Schedule

Neoliberalism as an ideology focuses on market rationality to reduce life into a commodity that can be sold in the marketplace. This form of coding life for profits has continued to define how people's daily lives are organized and managed. In the words of Michel Foucault, life under capitalism must be ordered in ways meant to train and control the masses in ways that are scientific and led by truth. Truth becomes the hallmark of governing the population. This kind of government must decide who moves and who must be removed to allow the continuous process of existence of some at the expense of others. This form of biopolitical control must be rethought more so in the age of neoliberalism. This session therefore reconceptualizes leadership under the current neoliberal governmentality, where true leadership is given credence since it’s assumed to be scientific and truth-driven. Such leadership is given prominence under neoliberal capitalism such that its end is to enhance surplus value. We find this kind of leadership in most transnational corporations, where everything must be gauged under terms such as efficiency, transparency, effectiveness, and accountability. This session pays attention to these neoliberal concepts that help define true leadership to start asking other questions of whether we can equally have other concepts that are situated in people's lived experiences and values, and that would help reimagine leadership in strange ways. Session Organizers: Rose Ann Torres, Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gaming, Center of Excellence in Anishinaabe Education and Dionisio Nyaga, Algoma University Session Chair: Annie Luk, University of Toronto

Sociology of Education Research Cluster

This session presents gendered perspectives on paid and unpaid care work, and the intersection of paid work with family life. Women, girls, and marginalized groups earn less and have fewer opportunities for employment: they contend with discriminatory norms, policies and practices. Their paid and unpaid labour is often segregated and routinely devalued. Session Organizers: Sonia D'Angelo, Wilfrid Laurier University, Ronnie Joy Leah, Athabasca University, Rashmee Karnad-Jani, Public Scholar, and Linda Christiansen-Ruffman, Saint Mary's University Session Chair: MacGregor Goodman, York University

Feminist Sociology Research Cluster

The presentations in this session highlight the inequalities experienced in healthcare services within marginalized communities. Session Organizer: Claudia Chaufan, York University Session Chair: Megan Linton, Carleton University

Sociology of Health Research Cluster

This session highlights scholarship that critically discusses the many promises and challenges associated with artificial intelligence and other algorithmic technologies. Presentations will cover AI in the contexts of higher education, strategic decision-making, hiring decisions, digital surveillance, and community engagement. Session Organizers: Andrew Nevin, University of Guelph, Michael Adorjan, University of Calgary, and Anabel Quan-Haase, Western University Session Chairs: Andrew Nevin, University of Guelph

Internet, Technology, and Digital Sociology Research Cluster

This session brings together theoretical and empirical research papers examining the experiences, agencies, and activism of individuals within immigrant families who are engaged in the work of caring/social reproductive work, both locally or transnationally. In particular, the papers will address the following questions: How do social, economic, political, and cultural processes shape women’s social reproductive work locally and/or transnationally? How does the intersectionality of gender with other identities (e.g., race, class, sexual orientation, age, ability, citizenship status, language proficiency) complicate social reproductive/care work locally and/or transnationally? Session Organizer and Chair: Guida Man, York University

Migration/Immigration

This session examines various key themes of social movements such as tensions within movements, social movement policing, social movement learning, and movement outcomes. With cases from a diverse political context, these papers present empirical analyses of collective solidarity, ableist mechanism of social movement policing, productive engagement between universities and community organizations, and outcomes of environmental mobilization in a hybrid political regime. Session Organizers: Omar Faruque, University of New Brunswick, Deena Abul-Fottouh, Dalhousie University, and Pouya Morshedi, Memorial University Session Chair: Yi-Cheng Hsieh, McGill University

Political Sociology and Social Movements Research Cluster

This session critically examines the social construction of race, racialization, and belonging in Canada through the lived experiences of racialized communities. Drawing from diverse case studies—including African Nova Scotians, transracial adoptees, and racialized students—we will explore the enduring impacts of systemic racism, state violence, and social exclusion. Engaging with Critical Race Theory, Black Feminist Thought, and theories of racial identity formation, the presenters will analyze how race shapes individual and collective experiences within institutions such as the criminal justice system, education, and family structures. They will also discuss the relationship between race, space, and social trust, considering how racialized communities navigate discrimination, belonging, and identity in historical and contemporary contexts. Session Organizers: Secil E. Ertorer, Canisius University and Jamilah Dei-Sharpe, Concordia University Session Chair: Secil E. Ertorer, Canisius University

