CERIS MANAGEMENT BOARD MEETING

 

FRIDAY, September 26, 2003

1:00 - 3:00 pm

 

FRIDAY, November 7, 2003

2:00 - 4:00 pm

 

At the main CERIS (Toronto) office, 246 Bloor St. W., 7th Floor, Room 702

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CERIS Seminar

 

The monthly Friday lunch-time seminars will begin from October with talks, presentations and discussions from the Community, Health and, Justice and Law Domains.  Details will be announced in the next bulletin.

 

 

THE MANY FACES OF PATRIOTISM

Date: September 11 & 12, 2003

Inaugural Conference of the Center for the Study of Citizenship at Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan

Deadline for on-line registration is September 4, 2003

For more details, visit the website at: http://www.citizenship.wayne.edu/many_faces_conference.php

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CONFERENCE ON SUBETHNICITY IN THE CHINESE DIASPORA

Date: September 12 & 13, 2003

Location: Munk Centre for International Studies, University of Toronto, 1 Devonshire Place, Room 208N

Immigrants of Chinese descent comprise a significant segment of the population of Toronto, and other world cities outside of China, referred to as the Diaspora. Diasporic Chinese originate from different countries or cultural areas of the same country. They may immigrate at different times, with a range of backgrounds. The goal of this conference is to understand their relationships to each other in the diasporic location.

 Speakers at the conference include: Christine Avenarius Benita (East Carolina University), Elic Chan (University of Toronto), Nora Chiang (National Taiwan University), Eric Fong (University of Toronto), Manying Ip (University of Auckland), Chiako Naruse (Kansei Gakuin University), Fatima Lee (University of Toronto), Constance Lever-Tracy (Flinders University, Australia), Peter Li (University of Saskatchewan), Lucia Lo (York University), Chiu Luk (University of Toronto), Judith Nagata (York University), Mai Phan (University of Toronto), Frank Pieke (Oxford University), Izumi Sakamoto (University of Toronto), Elizabeth Sinn (University of Hong Kong), Josephine Smart (University of Toronto),Shuguang Wang (Ryerson University), Renita Wong (York University).  

For more information on this conference, click here: http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~salaff/conference

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THE ACADEMIC AS PUBLIC INTELLECTUAL: RESPONSIBILITY AND THE

PUBLIC SPHERE
Date: September 18-19 at York University

A Conference in honour of Howard Adelman

 Join York University to celebrate the career and achievement of Howard Adelman, philosopher, activist and public intellectual as he retires from the University. Come and participate with the distinguished panellists assembled to carry on Howard's work in the many fields to which he has contributed for over thirty years. Eminent philosophers, political scientists, jurists and scholars working with NGO's will gather to provide a unique opportunity for inter-disciplinary exchanges on some of the issues to which Howard has contributed.

Among the distinguished panellists are:
Irwin Cotler, MP and internationally renowned expert on human rights;
John O'Neill, Distinguished Research Professor, Sociology, York University and Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada;
Rabbi Dow Marmur, Rabbi Emeritus of Holy Blossom Temple and faculty at the University of Toronto School of Theology;
David Shugarman, Director, York University Centre for Practical Ethics and Master McLaughlin College;
Astri Suhrke, Senior Research Fellow, Chair,  Michelson Institute, Bergen, Norway;
Michael Doyle, former Special Adviser to United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and currently Harold Brown Professor of Law and International Relations;
Michael Marrus, Dean, Graduate School, University of Toronto, Chancellor Rose and Ray Wolfe Professor of Holocaust Studies, University of Toronto;
Cecil Foster, University of Guelph, novelist, columnist and Professor of Sociology

For more information and registration details, please contact the Centre for Practical Ethics at 416-736-2100

Sponsored by the Faculty of Arts, Atkinson College, the Faculty of Graduate Studies, the Philosophy Graduate Student Association, McLaughlin College and the Centre for Practical Ethics of York University.

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CERLAC CONFERENCES

(CENTRE for RESEARCH on LATIN AMERICA & the CARIBBEAN)

**International Migration in the Americas: Emerging Issues **
September 19-20, 2003, York University
http://www.yorku.ca/cerlac/EVENTS.html#Migration
 
**Canada, Free Trade and Deep Integration in North America **
October 14-16, 2003, York University  
http://www.yorku.ca/cerlac/deep-integration.html
 
Please inform the organizers in advance of your intention to attend:
cerlac@yorku.ca

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YCAR  EVENTS  (YORK CENTRE FOR ASIAN RESEARCH)

 **The Dynamics of Self-employment and Ethnic Business amongst Taiwanese in Australia**

Date: Thursday, September 11, 2003   12:00-1:30 pm

Speaker: Lan-hung Nora Chiang , National Taiwan University

Location: Room 305 York Lanes, Keele Campus.  

