Partnership and Innovation in Canada’s Most Diverse City
Partnership and Innovation in Canada’s Most Diverse City
Inside 91µÎµÎ’s approach to community-engaged, future-focused research
FOCUS ON OUR HUBS
Toronto doesn’t just welcome diversity, it thrives on it. One of the most multicultural cities in the world, nearly half of Toronto’s residents were born outside Canada, and more than 250 ethnicities and 180 languages are represented in daily life. Here, migrant integration is more than a policy priority. It shapes the city’s economy, culture, and communities, and it’s deeply embedded in 91µÎµÎ’s (91µÎµÎ) approach to research and innovation.
“As a globally connected university 91µÎµÎ is addressing challenges here in Toronto and beyond our borders. Inclusive creative collaboration is essential to innovative research and solutions,” said Steven N. Liss, 91µÎµÎ Vice-President, Research and Innovation.
“Through our strategic partnerships with communities and a range of organizations, we are able to leverage our strengths and make a positive impact locally and internationally."
As the lead university of the Bridging Divides program, 91µÎµÎ brings a bold research agenda coupled with a deep connection to the urban context in which it operates. The program builds on a long-standing commitment to innovation in the areas of migration, employment, technology, and democratic engagement.
From the Diversity Institute and the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integration, to the Future Skills Centre, Magnet, the Dais, Zone Learning, and many more, 91µÎµÎ has become a hub for projects that link academic insight with community action. These platforms actively collaborate with Bridging Divides to create a dense ecosystem of partnerships focused on the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly changing Canada.
“Complex problems require complex solutions.” Bridging Divides researcher Wendy Cukier, Founder and Academic Director of the Diversity Institute at 91µÎµÎ, is well-versed in building partnerships that drive social innovation. Working with 10 regional hubs and a wide network of partners across 91µÎµÎ, Canada, and beyond, her team at the DI uses research to advance inclusion in the skills, employment, and innovation ecosystems. “By working across disciplines and sectors and alongside partners we have undertaken projects that examine the barriers newcomers face and develop evidence-based solutions,” she explains.
Tapping into Toronto’s knowledge network
Almost half of the 53 research leads currently involved in Bridging Divides are based at 91µÎµÎ. Each is embedded in a dynamic research team that includes faculty, postdoctoral scholars, students, and partners beyond academia. These scholars work across Toronto, the province, and beyond, engaging local organizations whose work directly supports migrants and newcomers.
From immigrant mental health to civic participation, this network of partners reflects the diversity of the city itself. Organizations like the Hong Fook Mental Health Association, the Asian Initiative in Mental Health, and the Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care bring culturally grounded health perspectives to the research table. Groups such as the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC), Skills for Change, and World Education Services (WES) provide critical insight on employment and training pathways. Meanwhile, advocacy and service-focused organizations, including the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI), Newcomer Women’s Services Toronto, and the Toronto Newcomer Office, ensure that research outcomes reflect lived experience and community needs.
Founded on a shared commitment to research that benefits society, and a deep dedication to principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion, these collaborations shape research design and community engagement. They will be essential when it comes time to translate findings into real-world impact.
Building inclusive pathways in the digital age
A new and promising collaboration within the Bridging Divides program brings together researcher Rupa Banerjee and Kibbi, an online hiring platform that helps small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) connect with local talent. With a mission to “build community, one hire at a time,” Kibbi brings valuable insight into the hiring needs of small employers, a sector often overlooked in larger labour market studies.
Through this partnership, Banerjee’s research team will study how tools like AI-based screening, algorithm-driven job matching, and digital onboarding systems influence the recruitment, assessment, and retention of newcomer talent. The goal of the project is to identify challenges and opportunities in the way small businesses use advanced digital technologies and to co-develop inclusive hiring practices that work for both employers and job seekers.
As the research unfolds, this partnership will provide practical insights into how digital tools shape access to opportunity and what inclusive innovation could look like in the everyday spaces where many newcomers find their first job in Canada.
“Small businesses are the backbone of our communities, yet they’re often left without the tools and insights larger employers rely on,” said HP Nguyen, Founder and CEO of Kibbi Technologies. “With 97.8 per cent of Canadian businesses classified as small and 1.9% per cent as medium-sized, it’s clear this sector drives our economy.”
Nguyen sees the partnership with Bridging Divides as a chance to close that gap.
“This collaboration gives us the opportunity to highlight the unique hiring challenges SMBs in Canada face and help shape smarter, more inclusive recruitment practices. We are supporting data-driven insights and helping redefine what community-driven hiring looks like in a digital world.”
Shaping the future, together
This approach is part of a broader shift toward more connected, community-responsive research. By linking scholars with service providers, employers, city offices, tech platforms, and advocates, Bridging Divides is helping build a research culture rooted in accountability, access, and applied impact.
In Toronto, where diversity is central to the city’s identity, this work is essential and closely aligned with 91µÎµÎ’s mission to engage with its surroundings and respond to society’s evolving needs.
In this issue of Bridges:
From Idea to Impact: Partnering Beyond the Metropolis
Partnership and Innovation in Canada’s Most Diverse City
Shaping the Future of Migration Research in Quebec
Rooted in Research, Growing Through Community
Bridging Cultures Through the Arts
Plus: Spring 2025 Allies in Action