BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Faculty of Arts//NONSGML Events//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://www.arts.ubc.ca/events/event/ X-WR-CALDESC:Faculty of Arts - Events BEGIN:VEVENT UID:20251008T2231Z-1759962682.2114-EO-70058-24@10.19.146.24 STATUS:CONFIRMED DTSTAMP:20260719T093017Z CREATED:20250305T202932Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260429T165707Z DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250416T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250416T200000 SUMMARY: From policy to people: Unpacking the immigration landscape in unse ttled times DESCRIPTION: Where do Canada and B.C. stand on immigration in 2025? How do policy changes in Canada and beyond impact communities\, jobs\, and the eco nomy? What challenges do newcomers face\, and how can we create a more incl usive future? Join our expert panel as they explore immigration from multip le angles—policy\, economics\, and lived realities. This timely […] X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

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Where do Ca nada and B.C. stand on immigration in 2025? How do policy changes in Canada and beyond impact communities\, jobs\, and the economy? What challenges do newcomers face\, and how can we create a more inclusive future? Join our e xpert panel as they explore immigration from multiple angles—policy\, econo mics\, and lived realities.

This timely discus sion\, drawing on academic research and community-based experience\, will d ive into real-world impacts on migrants and local communities in today’s un settled political and economic times. Don't miss this insightful conversati on on a topic critical to our collective future!

Moderator

Dr. Kamal Al-Solaylee (he/him) — Director and Professor\, School of Journalism\, Writing\, and Media\, UBC Faculty of Arts

Speakers

Dr. Irene Bloemraad (she< /em>/her) — President's Excellence Chair in Global Migration\, Pro fessor\, Departments of Political Science and Sociology\, and Co-Director\, Centre for Migration Studies\, UBC Faculty of Arts

Dr. Thoma s Lemieux (he/him) — Professor\, Vancouver Schoo l of Economics\, Director\, Stone Centre on Wealth and Income Inequality\, UBC Faculty of Arts

Lenya Wilks (she/he r) — Director\, Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement\, DIVERSEcity Co mmunity Resources Society

[cards][card title="Schedule" text="5:45pm – Registration
6:00pm – Panel and Q&A
7:15pm – Reception

Li mited capacity\, registration required." link_text="REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT " link_url="https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_01EQ3ptTzKDzMbQ"][/ca rds]

Moderator biography

[accordions collapsible=true active= false][accordion title="Dr. Kamal Al-Solaylee"]Dr. Kamal Al-Solaylee holds a PhD in English Literature (Nottingham University) and is Director of the School of Journalism\, Writing\, and Media at UBC. He has extensive global reporting experience and previously taug ht at Ryerson University's School of Journalism and at the theatre departme nts of York University and Waterloo University. Dr. Al-Solaylee is the auth or of the bestseller Intolerable: A Memoir of Extremes\, winner of the 2013 Toronto Book Award and a finalist for the CBC's Canada Reads and the Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Nonfiction. His second book\, Brown: What Being Brown in the World Today Means (to Everyone) won t he Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing and was finalist for the G overnor General's Literary Awards for Nonfiction. His third book of nonfict ion\, Return: Why We Go Back to Where We Come From\, was published in 2021 and was named Book of the Year by the Globe and Mail and CBC Books.

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Speaker biographies

< p>[accordions collapsible=true active=false][accordion title="Dr. Irene Blo emraad"]Dr. Irene Bloemraad joined UBC in 2024 as the President's Excellence Chair in Global Migration\, Co-director of the Centre for Migration Studies\, and as a Professor in the Departments of Political Science and Sociolog y. She studies the political and civic incorporation of immigrants into Western democracies and examines how migration affects politics and nation al identity in the countries that receive them. Her research has been publi shed in journals spanning sociology\, political science\, history\, and eth nic/migration studies\, and she has authored or co-edited five books. Dr. B loemraad regularly shares her work with policymakers\, immigration stakehol ders\, and the general public\, and has received several teaching and mento rship awards. She attended McGill University (BA\, MA) and Harvard Universi ty (PhD).[/accordion][accordion title="Dr. Thomas Lemieux"]Dr. Thomas Lemie ux is a Professor at UBC's Vancouver Sc hool of Economics\, where he is also Director of the James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Centre on Weal th and Income Inequality. Prior to moving to UBC in 1999\, Professor Le mieux held appointments at the Université de Montréal and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a Research Associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research and a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada\, the Soc iety of Labor Economists\, and the Econometric Society. Professor Lemieux i s a past President of the Society of Labor Economists and of the Canadian E conomics Association\, which awarded him the Rae Prize for outstanding rese arch in 1998. He has served as co-editor of major journals in economics\, i ncluding the American Economic Review. Professor Lemieux has written extens ively on labour markets and earnings inequality in Canada\, the United Stat es\, and other countries\, focusing on the role of institutions\, education \, and immigration in shaping the outcomes of workers.[/accordion][accordio n title="Lenya Wilks"]Lenya Wilks holds nearly a decade of experience worki ng in a community-serving capacity as a catalyst for change. With roots in Jamaica and a fervent desire to uplift those around her\, she made her way to Canada where her passions for music\, service\, and social justice bloss omed. She joined DIVERSEcity in 2022 as Manager of the Surrey Local Immigration Partnership\, and is now the organi zation’s Director of Partnership and Stakeholder Engagement. Prior to joini ng DIVERSEcity\, Lenya worked in community activism in Brandon\, Manitoba\, including as a program manager with Brandon Local Immigration Partnership\ , locally supporting the successful long-term settlement and integration of immigrants and newcomers. Lenya honours her community through her service on the Vantage Point and UNITI boards\, ensuring that diverse perspectives are heard and valued. She champions initiatives that foster inclusion and i nspire collective growth. Her resilient journey as a survivor of sexual ass ault has not only shaped her path but also transformed her into a beacon of hope and strength for those navigating similar struggles.[/accordion][/acc ordions]

This event is presented in partnership with the Ce ntre for Migration Studies and Stone Centre for Wealth and Income Inequalit y.

Questions? Please contact Laura Chan\, Event Manager\, Faculty of Arts.

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