The Four Research Areas of the Canadian Institute for Research on Linguistic Minorities

The Canadian Institute for Research on Linguistic Minorities (CIRLM) seeks to increase knowledge of the situation of official language minority communities (OLMCs) and gain a better understanding of the priority issues that concern them. In working with its network of researchers the CIRLM conducts studies on OLMCs both regionally and nationally. To enrich its understanding of the situation of Francophone minority communities and Anglophone communities in Quebec, the Institute analyzes other linguistic and cultural minorities in Canada and abroad from a comparative perspective. Since the 2023–2024 fiscal year, the Institute has organized its research and knowledge mobilization activities around the four research areas described below. Depending on the transversality of the projects, some activities may contribute to more than one area.

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The Populations and Contexts research area focuses on creating demographic portraits of OLMCs to better understand social dynamics, including the behaviours and needs of various segments of the population. Here are a few examples of themes that may be explored under this area:

• Population composition
• Generational and geographic dimensions
• Rurality and urbanity
• Migratory movements
• Immigration

The Identity and Diversity research area focuses on societal phenomena that contribute to the construction and evolution of expressions of identity in OLMCs, whether at the collective or individual level. Here are a few examples of themes that could be explored under this area:

• Language acquisition and transmission and language behaviours
• Artistic and cultural expression
• Memory and heritage
• Multiculturalism et decolonization
• Integration and inclusion (gender, ethnocultural groups, economic disparity, etc.)

The Voices and Actions research area focuses on the involvement, mobilization and organization of citizens in OLMCs and their recognition, as well as the implementation of language legislation. Here are a few examples of themes that could be explored under this area:

• Citizen participation in community life
• Representation and representativity and community-level media exposure
• Community perspectives and external discourses about OLMCs
• Organizational practices and governance
• Respect of language rights

The Development and Growth research area focuses on factors that influence the evolution of the vitality of memory, and the cultural, social and economic vitality of OLMCs. Here are a few examples of themes that could be explored under this area:

• Community access to quality services
• Institutional completeness
• Support and funding for communities
• Community innovation and transformation
• Prosperity and resilience of communities