May 15-17, 2026, Halifax, NS

Deadline to apply: 15 January, 2026

Building on the conference held in Edmonton at MacEwen University in 2024, we are pleased to announce a call for proposals for an upcoming Queer and Trans history and archives conference to be held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, May 15-17, 2026. Scholars, activists, archivists, educators and community members working on Queer or Trans history in Canada are encouraged to apply. 

The conference will explore how 2SLGBTQIA+ archives contribute to a broader understanding of Canadian history. Through public events and workshops, it will also help bridge gaps between academia, activism, and communities amid increased threats to our communities. The conference will be held in person in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Submissions in both French and English are encouraged. 

We especially encourage approaches that take into consideration the diversity of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities or trouble our understanding of archival methods, history, or nationalism. We especially welcome and encourage papers by and from individuals who identify as Indigenous, Trans, non-binary, gender non-conforming, Black, people of colour, Acadian, veterans, or persons with disabilities. We also welcome proposals from students, new graduates, academics, emerging scholars, or those associated with underrepresented institutions or collections, and grassroots historians and curators.  2SLGBTQIA+ community members outside of academia or the heritage sector are strongly encouraged to submit. 

The conference planning committee is committed to an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming conference that provides reasonable accommodation to all applicants. If you require any accommodation to participate in this call for papers, please contact qhistories2026@gmail.com. There will also be a virtual Q&A session on January 7, 2026 (6pm AST; please email for an invitation) to guide anyone unfamiliar with submitting a proposal through this process. Conference registration will open at the end of January 2026. 

We invite proposals on the following topics, and others, relating to Queer and Trans histories and archives:

  • Two-spirit and Indigenous Queer histories or methods
  • Projects on racialized Queer/Trans archives or histories
  • Community-led Queer history/archival initiatives 
  • Education and Queer history, or teaching Queer history
  • Atlantic Canada Queer and Trans Histories 
  • Queer and Trans archival projects
  • Queering the archive and archiving Queer resistance
  • Exploring the limits of the “institutional” archives
  • Queer approaches to public history and memorialization
  • 2SLGBTQIA+ military histories and/or The Purge
  • Canada/US solidarity and histories of activism across borders

Guidelines for Submissions:

We are accepting proposals for

  1. Panels
  2. Roundtables
  3. Workshops
  4. Individual papers/presentations 
  5. Creative and innovative approaches and formats 

Please use the following form to submit your proposal. 

 

Below are instructions for each submission type. The submissions will be considered by a multidisciplinary and diverse committee following these criteria:

  • Relevance to themes/topic
  • Originality
  • Logistics (especially for workshops and creative formats)
  • Clarity

Full Panels 

Panels will be allotted 1.5 hours and should include three to four papers, along with a chair. If you cannot find a chair, please include a short paragraph under “chair” indicating the criteria for an ideal chair, and we will do our best to organize one. 

  1. Title of Panel:
  2. Panel Abstract (max 300 words):
  3. Chair:
  4. Paper Abstracts (max 250 words each):
  5. Participant bios and contact:

Roundtables

Roundtables will be allotted 1.5 hours and should include 3-6 speakers, along with a chair to facilitate the conversation.

  1. Title of roundtable:
  2. Chair:
  3. Roundtable abstract (max 300 words):
  4. Speaker bios and contact:

Workshops 

A workshop is an educational (and preferably hands-on) activity. It should have at least one facilitator. In your description, please indicate the expected audience (community members, academics, archivists, etc.) and any preparation participants might need before the workshop.

  1. Title of workshop:
  2. Description (max 500 words):
  3. Number of participants (min-max):
  4. Time needed:
  5. Staff support needed:
  6. Facilitator(s) bio:

Individual papers 

Individual papers will be accepted, organized into thematic panels with other individual papers, and assigned a chair. 

  1. Title of paper:
  2. Paper abstract (max 300 words):
  3. Bio and contact info:

 

Other formats 

Other formats, such as storytelling, performance, poster presentations, artworks, and exhibitions, will also be considered. Be sure to include in the description the relevance of your submission to the conference topics. 

Title of submission:

Description:

AV/Staff support needs: 

Bio and contact info: