Vanier Institute articles explore the diversity and complexity of families and the reality of family life in Canada with contributions from people who study, serve and support families, as well as people with lived experience. Produced in English and French since 1970, our articles provide information, insights and inspiration to our diverse readership, which includes researchers, educators, students, journalists, family service workers, policy-makers and more.
2023
- Researcher Spotlight: Margaret Campbell on Families, Disability, and Wellbeing, Emily Kenny
- Fertility Rate in Canada Fell to (Another) Record Low in 2022, Nathan Battams
- Father’s Day 2023: Changing Roles, Changing Profiles, Nathan Battams
- Three Takeaways from the Quebec Childcare Model, Sophie Mathieu, PhD
- Insights on Retaining Employed Family Caregivers in Your Talent Pool, Jacquie Eales, Jon Lai, and Janet Fast, PhD
2022
- Child Care Policy in Canada: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow, Gordon Cleveland, PhD
- In Conversation: Barb Neis on Families and Work-Related Mobility, Nathan Battams
- Canada’s “Family Portrait”: Measuring Families in the Census, Nathan Battams
- Paternity Benefit Use During COVID-19: Early Findings from Quebec, Sophie Mathieu, PhD, and Marie Gendron, CEO of the Conseil de gestion de l’assurance parentale
- In Conversation: Rachel Margolis on Divorce in Canada, Nathan Battams
- Partner Profile: The Mothers Matter Centre, Gaby Novoa
- In Conversation: Nora Galbraith on Divorce Trends in Canada, Nathan Battams
- Divorce in Canada: A Tale of Two Trends, Nathan Battams
- Researcher Spotlight: Kim de Laat, Gaby Novoa
2021
- RAPP: Taking Research to Impact Through Collaboration, Nathan Battams
- Metrics to Meaning: Capturing the Diversity of Couples in Canada, Kathya Aathavan
- Stories Behind the Stats: Becoming a New Dad During Lockdown, Nathan Battams
- Caregiving During COVID: What Have We Learned? (Video), Alex Foster-Petrocco
- Love You Forever: A Mother’s Care, Gaby Novoa
- REVIEW: Mothers, Mothering, and COVID-19: Dispatches from a Pandemic, Alex Foster-Petrocco
- The Complexity and Impacts of High-Conflict Family Cases, Rachel Birnbaum, PhD, RSW, LLM, and Nicholas C. Bala, LSM, BA, JD, LLM
2020
- Couple Relationships in Canada, Ana Fostik, PhD
- COVID-19 and Parenting in Canada, Nora Spinks, Sara MacNaull and Jennifer Kaddatz
- Retirees and Family Finances in Canada, Edward Ng, PhD
- Youth Well-being in Canada, Edward Ng, PhD, and Nadine Badets
- Families in Canada Adapting: My Family’s COVID Journey, Edward Ng, PhD
- Families and Housing in Canada, Nadine Badets, Gaby Novoa and Nathan Battams
- Uncertainty and Postponement: Pandemic Impact on Fertility in Canada, Ana Fostik, PhD
- Getting Out, Getting Active and Family Well‑Being, Gaby Novoa and Nathan Battams
- Food Insecurity and Family Finances During the Pandemic, Nadine Badets
- Families in Canada Adapting: A Wedding at a Distance, Edward Ng, PhD
- Family Finances and Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Ana Fostik, PhD, and Jennifer Kaddatz
- Families New to Canada and Financial Well-being During Pandemic, Laetitia Martin
- Parents’ Thoughts on Post-Pandemic Future in Canada, Nadine Badets
- Who Is Your COVID‑19 Crisis “Extended and Chosen Family”?, Jennifer Kaddatz
- Senior Well-being and Family Concern, Nadine Badets and Ana Fostik, PhD
- Health Habits During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Jennifer Kaddatz and Nadine Badets
- A Snapshot of Family Attachment During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Jennifer Kaddatz
- Do Adults in Couples Have Better Mental Health During the COVID‑19 Pandemic?, Ana Fostik, PhD, and Jennifer Kaddatz
- Parenting in a Pandemic: A Story and the Stats, Jennifer Kaddatz
- Canadians Turning to Their Screens to Keep Busy During COVID-19 Isolation, Jennifer Kaddatz, Ana Fostik, PhD, and Nathan Battams
- Survey Finds Gender Gaps in COVID-19 Pandemic Experiences and Responses, Jennifer Kaddatz
- Couples Find Support in One Another During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Ana Fostik, PhD, Jennifer Kaddatz and Nora Spinks
- Diblings Asking “Who Am I?” – Searching for Answers, Finding More Questions, Sara MacNaull and Nora Spinks
- In Conversation: Rachel Margolis on Divorce Trends in Canada, Nathan Battams
2019
- Work, Care and the Carer-Inclusive and Accommodating Organizations (CIAO) Standard (PDF), Emily Beckett
- “Virtual Parenting” After Separation and Divorce, Rachel Birnbaum, PhD, RSW, LLM
2018
- What’s in a Name? Defining Family in a Diverse Society, Alan Mirabelli
- Family Perspectives: Death and Dying in Canada, Dr. Katherine Arnup
- Work and Family: The Impact of Mobility, Scheduling and Precariousness, Elise Thorburn, PhD
- Facing Death: Emerging Trends in Death and Dying in Canada, Emily Beckett
2017
- Modern Motherhood: The Unique Experiences of Women with Physical Disabilities, Lesley A. Tarasoff
- Family Finances: Investments in Education, Stacy Yanchuk Oleksy and Nathan Battams
- Grandparent Health and Family Well-Being, Rachel Margolis, PhD
- Employment Mobility and Family Gentrification in Montreal, Steven High, Lysiane Goulet Gervais, Michelle Duchesneau and Dany Guay‑Bélanger
- Polyamory in Canada: Research on an Emerging Family Structure, John-Paul Boyd, M.A., LL.B.
