Searching for Canadian History Jack Jedwab Association for Canadian Studies April 2010.

Searching for Canadian History

Jack Jedwab Association for Canadian Studies April 2010

Themes Identified and Discussed 1. Consuming “Canadiana”2. Searching for “Canadiana” 3. History Lessons

Introduction

In the focus on debates around the sense of belonging and attachment to Canada there has been increasing attention directed at knowledge about the country. Enhancing the population’s knowledge about the country’s history is seen by some as an important means of fostering citizenship. Ideally it would be useful to have some idea of the state of knowledge about the country’s history. It is widely assumed that such knowledge is low owing largely to the results of annual opinion surveys that test Canadians ability to respond to various events in the country’s history. Yet when asked to self-assess their knowledge about the country’s history, we give ourselves relatively high marks. Others assume that specific groups within the population are more ignorant about the nations past (i.e. immigrants and youth).

Consuming Canadian Info

That which follows neither asks Canadians to self-assess their knowledge or respond to questions about the country’s history. Rather the focus is on the extent to which Canadians report reading about Canada’s history and this is compared with other topics of interest. It reveals that the majority of Canadians don’t make “Canadiana” part of their reading. The survey was conducted by the firm Leger Marketing for the Association for Canadian Studies.

3 levels of readership of Canadian history

a) Heavy readers of Canadiana (persons that report having read 5 or more books or magazines in the past two years)-they represent approx 8% of the population. In general the minority of heavier history readers are in the most educated category of the population and indeed the heaviest readership (10 or more books or magazines) is under the age of 35 (4% in that group report 10 or more)

b) Light to Moderate readers of Canadiana (persons who have read between 1 and 4 books or magazines in the past two years)-they represent 38% of the population

c) Non- Readers of Canadiana-Those who have not read anything on the subject in the past 2 years-52%

Things Novel about Canada Novels were by far most read by Canadians

over the past two years. A majority also report having read science and technology, world history and a very slight majority read business and economy. There were important differences in reading choices on the basis of gender. Men were more likely to reads science and technology, Canadian and World History, Politics, Sports and Business and economy while novels were far and away the top choice of women.

Did not read any books or magazines on the following subjects in the past two years.

None Yes

Subject Total Male Female Total Male Female

Canadian History 52% 46% 56% 48 54 44

Canadian Sports 63% 53% 73% 37 47 27

Canadian Politics 53% 45% 61% 47 55 39

Canadian Literature 53% 57% 50% 47 43 50

Canadian Business and Economy

49% 41% 57% 51 59 43

Canadian Immigration and Multiculturalism

70% 69% 71% 30 31 29

Science and Technology

41% 31% 51% 59 69 49

World History 47% 40% 53% 53 60 47

Province’s History 54% 54% 55% 46 46 45

Novels 23% 31% 16% 77 69 84

Men read more than women on Canadian History

Persons over the age of 65 that are most likely to have read something about

Canada Did not read any books or

magazines on the following subjects in the past two years.

18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+

Canadian History 50% 55% 54% 53% 52% 44%

Canadian Sports 54% 56% 63% 66% 66% 72%

Canadian Politics 51% 54% 61% 57% 48% 46%

Canadian Literature 48% 54% 57% 62% 51% 45%

Canadian Business & Economy

50% 56% 50% 47% 45% 49%

Canadian Immigration & Multiculturalism

60% 69% 73% 76% 68% 69%

Science & Technology 30% 36% 43% 40% 44% 51%

World History 48% 45% 49% 47% 48% 46%

Provinces History 48% 57% 56% 59% 53% 51%

Novels 16% 19% 24% 25% 26% 26%


Total French English Other

Canadian History 52% 61% 48% 55%

Canadian Sports 63% 60% 64% 70%

Canadian Politics 53% 59% 53% 52%

Canadian Literature 53% 56% 52% 58%


49% 56% 47% 51%


70% 74% 72% 63%

Science & Technology

41% 44% 39% 46%

World History 47% 53% 45% 52%

Provinces History 54% 48% 56% 61%

Novels 23% 25% 21% 30%

Other Magazines 12% 11% 12% 16%

Anglophones most likely to have read

about Canadian History


Total Elem/Sec College University






49% 62% 48% 41%


70% 80% 71% 62%

Science & Technology 41% 56% 39% 31%



Novels 23% 27% 24% 20%


Heavier Readers of Canada: The Challenge of Mainstreaming Canadian History In the last two years, read 5

or more books or magazines on the following subjects

Indices of Canadian History Literacy It is widely felt that knowledge of Canada

and notably its history are elements of strong citizenship

But “Canadian historic literacy” is relatively low and the majority of the population do not qualify as literate when it comes to the degree to which they read about the subject

Most heavy readership is likely “required”and not voluntary given the demographics of the heaviest consumers

Is there a history for the elite and another for the masses?

