Ekos Research Associates

EKOS Research Associates Inc. is a Canadian polling firm based in Ottawa, Canada, that specializes in public opinion, market and economic research.^[1] It was founded in 1980 by Frank Graves, with $5,000 he borrowed from his father.^[2][3] The name EKOS was taken from the Greek word oikos, meaning house.^[4]

EKOS Research Associates Inc.

EKOS Research headquarters, Ottawa, Canada
Company type	Private
Industry	Public opinion research Market research Economic research[1]
Founded	1980[2]
Founder	Frank Graves
Headquarters	Ottawa, Canada
Key people	Frank Graves (President)
Website	www.ekos.com

The firm uses interactive voice response for its political polls.^[5][6]

Controversies

The founder and president of the firm, Frank Graves, was involved in political controversies that led to allegations of bias. In April 2010, Graves was criticised for making disparaging remarks against the Conservative Party, such as "If the cranky old men in Alberta don't like it, too bad. Go south and vote for Palin."^[7] As he provided polling services to the Canadian Broadcasting Company, a review was carried out, which concluded the matter had been dealt with.^[8] Graves later apologized for "incendiary" comments and denied anti-Conservative bias in his polling.^[9]

In April 2022, in a now-deleted post on Twitter, Graves called Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre an "authoritarian populist" and said he would "make sure you are never going to lead my country. I don't make idle threats".^[10]

References

1. "Ekos Research Associates Inc". Bloomberg.
2. Andrew-Gee, Eric (August 20, 2015). "Survey Says: The Future of Polling is Hard to Predict". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on December 12, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2025.(subscription required)
3. Valpy, Michael (June 17, 2011). "A pollster's painful reckoning: 'How could I have screwed up so badly?'". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on October 19, 2023. Retrieved October 21, 2023.(subscription required)
4. Cleroux, Richard (March 17, 2003). "Pollster Graves is in 'the house'". The Hill Times. Ottawa. Retrieved January 24, 2025.(subscription required)
5. Maher, Stephen; McGregor, Glen (April 24, 2012). "Misleading calls aimed at Liberal, NDP, poll shows". Montreal Gazette. p. A11. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
6. Grenier, Eric (August 8, 2013). "How robo-calls work: the cheap and easy way to poll". The Globe and Mail. Ottawa. Archived from the original on December 20, 2024. Retrieved October 6, 2023.(subscription required)
7. "Michael Ignatieff is tacking left - finally". The Globe and Mail. April 21, 2010. Archived from the original on January 8, 2013.
8. "Frank Graves on a possible strategy for the Liberal Party". CBC Office of the Ombudsman. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
9. Curry, Bill (April 23, 2010). "Pollster Frank Graves apologizes, denies anti-Tory bias". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on March 25, 2021. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
10. Russ, Geoff (April 21, 2022). "Geoff Russ: EKOS boss Frank Graves' ill advised threat to keep Pierre Poilievre from winning". National Post. Retrieved January 31, 2025.

External links

• EKOS homepage