- Supporting the Health of Mothers and Their Babies in the Context of Incarceration, Dr. Ruth Elwood Martin and Brenda Tole
- Circuits of Care: Mobility, Work and Managing Family Relationships, Dr. Sara Dorow and Shingirai Mandizadza, PhDc
2016
- Modern Fathers Reshaping the Work–Family Relationship, Nathan Battams
- Intergenerational Relations and Societal Change, Donna S. Lero, PhD
- Public Policy Brief – Flex: From a Privilege to a Right, Sara MacNaull
- Building Inclusive Communities for Canada’s Military and Veteran Families, Col (ret) Russell Mann, OMM, MSM, MBA, CD
- Language, Labels and “Lone Parents”, Victoria Bailey
- It’s Time to Care for Our (Young) Carers, Andrea Breen, PhD
- My Caregiving Journey, Katherine Arnup, PhD
- Work–Family Conflict Among Single Parents in the Canadian Armed Forces, Alla Skomorovsky, PhD
- Flex at Work Benchmarking Initiative, Sara MacNaull and Nora Spinks
- Family Caregiving in Canada: A Fact of Life and a Human Right, Nathan Battams
- The Current State of Military Family Research, Heidi Cramm, Deborah Norris, Linna Tam-Seto, Maya Eichler and Kimberley Smith‑Evans
2015 and Older
- Sleep and Families, Dr. David B. Posen, M.D.
- OFF THE VANIER BOOKSHELF: Family Futures (UNDESA-DSPD) (PDF), Sara MacNaull
- (Still) Eating Together: The Culture of the Family Meal, Paul Fieldhouse
- Beyond the “Ideal”: Beryl Plumptre and the Vanier Institute’s Definition of “Family” (PDF), Alan Mirabelli
- General The Right Honourable Georges P. Vanier: A Life of Devotion (PDF), Nathan Battams
- Collaborative Settlement: Resolving Disputes After Separation or Divorce (PDF), John-Paul Boyd, M.A., LL.B.
- Strength in Diversity: Positive Impacts of Children with Disabilities, Michelle R. Lodewyks
- Modern Maternity Care in Canada (PDF), Cecilia Benoit
- Dads Play a Greater Role at Home: Family Life Benefits, Nathan Battams
- Family Finances: Investments in Education, Stacy Yanchuk Oleksy
- Caring Enough to Flex, Flexing Enough to Care, Sara MacNaull
- To Share or Not to Share: Online Privacy and Publicity Among Canadian Youth (PDF), Matthew Johnson
- Modern Caregiving in Canada, Janet E. Fast, PhD, and Donna S. Lero, PhD
- Modern Fatherhood: Paternal Involvement and Family Relationships (PDF), Ian DeGeer, Humberto Carolo and Todd Minerson
- The Health Care Experiences of LGBTQ+ Seniors, Laura Zuccaro
- Ageism and the Experience of Health Care (PDF), Nathan Battams
- OFF THE VANIER BOOKSHELF: The Healing Journey: Intimate Partner Abuse and Its Implications in the Labour Market (Linda DeRiviere) (PDF), Nathan Battams
- Dividing Matrimonial Property: Common-Law Partners Still Excluded from Property Laws (PDF), Rollie Thompson
- Strengthening Ties Through Technology (PDF), Nathan Battams
- Young Carers Gaining Visibility in Canada, Vass Bednar
- When Cupboards Are Bare: Food Insecurity and Public Health, Nathan Battams
- Connected, Mobile and Social: The Online Lives of Canadian Youth, Matthew Johnson
- OFF THE VANIER BOOKSHELF: Valuing Children: Rethinking the Economics of the Family (Nancy Folbre) (PDF), Nathan Battams
- OFF THE VANIER BOOKSHELF: Far from the Tree: Parents, Children, and the Search for Identity (Andrew Solomon) (PDF), Nathan Battams