News Flashes From Metropolis
November 20, 1998 (Vol. 1 No. 6)
In This Edition:
• Centre Update
• A Healthy Metropolis
• Graduate Student Involvement
• International Project
• Products
• Calls for Proposals/Papers
• Conference Information
• Metropolis Accolades
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News Flashes focuses on providing timely information (bimonthly) concentrating on
results, upcoming events, and updates on the various experiments underway at any given
time. It is your communications device, please make use of it. To get information placed
in News Flashes, or to comment on its content or structure, please contact John Biles at
(819) 997-5791 (john_biles@pch.gc.ca).
Centre Update
Montréal
On October 16, the Montreal Centre’s Coordinating Committee approved the 1998-1999
research plans prepared by the five domain committees, composed of researchers and
representatives from the federal partners, provincial and municipal organizations, private
firms and NGOs. Each domain plan outlines research priorities, projects and a budget. The
research plans include only a small number of new projects and the chance to consolidate
its research activities by focusing on the completion of the projects launched over the
last two years. For further information, please contact Bruno Gobeil at bg_metro@istar.ca
Vancouver
On October 7, 1998 Jean-Pierre Moisan attended the RIIM Management Board Meeting. The
following items were discussed at this meeting: Brown bag seminars, Discussions Papers,
Budget (1997-98 Statement and 1998-99 Forecast), SSHRC Mid-Term Review, 3rd National
Metropolis Conference, RIIM Internal Agreement, and Board Expansion.
On the question of Board expansion, Board members were presented the Metropolis Project
Team proposal of adding two federal representatives to the Board as voting participants.
The Board decided it would vote on this proposal at its next meeting on December 16. In
the meantime, it was requested that the Metropolis Project Team prepare a letter
describing the proposal for the benefit of the Board. For further information, please
contact Bruno Gobeil at bg_metro@istar.ca
Toronto
Subsequent to the September 25 Annual Research Retreat (see News
Flash Vol. 1, No 5.), the Toronto Centre held a Research Domain session on October 3
entitled "Building Research Links: A Working Seminar on Immigration and Settlement
Issues in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)." A large number of graduate students,
university-based researchers, and researchers from government, private, and non-profit
sectors attended the event. The discussion focused on the current state of immigration and
settlement research in the GTA. An attempt was made to link those interests raised during
the sessions to the research needs identified at the Annual Research Retreat of September
25. One of the important benefits of the September and October research planning events
was to provide researchers with some guidance for drafting their research
proposals. Researchers have until December 15, 1998 to submit proposals under the 1999
Request For Proposals. For further information, please contact Bruno Gobeil at bg_metro@istar.ca
The GTA Forum, an organization to bring together academics and urban professionals
continues to meet. The last session, held
October 22 focused on "GTA Governance: What Do We Do Given Where We Are?" The
next sessions will take place on November 26 and December 15. On November 26 the subject
will be "Addressing Homelessness and Social Housing Needs," and the topic for
December 15 will be "How do we find out? Tracking down data for research on the
GTA." For more information please visit the website at www.yorku.ca/org/gtaforum
CERIS will host a research workshop on Phase I of its major research initiative,
"Accommodating Diversity" on December 10, 1998. The workshop is designed to
assess the scope and dimensions of the overall project, to develop its methodological
framework, to identify research partnerships, and to outline a publication series. For
more information please call CERIS-York University at (416) 736-5223 or e-mail ceris@yorku.ca
Prairie Centre
Between October 29 and 31, the Prairie Centre held its first Annual Research Workshop
in Regina (see News Flash Vol. 1, No 5.). About ninety
representatives from the federal funding departments, the Metropolis Project Team, the
research community and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) actively participated in the
workshop. This event was a success as the Prairie Centre met its objectives of i)
strengthening the communication links among the stakeholders and ii) engaging stakeholders
in strategic research planning. Another significant outcome from the workshop was the
creation of a health research domain. Over the next few weeks, the Centre will assess
options on how to further develop some of the research themes put forward by stakeholders
at the workshop. For further information, please contact Bruno Gobeil at bg_metro@istar.ca
A Healthy Metropolis
On October 16 and 17, 1998, Health Canada held a joint meeting of its Metropolis
Working Group and lead Metropolis health researchers. Health Canada was represented by
staff from headquarters and regional representatives from Manitoba and Québec. The four
Metropolis Centres of Excellence were represented by lead health researchers.
