- About the University of British Columbia
- Congress 2019 Theme
- Convenors
- Associations
- Events
- Videos
- Highlights
- Sponsors
- Exhibitors
Congress 2019 was hosted by The University of British Columbia in Vancouver, British Columbia. The theme was “Circles of Conversation.”
About the University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the 40 best universities in the world – and top 20 public universities. Since 1915, the university has embraced innovation and academic rigour. UBC encourages its students, staff, and faculty to challenge convention, lead discovery, and explore new ways of learning. Locally integrated and globally connected, the university has always been a place of community engagement. UBC creates an exceptional learning environment that fosters global citizenship, advances a civil and sustainable society, and supports outstanding research to serve the people of British Columbia, Canada and the world. Among UBC faculty and alumni, you will find a number of Rhodes Scholars, Nobel Laureates, and three Canadian Prime Ministers.
The UBC campuses and operations are located on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the Musqueam people (Point Grey campus), the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh peoples (Downtown Vancouver campus), and the Syilx Okanagan people (Okanagan campus).
For more information, please visit www.ubc.ca.
Theme: Circles of Conversation
With the theme “Circles of Conversation,” Congress 2019 in Vancouver emphasized the deep, two-way relationships between the university and the communities it serves: local, provincial, national, and global. Particular attention was focused on productive scholarly relations with Indigenous communities. The University of British Columbia sits on unceded xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) territory and houses the Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre.
“Circles of Conversation” opened up space for dialogue, debate, and dissent, and showcased creative critical engagements — in literature, visual arts, and music — with topics as diverse as sustainability, accessibility, global mobility, health, culture, and, of course, education. Congress 2019 fostered and encouraged circles of conversation among scholars, educators, students, political leaders, and activists, so that people could speak with one another, listen, and learn together.
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Convenors
Laura Moss, Academic Convenor
A Professor in the Department of English Languages and Literatures, Laura Moss teaches Canadian and African literatures. Her research interests lie in the intersections of art and public policy, and in Canadian literary history. Moss is the Editor of the journal Canadian Literature: A Quarterly of Criticism and Review and has served as Chair of the UBC Canadian Studies Program and Director of the International Canadian Studies Centre. In 2013, she was awarded the UBC Killam Teaching Prize.
As the Academic Convenor, Moss plays a crucial role in the successful academic planning, multidisciplinary programming, and hosting of the conference. As an ambassador for Congress within UBC, she will build support across the institution and amongst faculty, students and the campus community.
This will be Moss’s 15th Congress, and UBC is delighted to have her leading on Congress 2019.
Associations
- 6 - Canadian Society of Biblical Studies
- 7 - Association for Canadian and Québec Literatures
- 8 - Canadian Catholic Historical Association
- 9 - Canadian Society of Church History
- 12 - Canadian Association for Commonwealth Literature and Language Studies
- 15 - Canadian Society for the Study of Education
- 16 - Canadian Society for the Study of Higher Education
- 19 - Association of Canadian College and University Teachers of English
- 21 - Association des professeur.e.s de français des universités et collèges canadiens
- 23 - Canadian Association of University Teachers of German
- 24 - Canadian Association of Hispanists
- 25 - Canadian Society for the History and Philosophy of Science
- 26 - Canadian Historical Association
- 31 - Canadian Industrial Relations Association
- 34 - Association for Canadian Jewish Studies
- 36 - Canadian Association of Law Teachers
- 37 - Canadian Linguistic Association
- 38 - Canadian Comparative Literature Association
- 39 - Canadian Society for the History and Philosophy of Mathematics
- 41 - Canadian University Music Society
- 42 - Canadian Society for the Study of Names
- 43 - Canadian Association for the Advancement of Netherlandic Studies
- 45 - Canadian Society of Patristic Studies
- 46 - Canadian Peace Research Association
- 47 - Canadian Philosophical Association
- 48 - Canadian Political Science Association
- 49 - Canadian Population Society
- 50 - Canadian Society for the Study of Religion
- 51 - Canadian Society for Renaissance Studies
- 53 - Canadian Society for the Study of Practical Ethics
- 56 - Canadian Association of Slavists
- 57 - Canadian Association for Social Work Education
- 58 - Society for Socialists Studies
- 59 - Canadian Sociological Association
- 64 - Canadian Association for Theatre Research
- 65 - Canadian Theological Society
- 68 - Canadian Association for Information Science
- 70 - Canadian Society for the History of Medicine
