Survey results - Finalists’ Design Concepts for the 2SLGBTQI+ National Monument

From November 15 to 28, 2021, the Government of Canada, in collaboration with the project proponent, the LGBT Purge Fund, posted a survey asking LGBT Purge survivors, 2SLGBTQI+ community members, stakeholders and rightsholders and people across Canada to share their thoughts on the design concepts proposed by the following five finalist teams.

A total of 5,469 valid surveys were analysed (5,042 English, 427 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 Objectives

The Monument must educate, memorialize, celebrate and inspire. Which designs do you think best respond to these objectives? You may select more than one design proposal per objective.

Percentage of respondents who think the design effectively responds to the following Monument objectives:

Monument Objective	Total respondents per question	Durling	MASS	OnCommon Ground	SOM	Wreford
The Monument must educate. It must encourage the public to learn about the historic and present-day discrimination faced by LGBTQ2+ people in Canada and highlight galvanizing moments of resistance and achievement.	5,506	22.2 %	29.7 %	51.6 %	14.9 %	37.6 %
The Monument must memorialize. It must acknowledge the profound social, physical and psychological impacts of discrimination carried out against LGBTQ2+ communities, from colonialism’s intolerance of Two-Spirit and LGBTQ Indigenous peoples, to the LGBT Purge, to the present and beyond.	5,382	24.3 %	32.4 %	48.7 %	21.3 %	37.2 %
The Monument must celebrate. It must honour the achievements, large and small, of LGBTQ2+ communities, allies and activists whose steadfast commitment has led the fight for LGBTQ2+ equality in Canada.	5,369	33.8 %	35.5 %	31.9 %	12.6 %	42 %
The Monument must inspire. It must encourage acceptance, inject strength and provoke action. It will be a beacon of hope and change for the future.	5,379	29.5 %	33.2 %	37 %	14.3 %	38.4 %

Question 2 – Guiding Principles

The principles of inclusion, Indigeneity, visibility and timelessness must guide the design and experience of the Monument. Which designs do you think best highlight these principles? You may select more than one design proposal per guiding principle.

Percentage of respondents who think the design effectively highlights the following Guiding Principles:

Guiding Principle	Total respondents per question	Durling	MASS	OnCommon Ground	SOM	Wreford
Inclusion. The Monument must reflect LGBTQ2+ communities’ spectrum of sexual and gender identities, expressions and lived experiences	5,022	30.6 %	35.5 %	39.3 %	16.7 %	40.4 %
Indigeneity. The Monument must tell the story of the mistreatment of Two-Spirit and LGBTQ First Nations, Inuit and Métis people from the colonial period to the present day and encourage reconciliation.	4,937	22.7 %	22 %	43.4 %	21.3 %	39.8 %
Visibility. The Monument must address the erasure of LGBTQ2+ people in Canada by emphasizing that LGBTQ2+ lives are to be lived visibly – safely, proudly, publicly and without fear.	5,032	32.7 %	34.1 %	37.4 %	18.4 %	41.3 %
Timelessness. The Monument must be both a lasting and a living monument. It must remain relevant to those fighting for LGBTQ2+ rights and freedoms and create space for evolving narratives.	5,379	30.4 %	30.7 %	39.2 %	16 %	36.8 %

Question 3 – Form and Character

Design teams were provided guidelines about how to express the Monument objectives and guiding principles through the design. Which design proposals best respond to these guidelines? You may select more than one design proposal per design guideline.

Percentage of respondents who think the design effectively responds to the following guidelines for form and character:

Guideline	Total respondents per question	Durling	MASS	OnCommon Ground	SOM	Wreford
The Monument will be a highly visible landmark in the immediate landscape and beyond, drawing people to learn, reflect, celebrate, heal and be inspired.	4,937	35 %	30.5 %	36.2 %	26.1 %	41.4 %
The Monument’s design will be unique and specific to this project and communicate the objectives and principles through a powerful and distinct visual identity.	4,926	30.7 %	31.4 %	35.2 %	18 %	40.6 %
The Monument will express the stated objectives and principles in an evocative and engaging way that is understandable to viewers.	4,894	24.1 %	30.9 %	42.6 %	14.2 %	36.7 %
The Monument will be capable of both conveying the deep impacts and ongoing pain of discrimination, while also celebrating the resistance and resilience of LGBTQ2+ communities.	4,895	24.7 %	31.1 %	43.5 %	16 %	37.7 %
The Monument will not feel static, but be living, growing and expanding, much like the ongoing fight for equality.	4,900	27.9 %	31.5 %	39.6 %	11.3 %	37 %

Question 4 – Visitor Experience

The Monument will offer meaningful experiences for a wide range of visitors, including LGBT Purge survivors and those from wider LGBTQ2+ communities, individuals wanting to learn about LGBTQ2+ history in Canada, as well as anybody looking to enjoy a well-designed public space. Which designs do you think would most effectively perform the functions below? You may select more than one design proposal per criteria.

