| Building Inclusive Communities in Immigrant Suburbs: The Negotiation of Space, Place, Power, and Rights. Toronto Metropolitan University | Conference | 2024-11-08 | Zhuang, Z. |
| Building Welcoming Communities: Towards a Framework for Understanding Immigrants’ Lived Experiences in Small and Mid-sized Canadian cities. Toronto Metropolitan University | Conference | 2024-04-24 | Zhuang, Z. |
| Comparative Place-based Approaches in Immigrant Integration: Unveiling Insights from Non-Traditional Gateway Cities in Canada and the US.Renewing Canada - Migration, Intersections and Evolving Identities
This edition of the Metropolis Identities Summit will focus upon the particular ways in which our society is evolving and what this implies for addressing the needs of the population across varying and intersecting gender, ethnic, racialized, religious, linguistic and other groups. How do we reduce social and economic disadvantage, maximize access to health care and education and promote citizen engagement? How best can we diminish tension between communities, foster dialogue and strengthen intergroup relations? How do we respond to misinformation and disinformation about diversity and migration? The Summit will invite reflection on good practices in combating discrimination, racism and prejudice. Toronto Metropolitan University | Conference | 2024-10-30 | Zhuang, Z. |
| Newcomer-driven placemaking and the arts: Insights from the Toronto Arts Council’s Newcomer and Refugee Engagement Program Toronto Metropolitan University | Conference | 2024-10-10 | Molho, J. |
| Stories Matter: Using Photovoice to Amplify Migrants’ Lived Experiences in Small and Mid-sized Canadian Cities. Toronto Metropolitan University | Conference | 2024-08-14 | Zhuang, Z. |
| Welcoming campus, Inclusive community: Building Housing Infrastructure for International Students. Toronto Metropolitan University | Conference | 2024-11-06 | Zhuang, Z. |
| Exploring Ethnic Diversity and Neighbourhood Dynamics to Foster Inclusive Urban Communities Toronto Metropolitan University | Grant | 2025-07-09 | Zhuang, Z. |
| Canadian, Regional, and International Responses to Forced Migration Toronto Metropolitan University | Grant | 2025-03-01 | Zhuang, Z. |
| Re-evaluating Urban Green Space Accessibility in the Post-COVID Era: Insights from Multicultural Toronto Toronto Metropolitan University | Grant | 2025-05-06 | Zhuang, Z. |
| Research Toronto Metropolitan University | Grant | 2025-02-01 | Zhuang, Z. |
| You Can‘t Google This - Inhabit PodcastPodcast: Erika, Eunice, and Lauren continue their food tour of Toronto‘s North York suburb with food writer Suresh Doss. Inside Dream Yunnan Chòng’s new uptown location, they discover Suresh’s tech roots and get his hot takes on big data’s blind spots. Then Eunice’s mentor and family friend Dr. Zhixi Zhuang shares her keys to planning an emotional city. Also: the Internet of Things. Toronto Metropolitan University | Activity | 2023-08-15 | Zhuang, Z. |
| 61st ISOCARP World Planning CongressOn December 9th, 2025, Zhixi Zhuang presented “Migrant agency at the urban fringe: Third places as welcoming infrastructure” under the Special Session: Placemaking and Infrastructure for Inclusive Cities: Migration, Housing, and Urban Futures in Canada. at the 61st ISOCARP World Planning Congress in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, sharing the preliminary findings emerged from this project.. The Planning congress called on ‘Cities & Regions in Action’, to analyze, discuss, and search for better pathways for urban and regional planning aiming at improving the quality of life of citizens beyond the current time of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity of crisis convergence and building resilience.
Toronto Metropolitan University | Conference | 2025-12-09 | Zhuang, Z. |
| 61st ISOCARP World Planning CongressOn December 9th, 2025, Zhixi Zhuang presented “Introducing: TMU Global Migration Institute & Bridging Divides program” at the 61st ISOCARP World Planning Congress in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, showcasing various project activities within the Bridging Divides projects she leads. The Planning congress called on ‘Cities & Regions in Action’, to analyze, discuss, and search for better pathways for urban and regional planning aiming at improving the quality of life of citizens beyond the current time of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity of crisis convergence and building resilience.
