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Bridging Divides

The Migrant Integration in the Mid-21st Century: Bridging Divides research program is dedicated to building a new understanding of the challenges and opportunities that migrant integration poses for Canada (and all countries) locally and across borders.

The program’s unique interdisciplinary research design will drive leadership in the areas of citizenship and civic participation, the future of work, healthcare, and the responsible and ethical use of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, which is changing the way we work, live and interact. This intersectional approach will further the modernization of global immigration policies and contribute to building communities and urban centres that are equitable, resilient and inclusive to migrants.

The program will focus on the urban context, including both large urban centres and small- and mid-sized cities, as these are the main destinations of both newcomers and settled immigrants.

This project is funded by the Government of Canada through the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) (external link) .

Bridging Divides will address the global challenges of immigration and migration, offering critical insights during this time of rapid social, economic and digital transformation.

Steven N. Liss

Key Figures

25 
research leaders

100+ scholars

27 core partners

200+ 
organizations

1500+
one-year HQP opportunities

Academic Partners

The logos for Toronto Metropolitan University, Concordia University, the University of Alberta and The University of British Columbia. 

Themes

Work in the Bridging Divides program is organized into four thematic research streams:

Immigrant Health and Well-Being

Employing innovative social and technological strategies and tools to engage immigrant communities in prioritizing needs and co-creating solutions to reduce health disparities.

Place and Infrastructure

Exploring how smart city technologies can reinforce social infrastructure to optimize the resilience of urban communities.

Employment and Lifelong Learning

Examining whether and how advanced digital technologies can be strategically applied to improve immigrants’ economic integration.
 

Citizenship and Participation

Considering how civic and political participation and citizenship are fundamental to the success of resilient, inclusive and sustainable communities.

Working Groups

The six working groups will act as enablers and providers of cross-cutting support for the four thematic research streams.

Stakeholder Relations Working Group (SRWG)

Coordinating connections with knowledge users and the private/public sectors.

Training Working Group (TWG)

Providing equitable access to training opportunities and workshops.
 

Data Management Working Group (DMWG)

Creating and supervising a data management plan and global data repository.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Working Group (EDIWG)

Overseeing the consistent adoption of EDI best practices and policies.

Technology and AI Adoption Working Group (TAWG)

Supporting the responsible adoption of disruptive technologies in diverse projects.

Knowledge Mobilization Working Group (KMWG)

Ensuring that research outputs are shared and applied widely in both official languages.

Contact Us

To learn more about Bridging Divides, contact us at bridging.divides@torontomu.ca

Canada First Research Excellence Fund logo.