Title, place and dates of the event:
"Immigration and Outmigration: Atlantic Canada at a Crossroads", Halifax, November 18-19, 2004.

Name of Conference / congress / workshop organizer:
Ather H. Akbari (Chair, Economics Domain, Atlantic Metropolis Centre, Saint Mary's University)

1. Event's contribution to Canadian scholarship:
   This was the first pan Canadian conference to be held in Atlantic Canada on the issue of regional mobility of foreign born population. Presentations / papers provided a basis for public policy and academic debate and research on immigration attraction and retention issues faced in Atlantic Canada. Gaps in Atlantic Canadian immigration research issues were also identified. The conference also helped in identifying possible data sources for pursuing immigration research in Atlantic Canada.
   
   
2. Original goals versus Fulfilled objectives:
   These are described under "Highlights" (number 9) subheading "Achievements."
   
   
3. Quality of papers presented:
   Conference presenters included senior academicians (regional, national and international), students, policymakers (provincial and federal), policy practitioners (non-governmental organization involved in immigrant settlement matters), journalists, and private sector employers. About 95 percent of delegates expressed satisfaction with the conference in a delegate satisfaction survey (total response: 84 on day 2 at the end of conference).
   
   
4. Dissemination of results / publication of proceedings:
   
   • Presentations posted to the Atlantic Metropolis Center's web site.
   • Review of selected papers to appear in Canadian Ethnic Studies.
   • Review of selected proceedings to appear in Work Place Journal.
   • Further publications are expected.
   
   
5. Participation in the event:
   The event was attended by about 250 registered delegates from across Canada and the United States. Delegates included academicians, students, policymakers, nongovernmental organizations, community representatives, journalists, and private sector employers. Representatives of news media were also present.
   
   
6. Copy of the final program:
   Enclosed with the report.
   
   
7. Copy of abstracts if available:
   Enclosed with the report.
   
   
8. Acknowledgement of ACOA financial assistance:
   
   • Back cover of the conference program.
   • Closing remarks by the moderator.
   
   
9. Highlights:
   Achievements:
   
   • Greater understanding of socioeconomic factors that determine regional mobility of immigrants within Canada.
   • Greater awareness of the models and best practices aimed at immigrant attraction, retention and integration followed in other Canadian jurisdictions.
   • Greater awareness of the issues of immigration attraction and retention in Atlantic Canada.
   • Development of a network of regional and national immigration policy stakeholders.
   • Beginning of a systematic research in the economics domain on immigration policy issues in Atlantic Canada.
   
   Other Highlights:
   
   • Presentations at the conference have been quoted in the regional news media (Chronicle Herald of November 19, 2004 and December 20, 2004; CTV News and CBC (TV) News, November 18, 2004).
   • Presentations have provided basis for public debate on immigration issues (CBC radio: Maritime Noon, November 26, 2004).
   • The Mayor of Halifax has written a letter of congratulation to the conference organizer.
   • Conference also received national coverage (Edmonton Sun of November 2, 2004).