Our Research Questions
We specialize in transformative social research. Social justice is at the core of our research questions. Check out our faculty profiles to learn more about what we do.
How are Indigenous communities mobilizing for self-determination and resisting colonialism?
Eva Jewell is exploring the role of care and labour in Indigenous reclamation efforts.
Hayden King is studying Indigenous control of lands and resources in historic, modern and non-treaty contexts.
Jessica Penney focuses on strengthening Inuit wellbeing in the context of environmental issues, including environmental contaminants and climate change.
Megan Scribe examines how legal and literary narratives shape the lives of Indigenous girls under Canadian colonialism.
How is anti-Blackness embedded in Canadian institutions and economies?
Mélanie Knight researches Black activism, collective economic initiatives, Black women business owners, and anti-Black racism.
Rai Reece analyzes how carceral processes reflect practices of colonial violence targeting both Black and Indigenous peoples.
Sam Tecle explores anti-Black racism within educational systems, policies and discourses.
How does transnationalism shape identities, labour, and belonging?
Amina Jamal investigates the transnational dilemmas of feminist Muslim politics in challenging discursive and material forms of violence in Canada and South Asia.
Shirin Khayambashi explores group dynamics of the new immigrants settling in Canada with particular attention on the Iranian diaspora.
Conely de Leon studies transnational circulations of care and emotional labour among Filipino/a/x migrant workers.
Naomi Lightman studies how factors such as gender, race and country of birth stratify Canada’s labour market with particular attention to racialized woman in healthcare and education.
Anna Triandafyllidou uses an interdisciplinary approach to explore how migration, integration, and cultural diversity shape societies and everyday life.
How can we create more livable, equitable cities?
Heather Rollwagen investigates housing, perceptions of crime, and neighbourhood livability.
Cheryl Teelucksingh works to advance environmental justice in urban spaces and places.
Bernice Yanful studies practical strategies to build food justice and food sovereignty in urban contexts.
Where do social movements come from, and how do they drive change?
Jacqui Gingras investigates how citizens and health professionals engage in social health movements.
Chris Powell theorizes radical projects of social transformation, such as distributed-network models of organizing.
How do media and culture shape our understanding of each other?
Paul Moore studies how the rise of a ‘movie-going’ public provided spaces for collective gathering.
Stephen Muzzatti examines mediated realities of crime and consumerism and their links to inequality.
Nicole Neverson critically examines sports media and how inequities and resistance are represented.
How do government policies and practices affect people's everyday lives?
Patrizia Albanese studies how state policies affect children, youth, and families.
Andie Noack explores how survey design shapes who becomes visible to policymakers.
Pamela Sugiman investigates the multi-generational effects of racist Canadian state policies on Japanese Canadians.