Bike lanes, the solar eclipse, coyote sightings and Alberta politics were some of top topics that had Canadian neighbours talking this year, according to Nextdoor, the essential neighbourhood network used by 1 in 3 Greater Toronto Area Households. From municipal policies to pop culture, Canadians cover it all on Nextdoor! Across the country, neighbours were also keen to talk about Taylor Swift, discuss the rising cost of gas and eggs and to share a local laugh.
This year, Canadian critters took centre stage. The most memorable posts on Nextdoor this year included “Snowflake,” a pet chicken plucked from her home in North Vancouver, and a hard-working pup in Toronto who moonlights as an employee at the local Home Depot. In Calgary, neighbours say a moose on the loose and “Tilly,” a three-legged dog, won the hearts of neighbours across Canada.
Here are the top topics that drove conversation in neighbourhoods across Canada in 2024: Housing hot topics, Bike lanes, Alberta politics, cost of living, wild animals on the loose and beloved neighbourhood pets, the solar eclipse, neighbours sharing thanks, safety, neighbourhood Swifties and neighbours across the country sharing a daily dose of humour.
Housing Hot Topics
Housing and real estate are top of mind, leading some of the most popular conversations on Nextdoor. In particular, municipal rezoning was one of the top words used by Canadians on Nextdoor this year and saw a 407 per cent spike in usage compared to 2023. From a proposal to build a 20-story rental building in Kits Beach to introducing new row houses in Calgary, or replacing local business with condos in Etobicoke, municipal issues that change the landscape of our neighbourhoods were one of the most talked about topics on Nextdoor Canada this year.
Bike lanes
Bike lanes dominated local neighbourhood discussions this year and were among the top Nextdoor posts of 2024. This issue was most prominent in Toronto, where neighbours took to Nextdoor to express their points of view, both for and against the proposed changes to bike lanes in the city.
Alberta Politics
With elections top of mind this year both near and abroad, discussions around politics were prominent among Canadian neighbours, particularly those in Alberta, who took to Nextdoor to share their views on municipal, provincial, national and international issues including the petition to recall Mayor Jyoti Gondek, proposed changes to pharmacare and water restrictions.
Cost of living
Rising concerns over the cost of living and the economy surfaced in neighbourhoods, with an increased use of terms such as “economic,” “affordability,” “funding,” “taxpayers,” “debt” and “inflation.”
When asked in a poll what they are doing to cut costs, more than 40% of Canadian neighbours shared that they are “growing their own vegetables,” while others shared they were “couponing.”
Wild animals on the loose and beloved neighbourhood pets
Both were topics that were frequently discussed by neighbours across the country. The most frequently spotted neighbourhood lurker? The coyote, with more than 1,850 conversations about coyotes on Nextdoor. However, the most surprising wild animal sighting came from Christy Turner in Calgary, who spotted a moose on the loose in their community.
Solar eclipse
The solar eclipse made news across North America, and was one of the top neighbourhood discussions in 2024. From watch parties to where to find the best deals on eclipse-safe glasses, neighbours banded together to prepare for, celebrate and share photos of this monumental event. Here are two of the most popular eclipse photos on Nextdoor:
#ThankANeighbour
During difficult times neighbours are among the first to offer help and provide support. Whether delivering groceries for neighbours in need, helping to shovel snow or offering support after the death of a loved one, this year Nextdoor was filled with neighbours jumping in to help one another and in turn offering thanks to their neighbours who went out of their way to help out.
Safety
Safety was top of mind for Canadians in communities across the country. Issues of theft were among the most commonly shared concerns. From a rise in car thefts to the curious case of missing tomatoes– neighbours expressed safety concerns, shared personal experiences and discussed measures to improve neighbourhood security.
Neighbourhood Swifties unite
Taylor may have touched down in Toronto and Vancouver but neighbours in communities across Canada got in on the excitement. While most of the neighbour posts focused on people searching for tickets, some neighbours jumped in to offer rides to the concert or share information about local condos for rent during the tour dates. Eras-inspired events and even a Taylor Swift cookie decorating par-tay popped up in neighbourhoods from Whitby, Ontario to Langley, BC.
Not all neighbours felt positive about Taylor-mania, with the majority of anti-heros residing in downtown Torontonians and feeling inconvenienced by the traffic or angered by the cost spent by the city.
Ready for a laugh?
To lighten the mood, there are a dedicated group of neighbours who use Nextdoor to make neighbours laugh by sharing a joke. Here are the top jokes that kept neighbours laughing this year:
On the local level, here are some of the topics that had neighbours talking, liking and reacting to locally:
Toronto
- Bike Lanes
- Property Tax
- Taylor Swift
Vancouver
- Real Estate Development in Kits Beach
- Snowflake the stolen chicken
- The NDP provincial election win
Calgary
- Changes to Pharmacare
- Blanket Rezoning
- The Petition to recall Mayor Gondek
Edmonton
- Provincial changes to healthcare and education
- Property Taxes
- Local speed traps
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