Two StFX students—Nick Bremner (political science) and Kaytland Smith (public policy and governance)—were among the presenters this year when the Canadian Political Science Association held its annual national conference at York University.
The experience, they say, had great impact.
“The ability to present at the conference as an undergraduate student allowed me to gain a unique early experience and I was even able to meet authors whose works I had previously read for classes at StFX,” says Mr. Bremner, a fourth year honours political science student from Digby, NS, who has been working with StFX political science professor Dr. Nathan Allen.
Dr. Allen initially hired Mr. Bremner as a research assistant on a SSHRC-funded project examining emigrant voting rights throughout the world.
“As part of that project, we decided to look at the spread of emigrant voting rights to Canada. Given that I was relying heavily on Nick’s deep knowledge of the relevant materials – court cases, committee meetings, and so on - it made sense to write the paper as a collaboration.”
Dr. Allen says the paper, entitled “Negotiated Emulation and Emigrant Enfranchisement in Canada,” addresses the influence that the global trend toward emigrant enfranchisement had on decision-making within Canada.
“Parliament officially extended the right to vote to non-resident Canadians in 1993, and in 2019 the Supreme Court removed lingering restrictions on Canadians’ right to participate from abroad. The paper traces the way Canadian decision-makers were inspired to ‘keep up’ or ‘lead’ in the area of voting rights, and the debate that reform generated.”
Mr. Bremner says attending the CPSA Conference at York University was a unique and meaningful experience, indicative of the opportunities political science students have at StFX.
“Thanks to this opportunity, I now know what to expect at similar conferences moving forward, and I was able to meet many people who work in the political science field. This experience is indicative of the unique opportunities that students have in the Political Science Department at StFX. Working alongside a professor on a paper and then presenting our findings at a conference was not something I had imagined doing while first arriving at StFX, but I am very happy to have had this experience! My thanks to Dr. Allen for the opportunity!”
LIFE-ALTERING EXPERIENCE
Ms. Smith says presenting "Childcare in Transition: A Case Study on the Shift to a Public Model of Care in Nova Scotia" at the conference was a great point of pride.
Ms. Smith had received a Centre for Employment Innovation (CEI) Research Mentorship award in summer 2022 and worked under the supervision of Dr. Rebecca Wallace, a political science professor and Mila Mulroney Research Chair in Women, Policy and Governance Leadership in the Brian Mulroney Institute of Government. Their work examined the impact of the Canada-wide child care agreement on child care owners and workers in the province of Nova Scotia.
“Dr. Wallace's believing in me and providing an avenue to explore this research topic and subsequent paper(s) has provided me with self-confidence in my abilities as an academic, professional, and overall, a voice with merit within the field,” says Ms. Smith.
“When a professor agrees to take on a student researcher, they provide them with skills and guidance to learn about a career in research and academia and to determine if it is a field they wish to pursue. When that professor sees the value in sharing research with a student, they provide more than just guidance; they give that student their first experience of validation for this type of work,” she says.
“Had Dr. Wallace not seen the value in me as a person and researcher, I would never have thought myself ready to take on such important work. Her choice to uplift me and guide me through this process –not just as a student—but as a worthy peer is life-altering. This experience validated that all the work and debt associated with attending university is worth it – this work is worth it – it matters and makes a difference – and under Dr. Wallace's guidance, I can be part of that difference. Her impact on me and my life cannot be overstated; she changed my life, and for that I will forever be grateful. Beyond the amazingness of the experience itself is the incredible life impact of having someone I respect and admire, Dr. Wallace, see me as worthy of her time and effort and go out of her way to help me succeed. I cannot thank her enough for this experience and beyond that, for her grace, friendship, and kindness over the years – its invaluable.”
Ms. Smith says this project will help prepare her for completing her undergraduate degree and pursuing a career in policy analysis. “My long-term goals include continuing research with a focus on women's issues at the master's level. I was awarded research funding to explore barriers to women staying in politics, and I feel that this research will be a vital component of this future study.”
Under Dr. Wallace’s supervision, she conducted interviews with child care owners that revealed some of the challenges they faced with transitioning to the new child care policy. The interviews were so impactful that Dr. Wallace suggested they apply to present at CPSA. The proposed paper was accepted as part of the public administration section of the conference and the Brian Mulroney Research Centre sponsored Ms. Smith’s participation in the conference.
Dr. Wallace says she felt strongly about Ms. Smith attending the conference.
“This was a really valuable opportunity for Kaytland to not only get feedback on our paper, but to practice advanced research presentation skills and network with a wide range of academics and professionals that can continue to help her as she looks toward graduate school. StFX is a strong research institution, and it is important that we showcase our very talented and driven students among our scholarly community.”
