Gender and the Practice of Law in Canada

One may ask why paralegals are shown to be the only profession in the criminal justice system that has an overrepresentation of women employees, while male legal professionals tend to be identified as attorneys – perhaps it is due to societal ideologies of male dominance. Male dominated industries and occupations, like law practice, have fewer women employees, women have a harder time excelling in their field, and are less likely to attain partnership promotion. Career expansion is difficult on women in the male-dominated field of law. Although women are completing law school at the same rate as men, higher numbers of women are leaving law (attrition) compared to men, losing their talent from the workforce, and contributing to continuing sexist attitudes. This study therefore aims to investigate the reasons why females are less likely to remain working as attorneys compared to males, despite there being approximately equal representation of males and females in law schools. This loss of women is not only important for tackling discrimination, which is an important goal for any industry, but also for reducing the loss of highly trained intelligent professionals in the law firms simply due to their gender, requiring further training of new staff. Furthermore, this research will not only confirm the high attrition of women, but will also inform the law firms on the reasons behind it, allowing counteractive measures to be developed that might increase retention of their female staff

The Bond Between Risk Factors and Youth Mentorship

Youth that are deemed at-risk to commit crime typically have experienced one or more factors that put them at risk. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the factors that put youth at greater risk of engaging in criminal behaviour. Then through the lens of Professor Travis Hirschi’s social bonding theory, examine existing research on the effectiveness of youth mentoring programs in building resiliency. Through the social bonding theory and the development of bonding elements, it is determined that youth mentorship programs that follow certain criteria can be effective in reducing risk factors among youth. With the research obtained, this thesis then compiles the criteria that contribute to an effective youth mentorship program, and forms a rubric

Dark Net Markets: White House Market Drug Trades

Dark net markets (DNMs) are underground markets that ship goods and services globally. A main component of DNMs is the distribution of illegal drugs, these markets offer a wide range of drugs to users all over the world. Using data from the White House Market, a DNM site, this paper examines the price, amount, type, origin and destination countries of drug listings starting from January 6th to January 19th, 2020. It was found that there are restrictions on distribution based on the country of origin, with some countries having a higher rate of orders being shipped globally, potentially due to more lax standards in customs. DNMs appear to be a better alternative to conduct drug sale transactions than physical transactions as they add a substantial layer of protection from detection. This research also found that the drugs offered on DNMs are more pure, cheaper, and there is a significantly reduced chance of encountering physical violence

5 ways to keep human connections when moving learning online due to coronavirus

5 ways to keep human connections when moving to emergency remote delivery and using online learning and educational technologies due to coronavirus (see: https://theconversation.com/5-ways-to-keep-human-connections-when-moving-learning-online-due-to-coronavirus-134351)Universities across Canada and the world have been working to rapidly move their face-to-face classes to remote delivery. While digital technologies enable people to work and learn from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, this huge task of seeking to meet particular learning objectives while going online ultimately falls to the people-the educators and students-who are behind the screens. My research on educational technologies and social media in higher education shows how human connections and meaningful interactions are an essential part of the learning process, especially online. As teachers and instructors shift to a digital environment, remembering our human capacities and prioritizing elements of interaction that make learning meaningful will be valuable. Focusing on what people really need by starting from a place of empathy and compassion will help teachers-or others leading workplace transitions to online collaboration and work-keep in mind what's most important as our society gets through this crisis. Human connections and meaningful interactions are an essential part of the learning process, especially online

Mixed methods research in library and information science: A methodological review

Objective - To review mixed methods research trends in the field of library and information science (LIS). In particular, we examine the extent to which research about or using mixed methods has been occurring in library and information science over the past decade (2008-2018), and how much of that mixed methods research is done in health contexts. Methods - We conducted a methodological review and analysis of mixed methods research (MMR) in LIS for published articles indexed in LISTA and Web of Science. After deduplication and verification for inclusion, we coded 417 articles to identify contributions using or about MMR. Given the connections between evidence based practice in health and LIS, we also identified whether articles about or using mixed methods were health-focused. Results - We found MMR to be a tiny proportion (less than 0.5%) of the overall LIS research literature. In terms of observable trends, while contributions about MMR remain fairly static, there has been an increase in articles using mixed methods. Of the 417 included articles, 373 (89.5%) primarily used mixed methods and 44 (10.5%) were primarily about MMR. Results also demonstrated that health-related research both using and about mixed methods has a strong presence in the LIS literature, with 136 published articles (32.6% of the total). Conclusion - Confirming findings of prior analyses of research methods in LIS, our methodological review shows current opportunities to adopt and expand the use of mixed methods research processes. Further contributions about mixed methods research, and ideally connecting research and practice in LIS, are needed. Despite the small proportion of MMR in LIS research, there is an observable increase in the number of publications using mixed methods during this timeframe. The LIS research community can promote additional growth by leveraging this momentum around using mixed methods, and look to translate lessons learned about mixed methods research and practice in health contexts to other LIS settings. Recommendations include developing educational opportunities and learning resources that facilitate wider engagement with MMR in LIS contexts

A Critical Analysis of the Similarities between the REID Interview Technique and the PEACE Interview Model

The thesis aims to provide an analysis of the similarities between the PEACE Model and REID Techqniue to show that they are more similar to each other in terms of their method and their use in the law enforcement field.The REID interview technique has received criticism from the academic and legal fields in Canada and the United States. The criticism has led for calls to replace the REID technique with the PEACE model. In this paper, the methods of the REID technique and PEACE model will be outlined. Also, the legal cases involving the use of the REID technique in Canada will be outlined. The PEACE model argument will also be outlined. That information will be used to show a similarity between the REID technique and PEACE model. The similarity will show that the criticism against the REID technique focuses on specific misunderstandings that are related to the outcome of legal cases. The bigger picture will show that both techniques are similar in many ways and that promoting the PEACE model over the REID technique does not solve any of the issues outlined by the academic field

