Migration Data Challenge 2026: Final Showcase

Ten teams. Three prizes. Watch future changemakers turn data into innovative insights.

Join us for the Final Showcase of the Migration Data Challenge 2026, hosted by the Bridging Divides program at Toronto Metropolitan University. Earlier this month, student teams from across the country had one week to analyze local-level data from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and generate new insights into the housing patterns that define our major urban landscapes.

Now, it’s time for the judges to decide this year’s winners.

Ten teams from Toronto Metropolitan University, the University of Alberta, and the University of British Columbia have been selected to present their work to a distinguished panel of judges:

• Gregory Spencer, Canadian Urban Institute
• Muhammad Maqsud Hussain, Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation
• Stein Monteiro, Signal49
• Marshia Akbar, Global Migration Institute and CERC Migration BMO Lab, TMU
• Feng Qui, University of Alberta
• Rafee Hoque, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
• Emilie Lavoie, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
• Dan Heibert, the University of British Columbia
• Stephanie Shewchuk, Thought Leadership, Housing Policy, Royal Bank of Canada
• Alex Papatchidis, Housing Policy & Strategy Unit, City of Toronto

The event will feature:

• Presentations by the 10 semi-finalist teams
• Commentary and feedback from the expert judging panel
• Announcement of four winning teams:
  • Best Overall Submission – $5,000
  • Silver Award – $3,000
  • Bronze Award – $2,000

This event is open to all! Whether you're a student, researcher, policymaker, or simply interested in how data can be used to tackle complex social challenges, join us.