Message from the President
Dr. Catherine Corrigall-Brown, University of British Columbia
Canadian Sociological Association President 2026-2027
Message History:
August 2026
Dear CSA Members and Colleagues,
It is an absolute honour to serve as the President of the Canadian Sociological Association. In these rapidly changing and often challenging times, the analytical lens of sociology is more vital than ever. As we navigate deep structural shifts, geopolitical tensions, and social inequalities, our discipline provides the essential tools to make sense of complexity and humanise systemic struggles. Sociology does not merely document the world as it is; it holds up a mirror to society, uncovers hidden truths, and imagines a more just, empathetic future. By bridging rigorous scholarship with public advocacy, our community plays a transformative role in guiding public discourse and inspiring collective resilience when it is needed most.
I am pleased to report that we had a wonderful conference at Dalhousie in June. The meeting was a great success! We hosted over 700 participants in Halifax and another 250 online in our virtual conference. We came together to learn, to share our research, and to make connections with our colleagues. Dalhousie was a wonderful setting amidst the beautiful city of Halifax. Thank you to our Executive Director Sherry Fox, the Executive Committee, our Past-President Mark Stoddart, and all of you for engaging in this wonderful and dynamic event! We are excited to now be in the planning stages for the CSA in Vancouver in 2027 and hope to see you all there to continue these conversations.
One of the most exciting evolutions of the CSA in recent years has been the emergence of research clusters. We now have 39 research clusters reflecting the diversity and vibrancy of our field. These smaller groups within the CSA community are critical to fostering debate and community within our organization. We look forward to the further flourishing of these clusters.
We have also seen the establishment of new caucuses and subcommittees dedicated to critical issues at the CSA, in sociology as a discipline, and in academia as a whole. The Caucuses focus on issues of equity, such as the Black Caucus, Anti-Islamophobia, Decolonization, Francophone Affairs, and Justice for Palestine. Subcommittees also highlight the critical role of sociology in society as a whole, such as the Research Advisory, Public Engagement and Professional Concerns, Equity Issues, and Student Concerns. These groups perform a vital role in advocating for and considering these important issues.
In particular, I would like to recognize the commitment of our student members. Our student concerns subcommittee, led by Nicole McNair, brings together a brilliant group of engaged sociology students who are the future of our discipline. Thank you to those on this subcommittee and all the students who are participating in CSA conferences, online events, and other initiatives.
The flourishing of the association in research clusters, caucuses and subcommittees has been heartening. Yet, finding CSA members willing to serve in key roles on the Executive Committee, Subcommittees, Caucus, and Research Clusters has become increasingly challenging. Please consider engaging in these interesting roles and encouraging your colleagues and students to get involved too. We need your diverse experience and viewpoints at the CSA.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our award winners. The outstanding quality of the submissions for the awards at the CSA as a whole, and within our research clusters, underscores our discipline’s remarkable trajectory, underscoring our collective growth in groundbreaking research, scholarly writing, public engagement, and transformative teaching. For more information about our amazing award winners and their work, please see the CSA webpage at
As we begin a new academic year, I look forward to working with you all to champion the wonderful sociology being done in departments across Canada. Our work in the classroom, in publishing, and in the public square is critical. I look forward to learning more about this wonderful research and preparing for our annual conference in Vancouver in 2027, where we can continue this exciting dialogue.