The Constitutionality of Mandatory Alcohol Screening in Canada

In 2018, random mandatory alcohol screening became a reality of the Canadian justice system. Before the law had even come into effect, it was being welcomed with open arms by some, and immediately castigated as unconstitutional by others. Compelling arguments for both sides have emerged in the wake of debate. Where Bill C-46 has enacted laws which have adversely affected the rights of drivers, an analysis of the new laws written within the Canadian Criminal Code, warrant an audit of their alignment with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This thesis challenges the constitutionality of section 320.27 (2) of the Canadian Criminal Code against sections 7 and 1 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In drawing on the public’s perception of the law, an array of precedent provided by the Supreme Court of Canada, and an analysis of both sections 7 and 1 of the Canadian Charter, an argument can be made which corroborates the notion that section 320.27 (2) of the Canadian Criminal Code is unconstitutional

A Critical Assessment of Mr. Big Operations by Canada's Police

The Mr. Big undercover police investigation can lead to the admissibility of false confessions as evidence and therefore wrongful convictions and miscarriages of justice. The new common law rules created in R v Hart, and other precedent case law with regards to the “Canadian Technique” address the reliability, probative value, and abuse of process of the sting operation and assess the mental health and vulnerability of a suspect. Coercion, exonerations, tunnel vision, entrapment, cold cases, victim rights, and the use of the operation on youth are explored. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms’ Section 7 right to silence, the confession rule of voluntariness, and the right to counsel cannot be applied to these Canadian Mr Big police procedures.The Canadian law enforcement Mr. Big operation continues to pose the risk of producing false confessions and, therefore, miscarriages of justice. Some case law protections available to prevent suspects from making incriminating statements are explicitly inapplicable to confessions elicited from Mr. Big stings. The R v Hart (2014) common law rules have adequately helped to address this by further analyzing the particular circumstances of a Mr. Big operation in the pursuit of justice. The application of the R v Hart regulations has led to the inadmissibility of several confessions and one exoneration. However, it did not exhaustively address all of the collective grievances associated with the Canadian technique. The manner in which the R v Hart common law rule is applied varies between cases. Several cases are compared to Hart’s personal drastic circumstance, which by contrast reduces the perceived abuse of process. With increasing police accountability, the use of violent inducements have decreased, and financial inducements prevail. The possibility of injustice derived from this operation is still troubling. Canadians need more applicable legal protections

Change Prerequisite and its Impact on Nursing Statistics Course

In 2008 Alberta Education proposed a change of high school mathematics curriculum from the previous Pure Math-10, 20, 30 and Applied Math-10, 20, 30 to Math 10-C, Math 20-1, Math 30-1, Math 20-2, Math 30-2, Math 10-3 Math 20-3 and Math 30-3. The new high school mathematics curriculum was implemented in 2010 and the first group of high school graduates with this new mathematics curriculum got into the post-secondary institutions in 2013. With the old mathematics curriculum, the prerequisite was Pure Math 30 for the students taking mathematics or statistics courses in science and engineering (including nursing) in any post-secondary institutions in Alberta. With the new mathematics curriculum, the prerequisite is Math 30-1 for the students taking mathematics or statistics courses in science and engineering. A question was raised: “Do we allow the students with Math 30-2 to take introductory statistics for nursing degree program?” By comparing the contents of Math 20-1, Math 30-1 and Math 20-2, Math 30-2, the answer was yes from all the post-secondary institutions in Alberta. As a result, the prerequisite for nursing statistics course has been Math 30-1 or Math 30-2 (changed from the previous Pure Math 30) since 2013. What is the impact with this change of the prerequisite? Is there any difference in statistics course performance between the students with prerequisite Math 30-1 and Math 30-2? In the past five years, there were about 1000 students taking the nursing statistics course at Mount Royal University. A sample of 279 students regarding their performance in statistics course and prerequisites was gathered. Statistical analyses indicate significant difference between two groups. Some explanations and suggestions are given in this study

Examining the Outcomes of Sport Specialization for Individual Athletes and the Industry

In North America, sport specialization for young athletes has become a prerequisite for sport achievement, but academics have yet to explore the effects that sport specialization has on athletes’ consumption and participation patterns. Thus, this project explores the following research question: what are the effects of sport specialization on the individual volleyball athlete in terms of: i) patterns of participation in sport (past, present, and future); and ii) consumption patterns in the sport industry? The methodological approach was to interview current and retired volleyball players aged 18 to 30 in Calgary, Alberta. The questions were designed to ask participants how they spend their time and money during and after sport specialization. The findings indicate that early specialization in volleyball directly impacts an athlete’s patterns of participation and consumption in the sport of volleyball and the sport industry broadly. Many participants articulated that due to specialized training they became lost in the identity of a “volleyball player,” and when they ceased participation in the sport they found that they had not been participating for their own intrinsic values but for extrinsic values placed on them by their coaches, parents, teammates, and other invested stakeholders. Participants also indicated that their specialization years developed specialized knowledge in sport, a unique analytical consumption experience that influences present and future sport consumption. The findings are a call to action for the volleyball industry to evaluate the participation and consumption patterns in specialized volleyball training and implement changes to benefit specialized athletes and the industry