Federation news
Reflection on the Canadian federal election
The Federation would like to extend its congratulations to all 343 Members of Parliament on their successful election on April 28. We look forward to working with all members of parliament to ensure continued investment in the humanities and social sciences (HSS) disciplines, which are essential for fostering inclusion, democracy, and prosperity.
The Federation remains committed to advocating for policies that recognize the transformative power of the HSS in shaping our collective future. We are eager to engage with Parliament to build a stronger, more resilient Canada through strategic policy and research initiatives.
We will continue to monitor the electoral landscape as results are finalized. For more information on specific ridings and current seat projections, please visit Elections Canada.
The new art of running for office
Whether in the middle of an election campaign or between ballots, politicians and political parties never really leave the public stage, which has now gone digital. In this month’s Big Thinking Podcast episode, Thierry Giasson, in conversation with our host Karine Morin, explores how political figures build their image, capture our attention and shape public debate through sophisticated marketing strategies.
An English transcript is available.
Save the date - Federation's 2025 Annual Meeting
The 2025 Annual Meeting of members of the Federation will be held virtually on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, from 14:00 to 16:00 (ET) via Zoom webinar. The Notice of Meeting, including the Annual Meeting information package, the online registration link, and the absentee ballot details, was shared with the presidents of all member associations and institutions. Learn more about the Federation’s Annual Meeting.
Strategic planning update
Amid ongoing transformation across the postsecondary landscape, we are at a pivotal moment in shaping the Federation's future. Last week, we launched a survey conducted by Higher Education Strategy Associates (HESA) to gather input from key stakeholders in our community. This survey will help us explore the evolving context for the HSS and the role the Federation can play in supporting our sector. This marks an important step toward building a bold and responsive new strategic plan.
Engagement activities will continue throughout the summer, with further sessions at Congress and additional opportunities to gather insights from our community. For more details, visit the Strategic Plan page on our website.
EDID Initiatives Fund spring cycle update
The spring cycle of the Federation’s EDID Initiatives Fund, which supports scholarly associations' initiatives that advance EDID, is now closed! We are happy to announce that the adjudication committee funded 11 successful applicants, 7 of whom were first-time applicants. Stay tuned for news about the fall cycle coming this summer and updates about these important initiatives as they are unveiled. Learn more about the EDID Initiatives Fund.
Hear ‘Lessons in Collaboration’ at the 2025 Canadian Research Knowledge Network’s Conference
On Thursday, May 15, from 12:30 to 13:00 ET, join Karine Morin, President and CEO of the Federation, Jeanette Hatherill, Senior Coordinator at Coalition Publica, and Samantha MacFarlane, Co-Editor-in-Chief, KULA: Knowledge Creation, Dissemination, and Preservation Studies for our panel ‘Lessons in Collaboration: Insights from the Canadian Symposium of Scholarly Journals’ at the 2025 CRKN Virtual Conference. Take part.
Streamline your conference planning with our Abstract Management Software
Are you a Federation member association? Leverage your exclusive access to Fourwaves, a bilingual, user-friendly platform that streamlines abstract submissions. Whether you are planning a Congress event or year-round activities, Fourwaves and the Federation are here to support you. Learn more and sign up for a demo.
How do we reframe the value of social sciences and humanities to society and policy: Three key takeaways
Evidence for Democracy and the Federation co-hosted a panel event that brought together expert panelists for an in-depth conversation on how to pitch the value of social sciences and humanities to government decision-makers and the Canadian public. Explore the three takeaways.
Congress news
Travel advisories for Congress
Attendees travelling in and out of Canada for Congress are encouraged to review travel advisories and border requirements well in advance of travel and frequently prior to departure. Learn more.
Book your place for Congress 2025!
The community pass is your all-access pass to open events at Congress, and it invites everyone to take part in one of the leading post-secondary gatherings in the world. Register now.
Indigenous Protocols
The Federation and George Brown College are dedicated to fostering respectful relationships with Indigenous Peoples, their knowledge systems, and the lands on which we gather. Before attending Congress, all attendees are invited to review the Indigenous Protocols for Congress 2025.
Explore the Events calendar
Dive into this year’s programming with the Events calendar. From the recently announced Big Thinking lectures and Career Corner workshops to association open events, there’s something for everyone at Congress 2025. Learn more.