Toronto Metropolitan University | Conference | 2025-12-09 | Zhuang, Z. |
| IRCC Research Matters Event Toronto Metropolitan University | Conference | 2025-09-10 | Zhuang, Z. |
| A Place-based Approach to Understanding Immigrant Retention and Integration in Canadian and American Non-Traditional Gateway Cities: a Scoping Literature ReviewAs globalization and migration have intensified, the need for integrating immigrants has become vital. Considering the similar but distinct policy and political contexts between Canada and the USA, it has become imperative to develop a thorough understanding of the impact of the localization of immigration policies on various immigrant groups and the places that have shaped their settlement and integration experiences. This scoping literature review presents a comparative perspective to enhance our understanding of the varied non-traditional gateway cities in both countries, as well as the place-based integration initiatives and local actors that play crucial roles in shaping immigrants’ lived experiences. The review includes 145 scholarly articles published in English from 2000 onwards that examine immigrant and refugee populations residing in smaller urban, suburban, or rural communities in both countries. It aims to provide a comparative analysis on the following: (1) local place-based initiatives in non-traditional gateway cities; (2) multi-level governance of immigrant integration and the role of municipalities and local actors; and (3) the contributing factors to integration and retention based on immigrants’ lived experiences. The scoping review concludes with research gaps and future directions. Toronto Metropolitan University | Publication | 2023-05-12 | Zhuang, Z. |
| Migration to non-metropolitan communities: Community-based perspectives on immigrant settlement and multicultural diversity in a small city in CanadaImmigrants in Canada are increasingly moving into non-metropolitan communities (smaller cities). Non-metropolitan communities are unique contexts of settlement due to a fabric of difference in the physical and social landscape in comparison to larger, multicultural cities that are renowned for immigration and diversity. Policies and immigration pathway programs in Canada are deliberate about promoting non-metropolitan communities as places for immigrant settlement due to the necessity of addressing demographic challenges, such as an aging or declining population. However, less is known about the experiences of settlement in a smaller city from the perspective of immigrants living in the community. This study explored the community-based perspectives about multicultural diversity and the reasons for migration to a non-metropolitan community in Canada. It involved interviews with immigrants from multicultural backgrounds, municipal officials, and a key informant on immigrant settlement and integration. The findings of this study indicated that economic and family-related factors were the primary reasons for migration to and settlement in a non-metropolitan community. This paper contributes to the literature on population and demographic change by emphasizing the importance of understanding place satisfaction from the perspective of diversity in the community as an approach to addressing demographic challenges in non-metropolitan communities. Toronto Metropolitan University | Publication | 2025-05-15 | Ryan Thyra Lok, Zhuang, Z. |
| Reshaping essential public spaces and services: towards socio-spatial justice in a post-pandemic eraIn our last viewpoint article, we illustrated the hidden stories of immigrant suburbs during the COVID-19 pandemic and challenges facing racialised communities. This article delves deeper into intensified social and spatial inequalities by interrogating: what are the ‘essential’ public spaces, places and services that must remain accessible to benefit the settlement, well-being and inclusion of marginalised, racialised, immigrant populations? What engagement approaches effectively include racialised minority groups’ voices in decisions about the future of public space and (sub)urban systems? We emphasise the utility of a socio-spatial justice framework in reimagining and reconfiguring essential public spaces and associated services in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using examples from the Canadian context (i.e. community land trusts, cultural district plans, cultural festivals and food systems), we unpack pillars of distributional, procedural and recognitional justice to interrogate the status quo and illuminate pathways to more inclusive, fair and accessible communities. Toronto Metropolitan University | Publication | 2024-06-24 | "Sara Edge", Zhuang, Z., "Jennifer Dean" |
| Zhuang, Z.C. & Lok, R.T. (2023). Exploring the wellbeing of migrants in third places: An empirical study of smaller Canadian cities. Wellbeing, Space and Society, 4. Toronto Metropolitan University | Publication | 2023-04-25 | Zhuang, Z. |
| Zhuang, Z.C. (2023). A place-based approach to understanding immigrant retention and integration in Canadian and American non-traditional gateway cities: A scoping literature review. Journal of International Migration and Integration, 24, 1029-1053. Toronto Metropolitan University | Publication | 2023-05-12 | Zhuang, Z. |
| Feng HouDr. Feng Hou, Principal Researcher from Statistics Canada has been collaborating with the team since 2024. Toronto Metropolitan University | Collaboration | 2026-04-23 | Zhuang, Z. |
| MP Julie Dzerowicz, Chair of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, House of Commons, Parliament of CanadaZhixi Zhuang has been serving as an Advisory Council Member to MP Julie Dzerowicz, Chair of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, House of Commons, Parliament of Canada since September 2026. She has advocated for issues affecting international students and small and mid-sized cities (SMCs).