The objectives of the meeting were to foster networking and information exchanges; to
provide a forum for discussion of collaborative activities; and to identify potential
national-level initiatives relevant to the Metropolis Project and Health Canada’s
policy interests. For more information please contact Carol Silcoff at carol_silcoff@hc-sc.gc.ca
Graduate Student Involvement
The Metropolis Project is committed to encouraging young scholars to become involved in
research on immigration and diversity. To that end, the majority of research dollars spent
within Metropolis are spent on graduate students. Unfortunately, that has not translated
into a greater connection between policy makers and graduate students. The Metropolis
Project Team has proposed a few initiatives designed to help create those linkages.
The number of theses and dissertations completed at the four centres in the area of
immigration and diversity is impressive (for example, at present Vancouver has 25 theses
in progress). A vast wealth of information is available in these research projects which
is not widely available to the academic and policy communities. To promote the use of this
research the Project Team invites all graduate students doing work in th area of
immigration and diversity to register in the virtual library on the Metropolis website
(canada.metropolis.net). In addition, the Project Team will pay the cost of a
bound copy of theses and dissertations relevant to immigration and diversity. They will be
placed in a resource centre at Citizenship and Immigration Canada which will be open to
members of the Metropolis Network. For more information on this initiative, please contact
John Biles at john_biles@pch.gc.ca
Scholars doing policy research need access to policy makers and need to have a firm
understanding of the policy making process. To facilitate this much needed contact, the
Metropolis Project Team is in the process of establishing an internship program for
graduate students. Given tight financial resources, it is not presently possible to offer
an honorarium for students, but it is possible to offer office space, research materials,
and valuable policy contacts in Ottawa. Any graduate student connected to the Metropolis
Project with an interest in pursuing research in Ottawa is welcome to apply to the Project
Team which will make arrangements on a case by case basis. For more information on this
initiative, please contact John Biles at
john_biles@pch.gc.ca
A third initiative designed to facilitate graduate student involvement is a contest
sponsored by the French Canadian Association for the Advancement of Science (Acfas). The
Metropolis Project Team has doubled the prize offered in a contest designed to encourage
researchers and students to help popularize academic research by producing it in a format
which is accessible to non-academics. For more information please consult the website (http://www.canada.metropolis.net/research-policy/sub/acfas.html)
or contact Jean Viel at jv_metro@istar.ca
International Project
Interconference Events
Chatham House, London (April 22-23 1999)
A seminar of thirty policy-makers and academics will be convened over several days at
Chatham House in England to consider the policy challenges of the new migrant diasporas.
The aim of the seminar is to explore policy pitfalls and strategies in response to new
global processes, immigration flows and cross-border activities. The three key policy
domains to be discussed will be Immigration and Asylum, Economic Exchange, and Political
Participation, Foreign Relations and Security. For further information please contact
Steve Vertovec at steven.vertovec@anthro.ox.ac.uk
or consult the website at www.transcomm.ox.ac.uk
Dubrovnik (May 24-29, 1999)
Professor Yngve Lithman of the University of Bergen and the Director of the
International Migration and Ethnic Relations (IMER) institute is coordinating an
international mini-conference in Dubrovnik, Croatia on the theme "Youth in the Plural
City: Individualized and Collectivized Identity Projects.Further information on this conference can be found
at http://www.svf.uib.no/sefos/IMER/Dubrovnik.html
If you are interested in participating please contact Professor Yngve Lithman at imer@sefos.uib.no
Products
The Third Metropolis Newsletter is now available. It is a document packed with
information on policy-research links and how Metropolis seeks to strengthen those links.
If you would like a copy of the Newsletter please contact your Interdepartmental Committee
representative, your Centre of Excellence, or Dominique Groulx at dominique.groulx@9522apx.cina.x400.gc.ca
The Fourth Metropolis Newsletter, focussing on the International Project, is in the
production process at present. To submit material for this newsletter please contact John
Biles at john_biles@pch.gc.ca
A special issue of the Canadian Journal of Regional Science, edited by Jeffrey Reitz is
now available. This issue features Metropolis research papers and papers on
policy-research issues viewed from both Canadian and international perspectives. For more
informtion please contact Jean Viel at jv_metro@istar.ca
If you are interested in subscribing to a newsletter on "Citizenship, Democracy
and Ethnocultural Diversity" edited by Will Kymlicka please e-mail philform@qsilver.queensu.ca
Fernando Mata, a research officer with the Multiculturalism Program of the Department
of Canadian Heritage has completed a report entitled, "The Intergenerational
Transmission of Education and Socio-Economic Status: A Look at Immigrants, Visible
Minorities and Aboriginals." The paper will be produced as a report by Statistics
Canada. Advance copies are available on request from Fernando Mata at fernando_mata@pch.gc.ca A presentation will be
made on March 18 for those interested.
