Schedule

Critical Sociology of Families, Work and Care Research Cluster
Feminist Sociology Research Cluster

In academia, where metrics of productivity and individual achievement often overshadow relational and care-centered values, parent-scholars frequently face a hostile and unsupportive environment. The challenges of navigating institutions that devalue caregiving labor are compounded by systemic inequities that marginalize divergent identities in relation to factors such as race, gender, class, sexual orientation, (dis)abilities and sanism. This panel discussion explores the process of building a collective framework of care among eight parent-scholars striving to resist and reimagine the academic structures that perpetuate competition, burnout and isolation. Our discussion is rooted in the praxis of care, collaboration, and shared resistance. Through this process-oriented exploration, we aim to share how we have cultivated a space to support one another as individuals navigating intersecting demands of parenting and academia. We reflect on the strategies that have enabled us to reclaim agency, including peer mentorship and mutual accountability. By centering care work as a valuable and radical act within academia, we challenge the pervasive narratives that render caregiving invisible. This panel offers insights into how collective care can function as a form of resistance to institutional toxicity, while also addressing the emotional, intellectual, and logistical labor required to sustain such efforts. Session attendees are invited to join a conceptual space that reimagines care as a cornerstone of scholarly and community flourishing. Together with the attendees, we hope to open up a conversation about emergent and tentative ideas regarding how to hold each other up and foster cultures of collective care in academia. Session Organizer and Chair: Chizuru Nobe-Ghelani, Toronto Metropolitan University

Economic Sociology Research Cluster

This session focuses on new theoretical and empirical developments in economic sociology and political economy. Session Organizers: Dean Curran, University of Calgary Zhen Wang, University of Toronto Session Chair: Dean Curran, University of Calgary

Sociology of Education Research Cluster

This session features papers that draw on empirical, theoretical or methodological issues in the realm of higher education. Session Organizer: Maria Brisbane, University of Waterloo

Gender and Sexuality Research Cluster

This session explores sociological contributions to transgender studies, an interdisciplinary field of knowledge production about transgender and non-binary phenomena. Scholarly interest in trans phenomena has proliferated throughout the academy and in sociology since the emergence of transgender studies in the 1990s, prompting explorations of gender and gendered regulation and calls for empirical research about trans and non-binary people. This session asks how the sociology of gender and sexuality can participate in this expansive knowledge production about transness and extends an invitation to imagine “the shape of trans yet to come” (Weil 2023). Session Organizers and Chairs: Toby Anne Finlay, York University Chris Tatham, University of Guelph

Sociology of Health Research Cluster

This session showcases new research and approaches to studying and thinking about the phenomenon and experiences of waiting for health care. We all wait throughout our lives, although mostly ordinarily. However, waiting for health care is extraordinary, yet also expected and normalized in the Canadian health care system. Indeed, exceptionally long medical wait times are defining characteristics of Canada’s health care system. When people seek care, they wait -- for appointments, diagnosis, specialist care, results, surgery, and answers. As a social phenomenon, waiting is not neutral - it shapes the lives of those accessing care, is laden with power, inequality, structural violence and is filled with expectations and responsibilities that are gendered, normative, and cultural. It is also relational, with other people and institutions, shaping the social organization of many aspects and domains of life. When people wait, they are in a complicated state of stasis, suspension, but also active waiting. Those waiting may imagine future possibilities, consider who and what they are waiting for, and are living in precarity where their lives are marked by suspension. Despite the centrality of waiting in health care, it is an under-explored aspect of research and practice. Session Organizers: Katelin Albert, University of Victoria Vera Caine, University of Victoria Session Chair: Katelin Albert, University of Victoria

Internet, Technology, and Digital Sociology Research Cluster

The digital age has fundamentally transformed how power is exercised and challenged. Governments and institutions increasingly use digital tools to monitor, control, and suppress dissent, creating new avenues for repression. At the same time, technology serves as a powerful tool for resistance, providing activists with online platforms to organize, mobilize, and confront authority. However, the post-COVID world has introduced complex challenges for scholars studying these dynamics. In today’s digital landscape, accessing social media data has become increasingly difficult due to heightened regulation and restrictions. Rising international tensions, alongside ethical debates surrounding the study of sensitive topics, further complicate the research environment. These changes have forced both qualitative and quantitative scholars to rethink their methodologies and approaches to researching governance, repression, and resistance, especially in politically restrictive or authoritarian contexts. The discussion will focus on the practical and theoretical challenges researchers face, especially as it becomes harder to access online media data and conduct fieldwork. Panelists will explore innovative approaches to studying repression and resistance in a tech-driven society, offering insights into how digital technologies reshape governance and activism while reflecting on the resilience of both research subjects and scholars in the face of growing restrictions. Session Organizers: Rui Hou, Toronto Metropolitan University Muyang Li, York University Zhifan Luo, McMaster University Session Chair: Zhifan Luo, McMaster University

