March 2026  |  Alberta & British Columbia

Signs Across Canada
Research Project

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Mapping the Health of Canadian Civic Display in the West

We’re conducting qualitative comparative research examining how Canadian civic identity is publicly displayed across federal political donors in Alberta and British Columbia. Through structured interviews and comparative analysis, the study explores variation across province, municipal setting, and party affiliation. The project seeks to better understand the health of civic display culture in Western Canada.

❋ Behavioural Data

Measure observed and reported civic display practices. Developed for structured comparative analysis.

❋ Climate Perception

Assess perceived acceptance of Canadian symbols in local communities. Contextual comfort is a central variable.

❋ Symbol Framing

Evaluate how national symbols are interpreted in public life. Responses help distinguish civic and political readings.

❋ Structural Comparison

Compare across Alberta and British Columbia and by municipal setting. Party affiliation is analyzed as a secondary dimension.

Understanding civic display is one way of understanding the health of public life and its many communities.
Five-Step Research Design

  • How is Canadian civic identity publicly performed among federal political donors in Western Canada? Only donors from 2025 are included to keep the study precise and relevant.

  • We have identified key dimensions: current display behaviour, willingness to display, perceived social climate, and emotional attachment. The framework is designed to allow structured comparison across provinces, municipal types, and party affiliation.

  • Short-form structured interviews are conducted primarily by phone, with a mirrored online survey for convenience. Responses are aggregated for analysis.

  • Responses are systematically analysed by province (AB/BC), municipal type (capital, commerce, midsized), and party donated to (CPC, LPC, NDP). Patterns of similarity and difference in civic display are documented and coded for comparison.

  • Aggregated results will be summarised to participating email addresses and publicly to provide insight into civic display practices.

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