Race and Ethnicity Research Cluster

In this session we feature papers that examine violence and aggression in all forms, from varied perspectives including, but not limited to, those of the victim(s), the offender(s), witnesses, the social context(s) in which violence occurs, reactions to norm violations from both formal (governments, police, courts, etc.) and informal systems, recovery and resilience, and prevention. Papers in this session are from multiple disciplines that examine harms and their effects, including papers that seek to re-imagine alternatives to how we identify and respond to violence. Session Organizer and Chair: Hannah Scott, Ontario Tech University

Violence and Society Research Cluster

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

Social Event

Dr. Howard Ramos was selected to receive the 2024 Outstanding Contribution to Sociology award in recognition of his research, publication, and service to advance the discipline of sociology. Join us for his keynote lecture: Sociology in Existential Times Moderators: CSA President: Liam Swiss, Acadia University CSA President-Elect: Mark Stoddart, Memorial University

Plenary

Congress invites Canadian Sociological Association delegates to a reception hosted by George Brown College and the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences Congress. Waterfront Campus, Limberlost Place Room WFL-333

Social Event

This session brings together three high-profile social science researchers who use their skills outside of academic settings. The aim of this session is to provide examples, to early-career and established professionals, of how a person can take their social science skills outside of academic settings and still do high-quality work that advances equity and social justice. Hosted by the Canadian Population Society in collaboration with the Canadian Sociological Association. This session is made possible with the financial support of the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences. Session Organizer: James Iveniuk, The Bridge at NORC Guest Speakers: Kofi Hope, CAMH Allen Davidov, Environics Analytics Meg Gassanov, Strategic Measures Karen Myers, Blueprint Canada Download Poster

Plenary
Professional Development
Association Collaboration

Neoliberalism as an ideology focuses on market rationality to reduce life into a commodity that can be sold in the marketplace. This form of coding life for profits has continued to define how people's daily lives are organized and managed. In the words of Michel Foucault, life under capitalism must be ordered in ways meant to train and control the masses in ways that are scientific and led by truth. Truth becomes the hallmark of governing the population. This kind of government must decide who moves and who must be removed to allow the continuous process of existence of some at the expense of others. This form of biopolitical control must be rethought more so in the age of neoliberalism. This session therefore reconceptualizes leadership under the current neoliberal governmentality, where true leadership is given credence since it’s assumed to be scientific and truth-driven. Such leadership is given prominence under neoliberal capitalism such that its end is to enhance surplus value. We find this kind of leadership in most transnational corporations, where everything must be gauged under terms such as efficiency, transparency, effectiveness, and accountability. This session pays attention to these neoliberal concepts that help define true leadership to start asking other questions of whether we can equally have other concepts that are situated in people's lived experiences and values, and that would help reimagine leadership in strange ways. Session Organizers: Rose Ann Torres, Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gaming, Center of Excellence in Anishinaabe Education and Dionisio Nyaga, Algoma University Session Chair: Padideh Paridari, Humber Polytechnic

Sociology of Education Research Cluster

Food insecurity can be defined as the “inability to acquire or consume an adequate diet quality or sufficient quantity of food in socially acceptable ways, or the uncertainty that one will be able to do so” (Government of Canada, 2020). Dietitians of Canada (2016) contends that food insecurity is a serious public health issue with profound effects on physical and mental health and social well-being and that all households in Canada must have sufficient income for secure access to nutritious food after paying for other basic necessities. Notably, the most recent data from Statistics Canada’s 2022 Canadian Income Survey revealed that 8.7 million Canadians, including 2.1 million children, in the ten provinces lived in food-insecure households. Certain groups are more susceptible to food insecurity, including Black, Indigenous, and racialized peoples, individuals with disabilities, single parents, immigrants, and single people aged 18 to 64 who live alone (Uppal, 2023). This session features papers that address public perceptions of poverty and food insecurity issues and the various challenges faced by individuals experiencing poverty and food insecurity based on empirical research. Session Organizer and Chair: Henry Chow, University of Regina

Food Studies

This session explores the material conditions of gender and work, including precarious and digital workers, the role of the state, policies promoting equity at work, and the contribution of allyship to gender equity. Presentations address persistent gender inequalities in workplaces and the labour market, as well as struggles for gender equity. Session Organizers: Sonia D'Angelo, Wilfrid Laurier University, Ronnie Joy Leah, Athabasca University, Rashmee Karnad-Jani, Public Scholar, and Linda Christiansen-Ruffman, Saint Mary's University Session Chair: Ronnie Joy Leah, Athabasca University

Feminist Sociology Research Cluster

The presentations in this session explore knowledge sharing among health professionals and scholars. Session Organizer and Chair: Claudia Chaufan, York University

