Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - June 29, 2012, Winnipeg, Manitoba C M Y K PAGE A17 winnipegfreepress. com CANADA WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 2012 A 17 HURRY IN NOW! LIMITED QUANTITIES! Expedited delivery on in- stock items Proud sponsor & supporter of our local Ronald McDonald House Charities � 1425 ELLICE AVENUE 783- 8500 CLOSEOUTS . CANCELLED ORDERS SPECIAL PURCHASES SHOWROOM ONE- OF- A- KINDS . QUANTITIES ARE LIMITED! SAVE $ 600! 50 % OFF! SAVE $ 300! Monday- Friday 10am- 9pm, Saturday 10am- 6pm, Sunday 12pm- 5pm www. lazyboy. com/ winnipeg V A IL ROCKER RECLINER $ 399 SAVE $ 150! LAWRENCE ROCKER RECLINER IN BONDED LEATHER $ 549 SAVE $ 200! ELDORADO MISSION STYLE HIGH LEG CHAIR RECLINER $ 999 SAVE $ 300! FORTE LEATHER ROCKER RECLINER $ 699 SAVE $ 300! CANADEL SOLID WOOD DINING SETS ASSORTED PIECES LAUREL STATIONARY SOFA $ 799 LARSON RECLINING SOFA 2 COLOURS AVAILABLE ON URS BLE $ 1098 C O N TINUE D ITEMS . FLOOR SAMPLES . . OVERSTOCKS . . OF LAST WEEKEND CLOSED HOLIDAY MONDAY THE results of a new survey challenge the long- held notion Canadians are reluctant to be as outwardly patriotic as their American neighbours. The Ipsos- Reid online survey of 1,100 people - conducted for the Historica- Dominion Institute in the days leading up to the Canada Day long weekend - suggest Canadians' national pride is becoming an in- your- face swagger. That is particularly true when it comes to the country's most potent national symbol, the Maple Leaf. One in five surveyed said they would consider getting a tattoo of a Canadian flag somewhere on their body. Respondents from Saskatchewan and Manitoba seemed the most eager, as well as those under 55. " We're talking about a country that traditionally was not very extroverted in a way that Americans or Brits are," said Jeremy Diamond, the institute's national director. " We're breaking out of our conservative feelings that the flag should only be flown a certain way." The survey suggests when it comes to the Maple Leaf, Canadians consider it their overwhelming choice for a national symbol - and they like seeing it everywhere, even on their underwear. Forget the Mounties in red serge, industrious beavers and well- worn hockey jerseys - these stodgy icons each garnered only 10 per cent support when respondents were asked to pick a national symbol. The polar bear, Inukshuk and canoe were even further behind. Poutine wafted into the survey at two per cent, smothering Anne of Green Gables at one per cent. The Maple Leaf, by contrast, was selected by 59 per cent - one of the survey's most decisive findings. " The fact that it was a clear frontrunner surprised us," says Diamond. " We thought ( the other symbols) would be much higher up. ... It looks like there's an interesting consensus across regions, across age, across any demographic that the Maple Leaf remains the one symbol that all Canadians can agree on." Deborah Morrison, president of Canada's History Society, says there are many reasons Canadians seem to love the leaf more than ever. " It's recognized around the world. It's very distinctive. It's very simple. It's very clear, and it's got a long history," she said from Winnipeg. The Maple Leaf Forever , written in 1867 by Alexander Muir, was regarded as Canada's national song for decades. And on Feb. 15, 1965, the red- andwhite Maple Leaf flag was inaugurated as Canada's national flag, displacing the Red Ensign after a long and bitter debate. " Our flag is something that all Canadians have embraced," says Morrison, noting the design is based on the leaves of the sugar maple, found mainly in Eastern Canada. " I think it's ironic, seeing as Western Canada doesn't even grow these trees. But they've still embraced it as perhaps the most unifying symbol of the whole country because it is so deeply ingrained in our history and heritage." The survey was conducted online between June 20 to 22. - The Canadian Press M ONTREAL - A Montreal hospital has come under intense scrutiny after two psychiatric patients were killed and a third patient was allegedly attacked in the course of several days. The union representing health- care professionals at Notre- Dame Hospital says it warned management last year staffing cuts to the psychiatric department could have consequences. " We're wondering whether there's a link between these cuts and these events," union president Guy Brochu said Thursday. When pressed, he could not immediately provide specific numbers on the staffing cuts. " Could we have avoided ( the deaths)?" Two male patients - aged 69 and 77 - were killed by asphyxiation in the psychiatric ward on June 16 and June 21. One day after the second death, a 71- year- old female patient was allegedly assaulted in the ward; she survived. Police were called in, and a 31- year- old psychiatric patient was arrested. The man, Idelson Guerrier of Joliette, Que., was formally charged with assault with a weapon and break and enter with criminal intent. Investigators are trying to determine whether the suspect is connected to the deaths. A department spokeswoman said detectives have already questioned the man and may want to interrogate him again after he undergoes a psychiatric evaluation. Initially, hospital staff did not suspect foul play in either of the deaths. Officials said both victims suffered from medical problems as well as psychological ones. " These deaths seemed to be natural," said hospital spokeswoman Lucie Dufresne. The institution does not routinely call for autopsies when someone dies, but the attack changed everything for these two cases. When police were called in, staff told them about the recent patient deaths. It was only then autopsies were carried out on the bodies and tests discovered both men died by asphyxiation, Dufresne said. The head of a patients' rights group said Thursday he was troubled by the fact the deaths were initially blamed on natural causes. " It sends shivers up the spine," said Paul Brunet, president of the Conseil pour la protection des malades. He said patients have a right to feel secure in a hospital and asked how an individual who was allegedly " that violent" found his way into the institution. The hospital kept the deaths and the assault quiet for days. Dufresne said officials needed the time to alert families of the victims, and the other patients in the psychiatric ward, before going public. The goal was to keep people from wondering about their loved ones. She said the relatives of the victims and each of the approximately 70 patients in the unit were contacted before the hospital released the information late Wednesday. She also sought to downplay concerns about security - and pointed out the hospital is not a detention centre for people with violent behaviour. Psychiatric patients have freedom to circulate, which Dufresne said is common in a hospital setting. " Psychiatry in hospital is not a prison," she said. " So patients have a certain liberty... It's a therapeutic place where people can recover." Dr. Paul Lesp�rance, chief of Notre- Dame's psychiatric unit, said the suspect had been under the watch of his ward's intensive- care specialists, a standard procedure for patients previously unknown to the team. Hospital officials insist a sufficient number of employees was on duty when the deaths and the attack occurred. But they say they have still launched an internal evaluation to determine whether improvements are needed. On Thursday, one reporter took the elevator to the psychiatry ward and talked to several people. A security guard eventually caught up with her. - The Canadian Press Canadians wear patriotism on, and under their sleeves By Michael MacDonald 2 slayings uncovered at Montreal hospital By Andy Blatchford Deaths deemed natural until third attack June 22 ' It sends shivers up the spine' - patient advocate Paul Brunet PAWEL DWULIT / THE CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES A survey shows we're keen to display Canuck pride and love the Maple Leaf, too. A_ 19_ Jun- 29- 12_ FP_ 01. indd A17 6/ 28/ 12 6: 56: 51 PM ;