* Quebeckers are cheering but appear less likely to wear those red mitts.
The Historica-Domninion Institute just released a poll conducted by Ipsos-Reid claiming that the Vancouver Olympics are shaping up to be a ‘defining moment in Canada’s national history’.
The press release declares that ‘when it comes to Canada’s sporting and cultural history, there are a few events in time that can be truly called a defining national moment.’
It’s true. But, as expected, it’s somewhat less true in Quebec. This is not a political blog so I won’t engage in the reasons why. It is a marketing blog however. And there are indications in this survey that sales of Olympic merchandise in Quebec won’t be as hot as they seem to be in the rest of Canada.
Two in three Canadians (66%) agree that the opening ceremonies reflected Canada as they knew it. However, there are significant regional variations:
Atlantic Canadians (77%) are most likely to agree, followed by residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba (72%), British Columbia (69%), Ontario (68%), and Alberta (67%), while Quebeckers (57%) are least likely to agree. For a view on how the Opening Ceremonies played in Quebec, read Fagstein’s post.
Quebeckers are less likely than the average Canadian to show their pride and to believe that too much pride is on display:
One quarter (26%) of Quebeckers say they’ll display or fly the Canadian flag during the games compared to 40% of Canadians overall.
Two in ten (19%) agree they’ll wear Canada or Olympic clothing during the games, compared to 34% of Canadians overall.
Four in ten (42%) Quebecers agree that there is too much Canadian nationalism on display during the Olympics, while only three in ten (29%) Canadians overall believe the same.
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