Sociology of Health Research Cluster

This session highlights scholarship that offers unique insights into the ways that traditional media and social media represent, impact, and enable forms of resistance and empowerment. Presentations will use content analysis methodologies to discuss the construction of athletes that resist gender-sexuality norms, the ways in which social media platforms differently shape emotional expressions and reactions to political discourse, and the differences in coverage and constructed realities of protest events between traditional media and social media. Session Organizers: Andrew Nevin, University of Guelph, Michael Adorjan, University of Calgary, and Anabel Quan-Haase, Western University Session Chairs: Andrew Nevin, University of Guelph

Internet, Technology, and Digital Sociology Research Cluster

Migration is more than a geographic movement; it is a deeply social and symbolic process shaped by imaginaries, histories, and aspirations. This session explores the multifaceted experiences of migration, identity, and belonging across different diaspora communities. Drawing from diverse case studies, our session examines how migrants conceptualize home and belonging, navigate transnational identities, and respond to the evolving sociopolitical landscapes of both homeland and hostland. We begin with an autoethnographic reflection on returning to India, examining the tensions between memory, place, and transnational belonging. Next, we explore the role of social imaginaries in shaping emigration and return migration, particularly among Iranian migrants, illustrating how conceptions of homeland and hostland evolve dynamically throughout the migration journey. The discussion then turns to intergenerational identity transmission in Hong Konger families, unpacking how parents navigate diaspora identities and shape their children’s cultural affiliations. Further complicating notions of belonging, we examine ethnic Chinese international students in China, whose strategic identity negotiation highlights the fluid yet constraining nature of national belonging. Concluding the session, we shift to an urban perspective, exploring the decline and resurgence of Chinese corner grocery stores in Toronto, reflecting resilience in the face of gentrification and social change. Together, these papers foster a deeper understanding of how migrants imagine, construct, and negotiate their place in the world. Session Organizer: Sara Hormozinejad, University of Toronto Session Chairs: Capri (Ka Po) Kong, University of British Columbia and Sara Hormozinejad, University of Toronto

Migration/Immigration

This session deals with various aspects of polarization and political change, political trust, media ideology shaping policy disputes, and the relationship between citizen satisfaction and political trust. In doing so, the panelists enrich our understanding of the dynamics of polarization, political trust influencing voluntary compliance, the role of media, and citizen satisfaction in Canada and elsewhere. Session Organizers: Omar Faruque, University of New Brunswick, Deena Abul-Fottouh, Dalhousie University, and Pouya Morshedi, Memorial University Session Chair: Jessica Stallone, University of Toronto

Political Sociology and Social Movements Research Cluster

This session brings together papers that address theoretical debates and/or empirical research studies from diverse conceptual frameworks and methodologies that examine the historical, social, economic, political, and cultural policies and practices of anti-Asian racism and its hateful rhetoric before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The experiences, agencies, and activism of individuals who are the targets of anti-Asian racism are also examined. Session Organizers: Guida Man, York University and Keefer Wong, York University Session Chair: Guida Man, York University

Race and Ethnicity Research Cluster

In this session we feature papers that examine violence and aggression in all forms, from varied perspectives including, but not limited to, those of the victim(s), the offender(s), witnesses, the social context(s) in which violence occurs, reactions to norm violations from both formal (governments, police, courts, etc.) and informal systems, recovery and resilience, and prevention. Papers in this session are from multiple disciplines that examine harms and their effects, including papers that seek to re-imagine alternatives to how we identify and respond to violence. Session Organizer: Hannah Scott, Ontario Tech University Session Chair: Amy Webster, Ontario Tech University

Violence and Society Research Cluster

In this session, we examine the implications of educational policy through critical approaches in education and sociology to understand how concepts such as access and equity manifest themselves in adult, community and higher education settings. Educational policy as text, discourse and actions of day-to-day people (Ball 1992, 2015; Lipsky, 2010) has been used to push for shifts and changes towards a more just and equitable world. Generally, these developments in educational policy have shared the common objectives of either increasing, enhancing, and/or formalizing educational participation with spaces of adult, community-based and higher education or making such spaces more inclusive. The presentations in this session seek to argue that while the intention of using educational policy for social change through educational participation and inclusion may be honourable, the reality of an equitable society through educational policy remains elusive for those who continue to be excluded from and marginalized through higher education and the labour market. Even for adults in community settings where informal education is more flexible and readily available, equitable access to adult education is often a struggle. The session is especially interested in studies that address the policy implications for those looking to work on their literacy and those who have recently arrived in Canada. By examining educational policy for adult, community, and higher education through critical sociological lenses, we hope to highlight the importance of moving beyond simply aspirational educational policy into ensuing meaningful changes for those who have long been marginalized by various educational institutions in terms of access and success (Ahmed, 2007). Session Organizers: Annie Luk, University of Toronto, Paula Elias, Brock University, and Norin Taj, University of Toronto Session Chair: Paula Elias, Brock University

