Lunch & Learn with Ashraful Alam

Mar. 29, 2023, 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM EDT

CERC Migration office, Toronto Metropolitan University campus

CERC Migration and TMCIS co-hosted the first Beyond the Metropolis project event on March 29th, 2023. The event featured project co-applicant Dr. Ashraful Alam (external link)  from the University of Otago in New Zealand. Dr. Alam spoke about the impact of immigration on New Zealand, and in particular, New Zealand's rural and small towns. Like in many small towns in OECD countries, the population in these regions is aging, and there is greater reliance on attracting and retaining international migrants to address the issues that come with depopulation. Attendees learned that on New Zealand's South Island, self-organizing community supports encourage connections through the cultural and social activities of its more diverse immigrant population. While national and regional institutional efforts to support newcomers are vital, local level support provided through, for example, cultural groups and small businesses, are essential in the planning and development of smaller towns and in helping to both attract and retain international migrants.