荔枝视频

As Canada continues to rely heavily on immigration to meet its labour demands and to sustain vital services, the question of where newcomers choose to settle is more important than ever. 

While large urban centres like Toronto, Vancouver and 荔枝视频 remain the top choices, this trend is putting increasing pressure on housing, infrastructure and social services in the big cities, while leaving smaller and mid-sized cities struggling with labour shortages and population decline.

Prince Chiagozie Ekoh, a doctoral candidate at the 荔枝视频鈥檚 , is digging into this issue with a human-focused lens, looking at newcomer settlement in Red Deer and Medicine Hat, two of Alberta鈥檚 mid-sized cities that are often overlooked in national immigration conversations.

鈥淭his research is about how to attract and retain newcomers in small and mid-sized cities in Canada,鈥� says Ekoh, who was supervised for this project by .

鈥淲e spoke with newcomers, community leaders, service providers and employers to better understand what motivates people to stay, or to leave.鈥�

It's not just about job opportunities

Ekoh鈥檚 research highlights what many urban planners and policymakers have already suspected: the cost of living and job opportunities matter, but they aren鈥檛 the whole story. While newcomers are drawn to bigger cities for work, they鈥檙e also drawn by education, cultural familiarity and the perception of more-robust support networks. 

At the same time, those who stay in smaller centres like Red Deer and Medicine Hat often do so for reasons that go beyond practical considerations.

鈥淲hat we鈥檙e finding is that emotional and social connection 鈥� a sense of belonging 鈥� plays a huge role in whether people choose to stay,鈥� says Ekoh. 

鈥淚t鈥檚 about more than just having a job or affordable rent. It鈥檚 about whether someone feels accepted, seen and supported in their new community.鈥�

How to create welcoming communities

Ekoh鈥檚 research reveals that creating welcoming communities requires more than just policy change or financial incentives; it requires intentional relationship-building. 

Initiatives that help newcomers connect with long-term residents, participate in community life, or do something as simple as finding a hiking buddy, can significantly reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation.

鈥淵ou can live in Tokyo, one of the most populated cities in the world, and still feel lonely,鈥� Ekoh notes. 

鈥淎nd, in a small city, that feeling can be even more intense if you鈥檙e not connected. But, if that small city shows that it cares 鈥� if it helps newcomers build meaningful relationships 鈥� then people stay. They start to see it as home.鈥�

This emotional insight is central to Ekoh鈥檚 broader academic work, which focuses on the social networks and support experiences of older African refugees in 荔枝视频. 

Recognized, important work

His doctoral research, under the supervision of , has been recognized with Canada鈥檚 top graduate scholarships, including being named a 2023-2026, and being awarded a in 2023, consistently demonstrates the importance of relational infrastructure 鈥� the unseen, often-undervalued web of support that sustains people鈥檚 well-being.

The Red Deer and Medicine Hat study is intended to serve as a blueprint for other mid-sized communities across Canada. Ekoh hopes that by understanding what truly makes newcomers feel at home, these cities can become more sustainable, inclusive and vibrant.

鈥淭his isn鈥檛 just about attracting immigrants, it鈥檚 about helping them thrive,鈥� says Ekoh. 

鈥淎nd that means designing communities that value connection, not just capacity.鈥