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Sunday, November 7, 1999 D-Day named CP/BN's news event of the 20th century
A survey of newspaper editors and broadcasters by The Canadian Press and Broadcast News has produced D-Day as the country's news event of the century. Almost 170 editors and broadcasters cast ballots in the survey, which asked them to select the top 10 news events of the century. The final list is a mix of military, political and sports moments that define Canada in the last 100 years. D-Day received 817 points in a weighted voting system that gave 10 points for a first-place vote, nine points for a second-place vote all the way down to one point for a 10th-place vote. The patriation of the Constitution and the creation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms finished second in the voting with 732 points. The October Crisis was third with 653, followed by the battle of Vimy Ridge (619), women getting the vote (531), the Free Trade Agreement with the United States (482), the 1995 Quebec referendum (475), Paul Henderson's winning goal in the 1972 Canada-U.S.S.R. hockey series (452), the creation of medicare in Saskatchewan (446), and Canada's failed military raid on Dieppe during the Second World War (318). Chad Gaffield, one of two independent experts who helped CP/BN come up with 30 candidates for the news event of the century, says the selection of D-Day represents something important about Canada as the year 2000 approaches. "I guess what it shows to me is how global Canadians are thinking now, how much they are thinking about Canada on the world stage," said Gaffield, a professor of history at the University of Ottawa and director of the school's institute of Canadian studies. "We're thinking very international these days, which is interesting, and we're thinking about our contribution to the larger international scene." Voters were asked to vote for their top 10 news events, either from CP/BN's suggestions or from any other moment that struck them as one of the most important events of the century. Participants were asked to make their selections based on the following criteria: an event that was major news the day it occurred, but also went on to endure with Canadians beyond that moment or an ongoing news event that over a period of time was judged to have been of major significance in the country's development or history.
"We were right up there with the British and the Americans and in that sense maybe that makes it that important," said Granatstein, director of the Canadian War Museum. "We were literally one-fifth of the sea borne force, which for a small country playing with two superpowers in the big league, is pretty important." Many voters said it was difficult selecting a top 10. "Albeit fun to kick around, it's a fool's game," said Alan Bell-Chambers, news director at CFQC TV in Saskatoon, who selected the raid on Dieppe as his top news event and ranked D-Day second. "No list will stand scrutiny. Tomorrow or next year my choices would change." Others forcefully defended their choices. "The patriation of the Constitution and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms was the most binding piece of legislation that pitted the people against government," said Tony Ryma, news director of MCTV in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. "These documents are constantly revisited in our courts, challenged by special interest groups and debated by Canadians. This piece of history will be dissected for years to come." Bill McGuire, managing editor of the Truro Daily News in Nova Scotia, was influenced by his personal recollections of Henderson's goal. "When an important event happens in one's lifetime, then one usually remembers exactly where you were when it happened -- the time, who you were with, your reaction, the reaction of others, your feelings, and then treasure the moment forever," he said. "When applying those conditions, then Paul Henderson's goal in 1972 is a clear winner." But Ian White, managing editor of the Portage la Prairie Daily Graphic, had a tough time divorcing himself from his selections. "I found it very difficult to distance myself from the events which have played during my life and analyse the true impact of those which occurred before my time," said White, who chose D-Day first. "It was a worthwhile exercise." Brian Marshall, managing editor of the Brandon Sun, said: "The choices were difficult and thought provoking. "To sum up a nation's history with so few events and people unfortunately seems to trivialize some amazing accomplishments." And Michael Brown, managing editor of the Niagara Falls Review, commented on the controversy of century-ending lists: "Great way to start a fight in the newsroom!" The Canadian Press and Broadcast News also surveyed editors and broadcasters to choose the Canadian newsmakers of the 20th century, as well as the Canadian teams and athletes. Results of those surveys will be released within the next few weeks. |
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German prisoners captured on D-Day march along the beach at Bernières-sur-Mer, France June 6,1944, before embarking for England.
-- (CP ARCHIVE PHOTO/National Archives of Canada-Ken Bell )
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