Co-Sponsors: Asian Institute at the Munk Centre for International Studies, University of Toronto

 

**Workshop: Transnational Religious Identities and Politics**

Date: October 23 & 24, 2003    9:00 am - 5:00 pm.
Location:  Room 305 York Lanes, Keele Campus. 

Co-Sponsors:  Centre for Feminist Research, York University; Asia Pacific Policy Division, Department of Foreign Affairs & International Trade (DFAIT)

NB. space is limited to 50 participants.  Please rsvp to ycar@yorku.ca if you would like to attend.

For more information on YCAR events, visit:

http://www.yorku.ca/ycar/events.htm   or email  ycar@yorku.ca

 

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THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF DIVERSITY:
A ROLE FOR SOCIAL CAPITAL?
Date: November 24-25, 2003
Pre-conference workshop: November 23, 2003
Location: Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel, Montreal, Canada

The Government of Canada's Policy Research Initiative, jointly with the OECD and in partnership with federal departments, including Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Statistics Canada, and Department of Canadian Heritage, is organizing an international conference to explore the role of social capital in the social, economic and political participation of immigrants and members of ethnic communities and to discuss broader implications for public policy.

Leading international experts and senior policy makers will exchange  ideas on key policy research issues:

• the combined effects of human and social capital on the labour  market participation of immigrants and ethnic minorities;
• the role of family networks, culture and ethnicity on the life perspectives and educational outcomes of youth of diverse ethnic backgrounds;
• ethnic networks and neighbourhood dynamics;
• the role of social capital for explaining political trust and participation of diverse ethnic groups;
• the measurement of social capital in the context of  immigration and diversity;
• the role of government and stakeholders in fostering social inclusion through the development of social capital.

The conference should be attended by researchers, academics and policy makers with expertise or interest in social capital, immigration and diversity.

Registration is limited. For more information on the conference, please contact Catherine Demers at (613) 943-1997 or Jean Kunz at (613) 992-5193.  Details will be posted on the PRI website at http://www.policyresearch.gc.ca  as of mid-September.

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NEWS FROM THE CANADIAN COUNCIL FOR REFUGEES

 

** Summer Working Group Meetings **

Date: September 5-8, 2003

Topics for discussion include Overseas Protection & Sponsorship; and Inland Protection and Immigration & Settlement.  The meetings are open to non-governmental interested individuals. 

 Please inform Janet Dench at the CCR office by 28 August.

Tel: (514)277-7223      Fax: (514)277-1447     Email: ccr@web.net

 ** Integration Initiative Project**

The CCR is undertaking an international project aimed at supporting the integration of resettled refugees, with funding support from a number of different governments of resettlement countries. The project will run for a year beginning September 2003.  It will collect information from states and NGOs on needs and opportunities in the area of the integration of resettled refugees. This information will be used to stimulate exchanges between and among traditional, new and emerging resettlement countries and provide recommendations towards the development of future efforts.

Please send an email by 31 August to ccr@web.ca if you are interested in serving on the steering committee for this project.

 

** Nominations for Executive Elections**

CCR is seeking nominations for eight Executive Committee positions which come up for election at the Annual General Meeting on November 22, 2003. Please contact the following members of the Nomination Committee for more information if you are interested in nominating yourself or someone else.  The deadline for nominations is October 18, 2003.

·         Debbie Douglas - Tel: (416)322-4950 ext. 229 or Email ddouglas@ocasi.org

·         Fariborz Birjandian - Tel: (403)262-2006  or Email fbirjandian@ccis-calgary.ab.ca

·         Bediako Buahene - Tel: (604)689-5566 or Email bbuahene@axionet.com

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***** CALL FOR PAPERS AND PROPOSALS ***** 

 

COMMUNITY RESEARCH INITIATIVE

The Multiculturalism Program of Canadian Heritage is one important means by which the government pursues the goals of the multiculturalism policy.  The Department of Canadian Heritage has identified community research as a key component of the research activities undertaken under its Multiculturalism Program’s 2003-2006 Research Strategy.

The areas of priority for community research in 2003 are:

• Identification of strategies that facilitate cross-cultural understanding. Examples include documenting the processes facilitating the establishment of links with mainstream agencies and networks, and examining the role of community and mainstream media in fostering the communication of diversity;
• Identification of strategies for building the capacity of ethno-racial youth to develop leadership capacity and skills for connecting with actors and institutions outside of their communities; and
• Exploration of strategies and options for facilitating improved ethno-racial community access to services and facilities provided by local, provincial and national governments.

 

Deadline: Proposals must be received by October 17, 2003 (5:00 p.m. E.S.T.).

For more information and application details, please visit the website at

http://www.pch.gc.ca/progs/multi/program/prop_e.cfm

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CANADA HOUSING AND MORTGAGE CORPORATION’S EXTERNAL RESEARCH PROGRAM

CMHC's External Research Program offers funding assistance to help Canadian researchers carry out research investigations on topics related to housing. The intent of the program is to encourage and draw out new ideas, innovative solutions, and better understanding of housing issues. ERP grants, which may be up to $25,000, are available for a limited number of research projects each year. Once the research studies are completed, CMHC will publish and disseminate the results through the Canadian Housing Information Centre.

