Centre for Immigrant Research

A community-based research centre advancing evidence-informed policy, knowledge mobilization, and collaborative solutions that support diverse communities and sustainable social impact.

Current Projects
20
Team members
4
Ongoing projects
28
Completed projects
142
Publications
17
Partners

Centre for Immigrant Research in the News

TIES Taps into Canada’s North for Immigration Opportunities

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.
Read more here.

Canada’s North Welcomes Immigration If “Done Right”

It’s a debate heating up across the country and the globe.But it’s not getting the cold shoulder in Canada’s North.
‍Read more here.

TIES Research Shows More Work is Needed to Get More Immigrants to Go North

It’s been a busy year for TIES (The Immigrant Education Society) researchers.The team at TCIR (TIES Centre for Immigrant Research) has been going through pages and pages of data, following recent trips to Northern Alberta and the NWT.
‍Read more here.

Spotlight

Policy Brief
Ethical and Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence
Infographic
TAIGA RISE environmental scan
Policy Brief
AI-Powered Service Provider Organizations for Immigrants and Newcomers in Canada
October 21, 2026

Beyond Translation: Empowering Youth Language Brokers Through Summer Camp

Funded by Family & Community Support Services, TIES ran a 4-day summer camp for youth translators (child language brokers), combining fun field trips and community resource visits with peer support.

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October 21, 2026

Empowering Newcomer 2SLGBTQIA+ Youth Through Art and Community

Funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada, TIES’ Voices in the Art (VIA) project hosted three art-based workshops for newcomer 2SLGBTQIA+ youth. Participants explored identity, settlement experiences, and gender-based violence through creative expression in a safe, inclusive environment. The project will continue fostering connections through peer support and an upcoming community art exhibition showcasing participants’ stories and artwork.

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October 21, 2026

New Partnership for Research, Human Rights, and Inclusion: TIES and ACLRC Sign Memorandum of Understanding

On October 8, 2026, the TIES Centre for Immigrant Research (TCIR) and the Alberta Civil Liberties Research Centre (ACLRC) signed an MOU to collaborate on research, education, and public awareness related to immigrant and refugee rights, human rights, and access to justice. The partnership will support joint research, knowledge sharing, and stronger community connections to promote equity and inclusion across Alberta.

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Innovative Approach

Our varied and innovative research approaches include participatory, arts-based and digital methods, in addition to surveys, interviews and focus groups locally and nationally, aiming to shed light  and respond to the most pressing issues for settlement and integration.

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Our Expertise

Practitioners and immigrants themselves are experts and producers of knowledge, rather than subjects or data sources for research. We employ experts on a variety of research and evaluation methods and work closely with our academic teams to synergize scholarly with community-based knowledges and expertise, in order to inform an innovative settlement service provision.

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Our Core Team

Katerina leverages program management expertise to champion social good. Passionate about equity, climate action, and sustainability, she leads initiatives at The Immigrant Education Society and seeks impactful opportunities to make a positive global difference.
Katerina Palova
Katerina Palova

Senior Director, Research & Program Strategy

Kreisha, an immigrant shaped by her experiences, is a leader dedicated to rooting herself in her new country and championing social justice. Committed to her advocacy, she empowers communities and uplifts individuals through research and innovative program development.
Kreisha Hilario
Kreisha Hilario

Manager, Centre for Immigrant Research

Fatemeh is an expert in research methodology and data analysis at The Immigrant Education Society. She implements data-driven strategies to support evidence-based decision-making, enhancing the quality of life for immigrant communities through community-based research.
Fatemeh Kazemi
Dr. Fatemeh Kazemi

Senior Researcher, TIES Centre for Immigrant Research

Hamed is a historian and linguist at the University of Calgary, specializing in Eurasian Indigenousand Canadian Ethnography. His research focuses on linguistic and cultural identity formation, pluralism, and decolonial approaches, with particular attention to immigration and multiculturalism in Canada. He currently serves as a Research Associate at the TIES Centre for Immigrant Research (TCIR), where he contributes to IRCC’s Service Delivery Improvement (SDI) initiatives and policy development.
Gurleen Matharu
Hamed Kazemzadeh

Research Associate, TIES Centre for Immigrant Research

Gurleen is an experienced researcher interested in complex social issues. She has worked on program evaluations, environmental scans, and systems mappings. Currently, she is leading an arts-based study exploring newcomer 2SLGBTQIA+youth’s intersecting identities.
Fatemeh Kazemi
Gurleen Matharu

Project Associate, TIES Centre for Immigrant Research

Nova Zeraati is a Canada-based multidisciplinary professional and community builder with more than a decade of experience leading projects ranging from civil engineering to software. Equipped with a master’s degree and certifications in project management, product management, and B2B sales, Nova works at the crossroads of technology, research, and social impact. Nova thrives on bringing people and ideas together to turn challenges into practical solutions.
Fatemeh Kazemi
Nova Zeraati

Project Associate, TIES Centre for Immigrant Research

Dr. Kassan’s scholarly interests are informed by her own bi-cultural identity, and include two major foci. She studies immigration experiences across different newcomer groups: youth, women, 2SLGBTQIA+. She also researches teaching and learning, and cultural and social justice responsiveness in professional psychology.
Dr. Anusha Kassan
Dr. Anusha Kassan

Principal Investigator, UBC

Dr. Odessa Gonzalez Benson is an Associate Professor at the University of Michigan School of Social Work. Her research focuses on the intersection of immigration, service provision, and social justice, striving to understand and address disparities in access and quality of services for marginalized populations.
Dr. Odessa Gonzalez Benson
Dr. Odessa Gonzalez Benson

Principal Investigator, U-M

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We acknowledge that we are gathered on the ancestral and traditional territory of the Blackfoot Nations of the Siksika, Piikani and Kainai First Nations; the Îethka Nakoda Wîcastabi First Nations, comprised of the Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations; and the Tsuut’ina First Nation. The City of Calgary is also homeland to the historic Northwest Métis and to the Otipemisiwak Métis Government, Métis Nation Battle River Territory (Nose Hill Métis District 5 and Elbow Métis District 6).

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