Holiday poll: Canadians continue to give green gifts

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Dec. 17, 2012 /CNW/ - The environment continues to play an important role in Canadian gift-giving decisions this year.  A new survey by Harris Interactive shows Canadians prefer to give and receive green gifts for the holidays; a trend noted since this World Vision annual giving poll started in 2010.

Survey highlights:

• Three in four Canadians prefer to give gifts that benefit the environment
• Seventy-three per cent of Canadians want to receive environmentally-thoughtful presents for the holidays
• Canadians are consistently more environmentally friendly than Americans in their gift giving. (This year 75 per cent of Canadians prefer to give green gifts versus just 67 per cent of Americans).
• Canadian adults say they would prefer to receive a meaningful gift that would help someone else, instead of a traditional holiday gift like clothing or electronics

Canadians seeking thoughtful, last-minute environmentally friendly holiday presents can do so through World Vision Gifts (www.worldvision.ca/gifts).

Zaya Kuyena of Etobicoke, Ont., is a Canadian who gives green gifts. "Last year I got my parents 'solar power' through World Vision Gifts - and they were thrilled," says Kuyena. "Through this gift, solar power was donated to a family overseas in my parents' names. So they are supporting the environment and helping change a family's life."

Gifts include tangible donations like solar power, trees and wood-conserving stoves.  These will provide hope for a child, family or community in a developing country. The gift giver can chose to send a paperless e-card which outlines the difference being made in the recipient's name and it can arrive on Christmas day.

About the 2012 World Vision Holiday Giving Survey
This poll was conducted by telephone within the United States and Canada by Harris Interactive on behalf of World Vision, Inc. between November 9 and November 13, 2012 among 1,012 U.S. adults ages 18+ and between November 8 and November 12, 2012 among 1,000 Canadian adults 18+.

World Vision is a leading Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. Inspired by our Christian values, we are dedicated to working with the world's most vulnerable people. We serve all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender.

Video with caption: "Video: A recent poll shows 3 in 4 Canadians want to give green gifts this holiday season. Genevieve Barber of World Vision suggests a great last-minute, environmentally-friendly present.". Video available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/playback.cgi?file=20121217_C9647_VIDEO_EN_22012.mp4&posterurl=http://photos.newswire.ca/images/20121217_C9647_PHOTO_EN_22012.jpg&clientName=World%20Vision%20Canada&caption=Video%3A%20A%20recent%20poll%20shows%203%20in%204%20Canadians%20want%20to%20give%20green%20gifts%20this%20holiday%20season%2E%20Genevieve%20Barber%20of%20World%20Vision%20suggests%20a%20great%20last%2Dminute%2C%20environmentally%2Dfriendly%20present%2E&title=A%20recent%20poll%20shows%203%20in%204%20Canadians%20want%20to%20give%20green%20gifts%20this%20holiday&headline=Holiday%20poll%3A%20Canadians%20continue%20to%20give%20green%20gifts

Image with caption: "A recent poll indicates a strong Canadian preference towards giving and receiving environmentally friendly gifts. Fruit trees from the World Vision Gifts is an example of an environmentally-friendly gift. Trees are locally sourced and they help benefit the environment by absorbing carbon and producing oxygen. (CNW Group/World Vision Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20121217_C9647_PHOTO_EN_22010.jpg

Image with caption: "A recent poll indicates a strong Canadian preference towards giving and receiving environmentally friendly gifts. Solar Power from the World Vision Gifts is an example of an environmentally friendly gift. (CNW Group/World Vision Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20121217_C9647_PHOTO_EN_22011.jpg

SOURCE: World Vision Canada

MEDIA CONTACT:
World Vision Gifts online news centre: www.worldvision.ca/gcnewsroom
Genevieve Barber - tel. [phone], [email protected]
Julia Rim Shepard - tel. [phone], [email protected]