To be fifteen in Canada in 2013 was to have “Blurred Lines” by Robin Thicke ft. T.I. & Pharrell everywhere, Iron Man 3 on every screen, and Orphan Black on after school. That year, gas cost $1.30/L and Target Canada opens its doors was the new thing. Born in 1998? You turned 15 in 2013 — a teenager from 2011 to 2017, 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.
Get Lucky — Daft Punk ft. Pharrell WilliamsNile Rodgers' guitar turned every patio and dock into a place you never wanted to leave.
Roar — Katy PerryKaty's empowerment stomp was the psych-up blaring from earbuds before every terrifying summer-job shift.
Stompa — Serena RyderToronto's Serena Ryder stomped out a homegrown hit that made you believe in kick-drum optimism.
Wake Me Up — AviciiAvicii's banjo-drop was a bonfire flaring up, gone too soon in a way you'd only feel later.
Can't Hold Us — Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Ray DaltonMacklemore's brass fanfare made you feel unstoppable walking into the last first-day you'd ever have.
Thirteen straight weeks at #1 through the entire Canadian summer — blasting from every cottage dock, convertible and school dance, controversy and all.
the year-end #1 was 'Blurred Lines' was itself the official Canadian Hot 100 year-end #1 for 2013, and the longest-running #1 of the year.
what topped the Canadian box office in 2013
Iron Man 3
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Frozen
Despicable Me 2
Man of Steel
the tv shows you are binging in 2013
Orphan Black
Rookie Blue
Package Deal
The Big Bang Theory
Duck Dynasty
the games you are playing in 2013
Minecraft
Just Dance 2014
Temple Run 2
Candy Crush Saga
Animal Crossing: New Leaf
Grand Theft Auto V
what things cost in 2013
What things cost in 2013
average annual income
$66,600 CAD
gas
$1.30/L
minimum wage
$10.25/hr
movie ticket
$8.45
stamp
$0.63
trending this year
Photo by Arancitaokis (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BLACKBERRY_Z10.jpg · CC BY-SA 3.0BlackBerry 10 launchPhoto by Robert T Bell (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Target_store_Taunton_Rd_Oshawa_(Canada).jpg · CC BY 2.0Target Canada opensPhoto 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 penny disappearsPhoto by NASA (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chris_Hadfield_unveiling_$5_banknote_of_the_Frontier_Series_from_ISS_during_Expedition_35,_30_April_2013.jpg · Public domainPolymer $5 and $10 notesWikimedia Commons, source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BlackBerry_Messenger_logo.png · Public domainBBM comes to iPhone and Android
the gadgets you just got
Photo by Arancitaokis (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BLACKBERRY_Z10.jpg · CC BY-SA 3.0BlackBerry Z10 & Q10Photo by Maurizio Pesce (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Apple_iPhone_5s_(15048820331).jpg · CC BY 2.0iPhone 5s (Touch ID) & 5cPhoto by Evan-Amos (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:PS4-Console-wDS4.jpg · Public domainPS4 and Xbox OneDennis Cortés (@cortes on Unsplash), via Wikimedia Commons, CC0 (public domain) · CC0 1.0VinePhoto by Edoderoo (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HP_11_G2_Chromebook_G6V82ES.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0Chromebooks
what everyone is snacking on
Photo by Alex Lozupone (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:NanaimoS1370051.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0Nanaimo barsPhoto by Hannah Clover (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ketchup_chips.jpg · CC BY 4.0Ketchup chipsWikimedia Commons, source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coffee-Crisp-Split.jpg · Public domainCoffee CrispPhoto by Ser Amantio di Nicolao (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_pile_of_All_Dressed_potato_chips_on_a_paper_towel.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0All-dressed chipsPhoto by Peter Reichert (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Beaver_Tails_Byward_Market_Ottawa_Canada.jpg · CC BY 2.0BeaverTails
what everyone is drinking
Photo 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 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 AirIntake at English Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Caesar_Cocktail.JPG · CC BY-SA 3.0Clamato CaesarPhoto 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 bag
what made the news in 2013
The Boston Marathon bombing shocks North America (April)
Pope Francis is elected (March)
Edward Snowden's NSA leaks become a global story (June)
Nelson Mandela dies (December)
Photo by Sûreté du Québec (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lac_megantic_burning.jpg · CC BY-SA 1.0The Lac-Mégantic rail disaster kills 47 and levels the Quebec town's downtown (July 6) — voted Canada's top news story of the yearPhoto by Ryan L. C. Quan (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Centre_Street_Bridge_Calgary_Flood_2013.jpg · CC BY-SA 3.0Historic flooding hits Calgary and southern Alberta, the costliest natural disaster in Canadian history at the time (June)Photo by shot7photos (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rob_Ford_September_2012.jpg · CC BY 2.0Toronto Mayor Rob Ford admits to smoking crack cocaine amid a national scandalPhoto by Mike Duffy (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mike_Duffy_in_2017.jpg · CC0The Senate expense scandal engulfs Mike Duffy and OttawaPhoto by Tholden28 (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Justin_Trudeau_2013-02-16.JPG · CC BY-SA 3.0Justin Trudeau is elected leader of the Liberal Party of Canada (April 14)
what everyone is saying
"selfie"the self-portrait word that made it into the dictionary that year
"YOLO"still going strong, still on every caption
"give'r"go all-in, no half measures
"sorry"the reflex apology every Canadian says even when it's not their fault
"beauty"top-tier praise for anything genuinely great
