With rising safety concerns, major academic conferences move from the U.S. to Canada, creating new opportunities and signaling changing travel trends.
Conferences on the Move: Why Canada is Becoming the Safer Choice for Global Scholars
Academic Events Recalibrate in Response to U.S. Political Climate
Amid rising safety fears and shifting geopolitics, a growing number of North American academic and professional organizations are choosing to relocate conferences from the United States to Canada. What began as a personal safety decision for some has quickly turned into a wider movement, as scholars voice concern about U.S. border policies and political unpredictability.
A Personal Risk Turns into Collective Action
For Travers, a sociologist and associate professor at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C., crossing into the U.S. no longer feels safe. As a transgender academic and incoming president of the North American Society for the Sociology of Sport (NASSS), Travers decided to skip the organization’s annual conference in Seattle this fall — and soon discovered many of their Canadian colleagues shared the same concerns.
“I will not be travelling to the United States right now because it feels very dangerous to do so,” said Travers.
Faced with the possibility of a drastically under-attended event, NASSS opted for a creative compromise: a dual-location format, offering sessions both in Seattle and Vancouver, connected via video conferencing. The hybrid structure has been warmly welcomed by members who were hesitant to travel south.
A Broader Trend: Conferences Crossing the Border
NASSS isn’t alone. At least three other professional associations have recently decided to hold upcoming conferences fully or partially in Canada. One key factor is declining travel from Canada to the U.S., especially by land. According to national data, March saw a 32% drop in return trips to the U.S. by Canadian land travelers, and a 13.5% dip in air travel.
For many, the reason goes beyond economics or exchange rates.
Border Experiences Prompt Hesitation
The political atmosphere — marked by tighter immigration enforcement and high-profile incidents at border checkpoints — is shaping decisions. Canadian sociologist Nathan Kalman-Lamb, an assistant professor at the University of New Brunswick, shared his harrowing experience with U.S. Customs.
Despite holding all the necessary documentation to attend a conference in South Carolina, Kalman-Lamb was detained for three hours at Montreal’s Trudeau Airport. His personal devices were searched, his flight was missed, and no explanation was given.
“It’s frightening,” he said. “I don’t even think for research I can justify at this point taking the risk of travelling to the United States.”
He now looks forward to attending the NASSS conference in Vancouver — without the worry.
A Shift Fueled by Policy and Perception
Although U.S. Customs and Border Protection maintains that its policies are in place for national security and lawful travelers “have nothing to fear,” many organizations aren’t convinced.
Dr. Jason Karamchandani, president of the Canadian Association of Pathologists (CAP), says his group has opted to hold its 2026 joint conference with the American Society for Clinical Pathology in Montreal — despite the American society being six times larger.
“The political climate just makes it too risky for our members,” he noted.
From Boston to Montreal: More Organizations Follow Suit
The Work and Family Researchers Network (WFRN) also recently announced it will relocate its 2026 biennial conference from Boston to Montreal. With nearly half of its members based outside the U.S., WFRN said many attendees expressed unease about traveling to the U.S.
Similarly, the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans has moved its 2025 Canadian Employee Benefits Conference from San Diego back to Canadian soil, citing concerns about attendance and accessibility.
A Boon for the Canadian Economy
This emerging trend is more than a political statement — it’s an economic opportunity. Heather Dow, a veteran non-profit conference planner based in Kingston, Ontario, estimates that even mid-sized conferences can pump hundreds of thousands of dollars into local economies.
“If conference organizers keep looking to Canada, it could be a huge win for the hospitality and tourism sectors here,” she said.
Canada Emerges as a Safer, Smarter Host
As tensions and uncertainties mount south of the border, Canada’s reputation as a safe, inclusive, and welcoming destination is becoming a drawcard for global thinkers. For academics, event organizers, and participants alike, the move north isn’t just about geography — it’s about values, safety, and accessibility.
The ripple effect of these decisions may just shape a new chapter in international academic collaboration.
