Migration Data Challenge 2026
Uncover insights. Tell stories with data. Drive impact.
The Bridging Divides Migration Data Challenge 2026 is an exciting opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students to tackle one of Canada’s most pressing issues: the intersection of immigration and housing. Using exclusive local-level data from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), you will dive into the housing patterns that define our major urban landscapes.
Key Dates
April 1: Registration deadline
May 1: Challenge kickoff event
May 1–11: Challenge week
May 29: Flagship event for semi-finalists
The Challenge: Mapping Urban Belonging
How do housing choices evolve when a new resident calls Canada home? As our cities grow, understanding the spatial and economic differences between owner and renter populations is vital. This year, we are moving beyond national averages to look at the Census Subdivision (CSD) level—the neighborhoods and municipalities where life actually happens.
You will be tasked with analyzing and visualizing:
- Population Counts: Distribution of residents across local subdivisions.
- Housing Tenure: A deep dive into Owner-occupied vs. Renter-occupied dwellings.
- Immigration Status: Comparative patterns between immigrant and non-immigrant households.
Why Participate?
More than a competition, this hands-on learning experience is designed to help students develop essential analytical, technical, and problem-solving skills while addressing real-world migration issues. Students will benefit from workshops and mentorship from academic and industry professionals. Participants will:
✔️ Real-World Impact: Your insights will contribute to the conversation on urban affordability and immigrant integration.
✔️ High-Quality Data: Work with official 2026-targeted statistics provided by the CMHC.
✔️ Showcase Your Skills: Demonstrate your ability in comparative urban analysis, data storytelling, and spatial statistics.
✔️ Gain Industry and Policy Exposure – Present research to an expert panel from government, industry, and academia, expanding career opportunities.
Who Should Apply?
This challenge is open to students from all Bridging Divides partner universities, from any discipline, interested in migration research, data science, or public policy. Whether you're a seasoned data analyst or new to working with datasets, this is your chance to make an impact, build skills, and connect with professionals in the field.
Competition Structure
Data Distribution: On May 1st, participants will receive simplified datasets and guidelines to jump-start their analysis.
Timeframe: Teams will have 9 days to complete their research and submit findings.
Final Presentations: 10 teams of semi-finalists will present to a distinguished panel of interdisciplinary judges, in a virtual flagship event that will be streamed internationally.
Awards & Recognition
Best Overall Submission – $5,000
Silver Award – $3,000
Bronze Award – $2,000
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
You have to submit a registration form (external link, opens in new window) .
Each participating university—University of Alberta, the University of British Columbia, and Concordia University—has their own registration page:
- (google form) UofA registration page (external link)
- UBC registration page (external link)
- Concordia registration page (external link)
Each team member needs to register individually. If you have a team already formed don’t forget to list it in the registration form. Please name your team! We will use your team name throughout the competition.
The Migration Data Challenge 2026 is open to any undergraduate or graduate student registered full-time or part-time at Toronto Metropolitan University during the 2026-26 academic year. Applicants from Bridging Divides partners the University of British Columbia, the University of Alberta and Concordia University, must apply through their home institutions. All applicant teams must be composed of students from the same university.
Not at all. We welcome multi-disciplinary teams, but it would be an asset if at least one member of your team has a background in computer science or statistics.
Each team is made up of three (3) applicants from the same institution. We encourage participants to start forming teams before the event. If you do not list a team on your application, you will be placed into a team after registration by the organizers. Given the nature of the challenge, we recommend you make your team interdisciplinary.
Yes, the Migration Data Challenge 2026 will begin virtually on May 1, 2026, from 12-2 pm ET, with an introduction to the competition and the datasets. Teams will then have 9 days (until May 11, 2026, at 11:59 pm ET) to complete their research and submit their findings. There will also be a Flagship Event on May 29, 2026, from 12-2 pm ET, where the top 10 semi-finalist teams will present their final reports to a panel of judges. In order to participate, you must be available for both the May 1st session and the May 29th presentation event.
Yes! Prizes are awarded for teams based on their analyses and presentations during the competition. In total, $10,000 will be awarded to the winning teams.
Yes, participants can book time with mentors from the Bridging Divides research team, civil society, and industry. Mentors will provide limited support based on their availability and areas of expertise. There will also be a policy training workshop.
Contact Maggie Perzyna (mperzyna@torontomu.ca) if you have any questions.
Interested in partnering with us?
Become a sponsor of the Data Migration Challenge to support student innovation gain practical expereince, receive valuable exposure, and contribute to addressing critical migration issues through data-driven insights. Send us an email to explore partnership opportunities!
Student teams break new ground in Canada’s first Migration Data Challenge
The inaugural Migration Data Challenge, hosted by Bridging Divides, invited student teams from across the country to analyze complex migration data from Statistics Canada and uncover disparities in access to services and opportunities, all within just one week. Meet the students behind last year’s award-winning insights, and explore the stories behind the data that brought their projects to life.