Calls for Proposals/Papers
Status of Women Canada has put out a call for proposals on "Trafficking in Women:
the Canadian Dimension." Proposals are due by December 5, 1998. For more Information
please check the website at www.swc-cfc.gc.ca
The Multiculturalism program of the Department of Canadian Heritage has put out a
strategic call for proposals in the areas of identity, social justice, and civic
participation. For further information please consult the Metropolis website or call Maria
Tiley at (819) 994-6035, maria_tiley@pch.gc.ca
Atlantis Special Issue: "Whose Canada Is It? Immigrant Women, Women of Colour,
Citizenship and Multiculturalism" Submission Deadline: March 15, 1999 Contact:
Managing Editor, Cecily Barrie: cecily.barrie@msvu.ca
Conference Information
Third National Metropolis Conference
The Third National Metropolis Conference will be held in Vancouver January 14-16, 1999.
The programme is now available and registration has begun. For help with registration
please check the Metropolis website for the Vancouver Centre or contact Penny Southby at
Simon Fraser University at [Tel] (604) 291-3649 [Fax] (604) 291-3420, conference_services@sfu.ca
Please note that the Social Justice seminar planned for January 13 by the Department of
Canadian Heritage has been postponed to a future date.
Fourth International Metropolis Conference
The Fourth Annual International Metropolis Conference will be held in December, 1999 in
Washington D.C. at the Georgetown University Conference Centre. The conference will be
sponsored by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in collaboration with several
other U.S. non-profit institutions.
The fourth annual conference will be the first to be held in North America, in the
world’s most populous country built by immigration. The focus of the Washington
conference will be on societal membership and the incorporation of immigrants in urban
housing and labour markets. The emphasis will be on bringing the results of Metropolis
research to the policy community and exploring in detail its implications for
decision-making at all levels of government and for non-governmental service providers.
Each day will begin with a thematic plenary session featuring a keynote speaker and a
roundtable discussion. These will orient the participants to the specific topic of the
day. Each day will also feature a set of highly focused, results-oriented workshops. The
content of the workshops will be determined by their hosts as was the case with the Third
International Metropolis Conference. All those interested in hosting a conference workshop
are invited to submit proposals to the conference organizers in Washington by providing
the following information:
• the name, institution, address, phone, FAX, etc. of the host or hosts,
• the title of the proposed workshop,
• a brief description (maximum 100 words) of the issue to be discussed,
• a list of possible presenters,
• a brief description of how research and policy communities will be involved, and
• a description of the workshop goals and follow-up activity.
Please submit your proposals by January 31, 1999 to Yasmin Santiago [Fax] 202-332-0945
or by e- mail at yasmin@ceip.org. They will be
considered by the Metropolis International Steering Committee at its meeting in February
in New York City.
The workshops are intended to be a highlight of the annual conference. The aim is to
inaugurate enduring relations between participating researchers and policy-makers leading
to international comparative research projects, further seminars, roundtables, and other
forms of dialogue. The Fourth International Metropolis Conference will provide you with an
excellent opportunity to bring together talented individuals with common interests in a
setting highly conducive to policy and research discussions.
Related Conferences
Human Rights and Multicultural Access (Ottawa November 26-28, 1998)
Theme: Newcomers’ Access to Canadian Society.
[Tel] (514) 277-7223
[Fax] (514) 277-1447
[E-mail] ccr@web.net
Identite(s): multiculturalisme, integration (Grenoble, France December
6-9, 1998)
[Fax] +33-0476827749
[E-mail] helene.greven@u-grenoble3.fr
International Congress on Electronic Media and Citizenship in Information
Society: Politics & Internet
(Tampere, Finland January 6-9, 1999)
[Tel] +358 9 440 882
[Fax] +358 9 492 810
[E-mail] secretariat@congcreator.com
Giving the Past A Future, (Montreal January 30-31, 1999)
Theme: Teaching and Learning of Canadian History
[Tel] (514) 398-2658
|[Fax] (514) 398-7336
Cosmopolitanism and Nationalism, (Stanford April 15-17, 1999)
[E-mail] shandon@leland.stanford.edu
Reimagining Belonging, (Aalborg, Denmark May 6-8 1999)
[E-mail] weier@sprog.auc.dk
ACFAS Annual Conference, (Ottawa May 10-14, 1999)
Marcel Arteau
[Tel] (514) 281-2081
|[Fax] (514) 281-5010
Canada and Central Europe at the Threshold of the 21st Century,
(Budapest, Hungary May 13-16, 1999)
Sub-themes: Canada’s First Nations, Founding Nations, Immigrant Heritages, Culture in
Retrospect, the Future Ahead
Blaguss Volanbusz Bureau
[Tel] (361) 117-7777
[Fax] (361) 266-1585
[E-mail] torekya.blaguss@volanbusz.hu
Citizens at the Crossroads: Whose Information Society?
