News & Announcements

Canada's immigration strategy: How reduced targets can preserve positive attitudes - The Conversation | November 2024 
The Government of Canada recently announced plans to lower immigration targets for the next three years. The new targets are 395,000 new permanent residents for 2025, 380,000 for 2026, and 365,000 for 2027.
This is a reduction of around 20 per cent and more compared to the previous targets of 500,000 immigrants per year and the roughly 472,000 permanent immigrants who arrived in 2023. The plan will also reduce the number of temporary residents including international students and foreign workers who come to Canada. Article

How Twitter — now X — helps us understand Canadian values and attitudes toward asylum seekers - The Conversation | August 2024 
The treatment of asylum seekers is an important issue for many countries as they grapple with polarized public views on the issue. Some policymakers focus on the need for border security to keep asylum-seekers out and “protect” their nations, while others focus on the dire needs of asylum seekers themselves. Article

Professor Taylor Appointed as Editor-in-Chief, Territory, Politics, Governance Journal | June 2024
Prof. Zack Taylor, Dept. of Political Science, has been appointed to a five-year term as editor-in-chief of
Territory, Politics, Governance, an international, interdisciplinary journal published by the Regional Studies
Association. The journal is committed to the development of theory and research on territorial politics and
the governance of space and the publication of original, high-quality international scholarship that advances
this growing field of research. Article

Western team designs platform to illustrate census data since 1951 | April 2024
Seventy years of changes across Canadian neighbourhoods uncovered with new mapping tool.
First, they found a way to release the “trapped” data from the Canadian census over the last 70 years.
Then, Western researchers translated the information into an easy-to-use format by creating an online map and portal illustrating the changes across the country.
The potential is immense. Article

Seventh Annual All Are Welcome Here | March 2024
NEST is very pleased to have been a partner on the Seventh Annual All Are Welcome Here event: Same struggle, different differences - Living together respectfully as a community, which took place in London on Wednesday March 6, 2024. This annual event is led by the London & Middlesex Local Immigration Partnership and is in recognition of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Artcle

To fix Canada’s health care, a hard economic truth must be acknowledged - The Globe and Mail | August 2023 
Canada has an outdated expectation that a single, high-quality public health system can be funded out of the general tax revenues. Article

More immigrants may choose to leave London because of racism and discrimination, study finds - CBC | August 2023 
60 per cent of immigrants in southwestern Ontario have experienced racism and discrimination, study shows. Article

'Alarming': Study reveals hostility toward immigrants in London, region - The London Free Press | July 2023 
The study, funded by the London and Middlesex Local Immigration Partnership, surveyed the experiences of 30 London and Middlesex County immigrant and racialized people. Article

As Canada welcomes historic numbers of immigrants, how can communities be more welcoming? - The Conversation | July 2023 
Canada’s population has officially surpassed 40 million people, and immigration has significantly contributed to reaching this milestone. In 2021, immigrants made up almost one-quarter of the Canadian population. Article

How welcoming are communities to immigrants? Researchers design a new tool to find out | April 2023 
How welcoming are communities across Canada to immigrants and refugees who come here seeking to build new lives? A group of researchers have designed a new tool they say can help measure this, as well as a second tool they hope will help communities identify ways of addressing the obstacles that prevent immigrants from succeeding. Article

Western-led partnership releases tool  kits to help communities welcome immigrants | April 2023 
In 2022, the federal government announced a plan to welcome 500,000 new immigrants per year by 2025. With an expected intake of this number of newcomers, there is an immediate need to focus on where they will settle and how they can be successful so they want to stay in Canada. Read More 

Canada Hits Record Population Growth Through Immigration - New York Times | March 2023 
The country grew by over 1 million people last year, almost all newcomers, as the federal government pushes more immigration to plug labor shortages. Article

The Network for Economic and Social Trends is pleased to be a partner on the Annual All Are Welcome Here Event led by the London & Middlesex Local Immigration Partnership | March 2023 
Date: Tuesday, March 31, 2023
Time: 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: Islamic Centre of Southwest Ontario 951 Pond Mills Road London, ON N6N 1C3
Register through Eventbrite

The pandemic played into ageist stereotypes, but intergenerational contact and co-operation can overcome them | February 2022
As the COVID-19 pandemic spread around the world, stringent public health regulations were imposed to protect vulnerable individuals, with older people seen as a particularly vulnerable group. Read More

Canada’s top researchers in social sciences and humanities recognized with prestigious national awards | December 2022
Semra Sevi, NEST Junior Fellow of Western University, is recognized with the Talent Award for her research focusing on voting behaviour, political representation, public opinion, legislative policies, partisanship and political methodology. The Talent Award recognizes the outstanding academic achievement of a current SSHRC doctoral scholarship or postdoctoral fellowship holder.

