Zhixi Cecilia Zhuang

In the digital age, technology-enhanced media has significantly transformed various aspects of global migration, transcending physical borders that impact both the processes of migration and migrants’ experiences. In order to capture the multifaceted and complex processes of migration, displacement, settlement, and integration, researchers have been exploring technologyenhanced media, such as social media, visual communications, and digital storytelling to deepen our understanding of migrants’ evolving narratives related to identity and belonging. The creating, sharing, and archiving of these narratives is also directly connected to and affected by the evolving nature of old and new digital media. As such, this paper posits the term converging media. However, it remains unclear to what extent migrants use converging media and technology to advocate for their rights, drive social change, and foster a sense of belonging. What is the role of converging media in creating and disseminating these narratives, along with the profound meanings associated with migrants’ identities and sense of belonging? How do converging media’s innovative and distinctive features, such as interactivity, networkability, and accessibility support and empower migrant agency in decision making, social and political engagement, coping strategies, and resistance and resilience? What are the potential pitfalls and risks of using converging media in framing migrants’ identity narratives? Focusing on the convergence of media, technology, and migrant communities, this paper investigates how migrants leverage these technology-enhanced media platforms to shape their narratives of identity and belonging, and advocate for social and policy change.

Toronto is well-known for its multicultural diversity with half of the population born outside of Canada. This ethnocultural diversity is manifested in the establishments of immigrant businesses that have sprouted across the city, especially in its suburbs. These immigrant businesses promote economic vibrancy, enhance social interaction, and support community resilience at the neighbourhood level. However, small immigrant businesses continue to face greater barriers to market entry and entrepreneurial outcomes than their non-immigrant counterparts and are one of the most vulnerable sectors of the economy. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exposed and exacerbated their vulnerability. Immigrant entrepreneurship is a well-researched topic in the literature, but research on the effects of pandemics on small immigrant businesses is relatively limited. It is thus timely to investigate the barriers and challenges small immigrant businesses are dealing with in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Building upon the mixed-embeddedness theory, this paper addresses the following questions: How have small immigrant businesses adapted to the economic, political, and institutional contexts during the pandemic? What are the effective strategies that support the building of economic and community resilience? What are the implications for planning policies? Two suburban immigrant business areas in the City of Toronto were investigated through business surveys and key informant interviews. This paper found that the extent to which a small immigrant business was able to adapt their business to the pandemic environment and overcome barriers largely depended on (1) the existing local, co-ethnic, or family networks in their community; (2) the ethnic strategies used and the opportunity structure in which a business was embedded; and, (3) the formal and informal placemaking methods used by immigrant business owners for community building. It offers policy recommendations for supporting immigrant businesses and building community resilience

Toronto is well-known for its multicultural diversity with half of the population born outside of Canada. This ethnocultural diversity is manifested in the establishments of immigrant businesses that have sprouted across the city, especially in its suburbs. These immigrant businesses promote economic vibrancy, enhance social interaction, and support community resilience at the neighbourhood level. However, small immigrant businesses continue to face greater barriers to market entry and entrepreneurial outcomes than their non-immigrant counterparts and are one of the most vulnerable sectors of the economy. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exposed and exacerbated their vulnerability. Immigrant entrepreneurship is a well-researched topic in the literature, but research on the effects of pandemics on small immigrant businesses is relatively limited. It is thus timely to investigate the barriers and challenges small immigrant businesses are dealing with in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Building upon the mixed-embeddedness theory, this paper addresses the following questions: How have small immigrant businesses adapted to the economic, political, and institutional contexts during the pandemic? What are the effective strategies that support the building of economic and community resilience? What are the implications for planning policies? Two suburban immigrant business areas in the City of Toronto were investigated through business surveys and key informant interviews. This paper found that the extent to which a small immigrant business was able to adapt their business to the pandemic environment and overcome barriers largely depended on (1) the existing local, co-ethnic, or family networks in their community; (2) the ethnic strategies used and the opportunity structure in which a business was embedded; and, (3) the formal and informal placemaking methods used by immigrant business owners for community building. It offers policy recommendations for supporting immigrant businesses and building community resilience