- 96 - Women’s and Gender Studies et Recherches Féministes
- 98 - Canadian Association of Learned Journals
- 103 - Canadian Association of Music Libraries, Archives and Documentation Centres
- 105 - Canadian Communication Association
- 111 - RhetCanada/Canadian Society for the Study of Rhetoric
- 201 - Association for the Advancement of Scandinavian Studies in Canada
- 207 - Canadian Association of Chairs of English
- 210 - Hungarian Studies Association of Canada
- 215 - Canadian Association for the Study of Discourse and Writing
- 217 - Canadian Association for the Study of Adult Education
- 225 - Canadian Association for the Study of International Development
- 229 - Canadian Law and Society Association
- 231 - Canadian Society for Aesthetics
- 238 - Bibliographical Society of Canada
- 239 - Existential and Phenomenological Theory and Culture
- 240 - Canadian Association for Translation Studies
- 242 - Film Studies Association of Canada
- 246 - Canadian-American Theological Association
- 249 - Canadian Society of Medievalists
- 255 - Canadian Society for Digital Humanities
- 256 - Canadian Association of Applied Linguistics
- 259 - Environmental Studies Association of Canada
- 276 - Association canadienne d'études francophones du XIXe siècle
- 293 - Canadian Disability Studies Association
- 295 - Canadian Association for Studies of Book Culture
- 297 - Canadian Association for Food Studies
- 299 - Canadian Game Studies Association
- 300 - Association for Nonprofit and Social Economy Research
- 303 - Sexuality Studies Association
- 304 - Canadian Association of Professional Academic Librarians
- 305 - Canadian Association for Work and Labour Studies
- 307 - Indigenous Literary Studies Association
- 309 - Black Canadian Studies Association
- 311 - Canadian Society for the Study of Comics
- 501 - Canadian Association for Leisure Studies
Videos
Big Thinking
The Big Thinking lecture series is held throughout Congress and brings together leading scholars and public figures who present forward-thinking research, ideas and solutions to the critical questions and issues of our time. The 2019 Big Thinking lecture series is organized by the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences and the University of British Columbia, with the generous support of series sponsors.
In Conversation with Esi Edugyan Esi Edugyan Sunday, June 2, 2019 Watch the video |
What is the price of reconciling freedom and responsibility in a changing democracy? |
Beyond Climate: Science, storytelling and solutions |
Storytelling and strength: Voices from Indigenous theatre in Canada |
Impossible Pictures |
Events
Download the Congress Essentials Guide(PDF) for a listing of events that were open to all attendees.
Congress 2019 highlights
Congress 2019 brought together 10,600 scholars, students and members of the public to share perspectives, discuss ideas and build connections at Canada’s largest academic conference. Hosted by The University of British Columbia, Congress 2019 took place from June 1 to 7. This year’s theme, “Circles of Conversation,” sparked important discussions around community, inclusivity and reconciliation in Canada. In the span of one week, more than 6,000 papers were presented by researchers from 73 associations, and over 291 free events were open to attendees and the general public:
- The first ever Big Thinking lecture series featuring the arts as a platform to engage with scholarship in the humanities and social sciences.
- The University of British Columbia offered a plethora of exciting programming options, with 196 open sessions including featured talks, exhibitions, performances and — new this year — a Pedagogy Hub.
- Thirty reconciliation-themed events focused on the role the humanities and social sciences can play in addressing the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, along with another 24 Indigenous-focused events specifically put on by UBC.
- This year’s Career Corner professional development series proposed 22 workshops to help academics of all levels advance their careers, publish and market their research, and improve their lesson planning and teaching skills.
Congress media
Congress 2019 was widely covered by regional and national media, with over 800 media stories running in online, print, radio and TV outlets. The following are but some of the most noteworthy media highlights:
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The Globe and Mail ran an article featuring UBC’s Lindsey Richardson’s important research on the correlations between flexible income-assistance payments, drug use and related drug-related harms.
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The National Post ran nine stories as part of their Oh, The Humanities! series, featuring articles on the ethics of computers being able to read expressions on our faces, on how anti-vaxxers consistently find an audience despite the facts, and how dodgeball may be an unethical tool of oppression.
- Vancouver news outlets ran a series of op-eds by Congress researchers, including topics such as how apprehensions of Indigenous children are linked to misperceptions around neglect, why colonization and immigration cause people to cling to perceived ancestral culture and the ways in which STEM teaching and learning needs to embrace its responsibility to the planet.