On November 12, 2025, Zhixi Zhuang was invited by MP Julie Dzerowicz to join community leaders at the Davenport Budget 2025 Townhall, where she addressed critical budget issues related to SMCs.
On December 9, 2025, Zhixi Zhuang was invited to speak at the Policy Café hosted by IRCC, where she presented her Bridging Divides projects to policy professionals and discussed critical issues related to immigrant entrepreneurship, place-making, and neighbourhood change especially within the SMC context.
On March 25, 2026, Zhixi Zhuang was invited as a witness to deliver a testimony on Canada’s immigration system to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration at the House of Commons of Canada, where she addressed critical infrastructural issues related to SMCs drawing upon preliminary findings from her Bridging Divides projects.
Toronto Metropolitan University | Partnership | 2026-09-01 | Zhuang, Z. |
| Ethnic Diversity, Immigrant Settlement, and Municipal Planning in a Small Canadian City: The Case of Brooks, AlbertaImmigration in Canada has been characterized by an uneven distribution, with a
disproportionate concentration of immigrants settling in major gateway cities. Despite numerous
policies and programs developed by various levels of government to attract and retain
immigrants towards smaller cities, less is known about planning for immigrant settlement
through the lived experiences of immigrants in smaller cities. This study explored the
place-based experiences of immigrants living in a smaller city and the municipality’s role in
attraction and retention. Specifically, the questions of inquiry involved: 1) How do racialized
immigrants experience settlement and integration in a smaller Canadian city? 2) What are the
implications of lived experience when planning for diversity? Case study research of Brooks,
Alberta was conducted involving interviews with racialized immigrants, municipal officials, and
local settlement agency staff. This study found that the primary reason for immigrant settlement
in a smaller city was based on economic or family-related factors. Furthermore, fostering a
sense of belonging is critical for retention, and this can be facilitated through inclusive
community spaces and partnerships between municipalities and communities. Planners should
seek to understand the lived experiences of immigrants in community especially in contexts
undergoing processes of social demographic changes. Toronto Metropolitan University | Publication | 2024-04-01 | "Ryan Lok", Zhuang, Z. |
| Place Matters: Building Welcoming Infrastructures in Small and Mid-sized CitiesOn September 10th, Dr. Zhuang presented “Place Matters: Building Welcoming Infrastructures in Small and Mid-sized Cities” at the IRCC Research Matters Event. The webinar attracted over 230 attendees, including policymakers, academics, students, government staff, and members of the public across the country and beyond.
Toronto Metropolitan University | Event | 2025-09-10 | Zhuang, Z. |
| Pathways to Success: Building Support Infrastructures for Internationally Trained Planning Professionals Toronto Metropolitan University | Publication | 2023-04-12 | Zhuang, Z. |
| Becoming A Migration Researcher | Event | 2025-11-13 | Toronto Metropolitan University TMU |
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