Call for Papers - 86th annual Acfas congress
Description
A prevailing vision of Quebec’s recent past involves a unilingual English-speaking “boss” class ruling above an underpaid Francophone working class.
Aspects of the model do apply historically, especially in some of Quebec’s “company towns.” Indeed, since the mid-1800s, English-speakers planned and established several communities throughout the province: Arvida, Shawinigan Falls, Asbestos, Temiscaming, and others. The elite in these locales often lived in exclusive “quartiers des anglais” (English neighbourhoods) and rarely mixed with their largely Francophone neighbours.
However, a closer look at these and other company towns reveal that the Anglophone-dominance narrative is too simplistic. English-speakers from all classes were present in these communities from early on. Moreover, Francophones ran some important industries such as Chicoutimi’s large paper mill. Finally, when we look at former company towns today, we see that some old economic inequalities have been upended. The 1,550 English-speakers currently living in Saguenay, for instance, face higher unemployment rates than Francophones, and have low indicators of community vitality.
Our conference, called "The ‘English Boss’ and Company Towns: Quebec’s English-speakers in the industrial economy, then and now,” takes us to Saguenay, which grew in part according to this company town model. Two significant planned industrial communities were established within the current city limits: Kenogami, which the Price Brothers Company set up in 1910, and Arvida, which the Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa) built in 1926. The latter had the biggest aluminum smelter in the world and is presently being promoted as a potential UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Papers will examine myths and realities surrounding Quebec’s company towns, the present-day legacy of this heritage, how this heritage continues to shape ethno-linguistic relations in Quebec today, and current “on the ground” realities in former company towns. Our plan is to follow the conference with a field trip to Arvida & Kenogami to explore present-day realities, and a panel discussion with local English-speaking community leaders. The field trip will be open to our conference participants.
Our multidisciplinary conference will address demographic, socioeconomic, historical, cultural and other issues related to the topic of Quebec’s English-speakers in the industrial economy. Conference themes may include, but are not restricted to:
For more informations : http://www.concordia.ca/artsci/scpa/quescren/events/CFPAcfas.html
Deadline for abstracts: January 18, 2018
A prevailing vision of Quebec’s recent past involves a unilingual English-speaking “boss” class ruling above an underpaid Francophone working class.
Aspects of the model do apply historically, especially in some of Quebec’s “company towns.” Indeed, since the mid-1800s, English-speakers planned and established several communities throughout the province: Arvida, Shawinigan Falls, Asbestos, Temiscaming, and others. The elite in these locales often lived in exclusive “quartiers des anglais” (English neighbourhoods) and rarely mixed with their largely Francophone neighbours.
However, a closer look at these and other company towns reveal that the Anglophone-dominance narrative is too simplistic. English-speakers from all classes were present in these communities from early on. Moreover, Francophones ran some important industries such as Chicoutimi’s large paper mill. Finally, when we look at former company towns today, we see that some old economic inequalities have been upended. The 1,550 English-speakers currently living in Saguenay, for instance, face higher unemployment rates than Francophones, and have low indicators of community vitality.
Our conference, called "The ‘English Boss’ and Company Towns: Quebec’s English-speakers in the industrial economy, then and now,” takes us to Saguenay, which grew in part according to this company town model. Two significant planned industrial communities were established within the current city limits: Kenogami, which the Price Brothers Company set up in 1910, and Arvida, which the Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa) built in 1926. The latter had the biggest aluminum smelter in the world and is presently being promoted as a potential UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Papers will examine myths and realities surrounding Quebec’s company towns, the present-day legacy of this heritage, how this heritage continues to shape ethno-linguistic relations in Quebec today, and current “on the ground” realities in former company towns. Our plan is to follow the conference with a field trip to Arvida & Kenogami to explore present-day realities, and a panel discussion with local English-speaking community leaders. The field trip will be open to our conference participants.
Our multidisciplinary conference will address demographic, socioeconomic, historical, cultural and other issues related to the topic of Quebec’s English-speakers in the industrial economy. Conference themes may include, but are not restricted to:
- The socio-economic status of Quebec’s English-speaking communities: (un)employment and poverty, then and now
- Representations of the “English boss” in Quebec’s economic history: myths and realities
- Culture, ideology and politics related to the theme of the “English boss” and company towns in Quebec
- History of company towns in Quebec
- Regional and urban development in relation to Quebec company towns
- Architecture and urban planning in company towns, particularly as it relates to linguistic segregation
- Comparisons with company towns outside Quebec
- Arvida, Quebec, as a World Heritage Site
For more informations : http://www.concordia.ca/artsci/scpa/quescren/events/CFPAcfas.html
Deadline for abstracts: January 18, 2018