In the last two years, read 5 or more books or magazines on the following subjects?

Total Male Female

Canadian History 8% 11% 7%

Canadian Sports 9% 17% 3%

Canadian Politics 14% 18% 10%

Canadian Literature 14% 14% 14%


15% 20% 10%


6% 6% 6%

Science and Technology 23% 33% 12%

World History 16% 20% 13%

Province’s History 8% 8% 8%

Novels 52% 44% 59%

Women “heavier” readers of novels, Men

“Business” Science and History

Subject Total 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+

Canadian History 8% 10% 8% 10% 6% 9% 8%

Canadian Sports 9% 12% 15% 10% 8% 6% 6%

Canadian Politics 14% 19% 15% 9% 11% 16% 18%

Canadian Literature 14% 20% 11% 9% 12% 16% 17%


15% 13% 11% 16% 15% 16% 18%


6% 8% 6% 6% 4% 5% 5%


23% 33% 29% 24% 21% 18% 13%

World History 16% 21% 21% 15% 13% 16% 12%

Province History 8% 12% 4% 7% 6% 12% 10%

Novels 52% 48% 58% 52% 47% 56% 54%

Canadian History amongst lowest in the 5

or more category

Allophones somewhat more likely to fall into

moderate plus readership of Canadian History Subject Total French English Other






15% 12% 16% 14%


6% 5% 6% 7%


23% 22% 23% 23%



Novels 52% 52% 55% 46%


Total Elem/Sec College University






15% 9% 13% 23%


6% 4% 6% 9%

Science & Technology 23% 15% 20% 31%



Novels 52% 45% 55% 57%


Most educated somewhat more likely to fall into the moderate plus

category

Where do you get your information about Canada

Among the following, which is the principal source you

go to when you need information on the following

subjects?

Canadian History

18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-65 65+ Total

Internet 51% 53% 41% 35% 37% 31% 41

Television 11 3 7 11 8 11 9

Radio 1 1 0 1 2 1 1

Books 18% 24% 23% 28% 28% 32% 26

Newspaper 2% 2% 3% 4% 5% 9% 4

I never seek information on this subject

13% 13% 21% 18% 19% 15% 17

Majority under 35 get info on Canadian history from the internet

Canadian Politics 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-65 65+ Total

Internet 43% 46% 42% 34% 30% 25% 36

Books 2% 3% 2% 2% 4% 5% 3

Newspaper 20% 9% 16% 14% 22% 27% 18

Radio 1% 7% 4% 6% 5% 4% 5

Television 16% 19% 16% 24% 24% 25% 21

I never seek informationon this subject

14% 15% 18% 16% 14% 13% 15

Under 45 less likely to use non-internet sources of accessing info on Canadian

Politics

Canadian History French English Other

Internet 38% 43% 39%

Books 19% 29% 26%

Newspaper 5% 3% 6%

Radio 1% 1% 3%

Television 11% 8% 9%


25% 14% 16%

Francophones least likely to seek info on Canadian History

Canadian Politics French English Other

Internet 29% 42% 31%

Books 2% 4% 2%

Newspaper 16% 18% 19%

Radio 5% 4% 7%

Television 26% 18% 22%


13% 13% 17%

Television less popular source for

information amongst anglophones

Internet Books Television Radio Newspaper Never seek info.

Canadian History 41% 26% 9% 1% 4% 17%

Canadian Sports 34% 1% 20% 3% 12% 27%

Canadian Politics 36% 3% 21% 5% 18% 15%

Canadian Literature 29% 29% 3% 1% 6% 28%


43% 3% 13% 4% 19% 16%


37% 5% 8% 3% 10% 33%

Science and Technology

61% 9% 9% 2% 5% 11%

World History 44% 23% 11% 1% 4% 16%

Province’s History 41% 24% 6% 1% 4% 21%

Canadian Literature partially escapes the net

History Lessons

Moderate readers somewhat more likely to feel official languages good for unity

Parmi les évènements suivants, lequel croyez-vous a été le plus déterminant dans l'histoire du Canada

