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October 27, 2025
News
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It is a huge and resource-rich part of Canada.
A vast, sparsely populated area with beauty — to spare.
So, why isn’t Canada’s North a prime spot to call home — especially, for immigrants?
That’s what a team at TIES (The Immigrant Education Society) Centre for Immigrant Research (TCIR) is looking to find out with its TAIGA RISE project.
“It’s a project that looks into attraction, integration and retention of newcomers in the north,” TIES Director of Research & Immigrant Wellbeing Katerina Palova explains.
Geographically, TAIGA RISE looks specifically at areas in Northern Alberta and the Northwest Territories.
Areas, Palova points out, that many immigrants tend to avoid.
“Historically we know that immigrants have the tendency to stay in big cities — heavily populated cities,” she says.
“However, I think we miss on opportunities in places we don’t even think about.”
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TAIGA RISE (Tailored Attraction, Integration and Retention Strategies for Northern Ecosystem) hopes to get newcomers thinking about the north.
Funded by IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada), the three-year project is a response to the urgent need to populate these areas — many of which are suffering from labour shortages and economic stagnation.
“It’s really important to look into places that need people to come in,” Palova says.
“Be it to fill labour shortages or expand/diversify the portfolio of professions that might be missing.”
TIES is also taking a unique approach to this research.
“We’ve seen different strategies across Canada to attract immigrants to rural and smaller communities,” TCIR Manager Kreisha Hilario says.
“How this project differs is we’re trying to ensure whatever strategies we are creating are a reflection of what the community wants.”
“We want to understand what the community really NEEDS.”
To do this, the team has met with many northern community and political leaders, indigenous and francophone groups, and of course with immigrants over the past six months.
What has learned is that it’s not the cold that is freezing many newcomers out.
What is? Challenges such as gaps in infrastructure and the lack of housing.
“Yellowknife, as a city, may not be ready to take in more people. Even non-immigrants,” Hilario says. “Especially with their housing problems right now.”
“We’ve heard that some people are waiting months to get an apartment.”
Other significant issues may also be the strain of supports and services for immigrants and their families.
“Our experience here at TIES shows that if there is no proper support for the communities and the people moving there — it would lead to failure,” Hilario points out.
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Those are some of the cons. The pros are also plentiful.
Yellowknife may be the capital of the Northwest Territories, but in many ways, it feels like a small town.
That small-town feel comes with opportunities — lots of them. There are plenty of jobs open, and the chance to set up one’s own business.
All things, that will be beneficial to both sides.
“They need immigration. They need immigrants to revive or make the economic and even the social fabric more colourful,” Hilario adds.
Go North — Alberta!
The team also recently visited several communities in Northern Alberta.
Five members took part in meetings and interviews with various organizations and leaders in Grande Prairie, the Town of Valleyview and Beaverlodge.
The results of those meetings – very similar to what TCIR heard in the NWT.
“Community members that we spoke with acknowledged challenges such as housing, transportation, and childcare,” TCIR Senior Researcher Dr. Fatemeh Kazemi says.
“But they also described the city as a hub of opportunities and expressed openness to having more immigrants in the future.”
The TCIR believes these communities present a “great opportunity” to welcome more migrants and immigrants — as long as everyone is fully informed.
“For some, it could be a dream destination,” she points out. “But a lack of information may prevent them from considering it.”
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“I would consider moving there (Yellowknife),” Palova says. “It appears to have a vibrant community and lots of activities going on.”
“I was surprised by how many immigrants, especially Filipinos, I encountered,” Hilario adds.
“Whether it was the museum, the Welcome Centre, or the grocery store, I met someone from the community. I feel at home.”
TIES will continue its look at the immigration situation in Northern Alberta and the NWT with a series of articles and videos over the next few weeks.
Stay tuned!
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Media RSVP, Interviews & Inquiries:
Tomasia DaSilva
Media and Relationship Strategist
Email: tomasiadasilva@immigrant-education.ca
Phone: 403-291-0002
Get involved with TIES on our social media platforms.
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