Online survey results for the National Monument for Canada’s Mission in Afghanistan

From May 20 to June 9, 2021, the Government of Canada posted a survey asking Veterans, families of those who participated in the Mission, Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members, other stakeholders and the Canadian public to share their thoughts on the design concepts proposed by the following five finalist teams.

Results

A total of 12,048 valid surveys were analysed (10,829 English, 1219 French). In cases where multiple surveys were submitted from the same IP address and were deemed to be overly similar, all but one survey was removed.

Question 1 – Monument Theme

The following survey question is multiple response. This means that each respondent could select more than one answer. As a result, the percentages may add up to more than 100%.

The Monument has several related themes. Which designs do you think most effectively express these themes? You may select more than one design per theme.

Percentage of respondents who think the design effectively expresses the following Monument themes

Theme	Total respondents	Team Daoust	Team Hapa Collaborative	Team Lashley MacDonald	Team PFS Studio	Team Stimson
To express Canada’s deep gratitude for the sacrifices made by Canadians who served in Afghanistan, including those Canadian Armed Forces members and civilians who lost their lives or were injured.	11,807	26.5 %	13.0 %	20.5 %	16.8 %	63.9 %
To recognize the strong support offered by families, friends and communities at home during the mission.	11,299	27.1 %	15.5 %	17.3 %	14.3 %	52.0 %
To acknowledge the efforts of Canadians in standing together with the Afghan people to help rebuild their country and encourage understanding of the significance and scope of Canada’s mission in Afghanistan.	11,518	31.3 %	13.4 %	15.4 %	11.9 %	56.3 %

Question 2 – Visitor Experience

The following survey question is multiple response. This means that each respondent could select more than one answer. As a result, the percentages may add up to more than 100%.

The Monument will offer several experiences for visitors. Which designs do you think would most effectively perform these functions? You may select more than one design per criteria.

Percentage of respondents who think the design effectively performs the following Visitor Experience functions

Visitor Experience function	Total respondents	Team Daoust	Team Hapa Collaborative	Team Lashley MacDonald	Team PFS Studio	Team Stimson
Creates a solemn place conducive to reflection and remembrance.	11,573	37.0 %	19.7 %	19.5 %	22.4 %	54.3 %
Encourages visitors to learn more about the Mission.	11,334	22.8 %	12.5 %	14.8 %	18.4 %	64.8 %
Provides an appropriate setting for gatherings and ceremonies.	11,447	40.2 %	15.4 %	27.4 %	12.7 %	51.9 %

Question 3 – Impressions of Proposed Monument Designs

The design must creatively embody the commemorative vision of the Monument: to recognize an important chapter in Canada’s history and pay tribute to the commitment and sacrifice of Canadians in helping to rebuild Afghanistan. To be effective, a monument should resonate with visitors emotionally and visually.

Enter up to three adjectives that describe your impressions of each design. Only one word can be entered in each box. You may comment on any or all of the proposed designs.

Notes: Word count results were combined around the root adjective (e.g., “symbolic” also includes symbol, symbolism, symbolize) as well as misspelled words. In cases where respondents provided the same adjective multiple times, the adjective was only counted once.

Results with a weighted percentage of at least .75% of the total words received for each team in each language are included in the tables below in descending order.

English Results

Team Daoust		Team Hapa Collaborative		Team Lashley Macdonald		Team PFS Studio		Team Stimson
Adjective	Count	Adjective	Count	Adjective	Count	Adjective	Count	Adjective	Count
reflective	533	cold	389	openness	269	darkness	729	reflective	410
peaceful	518	peaceful	290	peaceful	239	Vietnam	388	respectful	375
solemn	268	reflective	209	beautiful	195	solemn	293	remembrance	371
open	246	confusing	173	reflects	157	reflective	281	solemn	290
beautiful	214	clean	138	confusing	150	memorial	202	sacrifices	251
light	193	solemn	139	lights	121	somber	186	inclusive	245
simple	217	boring	125	airy	113	liked	166	thoughtful	221
calm	167	bright	125	hopeful	93	American	146	powerful	211
hopeful	159	calm	116	modern	93	copy	136	honours	202
serene	159	whiteness	94	like	90	peaceful	121	emotive	194
thoughtful	159	stark	90	abstract	89	cold	106	military	180
contemplative	158	beauty	88	inspiring	89	remembrance	102	educative	166
respectful	138	contemplative	84	remembrance	77	simple	92	appropriate	147
symbolic	113	strong	84	unique	76	derivative	86	realistic	145
inspiring	106	abstract	81	bright	75	respectful	86	traditional	135
elegant	88	like	80	respectful	71	boring	82	informed	134
impressive	86	disjointed	78	calm	70	walls	82	represents	133
evocative	84	open	77	interesting	70	trench	78	meaningful	132
-	-	bland	75	-	-	depressive	76	open	120
-	-	plain	74	-	-	-	-	soldiers	118
-	-	respectful	68	-	-	-	-	-	-
-	-	marble	67	-	-	-	-	-	-
-	-	sterile	67	-	-	-	-	-	-
-	-	modern	66	-	-	-	-	-	-