Percentage of respondents who think the design effectively perform the following visitor experience functions:

Function	Total respondents per question	Durling	MASS	OnCommon Ground	SOM	Wreford
The Monument will raise awareness and educate the public through its symbolism, design and educational components.	4,804	27.6	32.4	47.9	18.7	40.2
The Monument will provide a setting that is dynamic, inviting and inclusive to all.	4,804	36.3	37.4	37.8	14.5	44.5
The Monument will offer tranquil spaces conducive to reflection, remembrance and healing.	4,798	23.3	31.9	53.3	17.4	36.3
The Monument will provide an appropriate setting for gatherings, celebrations and ceremonies.	4,801	41	40	32	12.6	48.2
The Monument will create a sacred space for story-telling and offer a platform for dialogue and reconciliation.	4,777	27.6	33.8	44.8	17.3	42
The Monument will create a great public space that contributes positively to the local context.	4,789	35.1	34.6	37.9	14.1	42.4

Question 5 – Impressions of Proposed Monument Designs

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. Please assign at least one adjective to each.

Notes: Word count results were combined around the root adjective (e.g., “inclusive” also includes inclusion, inclusivity, inclusiveness) and includes misspelled words. In cases where respondents provided the same adjective three times, the adjective was only counted once.

Results with a weighted percentage of at least 70% of the total words received for each team in each language are included in the tables below in descending order.

English Results

Durling		Mass		Oncommon Ground		SOM		Wreford
Adjective	Count	Adjective	Count	Adjective	Count	Adjective	Count	Adjective	Count
open	376	colourful	289	peaceful	390	cold	285	inclusive	264
inclusive	179	beautiful	193	reflective	278	stark	104	openness	178
simple	153	openness	189	nature	267	boring	96	inviting	162
celebratory	148	inclusivity	155	tranquil	214	confusing	89	celebratory	131
inviting	144	inspiring	131	calm	187	striking	70	inspiring	128
colourful	107	reflective	123	educative	156	sombre	68	beautiful	123
fun	103	inviting	116	contemplative	133	inspiring	67	welcoming	110
bright	101	peacefulness	96	sombre	131	reflective	65	interesting	106
inspiring	99	calming	83	serene	114	interesting	54	fun	102
beautiful	89	bright	73	inclusive	109	static	51	unique	95
welcoming	86	boring	67	beauty	101	harsh	49	confusing	83
boring	76	interesting	67	inspiring	95	ugly	47	community	76
modern	76	welcoming	63	closed	93	uninviting	47	bright	70
unique	70	gathering	60	green	91	sterile	45	educative	69
interesting	62	dynamic	56	quiet	82	open	44	celebration	68
confusing	60	flat	56	inviting	79	modern	43	dynamic	66
dynamic	58	pretty	56	healing	78	powerful	41	powerful	65
spacious	53	thoughtful	54	thoughtful	73	abstract	40	creative	62
timeless	47	community	49	solemn	70	sharp	40	thoughtful	61
plain	45	simple	46	powerful	66	simple	40	hopeful	55
-	-	confusing	42	sadness	65	-	-	engaging	54
-	-	contemplative	42	dark	59	-	-	gathering	52
-	-	-	-	respectful	55	-	-	joyful	49
-	-	-	-	memory	52	-	-	reflective	49
-	-	-	-	enclosed	51	-	-	exciting	46

French Results

Durling		Mass		Oncommon Ground		SOM		Wreford
Adjective	Count	Adjective	Count	Adjective	Count	Adjective	Count	Adjective	Count
rassembleur	31	rassembleur	21	paisible	32	froid	34	rassembleur	34
simple	27	coloré	19	serein	21	simple	15	inclusif	17
inclusif	26	inclusif	18	calme	20	grandiose	15	festif	14
ouvert	12	invitant	13	réflexion	20	reflection	9	invitant	11
festif	11	ouvert	10	nature	13	triste	7	ouvert	11
trop	10	beau	9	naturel	11	trop	7	original	10
vivant	9	réflexion	9	recueillement	10	moderne	6	dynamique	8
coloré	8	lumineux	9	inspirant	9	pas	6	lumineux	8
intemporel	8	chaleureux	7	sombre	9	visible	6	vivant	8
joyeux	8	magnifique	7	éducatif	9	visuel	6	pas	7
inspirant	7	symbolique	6	chaleureux	6	grandeur	6	coloré	6
moderne	7	lumières	6	lourd	6	impressionnant	5	beau	6
dynamique	6	accueillant	5	sobre	6	laid	5	accueillant	6
grandiose	6	bien	5	souvenir	6	non	5	attirant	6
invitant	6	couleur	5	triste	6	original	5	celebrant	6
beau	6	célébration	5	trop	6	solennel	5	joyeux	5
épuré	6	inspirant	5	intime	6	imposant	5	non	5
célébration	6	nuit	5	commémoratif	6	rassembleur	5	trop	5
original	5	ouverture	5	fermé	5	abstrait	4	amusant	4
évocateur	5	vibrant	5	guérison	5	beau	4	fierté	4
communauté	5	diversité	5	sacré	5	sombre	4	inspirant	4
positif	5	espace	5	inclusion	5	-	-	unique	4
-	-	commémoratif	5	espace	5	-	-	artistique	4
-	-	-	-	solonel	5	-	-	communauté	4
-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	naturel	4

