The Professor Mark E. Thompson Doctoral School and Graduate Student Support Fund
Professor Mark E. Thompson was a distinguished Industrial Relations scholar, practitioner, and leader whose contributions shaped the field in Canada and beyond. As a long-standing member and past president of the Canadian Industrial Relations Association (CIRA) he was also deeply committed to mentoring junior faculty and doctoral students.
To honour Professor Thompson’s lasting contributions to industrial relations and his exceptional legacy of mentorship, CIRA is establishing the Professor Mark E. Thompson Doctoral School and Graduate Student Support Fund. The inaugural Doctoral School will be held in conjunction with the 64th Annual CIRA Conference, taking place from June 8-10, 2027, at the Université du Québec en Outaouais in Gatineau, Quebec.
As a permanent feature of CIRA’s annual conference, the Professor Mark E. Thompson Doctoral School and Graduate Student Support Fund will provide doctoral students with opportunities for advanced scholarly development and mentorship. It will also offer financial support to help students attend CIRA meetings. Through these initiatives, the Doctoral School will foster the next generation of industrial relations scholars and support the rigorous, high-quality research that characterized Professor Thompson’s distinguished career.
How to Donate:
CIRA invites donations to support establishing the Professor Mark E. Thompson Doctoral School and Graduate Student Support Fund. Your donation will help to cover the costs associated with the doctoral school (approximately $10,000 per annum), including room rental, meals, simultaneous translation, and student bursaries to support travel and accommodations. Donations to the fund may be made at below. Choose from any of the designated donation levels listed or choose your donation amount. Donations from Canadian individuals will be admissible to a receipt for income tax purposes. Want to continue giving? You may also choose to make your donation an annual contribution.