| Canada has finally started upending this two-step approach to immigration. We have questions.Brunner, L. R., & Pratt, G. (2024, June 13). Canada has finally started upending this two-step approach to immigration. We have questions. Toronto Star. University of British Columbia | Publication | 2024-06-13 | Brunner, L., Pratt, G. |
| Canada should be opening more doors to gifted Afghan students, not closing themBrunner, L. R. (2024, October 23). Canada should be opening more doors to gifted Afghan students, not closing them. Policy Options. University of British Columbia | Publication | 2024-10-23 | Brunner, L. |
| It’s Black History Month. Let’s Move Inclusion Beyond VisibilitySemowo, Elizabeth. 2024. “It’s Black History Month. Let’s Move Inclusion Beyond Visibility.” The Tyee, February 6. https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2025/02/06/Black-History-Month-Inclusion-Beyond-Visibility/ | Publication | 2025-02-06 | Elizabeth Semowo |
| Migration experts scrutinize Justin Trudeau’s explanation for immigration cuts University of British Columbia, Concordia University | Publication | 2024-11-24 | Brunner, L., Coustere, C. |
| Seeing Belonging Through a Newcomer LensSummary of community engagement component of the Photo Narrative research project University of British Columbia | Publication | 2025-12-08 | Brunner, L., Serrano, C., Ellermann, A. |
| Visiting Scholar At the Institute for Research on Migration and Society, through the Immigration Research Initiative and funded by the Secrétariat du Québec aux relations canadiennes University of British Columbia | Award | 2025-12-08 | Brunner, L. |
| Belonging in Unceded Territories: Truth, Reconciliation, and Immigration in Canada (tentative)Book proposal is currently awaiting final approval, with a contract expected in the near future University of British Columbia | Publication | 2025-12-16 | Ellermann, A., Brunner, L., Sussan Yanez |
| Crossing Lines: Comics about Human MigrationThis was a collaboration between UBC CMS and Concordia, also involving other BD researchers (Suzanne Huot, María Cervantes-Macías, Sean Lauer) | Publication | 2025-10-28 | Antje Ellermann, Frederik Kohlert, Sarah Leavitt, Mireille Paquet |
| CitizenshipBrunner, L. R. (2026). Citizenship. In D. Stockemer, S. Sawyer, & A. Gagnon (Eds.), IPSA companion to political science. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-06918-4_23-1 University of British Columbia | Publication | 2025-11-30 | Brunner, L. |
| Working with international studentsIn press University of British Columbia | Publication | 2025-12-08 | Brunner, L., Shokirova, T. |
| APSA Pre-Conference: Narrative and Text Analysis in the Study of Migration and Citizenship Concordia University, University of British Columbia | Event | 2025-09-10 | Paquet, M., Andrea Lawlor, Hopkins, V. |
| Canadian Ethnic Studies Association (CESA) Biennial Conference (November 2024) University of British Columbia | Conference | 2024-11-16 | Schinnerl, S. |
| Canadian Ethnic Studies Association (CESA) Biennial Conference (November 2024) University of Toronto | Conference | 2024-11-16 | Taylor Jackson, Reyes Marquez, C., Triadafilopoulos, P. |
| Canadian Ethnic Studies Association conference University of British Columbia | Conference | 2024-11-16 | Brunner, L., Ellermann, A. |
| Citizenship and belonging: A research and service provider perspectiveCitizenship and belonging: A research and service provider perspective
Beyond legal status, citizenship is also the expression of a collective identity based on
a shared sense of belonging to a national community. However, government-sponsored
narratives of citizenship often differ from lived experience, which can obscure inequities.
This workshop presents preliminary findings from three studies examining questions
about such tensions. First, is multi-step immigration a contributing factor in the observed
decline in Canada’s naturalization rate? Second, how are equity-denied groups
represented in Canada's citizenship guides over time? Finally, how is citizenship-related
programming envisioned, delivered, and negotiated by the settlement sector in relation
to a changing Canadian citizenship context?
