A preview of the Institute of Marriage and Family Canada’s 2010 conference

Written by Andrea Mrozek, Manager of Research and Communications at the Institute of Marriage and Family Canada

Let’s take a moment to state the obvious: Canadian families are busy. We drive kids to school and to various additional lessons; we drive ourselves to and from work; we drive ourselves crazy, trying to add hours to the day.

Given this busy reality, keeping up with the latest family research may not always be feasible. That’s where the Institute of Marriage and Family Canada steps in. On March 11, 2010, in Ottawa, we will gather exceptional researchers, decision makers, policy writers and lay people together for our fourth annual conference.

Too often, those interested in economics ignore the family and vice versa. Dr. Brian Lee Crowley will set the stage for the conference, bringing these two groups together. Drawing from insights in his most recent book, Fearful Symmetry: The Fall and Rise of Canada’s Founding Values, Dr. Crowley will highlight the centrality of family to Canada’s great economic and social success.

Reflecting on how Canada came to be the blessed nation that it is, Dr. Crowley recently told an audience: “I believe that if we are lucky, as I believe we are, it is because we have been endowed by our forebears with a set of attitudes and beliefs, beliefs about individual freedom and responsibility, about the limits of government, about the rule of law, about the dignity of work and the centrality of family to social and economic life.”

Our second speaker of the day, Dr. Wade Horn, is no stranger to the attempt to renew families. From 2001 to 2007 he was responsible for overseeing a 47-billion-dollar budget at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Horn will discuss how government can help and hinder families – a session that will be of tremendous interest not only to those working on family-related policy in Canada, but also to those who wonder what goes on behind the scenes in creating policy. Dr. Horn was particularly involved in fatherhood initiatives south of the border. Given the growing ranks of lone parents, this is a pressing concern in Canada too.

Our third speaker, Dr. Miriam Grossman, became famous with the publication of her book, Unprotected: A Campus Psychiatrist Reveals How Political Correctness in Her Profession Endangers Every Student. At that time, the book was published under the pen name Anonymous, MD; Dr. Grossman feared a backlash as she took a stand against a wrong-headed, politically correct approach to sexual health. In 2009 Dr. Grossman published another book tackling the politicized nature of sex education. You’re Teaching My Child What? is a foray into how we teach kids about sexuality. Given her years of experience working with students on campus, Dr. Grossman is not to be missed.

Finally, the day will be rounded out with a panel presentation on child care. A representative of the federal Liberals will share the substance behind their support for a national daycare plan; Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada Diane Finley will explain the Conservative position. Equal time and fair moderation will ensure both sides get ample opportunity to convince us why they are right.

Between these presentations, IMFC staff will provide research updates and a taste of studies to come, along with a scrumptious lunch.

Family life is busy, but if you can find time to attend this conference, you’ll be cramming a year’s worth of research findings into one day. To register, visit Imfcanada.org, and email any questions to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Conference attendees also have the opportunity to stay for the Manning Centre for Building Democracy Annual Networking Conference.