Research summary
Catholic missions to Asia and Africa in the modern period have been studied extensively, but much less is known about Catholic migration in the British Atlantic context. Yet the religious, economic and social networks of settler communities in Atlantic Canada were extensive, spanning the entire Atlantic world—from Britain and Ireland to mainland Europe, Africa and the Caribbean. As Canada Research Chair in Atlantic Canada Communities, Dr. Sara Karly Kehoe aims to conduct innovative research on migration and the Catholic dimension of colonization in the region.
Kehoe and her research team are also creating partnerships to expand rural access to research, promote interdisciplinary collaboration and develop policy advice. Kehoe hopes to advance student training and build capacity in the field of Atlantic Canada studies. Ultimately, she and her team hope that what they learn about minority groups in the past British Empire can help address issues related to the integration of migrants today.