● Session Chair/Moderator: David Lee, Director of Employment, Language, and
Social Enterprise, MOSAIC
● Adrienne Bale, Senior Manager, Settlement & Integration, MOSAIC
● Marcela Fuller, Manager, Adult Learning and Newcomer Services, YMCA BC
● Lisa Brunner,Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Centre for Migration Studies,
University of British Columbia
● Sandra Schinneri,Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Centre for Migration Studies,
University of British Columbia
● Anjana Donakonda, Master’s Student, Public Policy and Global Affairs,
University of British Columbia University of British Columbia | Conference | 2024-10-30 | Brunner, L. |
| Invited talk at Concordia University University of British Columbia | Conference | 2025-09-04 | Brunner, L. |
| Making Immigrants into Settlers: Colonialism and Reconciliation in Canadian Citizenship Guides“Making Immigrants into Settlers: Colonialism and Reconciliation in Canadian Citizenship Guides,” presented by Lisa Brunner and Antje Ellermann, Migration, Borders, and the Politics of Inclusion and Exclusion conference, Belfast, UK, June 15-16, 2025. University of British Columbia | Conference | 2025-06-15 | Brunner, L., Ellermann, A. |
| Narratives of Indigeneity and settler identity in citizenship study guides“Narratives of Indigeneity and settler identity in citizenship study guides,” presented by Lisa Brunner and Antje Ellermann, Canadian Ethnic Studies Association conference, November 16, 2024. University of British Columbia | Conference | 2024-11-16 | Brunner, L., Ellermann, A. |
| Representations of Black, Forced Migrant, and Refugee Experiences in Citizenship Guides“Representations of Black, Forced Migrant, and Refugee Experiences in Citizenship Guides,” presented by Elizabeth Semowo, Pathways to Prosperity conference, Vancouver, Canada, November 25-26, 2024. | Conference | 2024-11-26 | Elizabeth Semowo |
| Representations of equity-denied groups in Canadian citizenship guides“Representations of equity-denied groups in Canadian citizenship guides,” presented by Anjana Donakonda, Metropolis Identities conference, Vancouver, Canada, October 30-31, 2024. | Conference | 2024-10-30 | Anjana Donakonda |
| Seminar, Centre for Asian Migrations, Waseda University University of British Columbia | Conference | 2025-10-08 | Ellermann, A. |
| Seminar, Centre for Asian Migrations, Waseda University University of British Columbia | Conference | 2025-10-16 | Ellermann, A. |
| The negotiation of Canadian citizenship narratives in the settlement sector University of British Columbia | Conference | 2024-10-30 | Brunner, L. |
| The Shifting Dynamics of Diaspora Politics in Canada: Towards a New Framework, Vancouver, B.C. 9/12/2025. Panel - New Directions in Canadian Immigration: The Impact of India’s Diaspora.
