The Bell Chair in Canadian Parliamentary Democracy at Carleton University is pleased to announce the return of its Canadian Politics Graduate Student Conference. This event, held previously in 2011, 2015, and 2019, is an opportunity for advanced MA and PhD students to present their research on Canadian politics. Many leading scholars and practitioners in Canadian politics today got their start at this conference!
The conference will be held in Ottawa on Thursday, January 18 and Friday, January 19, 2024. Travel subsidies are available. There is no registration fee.
The conference is an opportunity to present and receive feedback on research from a scholarly audience. Proposals are welcome on a wide variety of topics relating to Canadian politics and government, including: institutions, political participation, public policy, Indigenous politics, gender, race, political economy, Canadian foreign policy, and other fields. Comparative work that includes a significant Canadian focus is welcome. The conference will include panels on professional development, and we also plan to tour Parliament.
Participants must be currently registered in a masters’ or doctoral program. Proposals must include a working title, institutional affiliation/current program status, name of supervisor, and an abstract limited to 200 words. Proposals should be sent to: bell.chair@carleton.ca.
Timeline
- Submission deadline: October 28, 2023
- Notification of selection: November 10, 2023
- Papers due: January 8, 2024
- Conference dates: January 18-19, 2024
Travel funding will be available for those coming from outside Ottawa. Participants are also encouraged to seek funding from their home Department/University.
Hon. Dick and Ruth Bell Chair for the Study of Canadian Parliamentary Democracy
The Hon. Dick and Ruth Bell Chair for the Study of Canadian Parliamentary Democracy was created in 2009 in Carleton University’s Department of Political Science. The Chair is a generous gift from alumna Dr. Ruth Bell, MA/65, LLD/84. It commemorates a lifetime of civic and political engagement, and the love that she and her late husband Dick, a former MP and cabinet minister, shared for Canada. Ruth Bell was a distinguished citizen of Ottawa who was a lifelong women’s activist, political scientist, and member of the Order of Canada. The Chair promotes better understanding of the dynamic and ever-evolving Canadian parliamentary system through supporting research projects, hosting visiting scholars, and running speaker events and conferences.
Why Attend the Bell Chair Graduate Student Conference?
The conference is a unique venue for presenting research. It is an opportunity to meet and build connections with peers from across the country. Participants receive feedback from scholars and peers in a welcoming environment, designed for graduate students. For students new to conferencing, the Bell Chair Graduate Student Conference is an excellent place to develop conferencing and networking skills. For students with conference experience, the conference offers a more intimate setting, with greater attention to feedback and connecting with fellow participants.
Why Visit Ottawa?
The Bell Chair graduate conference provides you with an opportunity to visit the nation’s capital and the centre of Canadian politics. The winter season is one of the best times to see Ottawa and its fabulous indoor and outdoor activities.
Things to See and Do:
- Take a tour of Parliament
- Visit the National Art Gallery, the Mint, and museums (War Museum, Canadian Museum of History, Canadian Museum of Nature)
- See the Supreme Court of Canada
- Tour Rideau Hall
- Skate the Rideau Canal
- Visit Gatineau Park
Further Information
If you have queries about any aspect of the conference, feel free to email bell.chair@carleton.ca or contact the holder of the Bell Chair, Professor Jonathan Malloy, directly at jonathan.malloy@carleton.ca.