Sociology of Education Research Cluster

Food insecurity can be defined as the “inability to acquire or consume an adequate diet quality or sufficient quantity of food in socially acceptable ways, or the uncertainty that one will be able to do so” (Government of Canada, 2020). Dietitians of Canada (2016) contends that food insecurity is a serious public health issue with profound effects on physical and mental health and social well-being and that all households in Canada must have sufficient income for secure access to nutritious food after paying for other basic necessities. Notably, the most recent data from Statistics Canada’s 2022 Canadian Income Survey revealed that 8.7 million Canadians, including 2.1 million children, in the ten provinces lived in food-insecure households. Certain groups are more susceptible to food insecurity, including Black, Indigenous, and racialized peoples, individuals with disabilities, single parents, immigrants, and single people aged 18 to 64 who live alone (Uppal, 2023). This session features papers that address public perceptions of poverty and food insecurity issues and the various challenges faced by individuals experiencing poverty and food insecurity based on empirical research. Session Organizer and Chair: Henry Chow, University of Regina

Food Studies

This session examines the persistent inequalities faced by women faculty members in academia, and the structural inequalities experienced by precarious art workers. Moving beyond cooking as “women’s work” this session explores how the practice of cooking builds community and connection. Session Organizers: Sonia D'Angelo, Wilfrid Laurier University, Ronnie Joy Leah, Athabasca University, Rashmee Karnad-Jani, Public Scholar, and Linda Christiansen-Ruffman, Saint Mary's University Session Chair: Ronnie Joy Leah, Athabasca University

Feminist Sociology Research Cluster

The presentations in this session explore how work stressors affect individual health as well as healthcare providers. Session Organizer and Chair: Claudia Chaufan, York University

Sociology of Health Research Cluster

As the sociological study of technology continues to progress, many questions remain unanswered regarding the social implications of digital technologies in our everyday lives and on society-at-large. With this in mind, our annual ITDS general session provides a space for digital sociologists to share their diverse research interests and to further foster the growth of this scholarly area. Presentations will cover topics at the intersection of technology and education, knowledge production, public opinion, and alienation. Session Organizers: Andrew Nevin, University of Guelph, Michael Adorjan, University of Calgary, and Anabel Quan-Haase, Western University Session Chair: Madelaine Coelho, University of Toronto

Internet, Technology, and Digital Sociology Research Cluster

The inclusion of migrants is a perennial theme in the sociological literature. This is likely because the analysis of inclusion invites reflection not only on local community membership dynamics but also the complex processes underlying the construction of the nation-state and nationalism, policy enactment and deployment, as well as the interaction of individual/group identity formation with these processes. Although the existing literature is certainly rich, it tends to focus overwhelmingly on large urban centres, overlooking the complex and unique social processes that occur in small and medium-sized towns and rural centres. This roundtable brings together Canadian researchers who have recently published academic articles on migrant inclusion in small and medium-sized towns and rural areas in Canada in both Canadian Ethnic Studies (CES) and the Journal of International Migration and Integration (JIMI). The contributions include both theoretical and empirical case studies examining the inclusion processes and dynamics in Canadian smaller centers. This is a joint session with the Canadian Political Science Association (CPSA). Session Organizers: Kathryn Barber, Cape Breton University, Melissa Kelly, Toronto Metropolitan University, and Willem Maas, Glendon College at York University Session Chair: Melissa Kelly, Toronto Metropolitan University Session Discussant: Willem Maas, Glendon College at York University

Migration/Immigration

This session brings together several papers addressing key issues in political sociology such as the repertoire of collective action by religious nationalist groups, peacebuilding and inclusive governance, nationalism and identity formation through routine activities, and the role of religion in shaping political behaviour. Session Organizers: Omar Faruque, University of New Brunswick, Deena Abul-Fottouh, Dalhousie University, and Pouya Morshedi, Memorial University Session Chair: Charlotte Gaudreau-Majeau, McGill University

Political Sociology and Social Movements Research Cluster

Papers in this session address the influence of geopolitics and anti-Asian rhetoric on racialized experiences, identity, and their relationship to the social, economic, cultural and political context of different fields of study. Nuances of racialization and corresponding experiences are analyzed from a local and/or global perspective. Session Organizers: Guida Man, York University and Keefer Wong, York University Session Chair: Guida Man, York University

Race and Ethnicity Research Cluster