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Depending on who you are and what you like to do in your spare time, the results of a new Mainstreet Research poll that surveyed 1500 Canadians and found that 54 per cent cannot name a single Canadian visual artist, living or dead, may not be all that shocking. Especially considering that the poll also found that 97 per cent of Canadians can name three or more Canadian hockey players.

The top painters named were Emily Carr and Tom Thompson, at 20 per cent and 19 per cent, respectively and nation-wide, with Lawren Harris and A.Y. Jackson bringing up the rear, while in Quebec, 41 per cent named Jean-Paul Riopelle.

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It takes a lot for a historical, local painter to trend online, but Harris managed it in recent months — thanks in large part to Steve Martin curating an exhibit of his work.

With less of a focus on a wider class of artists in schools, including those that are contemporary, it’s not surprising Canadians are more in touch with all things Wayne Gretzky, who is the country’s favourite hockey player by a landslide (winning 33 per cent of the vote), while Sidney Crosby, Maurice Richard, Bobby Orr and P.K. Subban trailed behind.