Page 58 - IJPS-11-6

International Journal of
Population Studies Migration to non-metropolitan Canada

immigration and rapid demographic change. Immigrants positive experiences of living in a non-metropolitan
may have unique experiences or challenges of settlement community. When addressing demographic change in
and integration due to a fabric of difference in the social non-metropolitan communities, we argue that municipal
and physical landscapes of these contexts when compared governments must recognize community demographic
to larger, multicultural urban centers (Beine & Coulombe, change with ethnic and cultural differences as experienced
2018; Chai, 2021; Garcia & Schmalzbauer, 2017; Zhuang & in the community. We hope that this effort to understand
Lok, 2023). immigrant lived experiences and perspectives toward
There is emerging research and policy attention place satisfaction perceived by immigrants will contribute
toward immigration to non-metropolitan communities to a more holistic understanding of settlement experiences
in Canada, as immigrants are increasingly moving to in smaller communities, which may, in turn, inform ways
these contexts. Contemporary immigration to Canada is of fostering inclusive communities in non-metropolitan
largely associated with the migration of people from Asian, communities. Our findings further suggest the importance
African, and South American countries, which differs of municipal and community partnerships in working
from historical contexts of immigration from European together to support demographic change in communities.
countries during the 20 century (Statistics Canada, 1.1. Population centers and demographic
th
2023c). This raises a unique challenge and opportunity
regarding the intersection between immigration and change, and non-metropolitan
population growth and the processes of demographic communities
change through increasing ethnocultural diversity in non- 1.1.1. Population centers as a place
metropolitan communities. The experiences of settlement
from the perspective of “visible minority” immigrants in Population centers are classified in quantitative metrics. In
smaller communities remain an opportunity for further the Canadian context, Statistics Canada (2024) classifies
exploratory research. The emerging body of literature on population centers as “census metropolitan areas” and
immigrant settlement in smaller Canadian cities suggests “census agglomerations,” where “population centers
that policy, economic, and lifestyle factors are identified (urban)” are “areas with a population of at least 1,000 and
for settlement in these contexts. Much of the literature a population density of 400 persons or more per square
focuses on immigrants as a broad population, where the kilometer.” According to Statistics Canada (2021), a census
literature highlights the agency of immigrants in shaping metropolitan area has “a total population of at least 100,000,
their settlement trajectories and aspirations. This paper of which 50,000 or more must live in the core.” Census
explores the perspectives and experiences of immigration agglomerations “must have a core population of at least
and settlement in Brooks, Alberta, as a non-metropolitan 10,000” (Statistics Canada, 2021). In addition, Statistics
community in Canada. The objectives of this paper – and Canada defines “rural areas” (non-population centers) as
the associated research questions – are twofold. The first “areas outside population centers of settlements of 1,000
objective of this study was to identify the reasons for or more inhabitants and a population density of fewer than
migration to a non-metropolitan community by asking the 4,000 inhabitants per square kilometer.”
following questions: What are the reasons for immigrant Although many of the definitions of localities of
settlement in a non-metropolitan community? The second settlements are largely quantitative, based on population
objective of this study was to explore the community size, there is a breadth of literature that has been written
perspectives on immigrant settlement in a non- about the implications of space and place in understanding
metropolitan community by asking: How do immigrants settlement locations as population centers. It is beyond
experience settlement in a non-metropolitan community? the scope of this paper to delve into this body of literature,
Interviews with immigrants, municipal officials, and a key though it is relevant to broadly discuss terms relating
informant of immigrant settlement and integration offered to settlement in non-metropolitan areas. Definitions
perspectives and implications of demographic change in a such as “new immigrant destinations” (Winders, 2014),
non-metropolitan community. “aspiring gateways” (Pottie-Sherman & Graham, 2021),
The findings of this study indicated that economic “non-gateway cities” (Kaida et al., 2020), “small(er) cities”
and family-related factors were the primary reasons for (Bonifacio & Drolet, 2017; Brown, 2017; Chai, 2021),
immigrant settlement in a non-metropolitan community. “smaller urban and rural communities” (Carter et al., 2008),
Beyond those factors, the importance of developing a sense or “rural areas” (Rishworth et al., 2023) describe localities
of belonging through the presence of ethnic communities, of settlement that are not metropolitan cities. Colloquial
the availability of urban amenities, and having perceivably and classic discussions about non-metropolitan areas
inclusive spaces in the community contributes to as places can be related to terms such as “towns,” “small

Volume 11 Issue 6 (2025) 52 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.6309