A new Leger poll has uncovered a three-way split among Canadians on the question of whether hockey commentator Don Cherry deserves the Order of Canada: Those who think he does, those who think he doesn’t, and those who have never heard of him.
The latest poll is titled Federal Government Satisfaction: Survey of Canadians, and asks about voting intentions, government performance and use of the notwithstanding clause, among other topics. But tucked away in its pages is this query: “There is currently a petition to have Don Cherry named to the Order of Canada. Do you feel Don Cherry should receive the Order of Canada?”
Overall, Canadians are almost evenly split between yes (30 per cent) and no (29 per cent). But in addition to the 27 per cent who said they don’t know, there’s a further 14 per cent who chose “Never heard of Don Cherry” as their answer.
Andrew Enns, executive vice-president of Leger’s Central Canada operations, told National Post that the Cherry question was something of a novelty.
“I don’t recall us ever sort of testing the waters on any other personalities getting the Order of Canada,” he said. “So I don’t really have a benchmark here.”
Cherry, 92, was named to the Order of Ontario in February and received a congratulatory visit from Doug Ford, the province’s premier. Then in March, Andrew Lawton, Conservative MP for Elgin–St. Thomas–London South, said he was nominating Cherry for the Order of Canada as well.
Lawton’s announcement received support from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre who wrote on X: “Don Cherry embodies what it means to be a proud Canadian.” He added: “Great work getting this going Andrew, and count me in.”
