86% of Canadians think Remembrance Day should be a national holiday

As six cities across Canada make their final preparations for Vigil 1914-1918 Vigile a week-long national project to remember those who died during the First World War, a new Pollara Strategic Insights poll, conducted on behalf of Canada’s National History Society reveals that 86% of respondents support making Remembrance Day a national statutory holiday in all provinces and territories.

“Past research experience has shown us that Canadians do not provide kneejerk support for any new statutory holiday proposal. There has to be a meaningful purpose. It cannot be frivolous,” said Craig Worden, Senior Vice-President, Public Affairs. “The level, and especially the intensity, of support for this holiday is significant and deserves attention.”

Although a strong majority of respondents (88%) agreed that Remembrance Day was an important and meaningful day for Canadians, less than one-fifth (17%) were able to correctly identify the original purpose of the day, to mark the end of the First World War. The Vigil Project is a special initiative of the History Society produced in association with R.H. Thomson, Martin Conboy, to mark the 90th anniversary of the end of the First World Ward by broadcasting each the names of those who were lost across the National War Memorial and supporting simultaneous broadcasts in six other cities and through a live Internet webcast.

The survey findings also revealed that while the importance of Remembrance Day was not lost to the majority of Canadians, only 22% indicated that they personally had participated in organized ceremonies of Remembrance last year. With fewer (20%) expressing an intention to participate this year.

50% of respondents felt that individual Canadians should do more to recognize and observe Remembrance Day, and also indicated that all three levels of government had a role to play to encourage them. Four-in-ten respondents indicated the federal government (44%), their provincial government (43%), or their local or municipal government (42%) should all do more to recognize and observe Remembrance Day in 2008.

The majority of respondents (75%) reported having worn a poppy last year as their way of honoring Remembrance Day with 63% intending to wear one this year.

Older respondents (from 75% to 89% of those 35 and older) are more likely to report having worn a poppy or other symbol last year than younger respondents (61% of those 18 to 34). Similarly, older respondents (from 59% to 79% of those 35 and older) are more likely to report the intention to wear one this upcoming Remembrance Day (compared to 49% of those 18 to 34).

“As time takes us further away from the First World War, and those with the ability to share their experiences pass on, it clearly becomes even more difficult to connect younger generations to this important part of our past. However, I believe these results show a lot of interest among Canadians and a recognition that Remembrance Day should have a more meaningful role in the daily lives of Canadians,” stated Deborah Morrison, President and C.E.O. of Canada’s National History Society. “These results indicate to me that when encourage to take initiative, like wearing a poppy, Canadians are keen to embrace the opportunity. They are looking for more leadership to inspire more direct and meaningful acts of Remembrance. But frankly, that’s hard to accomplish when the day is treated like a regular working day.”

The poll asked respondents a series of questions about how they spent Remembrance Day last year, and how they intended to mark the day this year.

• Three-fifths report they stayed at home last Remembrance Day (58%), while fewer (36%) intend to stay at home this year. Less than one-in-ten report they went shopping last year (8%), or intend to shop this year (4%) on Remembrance Day. Similarly, only 3% were on vacation on Remembrance Day last year, while fewer (2%) plan to be on vacation this Remembrance Day.
• Other Remembrance Day activities respondents plan to do this year to mark the day include spending the day with family (37%), watching or listening to a TV, radio, or online broadcast (36%), thinking or learning about Canada’s war casualties (25%), or spending time with friends (20%). Only one-fifth (19%) of respondents say they plan to do nothing special.
• Those who have attended a Remembrance Day ceremony in the past (78%) are much more likely to strongly support making Remembrance Day ceremonies mandatory in all elementary and secondary schools than those who have not previously attended a Remembrance Day ceremony (53%). Women (61%, compared to 53% of men) and those who were born in Canada (61%, compared to 41% of those who were not) are more likely to feel the same.
• Younger respondents (67% of those 18 to 24) are least likely to support implementing mandatory Remembrance Day ceremonies for students in elementary and secondary schools (compared to 75% to 89% of those 25 and older).

Although Remembrance Day was originally established throughout the Commonwealth to mark the end of the First World War, it would appear that for most Canadians it has become a day to honour all military service. The largest proportion of respondents (36%) feel that Remembrance Day was first established to honour all Canadians who served in all military conflicts, while one-quarter (25%) believes that it was first established to honour the Canadians who served in World War I. Equal proportions feel that the day was established to mark the end of the first World War (17%), and to honour Canadians who served in World War I, II, and the Korean War (17%).

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