Exploring Human Mobilities in the COVID-19 Era in Urban and Rural Canada

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, human mobility has been transformed across multiple geographic scales. Even prior to the formal declaration of the pandemic, governments had moved to close borders and restrict population mobility. Although detailed data have not yet been collected, there is evidence that COVID-19 has dramatically impacted long-term (as opposed to daily) mobility and migration behaviors. Drawing on examples from Canada, the chapter explores the impacts of COVID-19 on mobility, including reductions in international migration, shifts in inter-regional migration, and evidence of increased local mobilities as individuals (at least those able to) work remotely and relocate from cities to smaller communities. Other examples will be drawn from rental and eviction data. The chapter will conclude with a discussion of the emergent research questions and areas that researchers can explore further.