Meghan Markle, Hurricane Irma and B.C.'s wildfires: Google Canada reveals 2017's top searches

If you are what you Google, Canadians are a pretty broad-mindedlot.

Google has released its 17th annual survey of top-trendingsearches, and top-of-mind topics for Canadians in 2017 ranged fromdevastating hurricanes to deceased rock icons to the continuingpolitical circus south of the border.

"Google Year-End Search takes a look at trillions of searchesglobally," said Alexandra Hunnings Klein, trends expert for GoogleCanada. "These lists are a barometer of what was interesting, whatCanadians were curious about in 2017."

No. 1 search:Hurricane Irma

The top overall search term was Hurricane Irma. Canadians werekeen for the latest news on thepowerful storm thatbattered Florida and the Caribbean in the fall. The second most popular overall search was Meghan Markle, theAmerican and sometime Torontoactor engaged to Prince Harry.

And while Prime Minister Justin Trudeau remained broadly popular,Canadians appeared to becurious about opposition leaders.Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, bothanointed this year, were near the top of searches under "PoliticalFigures."

It's no surprise that column was headed by U.S.President Donald Trump.

Gord Downie, the Tragically Hip front man whodied this year after a rapturously received national tour and albumin 2016, placed high in both the "National News" and "Losses"categories.

Entertainment giants toppled

Canadians also seemed fascinated by entertainment giants toppledby allegations of sexual misbehaviour. Harvey Weinstein, Matt Lauerand Kevin Spacey who all lost their jobs over such accusations came in one, two and three in the "People" category.

The biggest search surges in the "Kitchen" section were for theapple cider vinegar diet andplant-based diets.

The Google list suggests we've had a bit of a tough year, saidHunnings Klein.

"This list really tells me we've had a year where there's beenmany moments that have been divisive or contentious or challenging.We've had a lot of moments that have challenged us."

How to help during B.C. wildfires

But some searches suggest there were moments that brought ustogether. Queries on the British Columbia wildfires were oftenaccompanied by searches asking how to help, Hunnings Klein said.

Some questions may have flummoxed even the world's most popularsearch engine, including, "Why are fidget spinners so popular?"

Some questions, even for Google, remain unanswerable.