Incident at Congress 2019 on June 2
Many members contacted the Federation to express their concern and outrage regarding the incident that took place at Congress on June 2, 2019. Instances of anti-Black racism, racial profiling and racial discrimination are deeply troubling no matter when or where they may take place. The Federation is taking action to address this issue and is committed to keeping the community informed as we move forward. On June 5, the Federation issued an initial statement about the incident as well as an open letter to the Black Canadian Studies Association. On June 10, Patrizia Albanese, as the Federation’s President, issued another update. The Federation thanks all members who have raised their voices and demanded action. We are listening, we are learning, and we are taking action. We remain committed to keeping our community informed as we work towards resolving the issues at hand.
Sponsors
The Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences gratefully acknowledges the support of the following partners:
Exhibitors
- Anvil Press (May 31 - June 6)
- Arsenal Pulp Press (June 4 - June 6)
- Association of Book Publishers of British Columbia (May 31 - June 3)
- Athabasca University Press (May 31 - June 6)
- Between the Lines (May 31 - June 6)
- Black Rose Books (May 31 - June 6)
- Broadview Press (May 31 - June 3)
- Brunswick Books (May 31 - June 6)
- Caitlin Press (May 31 - June 6)
- Cambridge University Press (May 31 - June 6)
- Canadian Filmmakers Distribution Centre (May 31 - June 6)
- Canadian Scholars (May 31 - June 6)
- Columbia University Press (May 31 - June 6)
- Concordia University Press (May 31 - June 6)
- Duke University Press (May 31 - June 6)
- Elections Canada (May 31 - June 3)
- English Studies in Canada (May 31 - June 3)
- Fairleigh Dickinson University Press (May 31 - June 6)
- Fernwood Publishing (May 31 - June 6)
- Georgetown University Press (May 31 - June 6)
- HarperCollins Canada (May 31 - June 6)
- Harvard University Press (May 31 - June 6)
- Inanna Publications & Education Inc. (May 31 - June 3)
- Ingram Academic Services (May 31 - June 6)
- Kanatan Aski (May 31 - June 6)
- KDocs: Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Official Documentary Film Festival (June 4 - June 6)
- KMP and Associates (May 31 - June 3)
- University of Ottawa Press (May 31 - June 6)
- Literary Press Group (May 31 - June 3)
- McGill-Queens' University Press (May 31 - June 6)
- McMaster Indigenous Research Institute (June 4 - June 6)
- MIND Partnership (June 4 - June 6)
- MIT Press (May 31 - June 6)
- Mitacs (May 31 - June 6)
- National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (June 4 - June 6)
- NYU Press (May 31 - June 6)
- Orca Book Publishers (May 31 - June 3)
- Oxford University Press Canada (June 4 - June 6)
- Paragon Testing Enterprises (May 31 - June 6)
- Penguin Random House Canada (May 31 - June 6)
- Playwrights Canada Press (June 4 - June 6)
- Portage & Main Press (May 31 - June 3)
- Research Impact Canada (May 31 - June 6)
- Ronsdale Press (May 31 - June 3)
- SAGE Publishing (June 4 - June 6)
- Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (May 31 - June 6)
- Talonbooks (May 31 – June 3)
- The Collaborative (May 31 – June 3)
- The Conversation Canada (May 31 - June 6)
- The University of Chicago Press (May 31 - June 6)
- Tourism Vancouver (May 31 - June 5)
- UBC Bookstore (May 31 - June 6)
- UBC Journals (May 31 - June 6)
- UBC Press (May 31 - June 6)
- UBC School of Public Policy and Global Affairs (June 4 - June 6)
- University Affairs (June 4 - June 6)
- University of Alberta Press (May 31 - June 6)
- University of Calgary Press (May 31 - June 6)
- University of California Press (May 31 - June 6)
- University of Manitoba Press (May 31 - June 6)
- University of Minnesota Press (May 31 - June 6)
- University of Pennsylvania Press (May 31 - June 6)
- University of Regina Press (May 31 - June 6)
- University of Toronto Press (May 31 - June 6)
- University of Toronto Press Distribution (May 31 - June 6)
- University of Toronto Press Journals (May 31 - June 6)
- University of Wisconsin Press (May 31 - June 6)
- Western University (May 31 - June 6)
- Wilfrid Laurier University Press (May 31 - June 6)
- Wolsak & Wynn Publishers (May 31 - June 3)
- Women’s Press (May 31 - June 6)
- Yale University Press (May 31 - June 6)