The government seeks that almost 1.5 million foreigners integrate into the territory:
Contrary to the current approach of several countries, Canada is determined to attract migrants | November 2022

Article

Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada presents at the Pathways to Prosperity National Conference, led by NEST Director Victoria Esses | November 2022

Discrimination can make smaller communities unappealing to immigrants, racialized and Indigenous people | June 2022 
The populations of smaller communities in Canada have been shrinking because of low birth rates, youth and working professionals moving away and a failure to attract and retain new residents. Read More

Urban Centre will host the Money and Local Democracy Project | June 2022                           
The Centre for Urban Policy and Local Governance will host the Money and Local Democracy Project / Projet sur l’argent et la democratie locale, a five-year project investigating municipal campaign finance regulation and local election campaigning. Funded by a SSHRC Insight Grant following pilot work funded by Western Faculty of Social Science research seed grants, the project is led by Western Political Science Professors Zack Taylor and Martin Horak; Sandra Breux at l’Institut national de la recherche scientifique, Montréal; and Kristin Good at Dalhousie University. This mixed-methods project will entail the largest survey of election candidates ever conducted in Canada – over 4,000 candidates in 183 municipalities in all 10 provinces, which are home to four out of five Canadians – as well as analysis of candidates’ campaign finance disclosures over three election cycles and in-depth interviews with former candidates and campaign managers. The project will contribute new insights, both nationally and internationally, into whether differently configured campaign finance regimes create more competitive elections, how local candidates campaign, and enduring questions regarding the influence of money in politics.

How rural Canada can attract and retain international health-care providers: Address discrimination, provide support | May 2022                           
Smaller communities in Canada, particularly those located in rural areas, find it difficult to attract and especially retain health-care professionals, leading to poorer health outcomes. Read More

The War in Ukraine: A Discussion | February 2022   
What: Russia's incursion into Ukraine violates international law and principles of international order. Join a panel of experts as they attempt to make sense of what is taking place and answer your questions.
Who: Hosted by Western's Centre for Transitional Justice and Post-Conflict Reconstruction.
Already-confirmed panelists include:
- Dr. Marta Dyczok, TJ Centre and History/Political Science, Western University
- Dr. Ryan Liss, TJ Centre and Law, Western University
- Dr. Valerie Oosterveld, TJ Centre and Law, Western University
How: Live discussion with Q&A. Submit your questions in advance to tjcentre@uwo.ca
When: Tuesday, March 1, 2022 from 12:30-1:30 p.m. ET
Where: https://westernuniversity.zoom.us/j/99016688172 

Immigrants struggle to access Canada's legal services: London study | January 2022                           
Newcomers arriving in London, and elsewhere in Canada, need better information about legal services — and affordable options to tap into them, a new study shows. Read More

Legal woes for immigrants in London | January 2022                                                              
Dr. Victoria Esses joins Rebecca Zandbergen on London Morning to tell London Morning why immigrants need better access to justice and resources to navigate Canada's legal system. Listen Here

Study finds immigrants in London and Toronto experience serious legal problems that adversely impact their lives in Canada, highlighting their need for better access to justice | January 2022 
On January 18, Statistics Canada released results from a new survey about serious problems or disputes experienced by people living in the Canadian provinces. In addition to this national survey conducted on behalf of the Department of Justice and other federal departments, a number of qualitative studies were commissioned to examine the experiences of specific groups in Canada. Read More

Upcoming Workshop: The State and Indigenous Governance in sub-Saharan Africa and North America - May 4th, 5th and 6th | January 2022 
The workshop will bring together Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars from sub-Saharan Africa and North America to explore common governance challenges and successes in the realization of Indigenous rights in these two diverse regions. Discussions will focus on exploring Indigenous governance broadly as it relates to state sovereignty, natural resource governance, peacebuilding, health, and the environment, among others.
Hosted by NEST and the Centre for Transitional Justice and Post-Conflict Reconstruction, co-sponsored by SSHRC, Western University Faculty of Social Science, and Mamawipawin at University of Manitoba.
More information to follow!

