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 success, it was suggested to hold this conference on a regular biennial basis. The UofS is hosting the event in May (9-11), 2025.  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 (300 words maximum, in English, pasted in-text or attached in MS Word) 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).

Abstract submissions will open on July 1, 2024 and close on October 30, 2024.

The abstracts will be reviewed and the decision will be sent by December 15, 2024.

We will post the link for abstract submissions here. 

The abstracts will be reviewed and the decision will be sent by December 15, 2024.

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

Link for registration will be posted here by July 1, 2024.

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).

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.)