CALL FOR PAPERS

Immigration to Atlantic Canada: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives

Halifax, May 18-20, 2016

For centuries Atlantic Canada has served as the receiving region for many thousands of immigrants to North America. In addition to its Indigenous communities the region has become home to a diversity of European, Asian and African immigrants and a transit stop for many others who migrated on to Central, Western Canada and the United States. Today Atlantic Canada is faced with relatively high levels of out migration, low birth rates and a rapidly aging population. Issues related to the attraction and retention of immigrants to the region is thus of crucial concern to communities as well as municipal, provincial and federal governments.

This three day conference aims to provide an enhanced awareness of the changing ethnic diversity of the Atlantic Region, explore new perspectives on historical and contemporary immigration and provide a forum to exchange knowledge for best practices as they relate to welcoming communities.

We invite academics, students, members of the NGO community, government departments and agencies and members of the Indigenous, Black and immigrant/refugee communities in Atlantic Canada to submit proposals for either a panel paper presentation or a roundtable presentation focusing on one of the following themes:

Refugees and forced migration

Economic integration and outcomes

Host communities’ responses and perceptions

Immigrant narratives/experiences

Paper presentations are expected to be 15-20 minutes in length and are encouraged to address the themes. Roundtable presentations should be 5-7 minutes in length and expose a specific strand of the theme in which they are inserted. They are also expected to be less formal than panel papers. Alternate presentation styles, including the use of the arts or storytelling, are encouraged.

A 250 word abstract for papers or a 150 word abstract for roundtable presentations together with a short biographical statement should be submitted to: CISC@smu.ca by March 1, 2016

Submissions welcome in either official language. Travel subsidies may be available for presenters from student, NGO, Indigenous, Black and immigrant/refugee communities.

Atlantic Immigration Research Fund
Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21
Saint Mary’s University
Royal Nova Scotia Historical Society
Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia