Francophone Affairs Caucus
Established: 2022
2026-2027 Caucus members
Guillaume Durou, University of Alberta - Président
Abdoul-Malik Ahmad, Université de l'Ontario français
Amal Madibbo, University of Toronto
Capucine Coustère, Université Laval
Charles Berthelet, Université du Québec à Montréal
Christine Beaudoin, Université de l'Ontario français
Claudel Lamoureux Duquette, Université de Montréal
Gabrielle Duval, Carleton University
Laisa Pivert, Université Laval
Rajae Anys, Université du Québec à Montréal
Shirin Shahrokni, York University
Création d'une liste de diffusion pour membres francophones ou francophiles :
Pour inscrire votre nom à la liste de diffusion afin de recevoir des informations pertinentes et des avis de recherche de bénévoles francophones pour les comités de prix, etc., veuillez remplir ce formulaire.
This caucus was established in an effort to improve engagement with Francophone sociologists and promote greater visibility of French-language sociological work within the Canadian Sociological Association.
Mandate:
• Bring to the attention to current and emerging issues of concerns faced by French-speaking faculty, students, graduates and postdoctoral researchers
• To support the Association in the promotion and enhancement of sociological research conducted in French as well as Association activities that take place in French
• Incorporate French-language initiatives into the regular business of the Association and annual conferences
• Organize and oversee the promotion and adjudication of the Prix d’excellence en sociologie de langue française
• Represent the Association on external committees dealing with French-speaking sociologists, sociological studies in French, and sociological research conducted in French with the approval of the Executive Committee
Caucus News
Coming soon
Caucus Activities
Members :
Guillaume Durou, University of Alberta (Président)
Abdoul-Malik Ahmad, Université de l'Ontario français
Christine Beaudoin, Université de l'Ontario français
Charles Berthelet, Université du Québec à Montréal
Shirin Shahrokni, York University
Amal Madibbo, University of Toronto
Claudel Lamoureux Duquette, Université de Montréal
Rajae Anys, UQÀM
Capucine Coustère, Université Laval
Laisa Pivert, Université Laval
Gabrielle Duval, Carleton University
The Caucus conducted a consultation on the governance of the SCS and drew up recommendations aimed at strengthening the involvement of French-speaking researchers and students within the association.
A virtual conference session was also organised by the sub-committee in 2026 (FAS1)
Old divisions, new dynamics: a review of the current situation
As chair of the sub-committee, I also chaired the selection committee for the Prize for Excellence in French-Language Sociology (PESLF). The winner of the 2026 Book Prize will be announced on 22 June 2026. Many thanks to the members of the selection committee: Christine Beaudoin (Université de l’Ontario français), Abdoul Malik Ahmad (Observatoire en immigration francophone au Canada) and Julien Massicotte (Université de Moncton).
Members :
Guillaume Durou, University of Alberta (Président)
Marie-Christine Brault, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi
Michelle Landry, Université de Moncton
Myriam Martineau, Université du Québec à Montréal
Audrey Rousseau, Université du Québec en Outaouais
Elke Winter, Université d’Ottawa
Prix d'excellence en sociologie de langue française (PESLF)
This year's prize was awarded for a journal article published in 2023 or 2024. The members of the
jury are; Guillaume Durou (Université de l'Alberta - président/chair), Caroline McDonald-Harker
(Université Mount Royal), Julien Massicotte (Université de Moncton), and Luisa Veronis (Université
d'Ottawa).
Members :
Guillaume Durou, University of Alberta (Président)
Marie-Christine Brault, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi
Johanne Jean-Pierre, York University
Michelle Landry, Université de Moncton
Myriam Martineau, Université du Québec à Montréal
Audrey Rousseau, Université du Québec en Outaouais
Elke Winter, Université d’Ottawa
i. Governance
The sub-committee's mandate is to elect members and include others as "advisory" members, and to promote French-language sociology within the CSA. Terms of office are for three years, and overlap each year.
ii. Prix d'excellence en sociologie de langue française (PESLF)
This year's prize was awarded for a book published in 2022 or 2023. Seven applications were received, of which two were rejected. The members of the jury are the members of the subcommittee who wished to take part; Marie-Christine Brault, Guillaume Durou (Chairman), Michelle Landry, Elke Winter, and Audrey Rousseau. Only one conflict of interest was detected (M-C Brault).
For the first time, the jury has awarded the prize to two recipients. The subcommittee is relatively satisfied with the publicity surrounding the prize. Interest in the award seems to be growing year
on year. We have maintained the same dissemination strategies (a mailing to colleagues and
relevant journals by subcommittee members and a general announcement of the awards to the CSA mailing list).
iii. Francophone issues at CSA
This year, the subcommittee proposed a networking activity at the June CSA Conference in Montreal, to bring together French-speaking sociologists and develop collaborations and exchanges
on research and the profession.
iv. The annual CSS Congress
Twenty-three bilingual and French sessions are included in the Congress program (May 3 version).
