The Gulf Ecologies Project

The “Ecologies, Knowledge, and Power in the Gulf of St. Lawrence Region c1500-Present” project, is a group that was launched in 2023 by Dr. Joshua MacFadyen and the late Dr. Elizabeth Mancke, both Canada Research Chairs interested in the Atlantic Region. It is supported by the Social Science and Research Council of Canada’s Partnership Development Program, and its purpose is to share research and develop new partnerships that examine history, environment, and what Dr. Mancke called “Spaces of Power” in the Gulf of St. Lawrence region. Dr. Mancke’s legacy continues to inspire our members and many others who care about the region and its communities.

In the summer of 2024, the project kicked off under the leadership of Dr. MacFadyen, and the UPEI GeoREACH Lab. Dr. Erin Spinney is also helping to lead the project from her position at UNB Saint John. We hosted our first meeting in 2024, at the new UPEI Canadian Centre for Climate Change and Adaptation (CCCA) in beautiful St. Peters, PEI/Epekwitk. The second meeting was held from 22-24 July 2025 at Mount Allison University, hosted by Dr. Lauren Beck, Canada Research Chair in Intercultural Encounter. In 2026, members presented on their own at many conferences, including the joint Canadian Historical Association and Atlantic Canada Studies Conference at UPEI in Charlottetown, 1-6 June.

Meetings

For the 2026 Canadian Historical Association and Atlantic Canada Studies Conference, including a full list of presenters and abstracts, see the event pages:

For information about the 2025 meeting at Mount Allison University, please see The 2025 Gulf “Knowledge Beyond the Text” Meeting page.

For the July 2024 meeting schedule, including a full list of presenters and abstracts, see the event page: The 2024 Gulf Ecologies Meeting

The Gulf Ecologies Project Readings and Resources