An introduction to the Environics Institute

1. Survey research to help Canadians
better understand themselves and
their changing society
An introduction to the
Environics Institute JANUARY 2022

2. About the Environics Institute
1
Not-for-profit research
organization founded by
MichaelAdams in 2006
Our mandate is to conduct in-depth public opinion and
social research on the issues shaping Canada’s future. It is
through such research that Canadians can better
understand themselves and their changing society
We track public opinion and
social change over time to
identify important trends
Our research seeks to
represent and reflect the
diversity of Canadian society

3. Our research covers four broad areas:
2
Canada’s
diversity
Immigration and
multiculturalism
Race relations
Experiences of
specific communities
Indigenous
Peoples and
reconciliation
Non-Indigenous
perspectives on
relations with
Indigenous Peoples
Perspectives and
experiences of
Indigenous Peoples
Governing
Canada
Democratic
institutions and
values
The Canadian
federation
Policy issues (climate
change, health care)
Economic and
social change
Impact of economic
and social change
The evolution of
social values
Social capital

4. Our leadership team
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MichaelAdams
Founder & President
Andrew Parkin
Executive Director
Keith Neuman
Senior Associate

5. Our board of directors
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Michael Mendelson (Chair)
Maytree Fellow and former Senior Scholar
Scholar at the Caledon Institute of Social
Social Policy
Michael Adams
Founder and President
Peter Dinsdale
CEO ofYMCA Canada
Chaviva Hosek
Former President and CEO of the
Canadian Institute for Advanced
Research (CIFAR)
Peter MacLeod
Co-founder and principal of Mass LBP
Antonia Maioni
Dean of Arts, McGill University

6. How the Environics Institute works
5
A small, not-for-profit
organization that conducts
research, often in
partnership with other
organizations.
Structure:
• Small staff (1.5 FTEs), with low overhead
• Operational costs covered by the Founder
• Project funding provided through partnerships
with other organizations
• Data collection subcontracted to trusted data
collection specialists
• All research is in the public domain, with wide
dissemination through publications, media
coverage, op-eds and social media

7. Partnership model
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Research is conducted
through collaborative
partnerships with
organizations in all
sectors.
Partnerships are a collaboration:
• The Institute provides the survey expertise and access
to relevant historical research
• Partners provide the thought leadership, networks, and
capacity to connect research insights to meaningful
action and social change
• Collaboration ensures the research is timely, well-
informed, relevant, and practical
• Our success in attracting partners serves as the litmus
test of the value of the research projects to the wider
community

8. Selected partners and sponsors
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• Canadian Race Relations Foundation
• Durham Regional Police
• Elections Canada
• Government of Quebec
• OntarioTrillium Foundation
• Toronto Police Service
• Toronto Foundation
• UnitedWay of GreaterToronto
• YMCA of GreaterToronto
• The CanadaWest Foundation
• Canadian Roots Exchange
• Century Initiative
• Institute for Research in Public Policy (IRPP)
• Immigration, Refugees andCitizenship Canada (IRCC)
• The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation
• Wellesley Institute
• Diversity Institute at Ryerson University
• University ofToronto, Munk School for Global Affairs
• SFU Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue
• University of Ottawa, Faculty of Social Sciences
• The Brian Mulroney Institute of Government
• Future SkillsCentre
• InuitTapiritt Kanatami (ITK)
• CAP-CF, UQAM
• Vancouver City Savings (Vancity credit union)
• Apathy is Boring

9. Our survey project cycle
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Institute and partners
Identify gaps in data,
knowledge and
understanding of key
issues and
populations
In collaboration with
partners, the Institute
leads the research
design, data
collection, analysis
and reporting
Research findings are
published in reports
and widely
disseminated through
media and events
Partners & other
stakeholders use
research in guiding
policy, services and
advocacy. Data used
by researchers/
students to inform
further analysis
Identify issues
Design & conduct
research
Produce &
disseminate
results
Apply research
findings &
insights

10. Recent projects (I)
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11. Recent projects (II)
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12. Recent media headlines about our research
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13. Our insights: recent articles and op-eds
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14. Tracking opinion changes over time
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• Understanding public opinion requires context: is it changing, and how?
• The Institute specializes in tracking opinions, attitudes and experiences over time
• The Environics Focus Canada data archive is a unique resource:
• Launched in 1976, Focus Canada is the longest running and most comprehensive public opinion
research program on public policy issues in Canada;
• The Institute conducts Focus Canada surveys on relevant topics on an annual or semi-annual basis.
Tracking public opinion over time is essential to understanding how opinions and social
values are changing in response to policy, events and broader socio-cultural trends.

15. Canada should accept more immigrants from
places experiencing major conflicts
1993- 2021
VS
72.3M
Focus Canada: recent results on immigration
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Immigration levels are too high
1977 - 2021

16. Focus Canada: recent results on Canada - U.S.
Canadians’ overall opinion of the U.S.A.
1982- 2021
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17. The Environics Institute welcomes new partnerships!
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Options for collaboration with the Institute:
• Initiating new
survey projects
on the key issues
shaping
Canada’s future
• Supporting the
Focus Canada
survey program,
expanding its
scope and
frequency
• Working with
specific
population
groups to
explore their
experiences and
concerns
• Creating new
pathways to
disseminate
Institute
research and
insights

18. The Environics Institute & the Environics company: what’s
the difference?
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The Environics Institute and Environics Research share a common founder and
name, but are separate and operate independently
A for-profit company that
conducts innovative research
on behalf of clients
Research insights
designed to solve clients’
problems
Research results are
the property of clients
A not-for-profit entity that
works with partners to
conduct innovative research
in the public interest
Research insights designed
to foster greater public
understanding
Research results are
placed in the public
domain

19. For more information, please
contact the Institute at:
info@environicsinstitute.org
Keep in touch
environicsinstitute.org
@Environics_Inst
environicsinstitute.org/
contact-us/stay-informed