• Bilingual sessions: 78.3% (n=18)
• French sessions: 21.7% (n=5)
Once again, promoting bilingual sessions and organizing sessions in French is a priority for the Subcommittee and the CSA.
The creation of the Francophone Affairs Subcommittee was endorsed at the Canadian Sociological Association's (CSA) Annual General Meeting in May 2022. It stems from the founding and organizing committee of the Prix d'excellence en sociologie de langue française (PESLF) established in May 2020. The subcommittee appointed Michelle Landry, associate professor at the Université de Moncton, as the first chair of the subcommittee.
This report covers the subcommittee's main activities and issues this year: governance, the Prix
d'excellence en sociologie de langue française (PESLF), francophone issues at the CSA and the
annual conference.
1. Governance
During the 3-year transition period, one person per year will be elected to the Francophone Affairs Subcommittee for a 3-year term. At the end of 3 years, the subcommittee will be composed of 3 people whose three-year terms will overlap. Guillaume Durou was the only candidate standing for election this year. He won the election by acclamation and will be the subcommittee's chair for 2023-2024.
2. The Prix d'excellence en sociologie de langue française (PESLF)
This year's prize will be awarded for an article published in 2021 or 2022. Six nominations have been received. The members of the adjudication committee are the members of the subcommittee who volunteered and were not in a conflict of interest situation, i.e. :
• Marie-Christine Brault
• Guillaume Durou
• Michelle Landry (Chair)
• Elke Winter
Award promotion efforts included :
• Advertising in the ACFAS newsletter
• A mailing to colleagues and relevant journals by committee members
• A general announcement of the awards to the CSA mailing list
Given the low number of submissions, it's clear that the award still needs to make itself known.
In fact, we had to extend the deadline to receive additional nominations.
3. Francophone issues at SCS
In its first year, the subcommittee identified a number of issues relating to the involvement of Francophones in the CSA and their participation in its activities. These issues were brought to the
attention of the CSA President and Executive Director at a meeting between them and members
of the subcommittee in December 2022.
3.1. The general commitment of Francophones
We stressed the importance of improving the presence of French and Francophones within CSA, and the potential for new members that greater inclusion could bring. At present, Francophones are under-engaged within CSA. We feel that little effort has been made in the past to make the Association known to French-speaking sociologists and to make their participation accessible and inviting.
Of the 1,320 people who answered the language proficiency question when registering as a
member of the CSA, 510 indicated proficiency in both official languages, and 266 said they could
read and write in English and French.
Only 38 people indicated a preference for receiving communications in French, which is a very
clear indicator of the lack of interest and involvement of French-speaking sociologists in the CSA.
We sent out a questionnaire to gauge interest in French-language activities and the francophone
affairs subcommittee, but only 40 people responded.
Nevertheless, this is a starting point on which to build in order to generate more interest in CSA
among francophones, especially as the Association des anthropologues et sociologues de langue
française (ACSALF) no longer seems active.
3.2. Quality of communications in French
We requested that the website undergo a linguistic revision, as the quality of the language was
unacceptable for a professional association. According to the Executive Director, the linguistic
revision has been carried out, but we still observe many phrases that don't make sense in French
on the website and forms, particularly for submitting papers to the congress. We're therefore asking that the new website have the option of switching from one language to the other, and that French-language information be translated by a recommended translation firm specializing in English-to-French translation. A federal program may be able to provide financial support.
We have also requested that non-French speakers who need to write communications such as e-
mails use DeepL rather than GoogleTranslate or Reverso.
3.3. CSA awards
Information about the various CSA awards is translated on the website, but it wasn't clear whether work written in French was eligible. We asked that the eligibility of works in both official languages be clearly written and publicized, and that jury members have the skills to evaluate them. The information is now clearer in the criteria, but the wording on inclusion does not mention language, and much work remains to be done to make these awards known to the French-speaking target audience.
4. CSA Annual Conference
Two French-language sessions were submitted by members of the subcommittee, but neither session received enough proposals for papers and were therefore cancelled. Promoting bilingual sessions and organizing sessions in French should be a priority for the coming year.
5. Other
The subcommittee has also provided a list of sociologists who are qualified to evaluate the Global
Sociology Award, which will be awarded to a French-language publication this year. The Francophone Affairs subcommittee does not wish to coordinate the work surrounding this award, which is awarded for a French-language publication every two years, but is willing to suggest people for the jury when necessary.