2021 City of London Diversity, Race Relations and Inclusivity Award | November 2021 
The Network for Economics and Social Trends (NEST) has received the 2021 City of London Diversity, Race Relations and Inclusivity Award in recognition for its work towards positive policy impact and social change. The award is intended to promote public awareness of, and encourage ongoing initiatives towards diversity, race relations, inclusivity and human rights. Read More

The Eighth Annual Journeys of Migration Event Focuses on Islamophobia in London and Canada | November 2021 
The horrific killing of the Afzaal family in London, Ontario in June of this year has reminded us about the reality of Islamophobia in Canada, and specifically in London. A Statistics Canada report released earlier this year found that the number of police-reported hate crimes in Canada increased by 37 per cent during the first year of the pandemic.
To consider how we can address Islamophobia in our community and in Canada, on Thursday, November 18, 2021, 4:00 – 6:00 PM EST, the Western Centre for Research on Migration and Ethnic Relations, in collaboration with its partners, will hold its Eighth Annual Journeys of Migration event as part of International Week.
Read More

Everybody Hurts: Prejudice Caused by and Resulting in Negative Emotions | October 2021 
A look at how differences in emotional experience and emotional regulation affect the development of prejudicial attitudes, from Templeton World Charity Foundation Grand Challenges for Human Flourishing awardee team Dr. Jordan Mansell, Dr. Amanda Friesen, and Dr. Mathieu Turgeon. Read More

Indigenous man asks London Transit for 'more sensitivity' after being denied service | October 2021 
The city's transit commission says he was mistaken for one of 40 banned passengers.
An Indigenous man says he was racially profiled after a bus driver for the London Transit Commission (LTC) ordered he be barred from service for an entire day. Read More

Indigenous people in London experience more discrimination than other minorities, report finds | September 2021 
Report compared discrimination toward Indigenous people, immigrants and visible minorities. Indigenous people in London and Middlesex County experience more discrimination than immigrants and visible minorities, according to a report commissioned by London & Middlesex Local Immigration Partnership (LMLIP), which is associated with the City of London. Read More

Tracking discrimination in London | September 2021                                                             
Dr. Victoria Esses joins Rebecca Zandbergen on London Morning to talk about some of the findings in the Discrimination Report with London and Middlesex Local Immigration Partnership. Esses joins London Morning to talk about some of the findings. Listen Here

Study sheds light on current level of representation of women, racialized persons and Indigenous Peoples in leadership roles locally and province-wide | June 2021 
A study led by researchers Alina Sutter and Victoria Esses at Western University’s Network for Economic and Social Trends on representation in the public and nonprofit sectors locally and across Ontario offers useful information to organizations and sector leaders aiming to diversify their senior leadership teams. The study is a follow up to the 2016 study Medianu and Esses conducted on the same topic and was supported by Mitacs through the Mitacs Accelerate Program and by Pillar Nonprofit Network. Read More

International students, a key piece of the vitality of our communities | May 2021 
More than ever, it seems that the future of French-language postsecondary institutions is at a turning point in their history. The last few months have brought to light all their fragility, whether it is the Saint-Jean Campus, strongly affected by the cuts by the Alberta government; the Université de Moncton, where certain departments are reduced to the "suitable" portion due to the increase in tuition fees, which compensates for the drop in funding from the New Brunswick government; or the new University of French Ontario (UOF) which is struggling to attract new students, not to mention the ubiquitous setbacks of the now Laurentian University. The announcement of the independence of the University of Hearst (finally!) turns out to be the only good news in this swamp of cataclysms. Read More

Urban Policy Centre Launches Report on New Brunswick Municipal Reform | May 27 2021
Centre for Urban Policy and Local Governance Director Zack Taylor has prepared a report with M.A. student Jon Taylor in response to the Government of New Brunswick’s nationally significant initiative to reform the province’s local government system. The report is entitled Representative Regionalization: Toward More Equitable, Democratic, Responsive, and Efficient Local Government in New Brunswick. Read More

NEST Team Recognized in Templeton World Charity Foundation's $60 Million Commitment for Innovations in Human Flourishing | April  2021 
On April 29, 2021, Templeton World Charity Foundation announced the initial investment in a $60 million commitment for bold research that pushes the boundaries of scientific knowledge to help people flourish. The global scientific Foundation selected 11 teams of researchers, including a Western University-based team led by Dr. Jordan Mansell, to receive inaugural awards of the Grand Challenges for Human Flourishing. Read More

Supporting Canada's COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery Through Robust Immigration Policy and Programs | March 25 2021 
Canada has been seen globally as a leader in immigration and integration policies and programs, and as an attractive and welcoming country for immigrants, refugees, temporary foreign workers, and international students. The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed some of the strengths of Canada’s immigration system, as well as some of the fault lines that have been developing over the last few years. Read More

