In recent years, there has been much discussion about historic names in the province and even in Vancouver, and a recent survey wondered if residents would want to change the name of British Columbia.
The survey from Research Co. used Haida Gwaii as a point of reference.
Over 15 years ago, what was previously known as the Queen Charlotte Islands was renamed Haida Gwaii to recognize the ancestral Indigenous history of the lands.
Research Co. found that most residents would not support a name or flag change for British Columbia as a province.
According to Research Co., “Fewer than three-in-10 British Columbians are ready to endorse a change in the province’s name or flag.”
More specifically, 28 per cent of residents who were surveyed say they agree with changing the name of the province to acknowledge its Indigenous heritage (-1 per cent since a similar poll in 2024). A total of 58 per cent of residents disagree with the idea.
Research Co. also broke the results down demographically, showing that folks in younger populations were more supportive of the idea. Research Co. found that 43 per cent of B.C. residents aged 18 to 34 support changing the name of the province, compared to only 30 per cent of residents aged 35 to 54, and only 15 per cent of residents 55 and over.
Research Co. also looked at the Haida Gwaii change, and found that 51 per cent of British Columbians agreed with the decision, while 23 per cent disagreed. Twenty-six per cent of respondents didn’t know how they felt about the change.
Majorities of British Columbians who voted for the BC New Democratic Party (NDP) (66 per cent) or the BC Green Party (60 per cent) in the 2024 election endorse the decision to rename the Queen Charlotte Islands as Haida Gwaii. Only 41 per cent of respondents who cast ballots for Conservative Party of BC candidates in the last provincial election share this view.
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A majority of residents are also against a proposal to change the B.C. flag.
Only 26 per cent of British Columbians would change the flag to remove the Union Jack. By contrast, 52 per cent are against the idea.
One notable occurrence of something similar that took place in Vancouver is when Trutch Street was renamed. The story was very divisive among our readers. Some of the opposition came from folks who took issue with the name not being easy to pronounce.
The new Pattullo Bridge also has an Indigenous name. That was also quite a polarizing story, if the article’s comments are any indication.