“I don’t believe it!” Jean-Pierre Isoré said in his graceful French accent. “I start at the first page in Legion Magazine and I read every page until I come to the last page. I don’t believe it!”

Isoré is the grand-prize winner of the 2012 Legion Magazine Readership Survey and as such has won an eight-day, seven-night trip for two to a luxurious resort in Mexico. Fifteen minutes after that first call, the magazine called back to let him know that Carlson Wagonlit Travel, the provider of the grand prize and a partner in The Royal Canadian Legion Member Benefits Package, would be contacting him shortly to arrange the details of his trip. Isoré said, “I just phoned my wife Natacha to tell her and she said, ‘I don’t believe it!’”

They do now.

Including the grand prize, there were 10 winners: three $150 prizes, three $100 prizes and three $50 prizes. The winners of $150 are Edward Reich of Brookside, N.S., William McLachlan of Ottawa and H.A. Lefever of Nanaimo, B.C. The $100 prizewinners are William Hough of Vanier, Ont., Tom Grundy of Sussex Corner, N.B., and John Cramsie of Halifax. The final three winners, each receiving $50, are Capt. R. and Mrs. J. Procter of Comox, B.C., Dwayne Patterson of Paisley, Ont., and Edward Town, Port Hope, Ont.

As for the 1,876 other respondents, thank you! Your responses not only guide us in planning our editorial content, but they build a demographic profile of our average reader which is essential to encourage advertising in Legion Magazine. The revenue generated means we can afford to produce the magazine you deserve.

There were 29 questions on the survey, including what subjects you were most interested in. You also ranked your favourite columns, features and sections; Remembrance, the Second World War and the News section ranked in the 90s as our top items. Health File also climbed in popularity from 13th to third place and that increase in interest was consistent with your choosing health coverage as your third favourite subject. Have a look at the tables on these pages.

Our survey also revealed that we have 2.54 readers per copy which results in an impressive average annual readership of 635,384 and we were not at all surprised to learn that our subscribers are independent and generous—60 per cent of you own a mortgage-free home, and 48 per cent have purchased a product or service they saw advertised in the publication. Forty-six per cent of you are planning to book a vacation at an all-inclusive resort, and another 26 per cent of you are interested in Legion-hosted cruises and tours.

We heard from every region in Canada, and over half of you took the time to include a comment. Ninety-eight per cent of those remarks were positive, encouraging the staff to keep up the good work. But since this was a readership survey, it is best to quote you directly:

My father’s medals were stolen during a robbery at home. A Legion article advised about replacing them and (gave us the) address in Ottawa. It worked. ­—Kathleen Hughes, Vancouver

You are doing a good job for now, but you should be proactive now and set your sights to a new and much younger readership. —Thomas L. Pilgrim, Kelowna, B.C.

The format and contents have changed and dramatically improved over the years and the Legion Magazine is now one of the best! Military historical information superb! —Lloyd Leugneh, Cochrane, Alta.

I am a Life Member, I read the magazine from front to back and look forward to each publication. I really do enjoy the Canadian military history. I was only 13 years old when the war ended (WW II), but remember it well. Let’s not forget the sacrifice by all who were involved. —Rolland Inman, Bonnyville, Alta.

I enjoy the articles. I find them very interesting and educational. Your magazine makes me proud to be Canadian. —Alison Thierin, Estevan, Sask.

In the 2012 January issue about the War of 1812 I’ve learned more about this in one issue than in all my primary/secondary schooling. In school they were more focused on Radisson and the HBC (Hudson Bay Company). I can’t recollect ever studying about WW I or WW II. —Rick Kokiw, Rossburn, Man.

We enjoy, me particularly, all the well-researched info in Legion which we’ve had for 50-plus years. Since we are in our 80s we are familiar with WW I, WW II and the Cold War… —Richard and Evelyn Howard, Winnipeg

As the poppy chair of our local branch, I find the Legion Magazine is a great resource for pictures, etc. that I make posters with and display in our branch the month of November in an attempt to be more aware of our veterans. There are very few veterans (or anyone over 60 for that matter) in my town but we still get the kids involved with the poster and literary contests and run a very successful poppy campaign every year. —Carol Simonson, Gillam, Man.

As a retired educator, Legion Magazine has provided military history to me which I have shared with schoolchildren and fellow Legion members who were not cognizant of the valiant efforts of our forces for some two centuries in many war zones. —Richard N. Goodfellow, Deseronto, Ont.

I come home from university to see my mother and father; my father is a veteran and receives your magazine. I enjoy reading it every time I get to come home and the things I read make me just a little more proud of him each time. Thanks for the great articles, strong pictures and the memories they create for me and my father. —Sarah Lever, Shelburne, Ont.

This is one of the best Canadian history magazines. I’d buy it even if it wasn’t part of my Legion membership. I bought two gift subscriptions…and you could easily raise that price!! —Jan Briggs-McGowan, Norland, Ont.

I feel the Legion Magazine is doing an excellent job in the way the different items are presented. I request our Branch 178 members drop their magazines off at the branch so I can distribute them to nursing homes in this area. They are well received in the nursing homes. Maybe you could promote this idea. —John Greenfield, Bowmanville, Ont.

Magazine is excellent! I pass the French section to a WW II vet: Fusillier veteran from Normandy from St. John, Que. He enjoys it. —J.P. André Belzile, Dolbeau-Mist, Que.

The Legion Magazine should be sent to every high school across Canada. These are true historical stories. What our Canadian services have done is remarkable. I give thanks to God for these brave people.—Eva Shinniman Michaud, Laval, Que.

The coverage of the war in Afghanistan was outstanding. Better than some of the current military magazines. Well done! (P.S. I’m relatively new to the magazine.) —Luc Poitras, Pierrefonds, Que.

Donald Graves article: The War That Saved Canada should be in every school in Canada (January/February 2012). It is excellent. I will be e-mailing my friends about it and sharing my magazine! —Ray Comeau, Saint John, N.B.

Legion Magazine has developed into one of Canada’s premier publications of interest to a wide readership. Design and content first-rate, with timely articles by recognized writers and military/political commentators. A joy to read. —Len Canfield, Halifax

Legion Magazine continues to provide excellent coverage of issues related to Canadian military history, its importance to Canadians, past veterans and present day veterans in defence issues. I started reading my father’s copy almost 45 years ago and it still remains as relevant today as then. —Terence McGaughey, Charlottetown

Not much to say. It’s the best magazine I have ever read. There is a bit of something for everybody, Legion member or not. —Donald Carew, Cape Broyle, Nfld.

As a Brit/Can now living in the U.K., I feel that my Legion Magazine is my contact and history reference of Canada. I have looked but have yet to find any better publication for this purpose. It’s a magazine that I find very easy to ‘get lost in.’ Enjoy! —Ray Portlock, U.K.

I was 16 years old when I walked across the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit, Mich., to Windsor, Ont., and enlisted in the Canadian Army, served four years. In the U.K., Italy and Northwest Europe. Thanks Canada! —Hank Wilhems, Nevada, U.S.A.

Over and over you commented on how the magazine has improved and how much you are enjoying the new look. You awarded Legion Magazine an 88 per cent approval rating, seven points higher than our last survey. Thank you. We need your feedback. Your thoughtful responses will help us to continue to publish the magazine you want to read, and like our grand prize winner we will do our best to make you want to read Legion Magazine from the first page to the last.

Email the writer at: writer@legionmagazine.com

Email a letter to the editor at: letters@legionmagazine.com