Au cours des deux dernières années, combien de livres ou de magazines avez-vous lu sur les sujets suivants : / L'histoire

canadienne

English Respondents in Canada 10 ou plus 5-9 1-4 Aucune

La conquête de la Nouvelle-France

11,5% 3,3% 2,2% ,9%

La Guerre de 1812 7,7% 6,6% 3,9% 6,1%

La participation canadienne pendant la Première et la Second

11,5% 13,1% 25,8% 15,8%

La Confédération de 1867 34,6% 34,4% 26,4% 27,9%

Le rapatriement de la Constitution et l'introduction de la C

11,5% 13,1% 12,4% 10,6%

L'introduction du système de santé universel

11,5% 11,5% 14,0% 12,5%

Je ne sais pas / Je préfère ne pas répondre

3,8% 1,6% 3,9% 14,4%

English Respondents Number of Books or Magazines read on Canadian History

10 or more/ou

plus 5-9 1-4

None/Aucune

Canadians are a patriotic people/ Les Canadiens sont des personnes patriotiques

Strongly Agree/Tout à fait d'accord

46,2% 26,7% 28,4% 23,3%

Somewhat Agree/Plutôt d'accord

38,5% 53,3% 55,6% 51,7%

Somewhat Disagree/Plutôt en désaccord

15,4% 11,7% 13,2% 17,0%

Strongly Disagree/Tout à fait en désaccord

8,3% 2,2% 3,5%

Prefer not to respond/Je préfère ne pas répondre

,6% 4,5%

Except Heaviest Readers perception of patriotism little affected by level of readership

English respondents and Number of Books or Magazines read on Canadian History

10 or more/ou

plus 5-9 1-4

None/Aucune

Je suis patriotique à l'égard du Canada


80,8% 63,9% 64,4% 57,4%


19,2% 34,4% 29,7% 31,8%


3,9% 2,6%

Strongly Disagree/Tout à fait en désaccord

1,6% 1,4% 2,6%

Prefer not to respond/Je préfère ne pas répondre

,6% 5,6%

Except Heaviest Readers personal patriotism little affected by level of readership

English

In the last two years how many books or mgazines have you read on Canadian History Au cours des deux dernières années, combien de livres ou de

magazines avez-vous lu sur l'histoire canadienne

La Loi sur les langues officielles est bonne pour l'unité canadienne

10 or more/ou plus 5-9 1-4

None/Aucune

10 or more/ou plus

Total


23,1% 29,5% 16,2% 16,9% 8,3% 17,6%


53,8% 26,2% 40,2% 32,2% 33,3% 35,7%

Somewhat Disagree/

Plutôt en désaccord

15,4% 18,0% 23,7% 26,1% 33,3% 24,4%

Moderate readers somewhat more likely to feel official languages good for unity

English In the last two years how many books or mgazines have you read on Canadian History Au cours des deux dernières années, combien de livres ou de magazines avez-

vous lu sur l'histoire canadienne

Multiculturalism is good for Canadian Unity /La Loi sur le multiculturalisme est bonne pour l'unité canadienne 10 ou plus 5-9 1-4 Aucune

Je ne sais pas /

Je préfère ne pas répond

re

Total


40,7% 38,3% 14,8% 11,5% 15,4% 15,6%


37,0% 18,3% 45,1% 41,6% 46,2% 41,4%


14,8% 25,0% 21,0% 22,1% 15,4% 21,5%

Strongly Disagree Tout à fait en désaccord

3,7% 18,3% 12,3% 13,9% 7,7% 13,2%

No response/Je préfère ne pas répondre

3,7% ,0% 6,7% 10,8% 15,4% 8,3%

Moderate and heavy readers much more likely to feel

that Multiculturalism is good for Canadian Unity

English In the last two years how many books or mgazines have you read on Canadian History Au cours des deux dernières années, combien de livres ou de magazines avez-

vous lu sur l'histoire canadienne

The Charter of Rigths and Freedoms is good for Canadian Unity/La Charte canadienne des droits et libertés contribue à l'unité canadienne est bonne pour l'unité canadienne 10 ou plus 5-9 1-4 Aucune

No Response Je ne sais pas / Je

préfère ne pas

répondre

Total


38,5% 47,5% 34,5% 30,0% 23,1% 33,1%


50,0% 35,6% 43,1% 46,0% 46,2% 44,3%


3,8% 13,6% 12,9% 9,4% 7,7% 10,9%

Strongly Disagree Tout à fait en désaccord

7,7% 1,7% 7,8% 6,4% 6,6%

No response/Je préfère ne pas répondre

1,7% 1,7% 8,3% 23,1% 5,1%

Searching for Canadian History Jack Jedwab Association for Canadian Studies April 2010.

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