Conseil international d'études canadiennes - International Council for Canadian Studies

Cultural Challenges of Migration in Canada
Ottawa, May 22-24, 2012

The International Council for Canadian Studies (ICCS) is pleased to announce that its next conference will be held in Ottawa in May 22 to 24, 2012, again in collaboration with the Universities of Ottawa and Carleton. Proposals for twenty minute papers, to be presented in either English or French, are invited from disciplinary, multidisciplinary, or comparative perspectives on the theme of Cultural Challenges of Migration in Canada.

Migration is a factor, which has played a central role in the construction of a Canadian identity. Concepts such as multiculturalism, interculturalism and transculturalism are inextricably linked with phenomena pertaining to migration, and the effects of these phenomena have made themselves felt in Canada’s cultural dynamics. The question therefore arises as to which processes and channels of communication have been instrumental in transmitting these migratory dynamics, and in which form they have manifested themselves in Canadian everyday life and culture. What are the cultural challenges of migration in Canada in the context of “globalization”? Which are the areas where a specific cultural dimension has arisen which, in its turn, has acquired a model character within the global sphere linked to the knowledge-based society? Papers to be read at the symposium should address these questions with regard not only to scientific and popular media and communication, language and literature, music and the visual arts, but also to social and political sciences.

1. The 21st Century Migration of Aboriginal Peoples: identity formation and cultural retention.
2. Latino migration and its influence in Canadian multiculturalism.
3. Migration and Narrative – Narratives of Migration
4. Migrants’ Views of and Reflections on their Life-Projects: Canadian Identity or Identities in a Pluralist Canada?
5. Migration, Partnership and Social Cohesion
6. Bridges over Fear? The Role of the Migrant Churches in the Canadian Community
7. The migrant spirit
8. New local spaces of intercultural dialogue in Canada
9. Language Challenges in the Immigration Process
10. Cultural challenges in the migration process on Canada’s east coast
11. Multiculturalisms in the Americas
12. For a love of the hunt-mobility, family networks and social cohesion in a plains metis transnational brigade,1840-1890

Click here to see abstracts of sessions.

The ICCS looks forward to receiving proposals of papers, posters and panels on any issue related to the conference theme. Potential speakers are invited to submit abstracts relating to one of the above mentionned session. Multidisciplinary and comparative perspectives will be particularly welcomed.

Deadline for sending in proposals: July 10, 2011. 
Please forward your proposal, consisting of a 100-word abstract to 
ICCS 2012 Conference, 
250 City Centre, S-303, Ottawa, K1R 6K7  cristina.frias@iccs-ciec.ca