Migration/Immigration

The process of migrant integration is multifaceted and influenced by various factors, including economic opportunities, cultural adaptation, and social networks. While all these components play pivotal roles, the influence of social networks, in particular, has garnered increasing attention. Social networks, comprising relationships and connections, can significantly impact migrants' experiences in their destination countries. This session aims to explore the intricate dynamics of how migrants form new ties and the profound effect of these networks on the overall integration process. Session Organizers and Chairs: Emmanuel Kyeremeh, Toronto Metropolitan University Jonathan Anim Amoyaw, Dalhousie University

Political Sociology and Social Movements Research Cluster

This panel brings together several papers examining everyday resistance and embodied activism of marginalized groups, the crimes of states in the context of ‘the state of exceptionalism’ and the future of globalization in an era of growing illiberalism. Collectively, these papers present robust theoretical and empirical materials to critically engage with some key issues in political sociology and social movements. Session Organizers: Omar Faruque, University of New Brunswick Deena Abul-Fottouh, Dalhousie University Pouya Morshedi, Memorial University Session Chair: Pouya Morshedi, Memorial University

Race and Ethnicity Research Cluster
Sociology of Health Research Cluster
Sociology of Mental Health Research Cluster

This session features scholars, researchers, practitioners, and activists exploring the intricate connections between racism, discrimination, and health. The impact of racism and discrimination on health outcomes is profound and pervasive, with substantial evidence highlighting how systemic inequities and interpersonal racism drive disparities in both physical and mental health. Racial and ethnic minorities often experience higher rates of chronic illnesses, limited access to healthcare, and increased exposure to stressors associated with racism and trauma, all of which detrimentally affect their overall well-being. This session aims to critically examine how systemic racism and discrimination contribute to these health disparities, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary approaches that integrate insights from both the Race and Ethnicity cluster and the Sociology of Health. Session Organizer: Secil E. Ertorer, Canisius University

Sociology of Migration Research Cluster

This Sociology of Migration research cluster-sponsored session contains five papers that critique/advance the existing theories of migration. Papers unpack four “types” of relations that can define the bilateral migration space of Canada and the United States; consider climate migration research, in an early attempt to identify common theoretical perspectives, how environmental considerations integrate with contemporary migration theories, and existing gaps where climate migration research can continue to enhance migration theory. Papers also examine economic utility and identity-maintenance intersections in order to better understand public perceptions of temporary foreign workers; identify 7 different citizenship regimes from coding legislation on citizenship and diaspora in the countries of the former USSR and Yugoslavia; and presents a model for the decentering of knowledge production in migration studies by highlighting artists as collaborators in the praxis of migrant solidarity. Session Organizers: Lisa Kaida, McMaster University Monica Boyd, University of Toronto Lori Wilkinson, University of Manitoba Session Chair: Howard Ramos, Western University

Violence and Society Research Cluster

Harassment and violence at work is a pervasive issue in Canadian workplaces with profound impacts and costs for individuals, communities, workplaces, and governments. This continues despite the existence of legislation on international, national, and subnational levels (Berlingieri et al., 2022). Despite decades of research on various forms of harassment and violence, effective prevention and intervention strategies remains an under-developed area of the literature. A collaborative approach to research and practice where knowledge is co-created with all stakeholders adds vital “on the ground” knowledge and experience that can directly shape organizational practices to create safer workplaces. Working collaboratively has many benefits including better targeting of real-world problems and improved implementation of research findings (Wathen & MacMillian, 2015). It has been recognized by the Canadian government and the International Labour Organization that collaboration that honours a tripartite approach is the way forward. That is, we cannot understand how to effectively prevent and address harassment and violence at work without collaboration between employers, labour groups, and governments. Academics and community groups also have an important role to play in this model. Our session presents projects that are built on collaborative relationships between academics and multiple stakeholders. The presentations aim to share the vital importance of these collaborations and best and promising practices for working on multi-disciplinary teams. These projects are led by researchers at the Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children (CREVAWC) and Western University and focus on harassment and violence at work, including forms of gender-based violence such as sexual harassment and intimate partner violence at work. Session Organizers: Alexa Clerke, Western University Adriana Berlingieri, Western University Joanna Piatkowski, Western University Session Chair: Adriana Berlingieri, Western University

Work, Professions and Occupations Research Cluster

Research related to work, professions and occupations with a focus on early career experiences. Session Organizers: Vivian Shalla, University of Guelph Tracey L. Adams, Western University Karen Hughes, University of Alberta

