From Polarity to Circumpolarity: The Future of Canadian Studies in Europe

The conference, organized by the Centre for Canadian Studies and the Nordic Journal of Francophone Studies with support from the Riksbankens Jubileumsfond in collaboration with Utrecht University and the University of Groningen, attracted participants from several countries and offered a unique insight into the international representation within the field. Researchers from Canada presented “Québec Cinéma and the Arctic: Works” by Québec authors, including Gabrielle Filteau-Chiba, whose writing engages deeply with environmental issues, while colleagues from Lithuania, Estonia, France, and England explored the eco-poetic dimension of literature produced by Indigenous peoples. The discussions centred on the role of Canadian Studies in an increasingly interconnected world, where circumpolar perspectives and cross-border collaboration are in focus. The conference underscored the importance of international dialogue and how different national contexts enrich the understanding of Canada as a research object, while also marking the tenth anniversary of the Centre for Canadian Studies.