Kate Rossiter, associate professor of health studies at Wilfrid Laurier University’s Brantford campus, has been honored with a 2025 Canada Prizes award for scholarly books. She shares the $4,000 prize with co-author Jen Rinaldi, associate professor in legal studies at Ontario Tech University, for their jointly authored work Population Control: Theorizing Institutional Violence, published by McGill-Queen’s University Press.
The Canada Prizes, awarded annually by the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences, recognize exceptional Canadian scholarly publications that contribute to national discourse on critical social issues. Winners were celebrated at a ceremony held earlier this month in Toronto.
“These awards highlight the vital role of humanities and social sciences in illuminating overlooked histories and challenging prevailing assumptions,” said Karine Morin, president and CEO of the Federation. “In times of significant social and political transformation, these works deepen our understanding of the world and underscore the importance of research in addressing pressing issues.”
Population Control is the result of extensive research, including archival studies and interviews with residents and survivors of institutions such as emergency shelters, prisons, asylums, and residential schools. The book examines how institutional violence is ingrained in the social management of marginalized populations.
“The violence that occurs within institutions stems not merely from physical spaces, but from a pervasive mindset about controlling socially stigmatized groups,” the authors write. The book details abusive practices like solitary confinement, forced feeding, and dehumanizing treatment, such as identifying individuals by number rather than name.
Rossiter, who was inspired by her personal experience with a family member living in an institution, explains, “Social loathing begins when we cease to see people as human beings and instead view them as problems to be managed.”
With increasing institutionalization trends across North America—including plans for expanded group homes and migrant detention centres, as well as repurposing mental health facilities—the authors hope their work will raise awareness and encourage efforts to prevent the recurrence of such systemic violence.
Supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, the Canada Prizes celebrate a diverse array of voices across disciplines and languages, reflecting the Federation’s commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonization. Other award-winning books this year explore themes such as neighbourhood gentrification, Indigenous women’s experiences in academia, historical labour migrations between Quebec and the U.S., and Quebec’s literary history in journalism.
