Pierre Trudeau was the top pick as the greatest Canadian of the 20th Century, a new national public opinion survey suggests.
In second place was Terry Fox, the inspirational hero who tried to walk across Canada after losing a leg to cancer, while hockey great Wayne Gretzky was the top choice of living Canadians.
The poll, conducted by Ekos Research Associates, asked more than 3,000 Canadians to name their choice for top honours. Trudeau was the resounding favourite at 32 per cent, with Fox coming a distant second at six per cent and Gretzky placing third with four per cent.
Fourth-place honours were shared by former prime minister Lester B. Pearson, who is viewed as the father of Canadian peacekeeping, and Rene Levesque, who led the separatist Parti Quebecois to its first electoral victory. Both men were named by three per cent of respondents.
Former prime ministers William Mackenzie King, Wilfrid Laurier, John Diefenbaker and Brian Mulroney were also named in the survey, but received less than two per cent of the votes. ©Canadian Press
In second place was Terry Fox, the inspirational hero who tried to walk across Canada after losing a leg to cancer, while hockey great Wayne Gretzky was the top choice of living Canadians.
The poll, conducted by Ekos Research Associates, asked more than 3,000 Canadians to name their choice for top honours. Trudeau was the resounding favourite at 32 per cent, with Fox coming a distant second at six per cent and Gretzky placing third with four per cent.
Fourth-place honours were shared by former prime minister Lester B. Pearson, who is viewed as the father of Canadian peacekeeping, and Rene Levesque, who led the separatist Parti Quebecois to its first electoral victory. Both men were named by three per cent of respondents.
Former prime ministers William Mackenzie King, Wilfrid Laurier, John Diefenbaker and Brian Mulroney were also named in the survey, but received less than two per cent of the votes. ©Canadian Press