Canadian-U.S. Relationship the Focus of Crossing Borders Conference Hosted by Niagara University

Students and faculty from the United States and Canada came together on the Niagara University campus to attend the 2025 Crossing Borders Conference on March 29, 2025. This is the fifth time the conference, which is a collaboration between Niagara University and Brock University's Canadian Studies Centre, has been held at NU.

This year, undergraduate and graduate students from NU, Brock University, the University of Saskatchewan, Bridgewater State University, King's University College at Western University, the University of Ottawa, and Wilfrid Laurier University presented their work about the Canadian-U.S. relationship. Their work addressed fugitives and extradition; health and social movements; indigenous lifeways in education and sovereignty; comparative education in historic surveys, primary schools, and charter schools; and border, travel, and trade. Panel moderators included faculty from Daemen University, King's University College at Western University, Canisius University, Bridgewater State University, and Wilfrid Laurier University.

Andrew Kelly, a student from the University of Saskatchewan, won the "Best Student Paper" prize for his work on "Justice and the Illegal Exchange of Indigenous Prisoners between the United States and Canada in the Late 19^th and Early 20^th Century." Judges included Dr. Michael Durfee of Niagara University, Heidi Madden of Brock University, and Stephanie Bangarth of King's University College at Western University.

"Conference presenters showed once again that the field of Canadian-U.S. studies is still vibrant and crucial toward maintaining the long friendship between our two countries," said Dr. Shannon Risk, conference organizer and NU history professor. "We are honored that we could host these young scholars. Their work gives us a taste of what is to come when these students move into the professional world."

The Rev. James Maher, C.M., Niagara University president, welcomed attendees at the conference luncheon and spoke of the strong friendship between Canada and the United States and the ways to maintain that relationship during difficult times. Keynote speaker Dr. Asma Ahmed, chair and assistant professor at Niagara University Ontario's College of Education, discussed "Building Inclusive Educational Communities through Cultural Understanding."

Dr. Tim Ireland, NU provost, and Dr. Stephanie Dimech, Niagara University Ontario dean and campus principal, also attended the conference, which was made possible through a grant from the provost's office, the Office of Graduate Studies, and Brock University's Canadian Studies Centre. Niagara University Ontario contributed items for participants' conference bags.