Organised jointly by three of the most prestigious Hungarian universities—Eötvös Loránd University, Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary and Pázmány Péter Catholic University—the conference Symbols and Identities in Canada, held in Budapest on 27–28 November 2025, brought together academics, researchers and students for two days of thought-provoking discussions and a lively exchange of ideas. Encouraged by Budapest’s welcoming multicultural atmosphere, participants from eight countries had the opportunity to present the results of their latest research in the rich and complex field of Canadian Studies.
The opening ceremony was delivered in a truly Canadian spirit informed by the desideratum of “unity in diversity”. The representatives of the three host institutions underscored the long-term engagement of their universities with Canadian Studies, while the remaining speakers called attention to the role played by Central Europe in producing outstanding scholarship in this field of studies and maintaining dependable diplomatic relations with Canada. His Excellency, François Lafrenière, Ambassador of Canada to Hungary, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, reaffirmed the Canadian Government’s commitment to cultural diplomacy in the region, while Anna Branach-Kallas, President of the ICCS, reassured the participants of the institution’s unwavering support of the activities and projects of the international community of Canadianists. Octavian More, President of the Central European Association for Canadian Studies, and Krisztina Kodó, representative of the Hungarian Chapter of the CEACS, highlighted the invaluable and multifaceted activities and outstanding achievements of the Association’s members over the course of the past year.
The theme of this year’s conference was particularly relevant, as the dynamic and uncertain current political landscape had brought to light the necessity to reconsider, from both conventional and new angles, the meanings, representations and evolving symbols and identities that have shaped Canada and its connections with the world. The keynote lecture, given by Octavian More (Babeș-Bolyai University), provided a survey of the rich functions and connotations of wilderness in the Canadian poetic imaginary.
In a genuinely multidisciplinary fashion, in the conference’s eight sessions, the presenters covered a wide variety of topics, reflecting almost every aspect of Canadian culture and identity: Canadian fiction and poetry, diasporic culture and literature in Canada, Indigenous studies, the North and Canadian wilderness, Canadian traditions and institutions, Canadian history and politics, Canadian film and music, and Canada’s place in the world. An important part of the conference was represented by the contributions of young and emerging scholars, whose vitality and fresh perspectives are essential for the future of Canadian Studies in the region.
The conference ended with an engaging book launch and roundtable discussion occasioned by the recent publication of a volume of scholarly studies on Margaret Atwood, comprising essential contributions by Hungarian researchers, and testifying, once again, to the high-quality scholarship that the CEACS has produced in its three decades of existence.
Symbols and Identities in Canada was undoubtedly, a major accomplishment for the Hungarian and Central European academic community, reaffirming the strength and relevance of Canadian Studies worldwide. The organisers would like to hereby thank the Canadian Embassy in Hungary for its long-term support of local Canadianists as well as the doctoral students, whose professionalism, dedication and assistance were instrumental in ensuring the success of the event.
CEACS photographs of Kenyeres János (Eötvös Loránd University), presiding over the opening ceremony; Octavian More (Babeș-Bolyai University) delivering the keynote lecture