In the digital age, technology-enhanced media has significantly transformed various aspects of global migration, transcending physical borders that impact both the processes of migration and migrants’ experiences. In order to capture the multifaceted and complex processes of migration, displacement, settlement, and integration, researchers have been exploring technologyenhanced media, such as social media, visual communications, and digital storytelling to deepen our understanding of migrants’ evolving narratives related to identity and belonging. The creating, sharing, and archiving of these narratives is also directly connected to and affected by the evolving nature of old and new digital media. As such, this paper posits the term converging media. However, it remains unclear to what extent migrants use converging media and technology to advocate for their rights, drive social change, and foster a sense of belonging. What is the role of converging media in creating and disseminating these narratives, along with the profound meanings associated with migrants’ identities and sense of belonging? How do converging media’s innovative and distinctive features, such as interactivity, networkability, and accessibility support and empower migrant agency in decision making, social and political engagement, coping strategies, and resistance and resilience? What are the potential pitfalls and risks of using converging media in framing migrants’ identity narratives? Focusing on the convergence of media, technology, and migrant communities, this paper investigates how migrants leverage these technology-enhanced media platforms to shape their narratives of identity and belonging, and advocate for social and policy change.

Immigration 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.

Immigration 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.

Background: Digital technologies are reshaping how migrant and refugee communities preserve cultural memory and express diasporic identity through arts-based and participatory practices. Digital technologies are increasingly shaping how some migrants, refugees, and diasporic communities engage with identity, although these influences are uneven, context-dependent and the existing evidence remains fragmented across disciplines. Objective: This scoping review aims to map the literature on digital and arts-based practices that support cultural memory and diasporic identity among migrant and refugee communities, and to identify key ethical and policy considerations. Methods: Guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and PRISMA-ScR, this review will include peer-reviewed and grey literature published in English from 2010 onward. Databases including Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Art & Architecture Source, and ProQuest will be searched. Two reviewers will independently screen and extract data, which will be analyzed descriptively and thematically. Results: The review will map digital technologies, creative practices, and contexts that support cultural expression, belonging, participation, and cultural continuity. It will also identify ethical, cultural, and policy considerations, including issues of access, representation, and sustainability. Conclusions: This review will provide an interdisciplinary and comprehensive synthesis to inform future research, policy, and practice, supporting more inclusive and ethical digital cultural initiatives for migrant and refugee communities.

Global forced displacement has reached unprecedented levels, with more than 123 million people uprooted by the end of 2024. Although older adults represent a growing proportion of refugee populations, their mental health needs remain overlooked. This scoping review synthesized current evidence on depression among older adult refugees aged 50 years and older. Guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and reported using PRISMA-ScR standards, searches were conducted in CINAHL, PsycINFO, AgeLine, and Medline for English-language publications from 2015 to 2025. A total of 1971 records were identified, with nine studies (N = 1370 participants) meeting eligibility criteria. Most studies employed cross-sectional designs and were conducted in high-income countries. Depression prevalence was consistently elevated, with rates ranging from 22% to over 70%, depending on population and measurement tools. Risk factors included female sex, widowhood, low socioeconomic status, chronic illness, functional impairment, trauma exposure, language barriers, social isolation, and limited access to care. Protective influences such as family support, higher socioeconomic status, and improved living conditions were identified but inconsistently reported. Findings indicate that older refugees are at high risk of depression, often shaped by intersecting aging- and displacement-related vulnerabilities. Findings highlight the need for culturally specific tools and longitudinal research to inform culturally safe care for older refugees.

Despite the increasing number of older Syrian refugees in Canada, little is known about how they manage their health care needs while contending with language barriers, cultural dissonance, and systemic inequities. This qualitative study explored how older Syrian refugees in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) navigate healthcare across Canadian and transnational contexts. The study was guided by the transnational circulation of care framework and used an interpretive descriptive design. Following research ethics approval, 20 older Syrian refugees were interviewed by bilingual research assistants. In-depth individual interviews were conducted in Arabic and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Four interrelated themes emerged: (1) Navigating a New System; (2) Living in Two Worlds; (3) Medication Portability, Herbal Practices, and Supplement Culture; and (4) Digital Health Across Borders. Findings demonstrate that older Syrian refugees actively construct hybrid care pathways that integrate biomedical, cultural, and transnational practices. These strategies reflect resilience and adaptability but also expose gaps in the healthcare system. The study underscores the need for culturally responsive and age-friendly healthcare practices that acknowledge transnational realities. By illuminating how care circulates across borders, this study provides actionable guidance for designing responsive health systems.