SIXTH INTERNATIONAL METROPOLIS CONFERENCE

WORKSHOP 38: Diversity, Food and Identity

Wednesday, November 28, 2001
14:00 - 17:30


ORGANIZERS

John Biles
Metropolis Project Team
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
15th Floor
365 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA
K1A 1L1
(Tel) (613) 957-5941
(Fax) (613) 957-5968
john.biles@9522apx.cina.cic.x400.gc.ca

Susan Thompson
Planning and Urban Development Program
University of New South Wales
Sydney 2052
AUSTRALIA
(Tel) (2) 9385 5295
(Fax) (2) 9385 4507
s.thompson@unsw.edu.au

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION

Too frequently the social and cultural elements of society are relegated to
the end of a long list of priorities in the examination of issues arising
from diverse populations. The net effect of this deprioritization is a poor
understanding on the part of researchers, policymakers and practitioners on
the extent to which social and cultural activities contribute to the
integration of "minorities" into diverse "host" societies. In this workshop
policymakers, NGOs and researchers will be engaged in an intense
policy-research discussion examining the role of food and foodways in
(re)creating identities and facilitating a sense of belonging and
attachment of newcomers to their new countries. A multidisciplinary
analysis, including can emphasis on the gendered aspects of these important
arenas of social interaction, will yield a solid understanding of how
research and policy in these areas can facilitate integration.

DURATION: 1.5 hour sessions

PARTICIPANTS

John Biles (Citizenship and Immigration Canada, CANADA) (CHAIR/DISCUSSANT)
Josephine Smart (University of Calgary, CANADA)
Susan Thompson (University of New South Wales, AUSTRALIA)