The Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences
is pleased to invite you to its Breakfast on the Hill seminar series, created to provide relevant and timely research in the social sciences and humanities to Parliamentarians and policy makers.
Michèle Vatz Laaroussi, phd
Professor of Social Work
Université de Sherbrooke
Immigration in Canada’s regions: is political will enough? *Michèle Vatz Laaroussi has a doctorate in Intercultural Psychology and teaches Social Work at l'Université de Sherbrooke. In her research on immigration and social action with immigrants, she is especially interested in the family and regional dynamics as they relate to the cultural diversity in areas outside major city centres (Toronto, Vancouver, Montréal). Several provinces, including Quebec, had already started this process in 1993, while the others, historically not chosen by immigrants, see in this trend a way of revitalizing their social, economic and demographic development. In 2003, the Canadian Immigration Observatory in Low Immigrant-Populated Areas initiated a study of immigration experiences outside major cities, the conditions for their success, the obstacles, and the issues surrounding them. Professor Vatz Laaroussi will give an overview of the current immigration environment outside major cities and will also be asking certain sensitive questions: Are the regions receptive to immigrants? Should we encourage immigration in rural areas? Do medium-sized cities have policies in place and how are they effective? What are the issues surrounding the immigration of Francophones outside Quebec? What are the pull and retention factors of the regions? Should the mobility of immigrants be considered a strong point for the country or a loss for the host regions or provinces? Finally, she will attempt to answer the title question by addressing how political will can contribute to the success of immigration outside metropolitan areas.
As the head of the research network on immigration outside major metropolitan centres, Michèle Vatz Laaroussi has participated in many national and international events. She is a member of Immigration et Métropoles (immigration and metropolitan areas) and of CEETUM (Center for ethnic studies in Montreal universities). Currently researching how municipal politics affect diversity in cities and rural areas of Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and Quebec, she is also leading two research projects on the mobility and retention of immigrant women and families, and refugees in several Quebec sites (Status of Women Canada, SSHRC). In 2005, she co-published, with Margaret Walton, a special issue of Recherche ethnique au Canada : Penser l’immigration en dehors des métropoles.
7:45 - 9 am
, TUESDAY, March 27
Parliamentary Restaurant, 6th Floor, Centre Block
There will be a $10 fee payable at the door - free for Parliamentarians and media.
A continental breakfast will be served.
Please RSVP by Friday, March 23 at 613-238-6112, ext 310 or fedcan@fedcan.ca
The Federation thanks the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada for its support.
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