Toronto Metropolitan University, University of Toronto | Conference | 2025-09-12 | Ruparelia, S., Triadafilopoulos, P. |
| Truth and reconciliation in Canadian and Australian citizenship guides“Truth and reconciliation in Canadian and Australian citizenship guides,” presented by Lisa Brunner and Antje Ellermann, American Political Science Association annual conference, Vancouver, BC, September 11-14, 2025. University of British Columbia | Conference | 2025-09-11 | Brunner, L., Ellermann, A. |
| Truth, reconciliation, and an evolving national identity“Truth, reconciliation, and an evolving national identity,” presented by Lisa Brunner and Antje Ellermann as part of the panel “Impact of changing identities and public perceptions on newcomer experiences,” AMSSA Leadership Forum, September 25, 2024. University of British Columbia | Conference | 2024-09-25 | Brunner, L., Ellermann, A. |
| House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration to provide expert witness testimonyAppeared before the House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration to provide expert witness testimony for its International Student Program and Study Permits study. University of British Columbia | Event | 2025-10-09 | Brunner, L. |
| Taking stock of this year’s Canadian immigration policy environment University of British Columbia | Event | 2025-09-25 | Brunner, L. |
| Photo Narratives of Citizenship websitePhoto Narratives of Citizenship website, featuring photos and reflections on migration journeys, belonging, citizenship, and Truth and Reconciliation from 20 newcomers to Canada: https://blogs.ubc.ca/citizenship/ University of British Columbia | Research Output | 2025-12-08 | Brunner, L., Frileux, M., Serrano, C., Mehta, D., Ellermann, A. |
| Interviews with Australian service providersWe conducted 2 interviews with Australian immigrant-serving organization staff members (one formal, one informal) to support our document analysis project comparing Canada with Australia. Otherwise, we are in the data analysis and writing stage. The forum does not allow for "interview" option, hence why I selected "focus group + participants." University of British Columbia | Research Activity | 2026-04-15 | Brunner, L. |
| Expert witness testimony for House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Citizenship and ImmigrationOn October 9, 2025, I appeared before the House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration to provide expert witness testimony for its International Student Program and Study Permits study. University of British Columbia | Activity | 2025-10-09 | Brunner, L. |
| National Immigration Roundtable with MP Julie Dzerowicz, Chair of House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Citizenship and ImmigrationInvitation to join National Immigration Roundtable with MP Julie Dzerowicz, Chair of CIMM University of British Columbia | Activity | 2025-10-29 | Brunner, L. |
| Kick Off Roundtable: The State of Migration in CanadaThis public roundtable launches the series “International Migration: From Root Causes to Drivers” by exploring the current and future state of migration in Canada. The discussion highlights shifting domestic policies and evolving global migration trends, examining their impacts on Canadian society, the economy, and politics. The session is chaired by Naomi Alboim, with an expert panel comprising leading academics and senior government officials in migration policy and research.
University of Alberta, University of British Columbia, Toronto Metropolitan University | Activity | 2025-05-13 | Abu-Laban, Y., Ellermann, A., Rubenson, D., Triandafyllidou, A. |
| Centre for Migration Studies-Sector Research Collaborations Day 2024The UBC Centre for Migration Studies (CMS), AMSSA (Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of BC), and UBC Connects hosted the 2024 CMS-Sector Research Collaborations Day, an annual event designed to bring together migration researchers and professionals in the immigration and settlement field. The event was for those interested in considering migration research through a decolonial lens and building mutually beneficial connections between CMS researchers and BC’s settlement sector.
The public session took place in the morning, with a separate add-on registration for the more focused afternoon session. The morning session featured a panel presentation and moderated discussion with three guest speakers. Together, they explored the critical questions and paradoxes that arise when trying to engage in decolonizing actions while navigating Eurocentric systems.
In the afternoon session, which was for sector professionals and university affiliates who wanted to build connections, CMS showcased ways it can support the sector’s research needs. This was followed by a Speed Networking activity where participants could connect, share ideas, and explore potential research collaborations.
