May 9-11, 2025, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

The BAM 2 (Bilingualism and Multilingualism) conference will be held in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, at the University of Saskatchewan Campus on May 9-11, 2025.

The conference theme is “Multidisciplinary and Interdisciplinary Approaches to Adult and Child Bilingualism and Multilingualism.”

We welcome submissions on any topics related to the conference theme from multiple disciplines, as well as interdisciplinary studies.

Please note that the conference does not offer any visa support. Before submitting an abstract from overseas, we advise checking the prices for a flight to Saskatoon from your location.

The conference plenary speakers are:

• Maria Polinsky (University of Maryland, USA) 
• Sviatlana Karpava  (University of Cyprus)
• Fangfang Li (University of Lethbridge, Canada)
• Olga Lovick (University of Saskatchewan, Canada)
• Veronika Makarova (University of Saskatchewan, Canada)
• Elena Nicoladis (University of British Columbia, Canada)

The first conference on Bilingualism and Multilingualism (BAM 1) was held in May 2023 at the University of British Columbia. Due to the conference's success, the UofS is hosting a sequel event in May (9-11), 2025. We feature the presentations by the world’s leading scholar in bi-multilingualism and heritage language studies Professor Maria Polinsky, the author of “Heritage Languages and Linguistics” (Cambridge Univ. Press, 2021); Dr. Sviatlana Karpava,  a prominent European scholar of multilingualism and ESL, Canada’s own Professor Elena Nicoladis renowned for her psycholinguistic studies of bi-multilingualism, and other prominent Canadian and international scholars. Indigenous, minority, and heritage languages of Canada and other countries will be represented in the talks. The main purpose of the conference is to highlight recent developments in the research areas of bilingualism and multilingualism and to provide researchers with a forum for meeting and synergizing their efforts, primarily at the national level, while engaging with international scholars as well. Bilingualism and multilingualism (B&M) is a fast-growing interdisciplinary area that includes examining the phenomenon from the perspectives of multiple disciplines, such as anthropology, applied linguistics, cognitive science, education, ethnic studies, indigenous studies, linguistics, psychology, second and additional language acquisition, sociolinguistics, and others. B&M has significant impacts on education (especially multilingual education) as well as on equity, diversity and inclusion in Canadian society. Interest in bi-multilingualism conferences has spiked around the world, with multiple international conferences being organized, such as ISB (2023, Australia; 2025 Spain), MAMM (2022, Cyprus), MML (2024, Yerevan, Armenia), etc. Yet, there is no analogous national conference in Canada and no national organization to support it.

The second purpose is to organize a Community Outreach event, as discussions on the potential value of B&M are of high impact in Canadian society. In case of immigrants, refugees, and other linguistic minorities, acquiring the majority language of the country is necessary to get a job, pursue education, and function daily (Hill et al., 2021). On the other hand, maintaining home language and culture is important for identity reconstruction, heritage, recreation, ethnic festivals, and psychological balance (Berry and Hou, 2019; Nguyen, 2022).  The Community Outreach Event will help community members get answers from B&M experts to questions about raising bi-multilingual children, the role of bi-multilingualism in society, community language schools, and others. In turn, researchers will be informed by questions and suggestions from the public. This even will also raise the status of B&M research in the community.

Abstract submissions

Participants are invited to submit their abstracts covering any aspects of adult and child bi/multilingualism.  The submissions can include individual papers (talks or posters) as well as full panel proposals (a common topic reflected in talks by min 3 and max 5 speakers). Every talk is expected to be 20 minutes in total including Q/A (3-5 minutes).

Last extended call for abstract submissions:

The submissions are open and will close on December 10, 2024.

Please submit your abstracts by e-mail to BAM2conference2025@gmail.com

Each abstract should  be  300 -500 words in English, pasted in your  e-mail or attached in MS Word file)

Register here

Early bird registration – January 15, 2025 deadline

Regular registration – March 15, 2025 deadline

Registration fees  (all the prices are in Canadian dollars)

The fees include breakfasts for 2 days, lunches for 3 days and coffee/tea breaks.

Conference dinner featuring Prairies cuisine (separate) = $65 (includes one complementary drink).

• Register here

BAM2 Conference and Community Outreach Event: Preliminary Schedule (will be expanded with more details in January 2025)

We will be offering an entertainment program including free events (walks) as well as bus tours of Wanuskewin  park (featuring indigenous culture) and a trip to a hot spa (a huge hot spa pool in a hotel on the bank of a picturesque lake) for a 2-hours dip.

Please, consider staying for an extra day or two after the conference to explore more of Saskatoon on your own (Zoo, distilleries, pottery guild store, walks along the river) or other sites in Saskatchewan (Doukhobor National Heritage Village in Veregin, the town of Moose Jaw with its tunnels and a hotel with a hot spa, etc.)

Travel

The recommended way of travelling to Saskatoon is by air. Please book your flights in advance, as this is a popular destination and tickets get more expensive closer to spring.

Of course, scholars residing in the neighboring provinces can drive their own cars or rent a car to get to Saskatoon.

Saskatoon has John G. Diefenbaker  International Airport located in the North of the city and fairly close to the city center and the university. The airport has connections with a few destinations in the USA. There are taxis at the exit from the airport, which are regulated by the airport authorities and are therefore reliable and safe. The recommended way to travel to your hotel would be taking a taxi there. It should cost about 35-45 Canadian dollars depending on the exact location.

The University of Saskatchewan is located about 30 minutes' walk from the downtown across the University Bridge. Public transportation (buses) are also available from downtown to the university. One of the recommended hotels (Holiday Inn Express & Suites Saskatoon East - University, an IHG Hotel) is located directly opposite the university.

Accommodations

Please consider booking your hotel in advance. We provide a list of recommended hotels with group discount codes. Please select from the list, or feel free to look elsewhere. You are responsible for making your own reservations.

Recommended Hotels:

Park Town Hotel
924 Spadina Crescent East
Saskatoon, SK S7K 3H5
https://www.parktownhotel.com/
Please use: “Bilingualism and Multilingualism Conf”
Block ID: 386221
Block Code for booking on the website is 2505UNIVER.
Rooms can be booked on www.parktownhotel.com or over the phone 306-244-5564.

Room Type(s) available:
Rooms with one bed would be $129 plus tax, two beds $139 plus tax, and as mentioned before surface parking complimentary and breakfast of $8 off for breakfast.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites East-University - PLEASE NOTE CUT-OFF DATE IS APRIL 11, 2025
1838 College Drive
Saskatoon, SK S1N 2Z8
Attendees can book guestrooms by calling the following phone numbers:
Toll-free 1-800-HOLIDAY ( 1-800-465-4329 )
Hotel direct 1-306-954-1250

A user-friendly URL is ready for booking guestrooms within the block dates by simply copy and pasting the Booking Link (URL) below and it will take you directly to the special group rate provided to the group.
Group Booking Link:
https://www.hiexpress.com/redirect?path=rates&brandCode=EX&localeCode=en®ionCode=1&hotelCode=YXEES&checkInDate=08&checkInMonthYear=042025&checkOutDate=12&checkOutMonthYear=042025&_PMID=99801505&GPC=BAM&cn=no&viewfullsite=true
Group Name: BAM2 Conference
Dates: May 8-12th, 2025

Room Type(s) available:
Two queens at $149.00/night
*Includes our Full American Breakfast Buffet (Valued at $20.00 per person) and Parking for Hotel Guests!

Group Code: BAM