The projects below illustrate key strands of my past and current projects. For a full list of publications based on the research conducted in these projects, please consult my Google Scholar profile.
Current Projects
Towards Developing Rural Learning Communities
This project examines how community-based adult education initiatives can foster dialogue and social connection in rural communities.
Working with young adults, older adults, and newcomers in rural Northeastern Nova Scotia, the project explores how collaborative learning activities can create spaces for reflection on shared community concerns and support collective imaginings of rural futures.
This image was created by Rachel Derrah at listen draw – graphic facilitation.
This image was created by Rachel Derrah at listen draw – graphic facilitation.
English Language Learning and Newcomer Integration in Nova Scotia
This project examines how English as an Additional Language (EAL) programs shape the settlement experiences of newcomers in Nova Scotia.
Through a comparative case study across urban, semi-urban, and rural regions of the province, the research explores how language learning influences transitions to employment and community inclusion.
Previous Projects
Youth Mobility and Transitions in Atlantic Canada
This project examined how young people in Atlantic Canada learn to navigate increasingly mobile life trajectories. Bringing together the perspectives of both local youth and international students, the research explored how aspirations to stay in or leave a region emerge through social relationships and attachments to place.
Successful Stayers: Immigrant Settlement in Rural Nova Scotia
Conducted in partnership with the Antigonish Women’s Resource Centre and Sexual Assault Services Association, this project examined how immigrants and refugees successfully integrate into rural communities in Northeastern Nova Scotia. Through case studies of newcomers and an evaluation of the Antigonish Guysborough Immigrant Support Program, the research explored how settlement services and community initiatives support long-term social and economic integration.
Age-Friendly Communities in Antigonish
Conducted in partnership with the Antigonish Aging Well Together Coalition and Community Links, this project examined the needs, strengths, and challenges associated with developing an age-friendly community in Antigonish Town and County. The study combined surveys, conversation circles, and stakeholder interviews to explore how local environments support aging in place and participation in community life.
Migrant Worker Learning
My earlier research examined how migrant workers learn to navigate migration, work, and everyday life within Canada’s labour migration system.
My doctoral research focused on migrant farm workers participating in Canada’s Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program, examining how immigration policies and workplace structures shape workers’ learning, relationships, and opportunities for solidarity.
During my SSHRC-funded postdoctoral fellowship at McGill University, I expanded this work to examine low-wage migrant workers’ experiences of migration and inter-provincial mobility within Canada, exploring how workers learn to navigate immigration policies, employment transitions, and geographic movement across provinces.