2020 is nearly here, and with it comes a new, even-numbered date and a new decade. Here are a few events, anniversaries, and notable happenings that are sure to make 2020 just as memorable as the previous year.
Upcoming politics: Not only is the municipality of Moose Jaw getting ready for an election this November, so is the province of Saskatchewan with the 29th general election set for October.
Additionally, the entire world will likely be tuned in to the upcoming presidential election in the United States, as recently-impeached president Donald Trump makes history by running for re-election, and Britain will have the eyes of the world on it when it officially leaves the European Union on Jan. 31, following the Brexit vote.
Taking the world stage: The Tokyo Summer Olympics will take place this year from July 24 to Aug. 9, while the city of Dubai is also finishing up preparations to host the 2020 World Expo on Oct. 20.
Looking to space: NASA has set a date for its rover launch to explore Mars: July 17. Astronomy enthusiasts are also planning on flocking to Argentina for a total solar eclipse on Dec. 14, the first since 2017.
Here in Saskatchewan: Our very own prairie province has some exciting events on the horizon for 2020, with the JUNO Awards returning to Saskatoon on Mar. 15 to celebrate Canadian music and Regina’s Mosaic Stadium hosting the 108th annual Grey Cup Championship on Nov. 22.
Tech from the decade: Yahoo will be opening a time capsule of digital content collected in 2006, to celebrate the company’s 25th anniversary — so we can surely expect some MySpace-era goodness from that reveal.
Returning movies: Among the continued rise of the superhero movie franchises, audiences can look forward to the return of Tom Cruise’s infamous character to the big screen in Top Gun: Maverick, after 34 years. Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter will also reprise their roles as the time-travelling duo in Bill & Ted Face the Music, the third installment in the franchise.
James Cameron’s promised sequel, Avatar 2, will also hit the big screen this year — 11 years after the original film — and Daniel Craig’s James Bond will return in No Time To Die.
In the world of sports: The NHL’s 32nd franchise team, based in Seattle, will likely reveal its team nickname sometime in the beginning of 2020, possibly even by the NHL All-Star Game scheduled for Jan. 24-26.
And here's some 2020 anniversaries to make you feel old:
- Manitoba will officially turn 150 years old in 2020, while the Hudson’s Bay Company can celebrate 350 years since its official founding.
- The Saskatchewan Roughriders are heading into their 110th year as a sports club.
- 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of Canada’s first Olympic gold medal win in hockey, won by the Winnipeg Falcons at the 1920 Summer Olympic Games in Antwerp, Belgium.
- This year marks the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Versailles after the First World War and the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, the dropping of the first atomic bomb, and the creation of the United Nations.
- Exactly 50 years ago, Paul McCartney filed the lawsuit that legally dissolved the Beatles as a band.
- The smash-hit from M.C. Hammer, “U Can’t Touch This,” was released 30 years ago on Jan.13, the same year that Madonna’s hit single “Vogue” was released.
- The X-Men movie franchise began 20 years ago with the release of its self-titled movie.
- It has been 20 years since the debut of cult favourite Survivor, which ultimately jumpstarted the era of reality TV, as well as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, which sparked numerous spin-offs and other crime-related shows.
A few more cool facts about 2020:
- This year will be a leap year.
- 2020 will have the exact same calendar as 1936, 1964, and 1992.
- There are only four months in 2020 that will have five weeks instead of four: January, May, July, October.
- The United Nations has declared 2020 the International Year of Plant Health.
- 2020 is also the Year of the Metal Rat, according to the Chinese zodiac horoscope, and is predicted to be a year of new beginnings, renewals, and prosperity.