Political Sociology and Social Movements Research Cluster

This is a joint session to be held between the Canadian Sociological Association (CSA) and the Canadian Political Science Association (CPSA). This session is hosted by the Canadian Political Science Association. This session provides an opportunity for scholars of China and the Global South, from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, to share their research and have open-ended discussions about the changing global political economy and potential new directions for future research. We also aim to reach out to reputable journals in sociology and political science to discuss the possibility of publishing a special issue based on the papers presented in our session, assuming the works are of high quality. Session Organizers: David Chen, University of Toronto Lynette Ong, University of Toronto Erdem Kaya, York University Kristin Plys, University Session Chair: David Chen, University of Toronto

Social Event

Join us in the Greeting Table Room for light refreshments and to network with other delegates. Canadian Sociological Association Conference delegates only

Sociology of Development Research Cluster

Across Africa, as elsewhere internationally, there have been renewed interests in addressing social issues such as corruption, environmental degradation, child malnutrition, gender inequality, and food, water, energy, and housing insecurity, which threaten social progress and human development. Although these issues have received considerable attention from development and academic communities, initiatives to address them have not only been an academic exercise. Local community stakeholders are working with national agencies and regional organizations to implement strategies and develop policies aimed at enhancing social protection, basic infrastructure, education, labour and employment, agriculture, health, environmental sustainability, climate governance, and other key aspects of human development. The overall goal of this session is to stimulate a critical discussion by academics and social researchers on case studies, approaches, and best practices related to the problems mentioned, examine the public policy implications of these challenges, and assess the effectiveness of initiatives that have been implemented. Session Organizers and Chairs: Jonathan Amoyaw, Dalhousie University Godfred Boateng, York University

Economic Sociology Research Cluster

This session focuses on new theoretical and empirical developments in economic sociology and political economy. Session Organizers: Dean Curran, University of Calgary Zhen Wang, University of Toronto Session Chair: Zhen Wang, University of Toronto

Sociology of Education Research Cluster

This session features papers that draw on empirical, theoretical or methodological issues in the realm of higher education. Session Organizer: Maria Brisbane, University of Waterloo

Feminist Sociology Research Cluster

This session critically engages with the concept and practice of intersectionality as an academic and political project. In seeking to understand its intellectual and activist origins, co-optations, and continuing relevance, the session poses the following questions: How is intersectionality articulated and applied today, what does it offer? How do analyses and action that are intersectional transform and expand feminist and sociological projects? Can intersectional frameworks account for complex identities and social locations without privileging particular oppressions or statuses of social stratification? Is it helpful to supplement intersectional analysis with other frameworks (e.g. queer theory, crip theory)? What is the role of intersectional research in challenging Whiteness, carceral/militarized state violence, sexual and gender-based violence, and other multidimensional oppressions? What strategies does intersectionality bring to address inequality and advance inclusiveness? How does intersectionality shape coalition and solidarity building strategies? What can intersectionality contribute to both social justice struggles and to productive world-making and joy producing practices? Session Organizers: Sonia D'Angelo, Wilfrid Laurier University Ronnie Joy Leah, Athabasca University Rashmee Karnad-Jani, Public Scholar Linda Christiansen-Ruffman, Saint Mary's University

Gender and Sexuality Research Cluster

This session explores sociological contributions to transgender studies, an interdisciplinary field of knowledge production about transgender and non-binary phenomena. Scholarly interest in trans phenomena has proliferated throughout the academy and in sociology since the emergence of transgender studies in the 1990s, prompting explorations of gender and gendered regulation and calls for empirical research about trans and non-binary people. This session asks how the sociology of gender and sexuality can participate in this expansive knowledge production about transness and extends an invitation to imagine “the shape of trans yet to come” (Weil 2023). Session Organizers and Chairs: Toby Anne Finlay, York University Chris Tatham, University of Guelph

Sociology of Health Research Cluster

It is estimated that over 5 billion people are using social media across the world. It has been estimated that about 20% of social media users use these platforms as a source of health information, while 16% have sought out users having similar health issues online. Social media has become deeply implicated in health and wellbeing as a vehicle for information, misinformation, and health promotion, and through direct impacts on emotional wellbeing and behaviour. With social media use projected to increase in the future, these issues are increasingly important. This session highlights empirical and theoretical research that engages with the intersection of social media and wellbeing. Papers in this section address issues such as: information dissemination, online social networking, cultural impacts of social media, health behaviours, medicalization, methodological considerations, and policy implications. Session Organizers and Chairs: Sydney Patterson, University of Toronto Nicholas Spence, University of Toronto

Internet, Technology, and Digital Sociology Research Cluster

These presentations explore how race, gender, and intersecting identities are portrayed (or overlooked) in mainstream media, digital platforms, and algorithm-driven contexts. They underscore sociological implications for equity, policy, and public discourse. Session Organizer and Chair: Elahe Nezhadhossein, University of New Brunswick

