood
"toque"mandatory again for the Calgary Olympics winter
"hoser"still getting laughs years after SCTV
"Molson muscle"the beer belly, affectionately named
