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Education & Social development

CRDCN researchers offer a wide range of expertise and insights into the areas of data, research, and policy.  Note that some of our experts have research interests that cut through multiple themes and are listed only under their primary interest. To contact a CRDCN expert, please send a detailed request to our Director of Communications and Engagement, Chloé Roussel (chloe.roussel@crdcn.org).

Information Box Group

Catherine Haeck

Languages: English, French

Short Bio: Professor of Economics, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM).

Research Area: Human capital development of children and youth.

Philip Merrigan

Languages: English, French

Short Bio: Professor of Economics, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM).

Research Area: Public policy for young children and family economics.

David Zarifa

Languages: English

Short Bio: Professor of Sociology, Nipissing University. He is the Canada Research Chair in Life Course Transitions in Northern and Rural Communities.

Research Area: Post-secondary education, and the transition from school to the workforce.

Arthur Sweetman

Languages: English

Short Bio: Professor of Economics at McMaster University, and Ontario Research Chair in Health Human Resources.

Research Area: Physician incentives, health policy, immigrants integration to the labour market, and higher education policy.

Ross Finnie

Languages: English, French

Short Bio: Professor of Public and International Affairs, University of Ottawa. He is the director of the Education Policy Research Initiative, and a member of the National Advisory Committee on Post-secondary Education Statistics.

Research Area: Post-secondary access, quality of the post-secondary experience, and accountability in the post-secondary system.

Gerry Veenstra

Languages: English

Short Bio: Professor of Sociology, University of British Columbia.

Research Area: Effects of racial and ethnic identity on physical and mental health, both in Canada and in international contexts.

Abdie Kazemipur

Languages: English

Short Bio: Professor of Sociology, and Chair of Ethnic Studies at the University of Calgary.

Research Area: The socio-economic experiences of immigrants in Canada (particularly those from Islamic countries), and the socio-cultural developments in the Middle East.

Céline Le Bourdais

Languages: English, French

Short Bio: Professor of Sociology, Research Chair in Social Statistics and Family Change at McGill University.

Research Area:  The effect of recent socio-demographic changes on family dynamics and the family life course of women, men and children and their implications for family policy.

Esme Fuller-Thomson

Languages: English

Short Bio: Professor at the School of Social Work, University of Toronto and Director of the Institute for Life Course and Aging.

Research Area: Adverse childhood experiences (maltreatment and parental divorce), grandparents raising their grandchildren, disability among older adults, and substance use among youth.