Big Thinking at Congress
The full Big Thinking lineup for Congress 2025 is announced! Under the theme Reframing togetherness, this year’s panelists will explore the role that technology, the environment, social togetherness, and inclusive learning play in shaping the fundamental issues of our time. Explore this year’s panels.
The Big Thinking lecture series is made possible thanks to the generosity of Universities Canada.
Career Corner at Congress
Looking to build a network and advance your career? Look no further than Career Corner: Congress’ professional development workshop series is designed to help you find your place in academia and beyond. Explore the recently announced workshops.
The Career Corner workshop series is made possible thanks to the generosity of University Affairs.
Moving Forward Together: Reimagining the Canadian Disability Studies Association
The Canadian Disability Studies Association welcomes Congress participants to join as they explore the challenges and priorities that will shape CDSA’s trajectory in the coming years. Learn more about the event and add it to your calendar.
Childcare at Congress
We are pleased to offer on-site childcare options to support parents and caregivers registered for Congress. Two age-specific services will be available at George Brown’s Limberlost Place. Services will run throughout Congress, with some variation in daily availability. Learn more.
Accessibility at Congress
We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free Congress experience for attendees with disabilities and accessibility needs. Find accessibility support and guidance for your Congress visit.
Information for presenters
Are you presenting at Congress 2025? Here are some valuable tips to help you prepare for your in-person or virtual presentation. Learn more.
HSS News
The 92nd Acfas Congress – Research at the heart of technological and social solutions - From May 5 to 9, join the French-speaking scientific community at the Acfas Congress organized by the École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS) in collaboration with Concordia University.
Exchange ideas, forge links, and follow the latest scientific advances through hundreds of symposiums, open presentations, and activities for all audiences! Discover the complete program for the 92nd Congress and register now! Learn more (in French only).
Nominations for the 2025 Professor Tracey Bretag Prize for Academic Integrity are now open – The fifth annual 2025 Prize continues to demonstrate the impact of integrity initiatives in tertiary education. The Prizes are open to educators, staff, and student groups in the UK and Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Asia/Oceania. Learn more.
The HSS Commons in Practice – A new blog series, “The HSS Commons in Practice”, offers a closer look at how researchers are using the platform to share work, build connections, and support their academic projects. Read more.
SSHRC reveals finalists for the 2025 Storytellers Challenge – The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council is proud to announce the 2025 Storytellers Challenge finalists, which showcase some of Canada’s top research communicators and emerging scholars. Read more.
Message from the American Council of Learned Societies’ – The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) reports a challenging landscape for humanistic scholarship, with significant federal funding cuts. These reductions, coupled with political pressures on academic institutions, have prompted ACLS to intensify its advocacy efforts. Read more.
Joint Statement on the National Endowment for the Humanities Grant cancellations – The ACLS, Council of Graduate Schools, and Phi Beta Kappa Society in the United States have issued a joint statement expressing deep concern over the cancellation of NEH grants and planned staffing cuts. Citing the NEH’s foundational role in supporting cultural and scholarly life across the U.S., the organizations call on Congress to uphold funding and preserve the agency’s vital contributions to education, civic engagement, and economic development. Read more.
The role of universities in advancing AI – The U7+ Presidential Summit is the annual meeting of the U7+ Alliance, the first coalition of university presidents from Europe, Asia, North America, South America, and Africa dedicated to defining concrete, collective actions universities can take to address global challenges, in coordination with government leaders in G7 countries and beyond. The Communiqué entitled “The Role of Universities in Advancing AI” highlights the role of higher education institutions in contributing to responsible AI development. Read more.
Game change Canadian election: Mark Carney leads Liberals to their fourth consecutive win (The Conversation) – Canadians gave the Liberals their fourth mandate since 2015, although the race against the Conservatives was much closer than polls predicted. Read more.
Canadians need universities – and so will their next government (University Affairs) – The global geopolitical landscape is shifting rapidly. In more recent years, universities have struggled to demonstrate their value in a practical way, butting heads with a political climate that openly paints higher education as disconnected from the everyday realities of Canadians. Learn more.
Concordia launches new French language courses for all students – The Département d’études françaises is introducing a new series of language courses designed to give students more options and flexibility to learn French. These courses are also open to all members of the Concordia community. Read more.
McGill and Concordia win partial victory against Quebec (La Presse) - The Superior Court has ruled in favour of McGill and Concordia universities in their battle against tuition fee increases imposed on students from other Canadian provinces. Read more (in French only).