VOTE: Who's your Canadian newsmaker of the year?

Several Canadians from across the country made a splash in 2016 news headlines.

Canada saw young athletes such as Penny Oleksiak and Andre De Grasse burst onto the sporting scene, while NHL superstar Sidney Crosby proved why he’s been at the top of his game in the hockey world.

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley handled a dramatic wildfire in her province with assertiveness and poise while Darby Allen, the fire chief of Fort McMurray, Alta., revealed the emotional toll the tragic situation was having on first responders as his community was deserted.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau brought in refugees from Syria and lost two Canadians to an extremist group in the Philippines before flying all over the world to put a new face on Canadian values.

Music lovers enjoyed new sounds — and Internet memes — with rapper Drake’s latest hit album Views while Canadians came together in droves to celebrate the music of the Tragically Hip and their cancer-ridden frontman, Gord Downie.

Many in this country will remember the turbulent scene outside the Toronto courthouse in the midst of the Jian Ghomeshi sex assault trials, part of which was capped off by a passionate statement from Kathryn Borel, a former CBC employee who spoke of being subjected to inappropriate and sexual behaviour. Borel’s statement came after Ghomeshi apologized and signed a peace bond.

Democratic Institutions Minister Maryam Monsef was in the news when she was thought to be Canada’s first Afghan-born cabinet minister until it was revealed that she was actually born in Iran. Monsef was in the spotlight once again when she uttered words she later regretted about MPs working with her on the issue of electoral reform.

Have your say on Canada’s top 2016 newsmaker in the comment section below.