Articles and Blog Posts
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.
Archived articles are available upon request.
Visit the COVID-19 Impacts: Families in Canada page for all publications and content related to the pandemic.
2020
- 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 (PDF), Nathan Battams
2019
- Work, Care and the Carer-Inclusive and Accommodating Organizations (CIAO) Standard (PDF), Emily Beckett
- In Conversation with Lisa Wolff, Director, Policy and Research, UNICEF Canada (PDF), Nathan Battams
- “Virtual Parenting” After Separation and Divorce (PDF), Rachel Birnbaum, PhD, RSW, LLM
- Resource Roundup: Family Caregiving in Canada (October 2019), Emily Beckett and Nathan Battams
2018
- What’s in a Name? Defining Family in a Diverse Society (PDF), Alan Mirabelli
- Work and Family: The Impact of Mobility, Scheduling and Precariousness (PDF), Elise Thorburn, PhD (Memorial University)
- Institutionally “Chosen Families”: Supportive or Counterproductive? (PDF), Chloe Brown
- 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
- Health Care Experiences of Military Families of Children with Autism (PDF), Heidi Cramm, PhD
- Sharing a Roof: Multi-generational Homes in Canada (2016 Census Update) (PDF), Nathan Battams
- Grandparent Health and Family Well-Being (PDF), Rachel Margolis, PhD
- Employment Mobility and Family Gentrification in Montreal (PDF), Steven High, Lysiane Goulet Gervais, Michelle Duchesneau and Dany Guay‑Bélanger
- Polyamory in Canada: Research on an Emerging Family Structure (PDF), John-Paul Boyd, M.A., LL.B.
- Lived Experience: Understanding Families Affected by Incarceration (PDF), Farhat Rehman
- Supporting the Health of Mothers and Their Babies in the Context of Incarceration (PDF), 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 (PDF), 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
- Review: The Importance of Being Little by Erika Christakis (review by Monique Velisovsky)
- 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 (PDF), 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 (PDF), Nathan Battams
- The Current State of Military Family Research (PDF), Heidi Cramm, Deborah Norris, Linna Tam-Seto, Maya Eichler and Kimberley Smith‑Evans
2015 and Older
- 50 Years of Understanding Families in Canada (PDF), Nora Spinks
- Sleep and Families (PDF), 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 (PDF), Paul Fieldhouse
- No Longer Just “Child’s Play”: Electronic Gaming in Canada (PDF), Nathan Battams
- 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
- Family Is… (PDF), Sara MacNaull
- Reflections on the Families in Canada Conference 2015 (PDF), Nora Spinks
- Collaborative Settlement: Resolving Disputes After Separation or Divorce (PDF), John-Paul Boyd, M.A., LL.B.
- OFF THE VANIER BOOKSHELF: Parenting Through the Storm (Ann Douglas) (PDF), Cindy Graham
- Strength in Diversity: Positive Impacts of Children with Disabilities (PDF), Michelle R. Lodewyks
- Respect, Reconciliation and Resilience: Phil Fontaine and Archbishop Weisgerber in Conversation (PDF), Nathan Battams
- 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 (PDF), Sara MacNaull
- Sharing a Roof: Multi-generational Homes in Canada (PDF), Nathan Battams
- Putting the “F” in EFAP: The Evolution of Workplace Mental Health Supports (PDF), Craig Thompson
- To Share or Not to Share: Online Privacy and Publicity Among Canadian Youth (PDF), Matthew Johnson
- Modern Caregiving in Canada (PDF), 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
- Modern Money Management (PDF), Stacy Yanchuk Oleksy
- 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 (PDF), Vass Bednar
- When Cupboards Are Bare: Food Insecurity and Public Health (PDF), Nathan Battams
- Connected, Mobile and Social: The Online Lives of Canadian Youth (PDF), Matthew Johnson
- OFF THE VANIER BOOKSHELF: Valuing Children: Rethinking the Economics of the Family (Nancy Folbre) (PDF), Nathan Battams
- Celebrating Ian: A Unique Parenting Experience (PDF), Ann Douglas