Survey Measures the "Olympic Effect" on National Pride

80% of Canadians (up 8 points from one year ago) and 63% of Quebecers (up 15 points) now call themselves a "Canadian Nationalist"

TORONTO, March 8 /CNW/ - The Vancouver 2010 Games appear to have brought Canadians closer together, says a new survey commissioned by The Historica-Dominion Institute.

The survey, conducted by Ipsos Reid, found that eight in ten (80%) Canadians now 'agree' (37% strongly/44% somewhat) that they are a 'Canadian nationalist', up eight points from an identical poll taken a year before the end of the Olympics. Moreover, a majority (63%) of Quebecers (21% strongly/42% somewhat) now agree that they are a Canadian nationalist, an increase of 15 points from last year.

"The Vancouver Games were a sweet moment for Canada, perhaps a watershed," says Andrew Cohen, president of The Historica-Dominion Institute. "In the afterglow of the Olympics, we are seeing a renewed sense of pride in our country, especially in Quebec. We are more confident about ourselves. The challenge for us now, as a country, is to sustain that momentum."

The poll also found that Canadians' pride in their abilities has increased on many fronts. The shift is most notable in the province of Quebec:

    
    -  Two in three (63%) 'agree' (10% strongly/53% somewhat) that 'when
       Canada speaks the world takes notice', up 13 points. Two in three
       (65%) Quebecers agree (9% strongly/56% somewhat), up 28 points.

    -  Nine in ten (88%) 'agree' (34% strongly/54% somewhat) that 'Canada
       plays a positive role in international affairs', up 6 points. 85% of
       Quebecers agree (20% strongly/65% somewhat), up 16 points.

    -  Nine in ten (88%) 'agree' (28% strongly/60% somewhat) that 'people in
       other countries look to Canada as an example', up 5 points. 85% of
       Quebecers agree (19% strongly/66% somewhat), up 10 points.

    -  Nine in ten (89%) 'agree' (51% strongly/38% somewhat) that they are
       'patriotic', up 4 points. Eight in ten (76%) Quebecers agree (24%
       strongly/52% somewhat), up 11 points.

    -  Nine in ten (90%) 'agree' (61% strongly/29% somewhat) that they 'have
       a strong sense of belonging to Canada', up 3 points. Three in four
       (76%) Quebecers agree (35% strongly/41% somewhat), up 8 points.
    

The Historica-Dominion Institute is a national charitable organization launched on September 1, 2009. It was created out of two organizations: The Historica Foundation of Canada and The Dominion Institute. It is the country's leading advocate of memory, identity and democracy, dedicated to promoting a greater understanding of Canada's history and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. Some of its signature programs are Encounters with Canada, The Memory Project, Passages to Canada and The Canadian Encyclopedia.

For detailed survey results, visit www.historica-dominion.ca.

For further information: Media Inquiries: Andrew Cohen, President, [phone], [email protected]