Zhixi Zhuang

Zhixi Zhuang is a Registered Professional Planner and an Associate Professor at the School of Urban and Regional Planning, Toronto Metropolitan University. Founder and director of the DiverCityLab (external link) , her research explores the growing urban diversity and how city-builders can instil the values of equity and inclusion into planning policies and practices. Specifically, her work focuses on how immigrant and racialized communities have made long-lasting marks in urban landscapes inscribing places with important cultural, historical and political meanings. She has conducted mixed-method and arts-informed research to effectively engage immigrant communities to gain a holistic perspective on immigrant integration, place-making, civic engagement and inclusive policy-making. Her research addresses the impacts of global migration on local governance and inclusive community-building and sheds light on equity-based approaches to planning and design with diversity.

Recent Publications

With Lok, R. (2023). Exploring the wellbeing of migrants in third places: An empirical study of smaller Canadian cities. Wellbeing, Space and Society, 4, 1-9. 

With Metersky, K., St-Amant, O., Guruge, S. (2023). Lessons learned from recruiting socially isolated older immigrants for a survey-based study in Toronto. (external link)  Canadian Journal of Nursing Research, 56(1), 3-4.

Blogs

(2023). Pathways to Success: Building Support Infrastructures for Internationally Trained Planning Professionals (external link) . OPPI Planning Exchange.