Call for Session Proposals
Help Shape the 2027 CSA Conference Program!
The 2027 CSA Conference will be held with virtual sessions from May 25 through May 28 followed by in-person sessions from May 31 through June 3 at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC. We are very excited to work in partnership with the university’s Department of Sociology to host our members and the wider community at our 60th Annual Conference.
Call for Session Proposals
October 5 - November 9, 2026 (11:59pm Pacific Standard Time)
What conversations should sociologists be having in 2027?
The Canadian Sociological Association invites members of the sociology community to help shape the program of our 60th Annual Conference by proposing sessions that bring people together to exchange research, explore emerging questions, challenge established thinking, and connect sociological knowledge with the issues facing communities in Canada and around the world.
We welcome session proposals that engage directly with the conference theme as well as proposals from across the full breadth of sociology and related fields. Whether you want to showcase new research, convene a conversation around an emerging issue, explore works in progress, facilitate a workshop, or bring together scholars and community partners, we encourage you to propose a session.
We look forward to seeing what you bring to the program!
2027 Conference Program Committee
Reminder: Call for Abstracts will be open December 7, 2026 through January 22, 2027 (note that the deadline is earlier than in past years). Those wishing to present their research at the Conference may submit an abstract to one of the sessions that have been approved for the Conference program. Full information will be posted on December 7.
Conference Theme
From Insights to Impacts: Bridging Scholarship and Society
Sociology plays a vital role in understanding the complex forces shaping society. Through education and research, sociology equips students and communities with the critical tools to examine inequality, diversity, social change, institutions, and the challenges facing Canada and the world. By connecting scholarship with policy and public engagement, sociologists contribute evidence and perspectives that can inform more inclusive, responsive, and effective policies. This conference invites us to consider how sociological insights can move beyond the academy to engage with communities, inform decision-makers, and generate positive social impacts across Canada and the world.
Before Submitting Your Proposal
Please review the information below before submitting your proposal. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or require assistance.
Membership in the Canadian Sociological Association is not required when submitting a session proposal.
If the session is accepted, however, all Conference participants—including organizers serving as chairs, moderators, discussants, presenters, panelists, and keynote speakers—must be members of the Canadian Sociological Association and registered as Conference delegates by April 15, 2027
Refer to Registration Fees & Policies
Choose the Format That Fits Your Conversation
The virtual conference features three 90-minute session periods each day, with up to seven concurrent sessions offered during each period.
The in-person conference features four 90-minute session periods each day, with scheduled breaks between periods and up to 13 concurrent sessions offered during each period.
Session proposals may be submitted for the virtual conference, in-person conference, or both (if sufficient presentation abstracts are approved), using one of the following formats:
Paper Presentation Session: Bring together 3-5 research presentations exploring a shared topic, question, or area of inquiry. Sessions may include pre-arranged presenters or be opened to submissions through the Call for Abstracts.
Panel Session: Create a dynamic conversation among up to five pre-arranged panelists exploring a particular issue, debate, experience, or area of expertise.
Roundtable Session — In Person Only: Create an interactive space for up to five participants to discuss research proposals, works in progress, literature reviews, emerging ideas, or developing projects. Roundtables may include pre-arranged participants or be opened to the Call for Abstracts. Audio-visual equipment for presentation slides is not provided for this format.
Workshop: Design a participatory session led by pre-arranged facilitators that develops skills, shares practices or resources, or encourages collaborative learning.
Keynote Lecture: Propose a lecture featuring a pre-arranged speaker whose work can contribute to the conference program and broader sociological conversation.
Research Cluster Affiliations
Sessions may be affiliated with a CSA Research Cluster when the proposal is submitted or following approval for the Conference Program. All affiliations are subject to approval by the Research Cluster. Research Cluster affiliation can be an excellent way to connect your session with an established community of scholars working in a related area.
If your proposal is approved, you will become a Session Organizer and play an important role in bringing the session to life.
For sessions open to the Call for Abstracts, organizers will review submissions between January 23 and February 12, 2027. For sessions with pre-arranged participants, organizers will be responsible for confirming their participants by February 12, 2027.
Session organizers also typically serve as the session chair or identify another person to take on this role. Organizers/chairs communicate important information to participants leading up to the Conference and may request papers or presentation materials in advance.
A Session Organizer may submit an abstract to their own session; however, the submission must be reviewed and approved by a member of the Conference Program Committee or the affiliated Research Cluster Chair.
Ideally, a session chair should not also present in the same session. Where this occurs, a co-chair should be arranged.
Ready to Bring People Together?
Session proposal submissions open October 5, 2026 and close November 9, 2026 at 11:59pm PDT.
The online submission form will request session organizer details as well as session information:
Title
Description — maximum 300 words
Language(s)
Topic(s) or keywords
Format — paper presentation, panel, keynote, roundtable, or workshop
Participation category — in-person or virtual
Whether the session will be open to the Call for Abstracts or include pre-arranged presenters
Research Cluster affiliation (if applicable and subject to Research Cluster approval)
Whether your idea builds on established areas of sociological inquiry or opens a conversation around something new, we invite you to help create the conversations that will define the 2027 CSA Conference.
Questions or need assistance with your proposal? Contact the Canadian Sociological Association.
What Happens After You Submit?
Session proposals will be reviewed by the 2027 Conference Program Committee, which will develop a diverse program representing a wide range of topics, perspectives, approaches, and areas of sociology.
Applicants will be notified of the results of the review process on or about December 1, 2026.