2007 was a crazy mish-mash of extraordinary world events, interspersed with silly moments that branded themselves into our popular psyche. The year commenced with a brutal dictator's hanging, and in true high-tech fashion, illegal cell phone broadcasts of Saddam's death instantaneously –and rather tastelessly-- found their way across the world. Meanwhile, Osama bin Laden remained free, while the war in Iraq resulted in more American deaths than 9/11 was initially responsible for.

Shock jock Don Imus got busted for racist remarks and NBC, who had no problem allowing his tacky comments as long as it didn't affect their bottom line, unceremoniously dumped him when the outcry became too strong.

Al Gore made a triumphant return to the public eye as an environmental activist, cementing his influence with a Novel Peace Prize win and global warming became the 'cause celébre' across the world; except, unfortunately, where Bush and Harper were concerned.

Bill Clinton came back to the forefront, this time to stand by his woman on her quest for the Democratic nomination and the world learned how to pronounce (and spell) Barack Obama.

2007 was also the year when millions of muggles tearfully said goodbye to Harry Potter and Hogwarts. Dumbledore was outed by J.K.Rowling, while Iranian dictator, Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, revealed to the world that "they don't have homosexuals in Iran," however, "they do have a nuclear program."

Oil and gas prices skyrocketed, while interest and confidence in Chinese-made, lead-riddled toys plummeted. David Beckham crossed the pond to join the Galaxy, and joy oh joy, the Spice Girls reunited, just as our very own chest-thumping diva, Celine Dion, was bidding farewell to a five-year stint in Sin City.

2007 was also the year that Paris Hilton and Anna Nicole Smith were on everybody's radar. The latter sadly passed away, while the former only went to jail for a brief spell and continues to torture us as the Patron Saint of useless trust fund babies. Amy Winehouse's "Rehab", became not only a chart-topping success, but an anthem for countless Hollywood stars.

A Minneapolis bridge collapse sent shivers down Quebecers' spines, while gun control made it back into the news, as Virginia Tech became the site of the worst shooting rampage in U.S. history.

"Don't tase me, bro" became the most popular phrase of the year in the States, after a college student used it to stop a security guard from throwing him out of a speech given by Sen. John Kerry, while here in Canada, a number of taser deaths created public outcry.

Britney Spear's marriage to the most notorious gold-digger of all time, K-Fed, fell apart and then, a few months later, so did her career at the American Music Awards. Not to be outdone, her 16-year-old kid sister Jamie-Lynn announced that she was pregnant.

2007 was the year that famed Italian tenor Lucciano Pavarotti passed away, as did author Norman Mailer and perpetual rebel, Kurt Vonnegut. It was also the end of a TV era, as Bob Barker finally stepped down from "The Price is Right". The price of doing business with Karl Schreiber was apparently wrong for former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, as he scrambled to explain to an ethics committee his shady dealings with the noted German lobbyist and arms dealer.

2007 is also finally the year that our Canadian dollar, most commonly referred to as "funny money" by our neighbours to the south, soared to new heights and surpassed the greenback. Who's laughing now?

Cross-border shopping gained new popularity, as Canucks scrambled to take advantage of the Canadian dollar's renewed spending power. Luckily, 2007 was also the year the federal government increased the legal 48-hour purchasing exemption to $400 CAN.

Here at home, Montrealers saw parking rates increase astronomically and free parking on Sunday no longer made available. Touted by Tremblay's administration as a brilliant plan to increase business downtown, it was seen as a money grab by most residents.

Mayor Tremblay made even fewer friends when he attempted to rename much-loved Parc Avenue to Robert Bourassa, prompting such a public outcry that even Bourassa's son felt the need to disassociate from the incident. In the end, Parc was saved and democracy had its day.

In my humble opinion however, (and it remains to be seen what others will say, since this year-end review is being written before the year ends) 2007 will be remembered as the Year of the Bouchard-Taylor Commission.

Nothing has preoccupied, prodded and disturbed our collective conscience as Quebecers this past year, than the debate of an increasingly multicultural province on the reasonable accommodation of its religious and cultural minorities.

Nothing managed to spawn more frustration, more bile, more earnest discussion, more discomfort, more smirks from Mario Dumont, more hand-wringing from Pauline Marois and more damage control from Jean Charest, more Saku Koivu bashing, more excuses for racist comments and political pandering and more exasperated soul-searching than the travelling road show that ended its tour this past December. Results and recommendations are expected sometime in 2008, so hold on to your hats everyone, because there's more fun to be had where the Gérard and Charles Tour of 2007 left off.

This was just a whimsical walk down memory lane, so please don't hold it against me if I missed something. It remains to be seen what international and local success stories we'll be celebrating next year and what blunders we'll be wishing away. One thing is certain; we'll do our best to cover them. Happy New Year everyone and, as the saying goes, may all your troubles last as long as your New Year's resolutions do.