Biophysical diversity on landslides in the Peace River region of British Columbia

The aim of this dissertation is to investigate and quantify biophysical diversity on landslides in the boreal forest of the Peace River Region of northern British Columbia (BC), sampling three landslides that occurred in the last 50 years. Landslides are increasing in the boreal forest, likely driven by climate changes such as increased precipitation and permafrost thaw, and as a derivative of large wildfires. An understanding of ecosystem recovery on landslides is important for conservation and management purposes. Several studies have been done in southern parts of the world to elucidate processes of landslide recovery. However, few studies have addressed landslide recovery in northern climates, and little is known about the biophysical diversity of landslides in this region. This research investigates whether landslides are more biophysically diverse than the surrounding relatively undisturbed terrain, and whether microsite variables or geomorphic diversity are predictors of plant community diversity. Using a series of field sampling campaigns and GIS (geographic information system) mapping exercises, I show that landslides are more biophysically diverse than the surrounding terrain in some respects, while the surrounding undisturbed terrain is more diverse in other aspects. The age and size of landslides also appear to influence diversity. Microsite diversity does not necessarily predict plant diversity. The research highlights the role of invasive plant species in slope stabilisation and plant community makeup. I also show that landslide ponds are disproportionately concentrated on rotational landslides, and that most ponds on landslides occur in the body and toe. I note post-slide modifications such as drainage of landslide ponds and lowering of landslide ridges, but many geomorphic features are expected to endure for decades to millennia. Overall, the research shows that vegetation recovery is complex and may take decades to fully manifest. This study contributes knowledge about plant community and site diversity on landslides by providing quantitative data and comparing those traits with those found on surrounding terrain. These findings can be used as guidance when identifying conservation and management practices for ecological restoration of disturbed slopes

Electric vehicle adoption in growing Canadian cities: Assessing barriers to electric vehicle adoption in the City of Kamloops

Greenhouse gas emissions from transportation are a significant contributor to climate change. An effective method of reducing these transportation emissions is to electrify transportation. Local governments are creating electric vehicle policies to increase electric vehicle adoption in their communities. The City of Kamloops released their EV Strategy to encourage local electric vehicle uptake in 2020 but encountered barriers to local electric vehicle adoption such as a lack of charging infrastructure, a hesitancy to new technology, and the high prices of EVs. There is no significant research on EV adoption and barriers within a smaller city, regional hub, or Canadian context. To address this, I conducted a content analysis, literature review, and key informant interviews with six stakeholder groups in Kamloops to assess the perceived barriers to EV adoption. My research compares the perceived barriers within the context of Kamloops and provides policy solutions to the City of Kamloops to overcome these barriers and reduce transportation emissions. The City should continue to prioritize EV adoption through public education campaigns, encourage the building of charging stations, and focus on densification for an overall reduction of emissions and to provide convenient places for EV drivers to charge their vehicles

Helpful or harmful? The road to rethinking approaches in addressing domestic violence against Indigenous women in Canada

Domestic violence is a widespread public health issue in which Canada’s health and legal systems address with a one size fits all approach. For Indigenous women experiencing DV, the trauma as a result of colonization is an added layer of oppression that must be considered by DV response services. The purpose of this research project is to explore how current approaches intended to support Indigenous women facing DV may in fact be inflicting further colonial harm. Due to the colonial context of this research, a decolonizing framework is used to challenge western academic practices and avoid cultural appropriation and misrepresentation. It was found that current legal and health services have a gap in their ability to meet the culturally specific and individual needs of the various Indigenous communities in Canada. Further research led by Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars is required to explore additional culturally safe approaches to DV, and how they can be implemented into Canada’s legal and health systems

Sensory friendly dental care for autistic children

Autistic individuals are at a higher risk of tooth decay and periodontal disease. The following accommodations can reduce sensory overwhelm and make routine dental visits more peaceful and successful.Won Best Poster at the 2023 Student Showcase at the Vancouver Community College Teaching, Learning, and Research Symposium, March 30-31, 2023. Completed for DHYG 3315 Dental Hygiene Care, instructor Nancy Baily.dental hygieneautis

The Supreme Court of Canada's evolving tests for section 15(1) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms: a jurisprudential analysis

This thesis explores the Supreme Court of Canada’s (SCC) evolving tests for section 15(1) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which guarantees equality rights. It provides a comprehensive overview of the development of the Court’s jurisprudence, highlighting key cases that have shaped the current tests for determining whether discrimination has occurred. The SCC has had to understand s.15 by looking at the meaning of discrimination and the need for substantive equality. The test for section 15 has used three landmark cases to get to the place that it is today. Starting with Andrews v. Law Society of British Columbia (1989), then moving to Law v. Canada (1999), and finally R. v. Kapp (2008). The first case sets the stage for acknowledging that distinctions are made in discrimination based on enumerated and analogous grounds and that substantive equality is the most important aspect to consider in an equality case. The next major case introduces the human dignity standard, and the last case moves somewhat back to the first test and explains s.15(2) with ameliorative purposes. This thesis also analyses the criticisms that have been leveled against the Court’s approach and suggests potential areas for future development. Ultimately, the paper argues that while the Court’s tests have evolved over time, there is still work to be done to fully realize the promise of equality under Section 15 of the Charter

An environmental scan of library technology

An environmental scan of library automation software, trend, potential new developments, and hardware. Environmental scanning is an examination of trends and occurrences in a field that affect its’ current and ongoing success. This document examines the state of library enterprise software and the evolution of that situation. Major themes examined are the evolution of digital first library holdings, the move to cloud based solutions, and the current state of integrated library systems and web discovery services.Not peer reviewedsabbatical projectIntegrated Library SystemsSaaSAI chatbotsbrowser extensionselectronic resource managementContent Management System

Ethnographic Study of Potential International Students in India

Through a four-and-a-half-month ethnographic field research study in Punjab India, I examined the experiential accounts of Indian students who have applied to attend post-secondary schooling in Canada. I conducted the field research in the Indian state of Punjab, in the urban cities of Amritsar and Chandigarh, along with several rural villages in surrounding areas. Originally, my intention was to interview potential students themselves, but being in the field for an extended period, I quickly discovered that I needed to broaden my interview base to include English teachers, professors and agents (recruiters). I conducted approximately thirty interviews while in India

What can school liaison officers do to improve the adolescent-police relationship with the return of Vancouver's School Liaison Officer program?

This study is a secondary data analysis researching School Liaison Officers and the best practices in training, selection, and program management for the return of Vancouver’s School Liaison Officer program. The research question is “What Can School Liaison Officers Do to Improve the Adolescent-Police Relationship with the Return of Vancouver’s School Liaison Officer Program?” A significant gap in Canadian research was found on programs in Canada and on adolescent-police interactions, requiring the collection of data from other western countries. The research suggests a new program for the Vancouver Police Department and a national teaching program, with a focus on the need for post secondary education, cultural training, situation training, and a reduced officer presence.school liaison officer; adolescent-police; police mistrust; social conflict theor