Upcoming event:

Bridging law and practice – Supporting migrant workers through NGO capacity building

In Canada, legal rules shape both migrant workers’ rights and the support they can receive. Ongoing uncertainty continues to limit how frontline organizations can provide assistance.

An upcoming public lecture explores how these barriers can be clarified to strengthen protection and support.

The University Research Chair on Migration Protection and International Law, in collaboration with the Human Rights Research and Education Centre and with support from the Alex Trebek Forum for Dialogue, will host a public lecture exploring how law and practice can better support migrant workers in Canada. Titled “Bridging Law and Practice: Supporting Migrant Workers through NGO Capacity Building”, the event will present findings from a community-based research project led by postdoctoral fellow Dr. Jane Ezirigwe.

WHAT:  Bridging Law and Practice: Supporting Migrant Workers through NGO Capacity Building

WHEN:  Monday, May 25, 2026 (10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.)

WHERE:  In person (Room 4004, Social Sciences Building, 120 University Private, Ottawa) or online (in English, with a bilingual Q&A)

The event is based on research examining how Section 91 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act shapes the ability of NGOs to support migrant workers in Ontario. The session will feature the launch of a co-designed NGO toolkit aimed at helping frontline organizations navigate legal constraints, alongside reflections from practitioners and community members. A panel of experts from academia and legal practice will contribute to the discussion.

Speakers: Jane Ezirigwe (Postdoctoral Fellow and Chair member), Delphine Nakache (Full Professor at the University of Ottawa and Chairholder), Jennifer Dagsvik (Clinic Director, Newcomer Legal Clinic, and Assistant Professor, Lakehead University), J. Bianca Espinoza (Outreach/Program Coordinator, Newcomer Legal Clinic).

This event is supported by the Alex Trebek Forum for Dialogue, which fosters interdisciplinary engagement and connects research with public policy solutions on pressing social issues.

Register by May 10, 2026 (in-person places are limited).

A light lunch will be served for in-person participants.