Political Sociology and Social Movements Research Cluster
Bilingual

This session presents empirical analysis of diverse political contexts involving interesting topics such as political practices through critical street art, political autonomy of independent community action organizations, and the structural and ideological factors shaping linguistic preservation and pedagogical needs. Session Organizers: Omar Faruque, University of New Brunswick Deena Abul-Fottouh, Dalhousie University Pouya Morshedi, Memorial University Session Chair: Niloofar Moazzami, Université du Québec à Montréal

Race and Ethnicity Research Cluster

This session examines social construction of the “other” and the persistence of racial and ideological exclusion through various theoretical perspectives. We explore how institutions, ideologies, as well as individual cognitive processes, shape and reinforce racial and ethnic hierarchies and systemic oppression. Case studies on sectarian violence in Pakistan, Canada’s Vertical Mosaic, and the resurgence of authoritarianism highlight how racial prejudice is formed, justified, and contested globally. We consider how political and economic structures sustain inequality, how emotions and cognitive processes fuel discrimination, and how social categories of belonging and exclusion evolve over time. Through this comparative approach, we seek to uncover global patterns of oppression while interrogating the shifting boundaries of race, ethnicity, and identity in contemporary societies. Session Organizers: Secil E. Ertorer, Canisius University Jamilah Dei-Sharpe, Concordia University

Sociology of Migration Research Cluster

For the first time in 25 years, nearly 60% of Canadians say too many immigrants are accepted into Canada, the highest since 1998 (Environics Institute 2024). How can we understand such reversal of pro-immigration opinion among Canadians? In this interdisciplinary open plenary, we address this timely question by inviting two well-known scholars. Dr. Keith Banting will discuss whether the shift in attitudes is primarily about immigration levels, or whether it represents the beginnings of a deeper polarization and backlash against immigration and multiculturalism of the sort found in many contemporary democracies. Dr. Irene Bloemraad then directs attention to Canadians’ views on the rights of migrants. Drawing on her survey experiments, she discusses the degree to which legal status and race affect how Canadians view the abuse of police powers (a civil or negative rights situation) and the situation of someone going hungry (a social or positive rights situation). The session concludes with remarks by the discussant, Dr.Aryan Karimi, and questions from the audience. Thank you to our co-sponsors, the Canadian Population Society (CPS) and the Canadian Political Science Association (CPSA). This session is made possible with the financial support of the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences. Session Organizers: Lisa Kaida, McMaster University Monica Boyd, University of Toronto Lori Wilkinson, University of Manitoba

Violence and Society Research Cluster

Violence research is multidisciplinary in nature and interconnects with knowledges of survivors, those with lived experience, activists, legal professionals, policymakers, and service providers, among others. As the recognition of structural dimensions of violence and its various intersections become increasingly prevalent across professional, political, and public discourses, sociologists are well positioned to contribute to the on-going formation and mobilization of anti-violence projects with a multitude of social impacts. Efforts to integrate sociologically imaginative understandings of violence with the experiences of survivors, advocates, and front-line practitioners provide exciting opportunities for the cross-pollination of critical insights on and ways of understanding violence. Session Organizers: Robert Nonomura, Western University Sarah Yerich, Capilano University

Work, Professions and Occupations Research Cluster

Research relating to work, professions and occupations in the context of technology and work-related outcomes. Session Organizers: Vivian Shalla, University of Guelph Tracey L. Adams, Western University Karen Hughes, University of Alberta

Sociology of Development Research Cluster

The Sociology of Development Research Cluster meeting is open to current members and those interested in learning more about our cluster activities. Attendees will have an opportunity to network with others working in this field of research and/or teaching. We welcome feedback on our current activities and encourage suggestions for future initiatives. Session Organizer: Jasmin Hristov, University of Guelph

Economic Sociology Research Cluster

This meeting of the Economic Sociology Research Cluster is open to current members and those interested in learning more about our cluster activities. Attendees will have an opportunity to network with others working in this field of research and/or teaching. We welcome feedback on our current activities and encourage suggestions for future initiatives. Session Organizers: Dean Curran, University of Calgary Zhen Wang, University of Toronto

Gender and Sexuality Research Cluster

The sociology of gender and sexuality is among the most significant and exciting fields in contemporary sociological research and thought. The purpose of this research cluster is to promote research, teaching, networking and other professional activities for those interested in the study of gender and sexuality. This meeting of the Gender and Sexuality Research Cluster is open to current members and those interested in learning more about our cluster activities. Session Organizers: Toby Anne Finlay, York University Chris Tatham, University of Guelph