New centre launches to understand the politics behind it all | November 30 2020
The Centre for the Study of Political Behaviour (CSPB) brings together researchers from across the Faculty of Social Science, as well as King’s University College and the Ivey School of Business, to study political behaviour.. Read More  

Esses: We should not be complacent about Canadians' welcoming attitudes toward immigrants | November 27 2020
Victoria Esses and colleagues Leah Hamilton from Mount Royal University and Aurelie Lacassagne from Laurentian University published an opinion piece in the Globe and Mail, outlining some reasons why Canadians should not be complacent about Canadians’ welcoming attitudes toward immigrants. Read More

Coming soon: The Canadian Communities Policy Observatory | July 16 2020
Western’s Network for Economic and Social Trends (NEST) is pleased to announce the Canadian Communities Policy Observatory, a new web-based platform that will make it easier for policy makers, non-profit organizations, academics, journalists, and businesses to access data on Canadian urban centres, neighbourhoods, and regions. Read More 

New MA in Research for Policy and Evaluation Will Prepare Students for Careers in Government, Not-for-Profit, and Private Sectors | July 2, 2020
The Network for Economic and Social Trends (NEST) and Faculty of Social Science are pleased to announce that the Interdisciplinary MA in Research for Policy and Evaluation (MRPE) has now received final approval from the Ontario Universities Council on Quality Assurance and is admitting its first cohort of students for September 2020. The program focuses on developing rigorous quantitative and qualitative research skills and the ability to mobilize knowledge that can be applied in a variety of settings, including government, not-for-profit, and private sectors. The program involves two semesters of coursework and a third semester internship. We are pleased to be welcoming Michele Manocchi, PhD in Comparative Social Research, University of Turin (Italy), who will be joining us as the program’s Internship Coordinator at the end of July. Michele brings with him a wealth of experience in social science research and community engagement, having served as the Intercultural Education Specialist at the London Cross Cultural Learner Centre for over three years.

City-builder John Fleming joins Western’s Centre for Urban Policy and Local Governance | June 12, 2020
Western’s Centre for Urban Policy and Local Governance is excited to welcome nationally recognized urban planner John M. Fleming as a Distinguished Practitioner Research Fellow. Over the next two years, John will build on his significant professional experience to carry out research on local governance, civic engagement, and policy making in the field of city building and design. He will also collaborate with faculty and mentor students. Read More

Newcomer program preps for post-pandemic realities | May 31, 2020
New federal funding will help a Western-led program continue exploring welcoming environments for newcomers, even as Canada’s attitudes toward new immigrants will surely be tested by the economic and social uncertainty of a post-pandemic world.  Read More

Seventh Annual Journeys of Migration – 2019: Did It Happen Here? Canadian Attitudes toward Immigration and Cultural Diversity in the Age of Trump and Brexit | November 15, 2019
On Thursday November 14, 2019, the Western Centre for Research on Migration and Ethnic Relations, in collaboration with its partners, held its Seventh Annual Journeys of Migration event. The event, entitled Did It Happen Here? Canadian Attitudes toward Immigration and Cultural Diversity in the Age of Trump and Brexit, included a keynote presentation by Michael Adams, President of the Environics Institute. Michael Adams discussed Canadians’ social attitudes and their potential susceptibility to populist anti-immigrant, prejudicial sentiment. The talk was followed by a spoken word poetry performance by Fauzia Agbonhin, an award-winning writer and performer. Fauzia is an 18-year-old Nigerian-Canadian slam poet and author, whose poetry focused on diversity and inclusion. The event was attended by more than 140 members of the community, and Western University faculty and students. Video recordings from the event will be available shortly. PowerPoint presentation can be accessed here.

Anti-immigrant populist government won't fly in Canada | November 15, 2019
While Canada has never been immune to xenophobia, the chance of an anti-immigrant, Trump-style government taking power nationally is unlikely, says an expert who has mined Canadian attitudes on immigration and cultural diversity for several decades. Read More

The Intentional City: Shaping London's Urban Future | November 23, 2018
On November 23, 2018, Western’s Centre for Urban Policy and Local Governance hosted its first official event: a public roundtable on The Intentional City: Shaping London’s Urban Future. This was an important moment for the new Centre, signalling its goal of productively engaging scholars across disciplinary boundaries and building new relationships between Western researchers and the community. Indeed, roundtable participant Neil Bradford noted that “we underestimate Western, the convening power of the university as a neutral third space on issues”—and highlighted the potential for the Centre to play this role. Read More