Creating Thriving Communities: Government and Community Support for Immigration in 1825 and 2025

As part of the Nine Ships 1825 Bicentennial celebrations, this panel discussion will explore the role of government and community support in shaping successful immigration policies and outcomes in smaller centres like Peterborough-Nogojiwanong, past and present.

The discussion will highlight lessons learned from the Peter Robinson Emigration of 1825 and immigration programs today. It will also consider what is needed for future immigration strategies to help both newcomers and communities thrive.

Light refreshments will be available.

Panelists:

• Abigayle Stoddart, BA History Student, Trent University
• Andy Cragg, Executive Director, New Canadians Centre
• Dennis Carter-Edwards, Retired Historian, Parks Canada
• Melissa Kelly, Senior Research Associate, Toronto Metropolitan University

Please register for this event: bit.ly/1825-2025panel

Organised in partnership with Nine Ships 1825

If you have any questions, please contact Michelle at [email protected]

Speaker Bios:

Abigayle Stoddart is a fourth-year Honours Bachelor of Arts – History student at Trent University. She is also in the Teacher Education Stream, striving towards becoming a history and biology Secondary School teacher. Abigayle served as President of the Trent Outdoors Club for 2.5 years, combining her passion for education and love of the outdoors to serve the Trent community. She has held the roles of Junior and Senior Professional Development representatives and Vice President of the Education Undergraduate Community at Trent. Abigayle’s family heritage is Irish with her family having emigrated to Canada from Ireland in 1819. Her Irish heritage combined with her passion for education and a strong sense of community ignited her interest in the Peter Robinson Emigration project.

As someone who was born and raised in Peterborough, Andy Cragg is passionate about fostering a diverse, inclusive and welcoming community for the benefit of both newcomers and established residents. Prior to becoming NCC’s Executive Director, Andy was involved in the NCC for several years as Chair of the Peterborough Immigration Partnership, a member of the NCC Finance Committee, and a refugee support group volunteer. Andy has a Master of Arts degree in Canadian Studies and Indigenous Studies from Trent University, where he focused on Canadian immigration policy, and has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and Political Science from Dalhousie University.

Dennis Carter-Edwards is a retired historian with Parks Canada. With 36 years experience in researching, writing, managing and presenting the history of Canada’s National Historic Sites, Nation Parks and Heritage Canals, he brings a wealth of experience to his role as Director to the Nine Ships 1825 Inc Board. The Board is working with regional heritage organizations, cultural groups, businesses and all three levels of government to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the British sponsored migration of some 2,000 Irish to Peterborough in 1825 under the supervision of Peter Robinson. He is the past Chair of the City of Peterborough’s Arts Culture and Heritage Advisory Committee, past president of the Peterborough Historical Society and past member of the city’s Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee. He has also served in provincial organizations as a past Director of Community Heritage Ontario and past President of the Ontario Historical Society.

Melissa Kelly’s research takes a comparative approach to understanding how migrants and refugees experience settlement, integration and belonging in different spatial contexts. Her work has appeared in peer-reviewed journals such as the Canadian Geographer, Journal of International Migration and Integration, Population Space and Place, and Migration Letters.

Melissa is Project Director and Principal Investigator on a SSHRC-funded Partnership Development Project focused on international migration to small and mid-sized cities in Canada, Australia and New Zealand. She is leading a team of academics, NGOs and government organizations to understand the factors influencing immigrant attraction and retention in non-metropolitan communities.

Melissa was a Postdoctoral Fellow with the ‘Narrative Study of Lives Programme’ at the University of the Free State in South Africa and the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at Carleton University. Currently, she is affiliated with the Borders in Globalization (BIG) network based at the University of Victoria.

In addition to her academic pursuits, Melissa has contributed extensively to the development of labour market and immigration policies and programs for the Government of Canada. She is also on the Welcoming Standard Content Advisory Board for Welcoming America.