French Results

Team Daoust		Team Hapa Collaborative		Team Lashley Macdonald		Team PFS Studio		Team Stimson
Adjective	Count	Adjective	Count	Adjective	Count	Adjective	Count	Adjective	Count
paisible	55	froid	63	paix	22	sombre	49	représentatif	57
lumineux	42	trop	22	aérien	18	solennel	21	respect	43
solennel	41	épuré	22	beau	17	sobre	16	sacrifice	41
lumière	36	paisible	22	calme	13	trop	15	souvenir	36
recueillement	34	blanc	18	trop	13	froid	14	solennel	33
simple	32	calme	14	grandiose	11	recueillement	13	réaliste	33
calme	29	solennel	13	ouvert	11	souvenir	12	militaire	24
sobre	26	lumineux	11	espoir	9	paisible	11	honneur	22
ouvert	26	beau	11	léger	8	fermé	9	rassembleur	21
beau	25	non	10	pas	8	commémoratif	9	reconnaissance	21
réflexion	21	simple	9	réflexion	8	calme	8	recueillement	21
respect	21	recueillement	9	solennel	8	non	8	courage	16
serein	19	massif	8	liberté	7	tranché	8	mémoire	15
espoir	17	pas	8	original	7	étroit	8	soldats	15
épuré	17	sobre	8	vide	7	réflexion	9	courage	14
reposant	16	respect	8	confus	7	respectueux	7	beau	14
inspirant	15	serein	8	serein	7	simple	7	bien	13
impressionnant	14	classique	7	-	-	triste	7	symbolique	14
symbolique	14	repos	7	-	-	Vietnam	7	-	-
imposant	14	réflexion	7	-	-	mémoire	7	-	-
souvenir	12	moderne	6	-	-	-	-	-	-
-	-	Intéressant	6	-	-	-	-	-	-

Question 4 – Demographic Questions

Do you live in the National Capital Region?
Number of respondents: 10,658

Answer	Responses	Percent %
Yes	2,708	25.41
No	7,950	74.59

If not, In which province or territory do you live?
Number of respondents: 7,948

Province or territory	Responses	Percent %
British Columbia	1,084	13.64
Alberta	1,233	15.51
Saskatchewan	184	2.32
Manitoba	334	4.20
Ontario	2,785	35.04
Quebec	967	12.17
New Brunswick	333	4.19
Nova Scotia	545	6.86
Prince Edward Island	167	2.10
Newfoundland and Labrador	117	1.47
Yukon	17	0.21
Northwest Territories	28	0.35
Nunavut	3	0.04
I don’t live in Canada (principal residence abroad)	151	1.90

The following survey question is multiple response. This means that each respondent could select more than one answer. As a result, the percentages may add up to more than 100%.

Please choose the category with which you most identify for the purpose of this consultation? You can choose more than one category.
Number of respondents: 10,893

Category	Responses	Percent %
An individual who participated in Canada’s whole-of-government mission in Afghanistan (Canadian Armed Forces member, police officer, public servant or civilian)	3,074	28.22
A family member of an individual who participated in Canada’s whole-of-government mission in Afghanistan (Canadian Armed Forces member, police officer, public servant or civilian)	1,353	12.42
A Veteran of Canada’s military	2,834	26.02
A current member of the Canadian Armed Forces	2,503	22.98
A current or former Canadian police officer	299	2.74
A member of the general public	3,876	35.58