81 people attended. | Activity | 2025-11-13 | |
| Making Immigrants into Settlers: Colonialism and Reconciliation in Canadian Citizenship Guides“Making Immigrants into Settlers: Colonialism and Reconciliation in Canadian Citizenship Guides,” presented by Antje Ellermann at Waseda University, October 8, 2025. University of British Columbia | Activity | 2025-10-08 | Ellermann, A. |
| Annual meeting of the American Political Science AssocationI was chair and discussant of this panel University of British Columbia | Conference | 2025-09-12 | Ellermann, A. |
| Reflections on Canada’s first international student capBrunner, L. R., & Cervantes-Macías, M. E. (2025). Reflections on Canada’s first international student cap. Critical Internationalization Studies Review, 4(1), article 2. https://doi.org/10.70531/2832-3211.1043 University of British Columbia | Publication | 2025-03-04 | Brunner, L., Cervantes, M. |
| Unfamiliarities, uncertainties, and ambivalent long-term intentions: Conceptualizing international student-migrant settlement and integrationBrunner, L. R., Karki, K. K., & Valizadeh, N., Shokirova, T., & Coustere, C. (2024). Unfamiliarities, uncertainties, and ambivalent long-term intentions: Conceptualizing international student-migrant settlement and integration. Journal of International Migration and Integration, 25, 973–996. University of British Columbia, Concordia University | Publication | 2024-01-27 | Brunner, L., K K Karki,, Valizadeh, N., Shokirova, T., Coustere, C. |
| Artificial intelligence and automation in the migration governance of international students: An accidental ethnographyBrunner, L. R., & Tao, W. W. (2024). Artificial intelligence and automation in the migration governance of international students: An accidental ethnography. Journal of International Students, 14(1), 269-288. https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v14i4.5762 University of British Columbia | Publication | 2023-09-26 | Brunner, L., W W Tao, |
| Colonial logics as public secrets of international student mobilityBrunner, L. R., & McCartney, D. M. (2025). Colonial logics as public secrets of international student mobility. Nordic Journal of Comparative and International Education, 9(2). https://doi.org/10.7577/njcie.6047 University of British Columbia | Publication | 2025-06-15 | Brunner, L., M D McCartney, |
| Does the academy care about refugees? Higher education media coverage of displaced studentsColeman, K., Balandina, N., MacPherson, K., James, A., Brunner, L. R., Baker,S., & Streitwieser, B. Does the academy care about refugees? Higher education media coverage of displaced students. Submitted to Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education. University of British Columbia | Publication | 2025-12-08 | Coleman, K., Balandina, N., MacPherson, K., James, A., Brunner, L., Baker, S., Streitwieser, B. |
| Exploring Student Policy Reform CostsA policy article published in University Affairs explores the impacts of Quebec’s international student reforms. The authors assess how funding shifts and new requirements affect access, equity, and institutional stability.
Concordia University, University of British Columbia | Publication | 2024-12-12 | Coustere, C., Brunner, L. |
| Higher education’s care/control of refugee and displaced studentsBrunner, L. R., Shokirova, T., Gamal, M., & Stein, S. (2025). Higher education’s care/control of refugee and displaced students. Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Studies, 12(2), 11–33. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejecs/2212 University of British Columbia | Publication | 2024-03-29 | Brunner, L., Shokirova, T., Gamal, M., Stein, S. |
| International graduate students as labour: Responding to the global imaginaryCoustere, C., Brunner, L. R., Shokirova, T., Karki, K., & Valizadeh, N. (2024). International graduate students as labour: Responding to the global imaginary. Higher Education, 88, 321–338. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-023-01118-5 Concordia University, University of British Columbia | Publication | 2023-10-09 | Coustere, C., Brunner, L., Shokirova, T., Karki, K., Valizadeh, N. |
| International student mobility and the politics of distance educationBrunner, L. R. (2025). International student mobility and the politics of distance education. British Journal of Educational Technology, 56(2), 870-889. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjet.13543 University of British Columbia | Publication | 2024-11-22 | Brunner, L. |
