the summer of

What it was like to be 15 in 2003 in Canada

To be fifteen in Canada in 2003 was to have “Complicated” by Avril Lavigne everywhere, Finding Nemo on every screen, and Canadian Idol on after school. That year, gas cost ~$0.81/L and Canadian Idol debuts on CTV. was the new thing. Born in 1988? You turned 15 in 2003 — a teenager from 2001 to 2007, 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.

▶ Play your 2003 reel with sounda 30-second video of your year — the song, the screen, the turn.

the mixtape of 2003

Complicated — Avril Lavigne

  1. Addicted — Simple PlanMontreal's Simple Plan turned teenage self-pity into a pop-punk anthem you screamed like it saved you.
  2. I Hate Everything About You — Three Days GraceThree Days Grace made pure Norwood Ontario rage, and every slammed bedroom door had its soundtrack now.
  3. A New Day Has Come — Céline DionCéline's hopeful swell was the grown-up counterweight, the song your mom cranked while you rolled your eyes.
  4. Where Have All the Good People Gone? — Sam RobertsSam Roberts's fuzzed-out lament sounded like the smartest kid at the party finally saying something true.
  5. In Da Club — 50 Cent50 Cent's birthday anthem owned every school dance, and the whole gym rapped along whether they could or not.

▶ Play your 2003 reel

why this one mattered

Napanee, Ontario's own baggy-tie, skater-chic teenager sang back at anyone who ever tried too hard — the most-played Canadian artist song on the country's radio that year.

the year-end #1 was Juno Award for Single of the Year, 2003; #1 on both Canada Radio and Canada CHR/Top 40 (Nielsen BDS); 4x Platinum (Music Canada); the fourth-most-played song on Canadian radio in 2002 and the most-played by any Canadian artist.

what topped the Canadian box office in 2003

  • Finding Nemo
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
  • The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
  • The Barbarian Invasions
  • Mambo Italiano

the tv shows you are binging in 2003

  • Canadian Idol
  • Trailer Park Boys
  • Degrassi: The Next Generation
  • Just for Laughs: Gags
  • Da Vinci's Inquest

the games you are playing in 2003

  • Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire
  • The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
  • Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
  • Neopets
  • Call of Duty
  • Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

what things cost in 2003

What things cost in 2003
Gasoline~$0.81/L
Minimum wage (Ontario)$6.85/hr
Movie ticket~$7.30
Canada Post domestic stamp$0.48
the average income~$31,000 avg individual income (approx., StatCan)

trending this year

SARS outbreak
Photo by CDC/Anthony Sanchez (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SARS_2003_lab_worker.png · Public domain
SARS outbreak
Mad cow disease (BSE)
Wikimedia Commons, source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aphis.usda.gov_BSE_3.jpg · Public domain
Mad cow disease (BSE)
The Northeast Blackout
Photo by Camerafiend (English Wikipedia) (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Toronto_ON_2003_Blackout.jpg · CC BY-SA 3.0
The Northeast Blackout
Ontario legalizes same-sex marriage
Photo by Mm.Toronto (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wedding-chantelois-gomez.jpg · Public domain
Ontario legalizes same-sex marriage
Canadian Idol
Photo by Diliff (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Canadian_Idol_Fans,_Toronto,_Canada_-_August_2004.jpg · CC BY-SA 3.0
Canadian Idol

the gadgets you just got

BlackBerry 7230
Photo by Stephen Foskett (Wikipedia User: sfoskett) (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BlackBerry_7230.jpg · CC BY-SA 3.0
BlackBerry 7230
iPod (2nd generation)
Photo by fhke (Flickr) (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:IPod_second_generation-2007-07-29.jpg · CC BY-SA 2.0
iPod (2nd generation)
Camera phones
Photo by Miguel Durán (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nokia_7650_01.jpg · CC BY-SA 2.5
Camera phones
Kazaa
Wikimedia Commons, source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kazaa_(logo).png · Public domain
Kazaa
DVD players
Photo by Morn (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Philips_DVD_950.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0
DVD players

what everyone is snacking on

Coffee Crisp
Wikimedia Commons, source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coffee-Crisp-Split.jpg · Public domain
Coffee Crisp
Aero
Photo by Evan-Amos (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aero-Bar-Split.jpg · Public domain
Aero
Hawkins Cheezies
Photo by Bondolo (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:W._T._Hawkins_Cheezies.jpg · CC BY-SA 3.0
Hawkins Cheezies
Jos Louis
Photo by Cantons-de-l'Est (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vachon_-_pastries_(1).JPG · CC BY-SA 3.0
Jos Louis
Warheads
AI-generated illustration
Warheads

what everyone is drinking

Tim Hortons double-double
Photo by Justin (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tim_Hortons,_extra_extra_large.jpg · CC BY-SA 2.0
Tim Hortons double-double
Sunny Delight
Nestea Iced Tea
Photo by Hillelfrei (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nestea_bottle.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0
Nestea Iced Tea
Slush Puppie
Photo by Paultons Park Home of Peppa Pig World (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Slush_Puppie_cups.jpg · CC BY 2.0
Slush Puppie
Orange Crush
Photo by Alextvmx (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Botella_Orange_Crush_Mexico.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0
Orange Crush

what made the news in 2003

  • The Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservatives vote to merge into the new Conservative Party of Canada in December.
  • The Barbarian Invasions, a Quebec film, becomes an international arthouse hit.
  • Ontario's same-sex marriage ruling makes national headlines.
  • The Canadian dollar begins climbing back from its 2002 lows.
SARS outbreak in Toronto triggers a WHO travel advisory (April 23-30), the only North American city named.
AI-generated illustration
SARS outbreak in Toronto triggers a WHO travel advisory (April 23-30), the only North American city named.
A single case of mad cow disease on an Alberta farm slams borders shut to Canadian beef exports worldwide.
AI-generated illustration
A single case of mad cow disease on an Alberta farm slams borders shut to Canadian beef exports worldwide.
The Northeast Blackout of August 14 leaves 10 million people in Ontario without power for days.
Photo by NOAA / DMSP (Defense Meteorological Satellite Program) (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Northeast_blackout_2003.gif · Public domain
The Northeast Blackout of August 14 leaves 10 million people in Ontario without power for days.
Jean Chrétien announces his resignation; Paul Martin is sworn in as Canada's 21st Prime Minister on December 12.
Photo by World Economic Forum (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Paul_martin_2004.jpg · CC BY-SA 2.0
Jean Chrétien announces his resignation; Paul Martin is sworn in as Canada's 21st Prime Minister on December 12.
Canada declines to join the US-led invasion of Iraq.
Photo by Presidential Press and Information Office (Kremlin.ru) (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jean_Chr%C3%A9tien_in_Saint_Petersburg.jpg · CC BY 4.0
Canada declines to join the US-led invasion of Iraq.

what everyone is saying

  • "Mickey"a small bottle of liquor, easy to hide
  • "Deke"to fake someone out, straight from hockey
  • "Pop"what Canadians call soda
  • "Washroom"never restroom
  • "Molson muscle"an affectionate name for a beer belly

the summer of 2003.

you can't wait to be older.

…and then it cools. Play the reel to feel where 2003 goes.

Turn 2003 into a 30-second reel →

▶ Play your 2003 reel with sound