Sociology of Health Research Cluster

The Sociology of Health Research Cluster meeting is open to current members and those interested in learning more about our cluster activities. Attendees will have an opportunity to network with others working in this field of research and/or teaching. We welcome feedback on our current activities and encourage suggestions for future initiatives. Session Organizer: Claudia Chaufan, York University

Internet, Technology, and Digital Sociology Research Cluster

We would like to invite interested delegates to attend the annual business meeting of the Internet, Technology, and Digital Sociology research cluster. At this meeting we aim to facilitate networking and collaboration among those who share research and teaching interests related to the social implications of the Internet and digital technologies, broadly defined. It will provide an opportunity to connect like-minded sociologists and to set our agenda and directions for future initiatives and CSA conferences. This meeting is open to anyone interested in joining our membership or just learning more about the cluster. Session Organizers: Andrew Nevin, University of Guelph Michael Adorjan, University of Calgary Anabel Quan-Haase, Western University

Race and Ethnicity Research Cluster

This Race and Ethnicity Research Cluster meeting is open to current members and those interested in learning more about our cluster activities. Attendees will have an opportunity to network with others working in this field of research and/or teaching. We welcome feedback on our current activities and encourage suggestions for future initiatives. Session Organizers: Jamilah Dei-Sharpe, Concordia University Secil E. Ertorer, Canisius University

Relational Sociology Research Cluster

This Relational Sociology Research Cluster meeting is open to current members and those interested in learning more about our cluster activities. In our 2025 meeting, we will discuss the identity and aims of our cluster group within an inclusive, transformative and broadly critical orientation. We seek to expand our network and activities and discuss the structure and roles of our Relational Sociology research cluster. This will also be an opportunity to introduce participants to our ongoing International Online Seminar on Relational Research and share conference and publication opportunities, as well as membership expansion and engagement. **Please feel free to bring your lunch to the meeting! Session Organizers: Christopher Powell, Toronto Metropolitan University Mónica Sánchez-Flores, Thompson Rivers University

Violence and Society Research Cluster

The Violence and Society Research Cluster meeting is open to current members and those interested in learning more about our cluster activities. The cluster is especially welcoming new participants and emerging scholars who would like to contribute their opinions to the activities of the cluster or to volunteer their time to its work. Attendees will have an opportunity to network with others working in this field of research and teaching. We welcome feedback on our current activities and encourage suggestions for future initiatives. Session Organizers: Lily Ivanova, University of British Columbia Robert Nonomura, Western University

Sociology of Development Research Cluster

This session invites scholars who work on the subject of development and war, with a particular focus on the Israel-Palestine conflict but also the wider conflict emerging in the region. We feature papers that examine political economy factors that have induced violence and/or shaped its trajectory as well as the consequences of violence for any facet of development such as health, gender, economy, environment, education, and culture. We are also interested in perspectives on the evolving role of development actors in affecting change. Session Organizer and Chair: Jasmin Hristov, University of Guelph

Economic Sociology Research Cluster

The 2008 financial crisis massively destabilized the neoliberal regime of capitalism. Yet, despite greater state intervention in responses to the crises, including COVID-19, neither do we appear to have returned to Keynesianism. So, what is the current conjuncture of capitalism? This session will discuss theoretical and empirical interventions that aim to speak to contemporary capitalism and the challenges it faces, as well as the challenges we face in analyzing it. Session Organizers: Dean Curran, University of Calgary Zhen Wang, University of Toronto Session Chair: Dean Curran, University of Calgary

Sociology of Education Research Cluster

This session features papers that draw on empirical, theoretical or methodological issues in the realm of higher education. Session Organizer: Maria Brisbane, University of Waterloo

Feminist Sociology Research Cluster

The CSA-SCS Women’s Caucus is a space that provides opportunities for women to reflect together on diverse and shared features of our lives and professional work that are shaped by contemporary EuroPatriarchy and women’s movements for change. The grounded and collaborative thinking of the Caucus helps members/attendees to identify emergent issues and action priorities that aim to change discriminatory and/or biased practices, especially within Congress and scholarly institutions. Session Organizers: Sonia D'Angelo, Wilfrid Laurier University Ronnie Joy Leah, Athabasca University Rashmee Karnad-Jani, Public Scholar Linda Christiansen-Ruffman, Saint Mary's University

