The British Association for Canadian Studies invites proposals for its 2013 meeting with a particular interest in the theme ‘Crediting Canada: Canada as an Economic World Leader’. The conference will take place in London 3-5 April at the refurbished Canada House on Trafalgar Square and the Eccles Centre of the British Library. Proposals should be sent by December 31 to: Jodie Robson, BACS Administrator bacs@canadian-studies.org.
Conference theme: Canada was widely credited with avoiding the worst of the (ongoing) 2008 sub-prime recession by virtue of a prudent and robust banking system. A further combination of factors has led to booming demand for resource exports and the Canadian dollar has risen noticeably against weaker currencies. In this conference we seek to examine the deeper roots of – and wider implications of – Canada’s “Triple A” image. How have writers, commentators and researchers – of all perspectives – come to view this new situation? A robust currency can imply losers as well as winners: for example, manufacturers see their prices rise in export markets. How have the cultural and creative industries fared? How is the public sector adjusting? How are Federal-Provincial relationships affected? What are the implications for sustainability, including the environment, of a dependence on resource development for Canada’s economic future? Spatially, which cities and regions are thriving and are any falling behind? What are the implications of “Triple A” for migrants and migration policy – but also for indigenous peoples? All who have social, cultural, political or economic insights into how Canada has become a “Triple A” place to live, work and play are invited to make contributions to our event.