Recipients of ERP grants are selected on the basis of the merit and significance of their proposals by a national committee of housing experts. Committee representatives include experienced researchers and practitioners in government, academic institutions, housing related professions and businesses. For more information, please visit http://www.cmhc.ca/en/prfias/gr/exrepr_001.cfm

Deadline: Applications must be sent to CMHC's National Office in Ottawa either postmarked or emailed by midnight October 31, 2003.

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THE BELL CANADA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUND

The Bell Canada Community Development Fund is intended to be a three-year commitment of $1 million dollars, running from 2001-2003. This fund builds on the success of the Bell Canada Economic Development Fund, which was in place from 1998-2000.  

The fund has been broadened to support both economic development projects and community/social based projects that utilize leading edge communications technology as a strategic enabler within a community or region. It is anticipated that the majority of the funds will go to economic development based projects.

Application deadline: Applications must be received no later than 5:00pm, October 02, 2003.

For more information on the Bell Canada Community Development Fund, please  visit

http://www.bell.ca/shop/application/commercewf? Click on ‘About Bell’, then ‘Bell in the Community’, then ‘Bell Canada Community Development’ or contact:

Bell Canada Community Development Fund
c/o Aaron McIntosh,
Manager, Economic Development
483 Bay St, Floor 7N-Y
Toronto, Ontario
M5G 2C9

Telephone: 416 - 581-3593 or, email: aaron.mcintosh@bell.ca

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MESSAGE FROM CERIS DIRECTOR, DR. USHA GEORGE

Dear Colleagues,

CERIS is entering the second year of its second phase and it can truly be proud of its record of achievements, which has earned the centre a reputation for research on the settlement and integration of immigrants and refugees.  CERIS has actively promoted the research interests of  large numbers of academic researchers and community partners. Following the Metropolis mandate, CERIS has administered SSHRC funded research projects totaling over $900,000 since 1996.  These research projects have shed some light on the complexities involved in immigrant and refugee settlement and integration.  Dissemination activities by these researchers in Canada and abroad have brought attention to the barriers to social inclusion.  Policy changes aimed at easing the adaptation and settlement process have taken place, but much more needs to be done before Canada can gain maximally from the riches that immigrants bring with them. 

CERIS will continue to facilitate partnerships in research and dissemination among academics, community partners, government  and organizations that in some way affect the settlement and integration process. In early September, the annual Research Retreat will be held to establish our research priorities and this will be followed by a Request for Proposals. CERIS is also working towards increasing the participation of our community partners and integrating them with their respective research domains as there is much to learn from their grass-roots involvement in immigration and settlement.  Community-building is an important objective of CERIS’ plans for

the future. It is a pleasure to serve CERIS in the capacity of Director, and work with like-minded individuals and organizations towards the social inclusion of immigrants and refugees into Canadian society.

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CERIS ANNUAL RESEARCH RETREAT

This year, the Research Retreat will be held on September 5th from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.  The Retreat is held at the beginning of the academic year and brings together academics, government representatives and community partners to discuss and establish our research priorities for the year. In the morning, presentations will be made by government partners from CIC, HRDC and SSHRC; community partners including Access Action Council of Toronto and Access Alliance Multicultural Community Health Centre; and CERIS researchers on our current research. This will be followed by a working lunch during which participants will break into small groups according to their research interest. The retreat will end with participants reporting back the major points of their discussion and conclusions will be drawn from these.

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VISIT BY UKRAINIAN-CRIMEAN DELEGATION

On August 13, 2003, CERIS Associate Director, Dr. John Shields, briefed a high-level policy- and decision-making delegation from Ukraine and Crimea who were in Canada on a study tour of local governance and community development in a multi-cultural environment.  The delegation was led by Mr. Sergey Kunitsyn, Chairman, Autonomous Republic of Crimea Council of Ministers. The central problem facing Crimea is the sense of exclusion of large groups, notably ethnic Crimean Tatars, from full participation in society.  In 1944, the entire population of Crimean Tatars was deported to other parts of the Soviet Union.  The disintegration of the Soviet Union saw the return of the Crimean Tatars to their home country. There are now 270,000 Crimean Tatars, 12% of the overall population of Crimea.  The Republic of Ukraine, which Crimea is part of, was wholly unprepared for this sudden mass influx.  With support from the United Nations Development Programme, the Canadian International Development Agency, and the Canadian Bureau for International Education, Ukraine and Crimea are working towards preventing inter-ethnic conflicts and finding practical ways to establish and manage a successful multi-ethnic and multi-cultural society, through exposure to successful models and experiences in other highly diversified societies.

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POSSIBILITIES PROJECT E-ZINE SUBSCRIPTIONS