Gender and Sexuality Research Cluster

This session uses a sociological lens to examine the ways in which gender and sexuality are regulated in Canadian schools amidst a climate of growing anti-2SLGBTQ+ sentiment. To combat rising hate and support young people, it is important to trace these appearances, and the ways in which they are shaped by ongoing settler colonialism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, and classism. Homophobia and transphobia are rapidly spreading across North America and the globe through legislation and educational policy, leading to structural, discursive, and physical violence. Schools have been critical sites upon which the 'culture wars' about gender and sexuality have been fought. This session will ask: How are discourses of gender and sexuality being mobilized in and around schools to uphold an increasingly rigid cisheteropatriarchal status quo? What contextual readings of schooling practices make visible the ways in which schools are a critical site for examining the interplay of growing anti-2SLGBTQ+ hate and its attendant anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism, ableism, and classism? Looking forward, what theories, policies, or pedagogical praxis help support 2SLGBTQ+ children and young people’s thriving in specific school spaces such as physical education, sexuality education, or gender-based violence prevention education? In what ways are queer and trans joy and other resistive strategies appearing in the geographies of schooling? This session is cross-listed with Queer Studies in Education and Culture (QSEC). Session Organizers and Chairs: JJ Wright, MacEwan University LJ Slovin, University of Toronto

Sociology of Health Research Cluster

This session opens up diverse and complex discussions on how society views, understands, and envisions substance use. In a world that is colonial and driven by neoliberal markets, substance use is reduced and simplified as an individual problem that must be objectified and solved like a mathematical equation. This objectifying methodology that is framed within a western culture of rationality helps to conceal and hide the implication of structures power in the issues facing those who use drugs. Such a western and colonial modality looks at substance use through a singular and easy logic; therefore, failing to look at the issue as an intersected and compounded one. This helps individualize the issue of substance use in ways that help sanitize power structures while problematizing the individual as broken and dangerous. Issues of substance use have overtime been employed to punish and discipline marginalized communities by marking them as social deplorable and therefore creating an impression that such communities must be treated in ways that are expendable. Such treatment employs punitive rationalizing methodologies meant to mark the line between those who are citizens against drug users who are marked as aliens. This punitive idea that individualizes substance use fails to consider how structures of power are equally implicated in the issues facing those who use drugs. Session Organizers: Rose Ann Torres, Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig, Center of Excellence in Anishinaabe Education Dionisio Nyaga, Algoma University Session Chair: Rose Ann Torres, Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig, Center of Excellence in Anishinaabe Education

Internet, Technology, and Digital Sociology Research Cluster

Focusing on online communities and digital platforms, these papers analyze how moderation, community norms, and platform design shape gender discourse. They reveal the tension between seemingly empowering spaces and the exclusionary or radicalizing ideologies they can perpetuate. Session Organizer and Chair: Elahe Nezhadhossein, University of New Brunswick

Political Sociology and Social Movements Research Cluster

This is a joint session to be held between the Canadian Sociological Association (CSA) and the Canadian Political Science Association (CPSA). This session is hosted by the Canadian Sociological Association. This session provides an opportunity for scholars of China and the Global South, from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, to share their research and have open-ended discussions about the changing global political economy and potential new directions for future research. We also aim to reach out to reputable journals in sociology and political science to discuss the possibility of publishing a special issue based on the papers presented in our session, assuming the works are of high quality. Session Organizers: David Chen, University of Toronto Lynette Ong, University of Toronto Erdem Kaya, York University Kristin Plys, University Session Chair: David Chen, University of Toronto

Race and Ethnicity Research Cluster

This session will critically examine the emergence and transformation of Black Canadian Studies, focusing on how Black scholars, activists, and communities have reshaped the field. It will begin with Dr. Afua Cooper’s personal and institutional reflection on the field’s evolution, detailing the founding of the Black Canadian Studies Association and advancing Black Studies as an academic discipline in Canada. The discussion will then explore the internal dynamics of Canadian universities, highlighting how academic structures have historically limited and, more recently, expanded Black scholarship. Presenters will also address community-driven knowledge reclamation, emphasizing how grassroots movements have resisted mainstream narratives and reclaimed Black history. Presenters will also discuss community-driven knowledge reclamation and the intersection of Black and Indigenous histories, exploring coalitions that challenge colonial frameworks. Finally, the session will engage with anti-imperialism and Black radical thought, analyzing how these intellectual traditions continue to challenge colonial frameworks and shape the future of Black Studies in Canada. Session Organizers: Jamilah Dei-Sharpe, Concordia University Sarah George, Carleton University Joanis Sherry, Carleton University

Relational Sociology Research Cluster

The word ‘radical’ has the same Latin root as ‘radish’ and refers to roots. Radical relationism ‘goes to the root’ in two ways: by reconceptualizing all fixed, fast-frozen “things” as consisting of or constituted by relational processes, and by using relational thinking to critique and challenge social structures in pursuit of radical social equality. Replacing dualisms of subject and object, society and nature, individual and collective with complex heterogeneous tangles of relations/processes, radical relationism explores openings and connections beyond Eurocentrism and anthropocentrism, and towards antiracism, feminism, trans liberation, decolonization, pluriversality, socialism, and other emancipatory projects. Session Organizers: Christopher Powell, Toronto Metropolitan University Mónica Sánchez-Flores, Thompson Rivers University Session Chair: Christopher Powell, Toronto Metropolitan University

