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Most Viral Of 2012: 22 Most-Shared Videos, Stories From HuffPost Canada (VIDEO)

22 Stories That Went Viral In 2012
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Some stories just find you — they’re so viral that everyone shares them. For all of you who are so connected, here’s a reminder of the most viral stories of the year at The Huffington Post Canada. For those who missed the boat, we present one article with the 22 top viral moments of the year. Yes, even the Ikea monkey is in here. You’re welcome.

This year saw the rise of a few new faces that are on the verge of becoming ‘household names’, from the Great One’s very social daughter, Paulina Gretzky, to Miss Universe Canada contestant Jenna Talackova. Many videos captured the imagination, like those strange sounds that came from Alberta in January, to a failed cannonball by a German on a frozen pool.

Fun was also had with social media. We loved watching Americans Tweet about moving to Canada, first after Obamacare, and then with more force after the November election.

Viral stories touch a nerve with our readers, and our top 22 were no exception. The death of Amanda Todd, who committed suicide after being bullied, resonated with readers across the country. Our No. 1 pick was a beautiful video that you’ll see in our list below.

So here they are, 22 of HuffPost Canada's most viral stories of 2012:

22: Bride Plunges To Her Death

A recently married bride wanted to be photographed one more time in her wedding dress. The photo shoot on Friday wound up killing her.

21: Canada Would Fall Into ‘Internet Trap'

Canadians would see Internet freedoms curtailed under the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) currently being negotiated among a dozen Pacific Rim countries, groups critical of the deal say.

20: Most Canadians In Favour Of Decriminalization Or Legalization

The majority of Canadians support the legalization or decriminalization of marijuana, a new poll shows.

19: Federal Grits Vote To Legalize Marijuana

The Liberal Party of Canada has voted to legalize pot.

18: Up To 3,000 Barrels Spill Near Red Deer River

A pipeline spill was believed to have sent up to 475,000 litres of crude oil flowing into a rain-swollen Red Deer River system in west-central Alberta.

17: Billionaire Relative Of Dictator Has Date With Immigration

A billionaire member of Tunisia's once-dominant ruling clan whose stay in Canada since last year has been shrouded in mystery is scheduled to make a public appearance soon.

16: Liu Jiangli Is Covered In Black Fur

A Chinese schoolgirl who is partially covered in black fur has been adopted after she was abandoned by her birth family.

15: Hate Speech Clause's Repeal Gives White Supremacists Rare Moment Of Glee

A Conservative private members’ bill that repeals part of Canada’s hate speech laws has passed the House of Commons with scant media attention, and even less commentary. But it's being cheered by many Canadian conservatives as a victory for freedom of speech. And it's being cheered most vocally by another group: White supremacists.

14: Paulina Gretzky Instagram Photos Cause Stir

Paulina Gretzky hasn't met a social networking site she can't scandalize. It wasn't so long ago that the daughter of hockey legend Wayne Gretzky was getting all kinds of flak for photos she had posted to Twitter -- not the least of it may have been from dear old dad.

13: Moving To Canada Tweets: Funniest Reactions To Obama Win

Even before the election was decided many Americans were threatening to go north, but now that Barack Obama has clinched his victory in the electoral college, many disgruntled Americans are sending hilarious tweets about their plans to move to Canada.

12: Bungee Jumper's Cord Snaps In Freak Accident; Woman Survives

"I think it's definitely a miracle that I survived," a bungee jumper said after her cord snapped during a 111-metre nosedive into an African river.

11: Batman Shooting Victim Escaped Eaton Centre Violence

Jessica Ghawi, an aspiring sports journalist from Texas, who escaped Toronto's Eaton Centre shooting in June, has died in a mass shooting at a "Batman" screening in Aurora, Colorado.

10: Weird Noise: Strange Sounds Popping Up In Different Parts Of Canada

Two bizarre — yet oddly similar — videos of howling have been recorded in separate parts of Canada, capturing the imagination of YouTube viewers and skeptics alike.

9: Americans Angry About Obamacare Tweet About 'Moving to Canada'

Many Americans who were upset at the Supreme Court decision took to Twitter to voice their anger. Weirdly enough, many Americans tweeted about 'moving to Canada' to escape socialized medicine.

8: Royal Canadian Mint's Glow-In-The-Dark Dinosaur Quarter Costs A Lot More Than 25 Cents

Canada recently announced it's getting rid of the penny, and now the country's mint is planning another trailblazing move in the history of coins: A glow-in-the-dark quarter.

7: Transgender Miss Universe Canada Finalist Jenna Talackova Disqualified From Competition

She may look every bit the part of a beauty queen, but Jenna Talackova has lost her chance for the crown because she was born a biological male.

6: Monkey in Ikea

Need we say any more? This December viral hit happened, sparking worldwide coverage of a loose monkey in a Toronto-area Ikea store.

5: Woman Dies In Car Accident While Texting

A series of heartwrenching text messages is being used by the boyfriend of a car accident victim to warn people to pay attention when driving.

4: German Man Tries To Jump Into Frozen Pool

A boring and ordinary cannonball leap into a pool turned into a hilarious, albeit painful incident, for this German man. Turns out the pool he tried to leap in was frozen solid and, well, you know what happens.

3: University Brings In Dogs For Stress Therapy

Dalhousie University is trying out a new way to combat end-of-year stress: Puppies.

2: Amanda Todd: Bullied Teen Commits Suicide

A Vancouver-area teen who used YouTube to share her heart-wrenching story of being bullied online and beaten at school has killed herself, unleashing a torrent of social media condolences and soul-searching. Amanda Todd was found dead in Coquitlam on Wednesday night, less than a month before her 16th birthday.

1: Montreal Pots And Pans Video Of Protest Against Bill 78 Goes Viral

A video of protesters banging pots and pans on Quebec streets is going viral on social networks.

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