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Ushering in spring

It has been some time since I have corresponded with the members and I thought it would be a good time to let you know what has transpired over the winter. First of all, I'm sure that all of you are winding down your classes and gearing up for your research projects in the summer.  Those who work with students must not forget that you have touched the lives of many of those students and your actions have taken them on a pathway that they never expected to take.   The intellectual capital that you provided them over the year will serve them well as they get ready to complete their undergraduate education or entry into the labour force.  

Now for the news.   We have just about finalized the program for the CSA Conference at the 2012 Congress and it looks like it will be a block-buster. A large number of sessions are planned and the sessions themselves reflect the changing profile of Sociology. Hats off to Sherry Fox who has handled the logistics of putting together the program as well as Dr. Glenda Wall at Wilfrid Laurier University who is the local organizer. Thank you two for putting together an intellectually stimulating and exciting program and kudos as well to Dr. Luc Boyer for managing the online conference system.  Additional information on the Conference can be found below.  

I'd also like to invite you to the AGM (May 31) as well as the Banquet (May 30) where we will be having great food and you can network while you eat.  In addition, we will have Dr. Angus Reid as the guest speaker. He will present an intellectually stimulating and provocative talk that you won't want to miss. In addition, I will announce the establishment of the Angus Reid award for practitioners which will celebrate the contributions of a sociologist who has made a significant contribution in the area of applied research. Dr. Reid has made a generous contribution to an endowment fund so that we can also provide a scholarship for a graduate student in the area.

In addition to Dr. Reid's presentation, we will announce the recipients of the 2012 CSA Awards for Outstanding Contribution, John Porter Tradition of Excellence, Best Student Paper, and Best CRS Article. 

Finally, I should let you know that Dr. Patrizia Albanese (Ryerson University) and I accompanied Mr. Eric Chou of the City of Toronto to make a bid for the International Sociological Association (ISA) Congress in 2018 to be held in Toronto. There were five cities around the world competing for the bid. As of today, we have been informed that our bid came in first and the bid from Zarayoza, Spain came in second.   The ISA executive will now make a site visit to Toronto in the fall to determine if the facilities and infrastructure can support the ISA Congress. If the site visit proves successful, we will then hold the ISA Congress in 2018. The City of Toronto has been very supportive of our bid so we'll have to wait until the fall until we can give you the final decision. I would like to thank all of you that supported our bid through your letters, e-mails, advice, agreeing to sit on the organizing committee, providing information and in many other ways.   It was that strong support that made our bid successful.

So, enjoy the end of winter and prepare for the rigours of summer. I hope to see you all at the Congress in Kitchener-Waterloo in May. And I wish the best for Dr. Jane Ursel who will be taking over the direction of the Association in June.

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