Sociology of Migration Research Cluster

This session on new research on immigrant integration offer new insights. Seeking to bring organizations back into the sociology of migration, the first paper focuses on cosmopolitan organizations that are universally accessible to local residents, while also providing settlement services for newcomers. The second paper highlights the disconnect between government policies granting immigrants privileged access to the labour market and the perceptions and practices of human resource management professionals. The third paper studies how ideological models of national identity—civic versus ethnic—affect attitudes toward immigration policy in European countries, and how non-ideological factors (self-interest) moderate the effect. The fourth paper interviews 80 Syrian and Afghanistan women and finds that Canadian immigration as well as refugee systems tend to select for newcomers who are economically but also culturally middle-class in their home countries. The final paper focuses on the dilemma of refugee governance in order to illuminate better management of the Rohingya in Bangladesh. Session Organizers: Lisa Kaida, McMaster University Monica Boyd, University of Toronto Lori Wilkinson, University of Manitoba Session Chair: Eugena Kwon, Trent University

Violence and Society Research Cluster

Michael Mann’s recently published comparative history On Wars was the motivation for this session. We welcome all discussions of general sociological theories about the social and economic motivations for warfare including those that support and contradict Mann’s perspective. Canadian sociologists have tended to shy away from research on military power. For that reason, we also welcome in the session all research about contemporary collective violence. Session Organizer and Chair: Stephen H. Riggins, Memorial University

Work, Professions and Occupations Research Cluster

Research relating to work, professions and occupations exploring work challenges. Session Organizers: Vivian Shalla, University of Guelph Tracey L. Adams, Western University Karen Hughes, University of Alberta

Social Event

Join us in the Greeting Table Room for light refreshments and to network with other delegates. Canadian Sociological Association Conference delegates only

Economic Sociology Research Cluster

This session focuses on recent developments in the sociology of finance, both theoretical and empirical. Potential themes include: financial innovation; high-frequency trading, trends in financial regulation, themes in valuation, the performativity of economic knowledge, systemic financial risk and fragility, finance and inequalities, finance and culture, and the financialization of the economy and of everyday life. Session Organizers: Dean Curran, University of Calgary Zhen Wang, University of Toronto Session Chair: Zhen Wang, University of Toronto

Sociology of Education Research Cluster

This session draws on papers that draw on empirical research that addresses the topic of social impact in education. We were interested in research that aims to ‘commit social impact’ including papers that draw on research partnerships between academia and community organizations or educational institutions. Session Organizer: Maria Brisbane, University of Waterloo

Feminist Sociology Research Cluster
Gender and Sexuality Research Cluster

Following the lead of critical race theory, feminist scholarship, and disability theory—which reoriented some of their critiques toward deconstructing whiteness, masculinity, and 'normality,' respectively—this panel redirects our focus ‘from the margins to the center’ (hooks 2015). Dominant, unmarked, and unexamined categories will be the center of this panel's analysis which welcomes proposals about cisness, endosex embodiment, monogamy, heterosexuality, masculinity, whiteness, and ‘normality,’ among many others. This session will draw connections across fields to better understand systems of power that are often rendered invisible in everyday life. Session Organizer and Chair: Jennifer Hites-Thomas, SUNY Oswego

Gender and Sexuality Research Cluster

This invited panel examines the ways in which the state has produced and regulated sexuality and how sexuality produces the state. Panelists will consider the relationship between the state and sexuality, including what assumptions lie behind ideas of sexuality, and how bodies are linked to the state through prevailing logics of sexuality. Presentations will consider the relationship between sexuality and capitalism, religion, and nation, and how the relationship between the state and sexuality is raced and gendered. Session Organizer and Chair: Melanie Heath, McMaster University

Sociology of Health Research Cluster

This session foregrounds the dynamic research program of the CERC Health Equity and Community Wellbeing (CERC HECW) at Toronto Metropolitan University. The CERC HECW aims to not only understand and reduce health disparities that are inextricable from their social contexts, but to embed community knowledge into health-care institutions, systems and models of delivery. The program aims for a paradigm shift - one that challenges a siloed, expert-driven approach to health and wellbeing and moves instead towards a community-engaged, preventative model of wellbeing. Foregrounding our interdisciplinary team’s approach to community-engaged research through partnered projects, presenters will speak concretely about a selection of their current projects, and how they have sought to commit themselves to rigorous research for social impact. Session Organizers and Chairs: Danielle Landry, Toronto Metropolitan University Karen Soldatic, Toronto Metropolitan University

Sociology of Health Research Cluster

This session features presentations on research with a global perspective. Session Organizer: Claudia Chaufan, York University Session Chair: Shreyashi Ganguly, York University

