Independent Conference in 2027
Why the CSA is Holding its 2027 Annual Conference Independently
The Canadian Sociological Association (CSA) has a long history of participating in the Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences and values the opportunities Congress has provided for scholarly exchange, interdisciplinary engagement, and collaboration. As the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences (FHSS) begins to reimagine the structure and delivery of Congress, the CSA has also considered how its Annual Conference can best serve the evolving needs of its members.
Following the success of the CSA’s independently organized 2026 Annual Conference at Dalhousie University, the Association will continue this model for 2027, holding the conference at the University of British Columbia from May 25-28 (virtually) and May 31 to June 3 (in-person).
The decision to hold the 2027 CSA Annual Conference independently at the University of British Columbia reflects the Association's commitment to building a conference that is responsive to its members and sustainable for the future. It allows the CSA to maintain control over the size and diversity of its academic program, strengthen opportunities for networking and community building, develop its own approach to virtual and in-person participation, and make conference decisions based directly on the needs of the Canadian sociology community.
Responding to a Changing Congress Model
FHSS is undertaking significant changes to Congress in response to challenges including difficulty securing host institutions, financial pressures, declining association participation, environmental sustainability, and the labour involved in delivering such a large event. The proposed model includes a shorter Congress, a new financial structure, and greater centralization of event services. While these changes may benefit Congress as a whole, they also have important implications for the CSA and its members.
The benefits of an independent conference versus the Congress model:
i. Supporting a Broad and Diverse Conference Program
Under the new Congress model, Associations would receive an annual allocation of conference days and rooms based partly on past Congress participation and the capacity of the host institution. As a result, the size of the CSA's in-person program could vary from year to year and would be constrained by the space allocated by Congress.
For the CSA, maintaining sufficient space for a broad and diverse sociology program is a priority. An independent conference provides greater flexibility to accommodate sessions, panels, workshops, meetings, networking activities, and other programming without having to significantly reduce accepted sessions or move participants online because of externally determined space limitations.
ii. Creating and Strengthening the CSA Conference Community
The new Congress model offers several benefits, including a simplified registration process and programming that is open across participating associations, creating greater opportunities for interdisciplinary exchange. Congress would also coordinate centralized refreshment breaks for all delegates, rather than individual associations arranging catering within their own conference spaces.
The CSA recognizes the importance of preserving a strong and visible conference community within a larger interdisciplinary gathering. With programming and refreshment breaks shared across Congress, there was concern that delegates could have fewer opportunities to connect specifically with fellow sociologists and build relationships within the CSA community.
An independently organized conference gives the CSA greater flexibility to intentionally create these opportunities throughout the event. Dedicated networking and refreshment breaks, mentoring opportunities, Research Cluster activities, meetings, receptions, and informal gatherings can be integrated into the conference experience. These spaces are more than logistical elements of the program—they provide valuable opportunities for delegates to connect with colleagues, develop professional relationships, exchange ideas, and strengthen their sense of belonging within the Canadian sociology community.
iii. Preserving an Accessible CSA Conference
As part of the new Congress model, delegates would pay one registration fee (rather than the base fee and Association Conference fee). These would be set by the FHSS based on venue costs and event budget projections without input from individual Associations.
Organizing the conference independently gives the CSA greater ability to establish registration fees and participation options with its own membership in mind. This flexibility is important to the CSA's commitment to ensuring that opportunities to present research, participate in scholarly exchange, build professional networks, and engage with the Canadian sociology community remain as accessible and inclusive as possible.
Moving Forward
Given the significant lead time required to plan and secure venues for an Annual Conference, the CSA is already exploring options and engaging with potential host institutions for its independently organized 2028 conference. These discussions are necessary to ensure that appropriate facilities, accommodations, services, and dates can be secured well in advance.
Planning for 2028 does not represent a permanent decision regarding the CSA’s participation in Congress. The Association will continue to consult with its members and monitor the implementation and evolution of the reimagined Congress model. The experiences of our independently organized conferences, together with developments at Congress and feedback from CSA members, will help inform decisions about the most appropriate conference model for 2029 and beyond.
At this time, the CSA remains a member of the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences and recognizes the important role Congress has played—and continues to play—in Canada's humanities and social sciences community. The move to an independent conference represents an evolution in how the CSA convenes its members, rather than a departure from its commitment to collaboration with the broader social sciences and humanities community.