معرفی
Jimmy Thibeault is a Full Professor of Language and Literature and Director of the Department of French Studies at Sainte-Anne University in Nova Scotia. He previously held the prestigious Canada Research Chair in Acadian and Francophone Studies from 2013 to 2023. His academic leadership extends to directing the SSHRC-funded project "Echoes of September 11, 2001 in Social Imaginaries in Canada" (2021-2026), which he leads with colleagues from the Royal Military College of Canada and Sainte-Anne University.
Dr. Thibeault's educational background includes a Postdoctorate in French Studies, Francophone Literature of Canada from Université de Moncton (2008-2010), a Ph.D. in French Literature, Francophone Literature of Canada from the University of Ottawa (2008), an MA in Modern Languages and Cultural Studies, Francophone Literature of Western Canada from the University of Alberta (2002), and a BA in French and Quebec Literature from Laval University (1999).
His research focuses on the representation of identity issues, both individual and collective, in Francophone cultural spaces in Canada, particularly examining cultural transfers in migration, continentality, and globalization contexts. He has special interest in women's writing in minority contexts across Acadia, Ontario, and Western Canada. Recent work explores tensions between universalist dreams and identity withdrawals following the September 11, 2001 attacks, analyzing how these events reshaped cultural narratives and social imaginaries in Canadian Francophone literature.
Thibeault's scholarly output reveals consistent engagement with identity construction in Francophone Canadian literature, with increasing focus on transnational connections and post-9/11 cultural shifts. His work demonstrates interdisciplinary approaches, bridging literary analysis with sociological and historical perspectives on cultural identity formation. The trajectory shows evolving interest from regional Acadian studies toward broader continental and global Francophone connections, reflecting changing scholarly paradigms in identity studies.
- Prix Gabrielle-Roy (2015) for "Des identités mouvantes: Se définition dans le contexte de la mondialisation"
- Canada Research Chair in Acadian and Francophone Studies (2013-2023)
As Principal Investigator of the SSHRC project "Echoes of September 11, 2001 in Social Imaginaries in Canada" (2021-2026), Thibeault directs collaborative research examining post-9/11 cultural narratives across Canadian Francophone communities. His mentorship extends to research assistants and collaborators, including former postdoctoral fellow Marie-Lise Auvray. The recently published "Traces of Germanic Cultures in the French-Canadian and Quebec Imagination" (2025), co-edited with colleagues, exemplifies his commitment to exploring cross-cultural influences in Francophone literature.
Thibeault leads research through the Canada Research Chair in Acadian and Francophone Studies (now completed but with ongoing impact) and collaborates with the CREAF (Centre de recherche en études acadiennes et francophones). His work connects with scholars across Canada and internationally, including researchers at the University of Ottawa, University of Moncton, and institutions in France, creating a robust network for Francophone studies that bridges academic and community contexts.