Internet, Technology, and Digital Sociology Research Cluster

These presentations examine how identities, norms, and power relations are negotiated in gaming, film, and pop culture. From adolescent roleplaying on social media to big-budget action tropes and holiday movies, each study highlights the ways media narratives reinforce or challenge dominant ideologies. Session Organizer and Chair: Elahe Nezhadhossein, University of New Brunswick

Political Sociology and Social Movements Research Cluster

This session brings together several papers about the dynamics of social movements and protests. They focus on a wide range of issues such as the role of music, cultural symbols, and collective trauma, and movement strategies responding to institutional responses. These papers present empirical cases from Kenya, Bangladesh, and Canada and examine structural and cultural factors shaping Gen-Z movement, Pro-Palestinian student movements, and diaspora mobilization. Session Organizers: Omar Faruque, University of New Brunswick Deena Abul-Fottouh, Dalhousie University Pouya Morshedi, Memorial University Session Chair: Rex C Wang, York University

Race and Ethnicity Research Cluster

As a dynamic follow-up to Session I, this session explores how contemporary Black experiences reshape Black Canadian Studies. It examines the intersections of Blackness and Africanness, gender, cultural capital, and political consciousness, focusing on how Black Canadians navigate both global and local experiences of Blackness. The session begins with a feminist analysis of the “Year of Return to Ghana,” examining how diasporic relations between the African continent and the Black diaspora reshape Black identity. Building on this feminist lens, the discussion shifts to the contributions of Black women scholars, highlighting how they have redefined artistic and scholarly expression, creating new spaces for intellectual thought. Next, the session turns to the sociocultural dynamics of Afro-Caribbean communities in Canada, focusing on the influence of cultural capital on identity, mobility, and resilience. Finally, the session examines the ongoing impact of Pan-Africanism and Black consciousness on contemporary activism and political thought. Through these discussions, the session demonstrates how Black Canadian Studies continues to evolve as a site of resistance and innovation, shaping both scholarship and the future of Black liberation today. Session Organizers: Jamilah Dei-Sharpe, Concordia University Sarah George, Carleton University Joanis Sherry, Carleton University

Relational Sociology Research Cluster

The word ‘radical’ has the same Latin root as ‘radish’ and refers to roots. Radical relationism ‘goes to the root’ in two ways: by reconceptualizing all fixed, fast-frozen “things” as consisting of or constituted by relational processes, and by using relational thinking to critique and challenge social structures in pursuit of radical social equality. Replacing dualisms of subject and object, society and nature, individual and collective with complex heterogeneous tangles of relations/processes, radical relationism explores openings and connections beyond Eurocentrism and anthropocentrism, and towards antiracism, feminism, trans liberation, decolonization, pluriversality, socialism, and other emancipatory projects. Session Organizers: Christopher Powell, Toronto Metropolitan University Mónica Sánchez-Flores, Thompson Rivers University Session Chair: Mónica Sánchez-Flores, Thompson Rivers University

Sociology of Migration Research Cluster

This second session on migrant integration covers interrelated topics but also breaks new ground with respect to methodologies, foci and conclusions. Papers examine the effects of income and friendships in local regions on life satisfaction varies across Canadian regions; demonstrate how 40 middle class Mexican migrants in 4 Ontario cities differ in forms of civic engagement and citizenship identities’; uncovers the integration and dietary experiences of international students studying at small-to-mid size universities in Ontario; analyse differences in moving decisions between South Asian immigrant/immigrant offspring compared to other ethno-racial groups (i.e. Chinese and Whites) and compares the characteristics explaining the moving decision and its impact. The session concludes with a focus on the participation of immigrants and ethnic minorities in various types of neighbourly help exchanges taking place across Canada. Session Organizers: Lisa Kaida, McMaster University Monica Boyd, University of Toronto Lori Wilkinson, University of Manitoba Session Chair: Emmanuel Kyeremeh, Toronto Metropolitan University

Violence and Society Research Cluster

How do people construct the meanings they attach to violence? A large portion of sociological literature studying violence and culture has looked at the institutional end of this question - from media representations of violence to national narratives of trauma. On the other end, symbolic interactionists and behavioural scientists have looked at how people participate in and enact violence. But how do individuals make sense of experiences and develop ideas about violence? This session aims to advance sociological theories, methods, and empirical explorations of how people come to see various experiences as violent - whether lived, observed or distant. Session Organizers: Lily Ivanova, University of British Columbia Marie Laperrière, University of Manitoba Hannah Scott, Ontario Tech University

Work, Professions and Occupations Research Cluster

Research relating to the complexities experienced in professional work. Session Organizers: Vivian Shalla, University of Guelph Tracey L. Adams, Western University Karen Hughes, University of Alberta