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Migration and the City

Crosswalk in the streets of Hong Kong

Our approach

Cities have long been hubs for migration. Across large metropolitan areas as well as small and mid-sized cities, migration shapes population growth, neighbourhood change, economic development, and community life. Migrants and refugees contribute to the social, cultural, and economic vitality of cities, while cities play a key role in supporting newcomers through services, institutions, and everyday spaces of belonging.

As migration patterns shift beyond traditional urban gateways, questions of settlement, inclusion, and place-making are increasingly important for suburbs, satellite cities, and regional centres. Canada has been a leader in policies and practices that support newcomer settlement and integration, offering valuable lessons while also creating space for ongoing learning, reflection, and innovation to ensure that cities remain welcoming and inclusive for both newcomers and long-term residents.

Our research focus

Research under this theme explores how migration is shaping cities and communities, and how local policies, institutions, and residents respond to growing diversity. It focuses on everyday experiences of settlement and integration, as well as on how cities plan, adapt, and grow in the context of migration.

Key areas of inquiry include:

  • The role of cities in welcoming, settling, and integrating migrants and refugees, and how these processes are experienced by newcomers and receiving communities
  • Migration beyond major urban centres, including suburbs, satellite cities, and small and mid-sized cities, and the implications for housing, services, employment, and infrastructure
  • The relationship between migration, urban development, and place-making, including how migrants contribute to neighbourhood life, local economies, and urban identity
  • Comparative perspectives on how cities across different regions support migrant settlement, inclusion, and belonging
  • Municipal governance structures, partnerships, and community-based approaches that foster inclusion and civic participation
Browse all Migration and the City themed projects