| Magnets, gatekeepers, surveillants, and refiners: The emergence of higher education institutions as migration governance actors in Australia, Canada, and Germany, 1990 to 2019Brunner, L. R., Trilokekar, R. D., Morris-Lange, S., Liu, H., Laufer, M., El Masri, A., & Joshi, A. (2025). Magnets, gatekeepers, surveillants, and refiners: The emergence of higher education institutions as migration governance actors in Australia, Canada, and Germany, 1990 to 2019. International Journal of Educational Research, 129, 102490. University of British Columbia | Publication | 2024-11-29 | Brunner, L., D R Trilokekar,, Morris-Lange, S., Liu, H., Laufer, M., A Masri, El, Joshi, A. |
| The education-immigration nexus: Situating Canadian higher education as institutions of immigrant recruitment. Journal of International Migration and Integration University of British Columbia | Publication | 2023-11-27 | Ellermann, A. |
| COSTIPartnership ongoing with Toronto-based service organization (COSTI) to gather insights from staff and clients, as part of the Narratives of Citizenship project. University of Toronto | Partnership | 2025-12-08 | Triadafilopoulos, P. |
| MOSAICPartnership ongoing with Vancouver-based service organizations (MOSAIC) to gather insights from staff and clients, as part of the Narratives of Citizenship project. University of British Columbia | Partnership | 2025-12-08 | Brunner, L. |
| YMCA BCPartnership ongoing with Vancouver-based service organizations (YMCA BC) to gather insights from staff and clients, as part of the Narratives of Citizenship project. University of British Columbia | Partnership | 2025-12-08 | Brunner, L. |
| Photo Narratives of Citizenship University of British Columbia | Research Activity | 2025-12-09 | Brunner, L., Serrano, C., Mehta, D., Robin, C., Ellermann, A. |
| Photovoice research progressOn February 25, 2026, an introductory photo-narrative workshop was delivered to students in LINC Level 3 and 4 classes by the UofT team. The workshop followed the model used by the UBC team with MOSAIC and YMCA BC but was adapted to a classroom format in which all students participated in the introductory session and then chose whether to continue. Students who expressed interest were provided with consent forms, which were signed and returned to the team. However, due to unanticipated timing constraints—specifically, the proximity of the workshop to March break and the end of the winter term—as well as our underestimation of students’ language proficiency levels, the workshop did not yield photo or narrative submissions from participants who had consented. In response, the team further simplified the workshop materials, including the slides and guiding questions, and circulated the revised materials to LINC 3 and 4 instructors and the program’s lead administrator in March 2026. Following their approval, a second iteration of the workshop is now underway, with implementation scheduled for May 2026. University of Toronto | Research Activity | 2026-02-25 | Triadafilopoulos, P. |
| CMS Migration Insight Series, Canada’s Higher Education Sector as Immigration Actor University of British Columbia | Publication | 2025-10-28 | University of British Columbia UBC, Ellermann, A., Schinnerl, S. |
| Artificial intelligence and the governance of international migrationBrunner, L. R., & Tao, W. W. (2024, January 10). Artificial intelligence and the governance of international migration. Mobile People & Diverse Societies (Eurac Research Science Blog). https://doi.org/10.57708/BFZLXO9QXRQWGQXNVDBZMKG University of British Columbia | Publication | 2024-01-10 | Brunner, L., W W Tao, |
| Canada’s Higher Education Sector as Immigration Actor | Publication | 2025-11-30 | Sandra Schinnerl, Antje Ellermann |
| Canadian international student policy at a crossroadsBrunner, L. R. (2025). Canadian international student policy at a crossroads. Policy Brief No. 1, October 2025. Institute for Research on Public Policy; also in French: Le système d’éducation internationale canadien à la croisée des chemins. University of British Columbia | Publication | 2025-10-08 | Brunner, L. |
| CMS Migration Insight Series, From Classroom to Citizenship: Higher Education’s Role in Migration Policy University of British Columbia | Publication | 2025-05-26 | University of British Columbia UBC, Brunner, L., Marjorie Rugunda |
| From classroom to citizenship: Higher education’s role in migration policyFrom classroom to citizenship: Higher education’s role in migration policy
Research brief written by Marjorie Rugunda for the University of British Columbia Centre for Migration Studies (CMS) Migration Insights Series (Number 4, 2025) University of British Columbia | Publication | 2025-05-26 | Brunner, L. |
