To be fifteen in Canada in 2012 was to have “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen everywhere, The Avengers on every screen, and Continuum on after school. That year, gas cost $1.30/L and Penny production ends was the new thing. Born in 1997? You turned 15 in 2012 — a teenager from 2010 to 2016, 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.
A singer from Mission, BC, wrote a song that ate the entire planet that summer — every radio station, every ad, every school dance — and Canadians got to say she was theirs first.
the year-end #1 was Gotye's 'Somebody That I Used to Know' (ft. Kimbra) was the official Canadian Hot 100 year-end #1 for 2012, with Jepsen's 'Call Me Maybe' right behind at #2 — the biggest global breakout by a Canadian artist that decade.
what topped the Canadian box office in 2012
The Avengers
The Hunger Games
The Dark Knight Rises
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2
Skyfall
the tv shows you are binging in 2012
Continuum
Rookie Blue
Flashpoint
The Big Bang Theory
Homeland
the games you are playing in 2012
Just Dance 4
Minecraft
Temple Run
Angry Birds Space
Club Penguin
Call of Duty: Black Ops II
what things cost in 2012
What things cost in 2012
average annual income
$64,750 CAD
gas
$1.30/L
minimum wage
$10.25/hr
movie ticket
$8.25
stamp
$0.61
trending this year
AI-generated illustrationPolymer $50 and $20 notesWikimedia Commons, source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Canada%27s_%22Last_Circulating_Penny%22_on_display_at_the_Bank_of_Canada_Museum.jpg · Public domainThe last Canadian penny mintedPhoto by EquestriaGirlsFan2003 (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Target_(Conestoga_Mall._Waterloo,_Ontario,_Canada).jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0Target Canada announcedMarcus Jeffrey · CC BY-SA 2.0PinterestAI-generated illustrationNHL lockout begins
the gadgets you just got
Photo by Dennis Cortés (Unsplash, via Wikimedia Commons), CC0 (public domain, no attribution required) · CC0 1.0iPhone 5Photo by Santeri Viinamäki (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Instagram_app_on_smartphone.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0Instagram for AndroidPhoto by Mariordo (Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz) (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Google_Nexus_7_WikiCommons_03_2013_6223.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0Google Nexus 7Photo by Stock Catalog (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Snapchat_filter_(43252259172).jpg · CC BY 2.0SnapchatPhoto by Evan-Amos (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:PlayStation-Vita-1101-FL.jpg · Public domainPlayStation Vita
what everyone is snacking on
taylorhatmaker (Flickr), CC BY 2.0DunkaroosAI-generated illustrationMr. BigAI-generated illustrationCrispy CrunchPhoto by Bondolo (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:W._T._Hawkins_Cheezies.jpg · CC BY-SA 3.0Hawkins CheeziesWikimedia Commons, source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Poutine_from_Windsor,_ON.jpg · CC0Poutine
what everyone is drinking
Photo by Glenn Samonte (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tim_Hortons_Large_Iced_Capp_Canada_(54688656929).jpg · CC BY 4.0Iced CappPhoto 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 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 Kiliweb (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:President%27s_Choice_Cola.jpg · CC BY-SA 3.0President's Choice colaPhoto by Willis Lam (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A%26W_Restaurants_Root_Beer_Float_(19740356944).jpg · CC BY-SA 2.0A&W root beer float
what made the news in 2012
Hurricane Sandy batters the US East Coast (October)
The Sandy Hook Elementary shooting shocks the world (December)
The London 2012 Summer Olympics captivate global audiences (July–August)
Facebook goes public in its IPO (May)
Photo by Benoit Rochon (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Manifestations_%C3%A0_Montr%C3%A9al_02-06-2012_-_03.jpg · CC BY 3.0Quebec's 'Maple Spring' student strike over tuition hikes runs from February to SeptemberPhoto by Simon Villeneuve (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pauline_Marois-2013.jpg · CC BY-SA 3.0The Parti Québécois wins the Quebec election under Pauline Marois, marred by a shooting at the victory rally (September)AI-generated illustrationThe NHL lockout cancels the start of the hockey season, leaving Canadian rinks empty that fallPhoto by Avelludo (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Canada%27s_%22Last_Circulating_Penny%22_on_display_at_the_Bank_of_Canada_Museum.jpg · Public domainThe last Canadian penny is struck in Winnipeg as the Mint ends production (May)Photo by KhE (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Canada_at_London_2012_Olympic_Opening_Ceremony.jpg · CC BY 2.0Canada sends its largest-ever team to the London Olympics, bringing home 18 medals (summer)
what everyone is saying
"YOLO"you only live once — Drake's word, everywhere by summer
"swag"confidence, style, the highest compliment a hallway could give
"on point"exactly right, perfectly done
"give'r"go all-in, full effort
"toque"the winter hat every Canadian kid owned three of