Question 6 – Demographic Questions

Do you live in the National Capital Region? Total number of respondents: 5,469

Answer	Responses	Percent %
Yes	1,918	43.2 %
No	2,517	56.8 %

If not, in which province or territory do you live? Total number of respondents: 2,473

Province or territory	Responses	Percent %
British Columbia	282	11.4 %
Alberta	228	9.2 %
Saskatchewan	61	2.5 %
Manitoba	522	21.1 %
Ontario	806	32.6 %
Quebec	275	11.1 %
New Brunswick	63	2.5 %
Nova Scotia	193	7.8 %
Prince Edward Island	11	0.4 %
Newfoundland and Labrador	17	0.7 %
Yukon	9	0.4 %
Northwest Territories	3	0.1 %
Nunavut	3	0.1 %

Are you a LGBT Purge Survivor or have you been otherwise impacted by the LGBT Purge? Total number of respondents: 4,428

Answer	Responses	Percent %
Yes	522	11.8 %
No	3,906	88.2 %

Do you identify as part of the LGBTQ2+ community? Total number of respondents: 2,959

Answer	Responses	Percent %
Yes	2,561	57.9 %
No	1,862	42.1 %

Which of the following best describes you? (Select all that apply) Total number of respondents: 10,893

Answer	Responses	Percent %
Lesbian	523	20.7 %
Gay	1,092	43.2 %
Bisexual	504	19.9 %
Transgender	201	8 %
Queer	645	25.5 %
Two-Spirit	73	2.9 %
Intersex	15	0.6 %
Non-binary	268	10.6 %
Gender Diverse/Gender Fluid/Gender Queer	248	9.8 %
Pansexual	238	9.4 %
Other, please specify:	122	4.8 %

Are you an Indigenous person? Total number of respondents: 4,379

Answer	Responses	Percent %
First Nations	86	2 %
Inuk (Inuit)	3	0.1 %
Métis	130	3 %
Not Indigenous	4,160	95 %

Which of the following best describes you? (Select all that apply) Total number of respondents: 4,103

Answer	Responses	Percent %
South Asian (e.g., East Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, etc.)	103	2.5 %
East Asian (e.g., Chinese, Korean, Japanese, etc.)	116	2.8 %
Southeast Asian (e.g., Filipino, Vietnamese, Cambodian, etc.)	54	1.3 %
Middle Eastern, West and Central Asian (e.g., Iranian, Lebanese, Afghan, etc.)	112	2.7 %
Asian, other	17	0.4 %
North African (e.g., Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian, etc.)	23	0.6 %
Black Caribbean (e.g., Jamaican, Haitian, Trinidadian/Tobagonian, etc.)	44	1.1 %
Black African (e.g., Nigerian, Ethiopian, Congolese, etc.)	19	0.5 %
Black, other	12	0.3 %
Latin American (e.g., Colombian, Salvadorian, Peruvian, etc.)	71	1.7 %
Racialized person, other (specify):	61	1.5 %
A person with one racialized parent and the other parent who is not.	127	3.1 %
White (e.g., European descent)	3561	86.8 %

Are you a current or former RCMP member? Total number of respondents: 4,388

Answer	Responses	Percent %
Yes, currently	8	0.2 %
Yes, formerly	19	0.4 %
No	4,361	99.4 %

Are you a current or former Canadian Armed Forces member? Total number of respondents: 4,395

Answer	Responses	Percent %
Yes, currently	99	2.3 %
Yes, formerly	153	3.5 %
No	4,143	94.3 %

Are you a current or former Federal Public Service employee? Total number of respondents: 4,401

Answer	Responses	Percent %
Yes, currently	1,084	24.6 %
Yes, formerly	292	6.6 %
No	3,025	68.7 %