| Coding and data analysis internal workshop - Narratives of Citizenship photos and reflectionsAn internal team meeting/workshop was held between Lisa and the three PhD student research assistants to discuss coding an findings on December 15, 2025 University of British Columbia | Event | 2025-12-15 | Brunner, L., Robin, C., Mehta, D., Serrano, C. |
| Senior Visiting Researcher, Waseda Institute for Advanced Study University of British Columbia | Award | 2025-10-01 | Ellermann, A. |
| UBC Work Learn International Undergraduate Research Award The UBC team received funding from the Work Learn International Undergraduate Research Award to hire an undergraduate student for the summer 2026 term. The subsidy amount is $8,700. The student will support with Centre for Migration Studies public policy research priorities as well as Bridging Divides projects, particularly in the communications portfolio. This will support both TRS4 1.3.1 and TRS4 1.3.2, as well as other BD projects more generally. University of British Columbia | Award | 2026-04-15 | Brunner, L. |
| Narratives of Citizenship newcomer surveyFrom January to March 2025, we conducted an online survey of MOSAIC and YMCA BC newcomer clients who had participated in citizenship-related classes or programs. We received 232 complete responses, representing a wide range of backgrounds and immigration statuses. The survey provided initial insights into newcomers’ interpretations of citizenship, belonging, and Truth and Reconciliation in Canada, as well as barriers and motivations to naturalize. These insights informed subsequent phases of the project. University of British Columbia | Research Activity | 2025-12-09 | Brunner, L., Robin, C., Ellermann, A. |
| Bill C-2 and the Politics of Canadian "Strong Borders"This talk examines changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act proposed by Bill C-2, the "Strong Borders Act." Situating the bill's reforms within a broader federal securitization agenda, it outlines potential changes to refugee protection, state authority over immigration applications and documents, and data-sharing. It concludes by assessing implications for migrants with precarious status, access to justice, and the future of Canadian migration governance. University of British Columbia, Concordia University | Activity | 2025-09-15 | Brunner, L., Paquet, M., Bilodeau, A. |
| Navigating intersectionality, policy, and activism: Queer international students in the Global NorthOrganized and chaired the online panel “Navigating intersectionality, policy, and activism: Queer international students in the Global North.” University of British Columbia | Event | 2025-04-11 | Brunner, L. |
| Stop Bill C-2: How the Strong Borders Act Harms Refugees & Immigrants University of British Columbia | Event | 2025-09-10 | Brunner, L. |
| The crash of the international student ‘market’: Causes, consequences, and the future of Canadian higher education University of British Columbia | Event | 2024-11-06 | Brunner, L. |
| Understanding and addressing changing attitudes toward migrants and immigration in CanadaUnderstanding and addressing changing attitudes toward migrants and immigration in Canada University of British Columbia | Event | 2025-05-13 | Brunner, L. |
| Understanding shifts in Canadian immigration and public opinion University of British Columbia | Event | 2025-12-09 | Brunner, L. |
| Understanding the Safe Third Country Agreement and Refugee Claimant Eligibility: Contextualizing Bill C-12 University of British Columbia | Event | 2025-12-03 | Brunner, L. |
| Immigration and citizenship policies in Germany during the Traffic Light Coalition Government (2021–24) University of Toronto | Event | 2025-05-16 | Triadafilopoulos, P. |
| Photo-narrative workshop with COSTI immigrant ServicesPhoto-narrative workshop with COSTI immigrant services (a not-for-profit organization located in Toronto, Canada) on February 25, 2026; a second iteration of the workshop is now underway, with implementation scheduled for May 2026 University of Toronto | Event | 2026-02-25 | Triadafilopoulos, P. |
| Refugee Narratives: Reflections from Psychology, Communication and Law
Theme:
TRS4 - Citizenship and Participation
Projects:
TRS4 1.3.1 – Content of Citizenship - Narratives of Citizenship – Antje Ellermann
— | Event | 2025-02-26 | Toronto Metropolitan University TMU |
| The importance of integrating equity-centered initiatives into policies within the current context.Invited talk University of British Columbia | Event | 2025-10-16 | Brunner, L., Moussa Magassa |
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