(Ottawa May 26-28, 1999)
Themes:
Ownership and control of electronic and other media networks, services and information
Controversial content, censorship, propoganda and privacy
Civic knowledge, education and participation
Democracy and political action
Human rights, diversity and marginalization
[Tel] (819) 997-0038
[Fax] (819) 997-6765
[E-mail] yohanna_loucheur@pch.gc.ca
New Integration Strategies, (Granada, Spain May 1999),
European Migration Centre
[Tel] +49 30 44 65 10 65
[Fax] +49 30 444 10 85
[E-mail] migratio@zdat.fu-berlin.de
Canadian Society for the Study of Education Annual Conference,
(Sherbrooke June 9-12, 1999)
[Tel] (613) 241-0018
[Fax] (613) 241-0019
[E-mail] csse@csse.ca
Association pour la recherche interculturelle (ARIC),
(Nanterre, France June 30-July 3, 1999)
Theme: Knowledge and Issues of Interculturalism
[Tel] +33 1 40 97 47 41
[Fax] +33 1 40 97 47 43
[E-mail] ARIC@u-paris10.fr
The Liberal Order: The Future for Social Justice?
(Olomouc, Czech Republic July 7-12, 1999)
[Fax] +44-1273-681935
[E-mail] social.justice@brighton.ac.uk
Rediscovering Canada, (Reykjavik, Iceland August 5-8, 1999)
Theme: Canada and the Nordic Countries Compared
[Tel] +45 89422125
[Fax] +45 89422099
[E-mail] engua@hum.aau.dk
International and Local Migration Policies,
(Lisbon, Portugal September 1999)
European Migration Centre
[Tel] +49 30 44 65 10 65
[Fax] +49 30 444 10 85
[E-mail] migratio@zdat.fu-berlin.de
Nationalism, Identity and Minority Rights,
(Bristol, U.K. September 16-19, 1999)
[E-mail] nat-conf@bris.ac.uk
Ethnic Radicalisation,
(Jerusalem, Israel, January 2000), European Migration Centre
[Tel] +49 30 44 65 10 65
[Fax] +49 30 444 10 85
[E-mail] migratio@zdat.fu-berlin.de
Immigration Communities, Diasporas and Politics,
(Athens, Greece May 2000)
European Migration Centre
[Tel] +49 30 44 65 10 65
[Fax] +49 30 444 10 85
[E-mail] migratio@zdat.fu-berlin.de
Human Rights in Europe Since 1945, (Oslo, Norway Aug 6-13, 2000)
Carole Ink
[fax] (614) 292-2282
Early Warning, Causes of Migration and the Configuration of Migrant Routes
(Potenza Basilicata, Italy May 2001)
European Migration Centre
[Tel] +49 30 44 65 10 65
[Fax] +49 30 444 10 85
[E-mail] migratio@zdat.fu-berlin.de
Ethnic Conflicts and Their Solution: Models and Experiences,
(Burgenland, Austria October 2001)
European Migration Centre
[Tel] +49 30 44 65 10 65
[Fax] +49 30 444 10 85
[E-mail] migratio@zdat.fu-berlin.de
Metropolis Accolades
The Metropolis network of web sites received the Gold Medal at the recent "6th
Annual Salute to Excellence in the Management of Information Technology in the Public
Sector." The Network was awarded the top prize in the category of "Investing
Strategically in IM and IT - Building Partnerships."
The award was accepted by Jean Viel, Senior Project Coordinator, from Mr. Peter Harder,
Secretary of the Treasury Board of Canada. The web network is a visible symbol of the
unifying principle of building partnerships which characterizes Metropolis’ modus
operandi. Information about this award can be found on the main menu page of the web site
at: www.canada.metropolis.net
Comings and Goings of the Metropolis Family
Several of the key participants from the Department of Canadian Heritage have taken up
new positions in the last few months. While they have left their roles at Heritage, we
hope they will continue their involvement in Metropolis.
• Ned Ellis has recently been appointed Director General of Policies, Programming,
and Planning at SSHRC.
• Susan Scotti has recently been appointed Associate Assistant Deputy Minister,
Human Resources Investment Branch, Human Resources Development Canada.
• Pierre Anctil has left the Québec Ministry responsible for Citizenship and
Immigration and has moved to the position of Executive Directory of the Miriam Home
Foundation in Montréal. We wish him well and look forward to his continued involvement in
Metropolis.
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