Women survivors of intimate partner violence experiences in an arts-based mindfulness group program

Meeting the needs of women survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV), that seek emergency shelters across Canada is a persistent concern in shelters across the country as women are experiencing high rates of stress-related challenges after feeling abuse such as post-traumatic stress (PTSD), anxiety and depression. The annual national report of YWCA Canada acknowledges that women’s shelters require innovative, cost-effective supports that use a trauma-informed perspective to meet the diverse needs of their residents. They propose VAW shelters collaborate with local and provincial agencies to develop effective solutions and implement best practices that can empower women. My research study explored the suitability and effectiveness of an innovative mindfulness-based intervention (MBIs) called the Holistic Arts-Based Program (HAP) to teach mindfulness skills to women survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV), living in an emergency shelter. Arts-based methods are enjoyable and engaging, and enable individuals to express feelings/thoughts that might otherwise be difficult to elicit; this information is rich and interesting, even powerful. Results of qualitative thematic analysis of preand post-group group interviews led to the development of three main themes: (1) benefits of learning mindfulness skills and concepts, (2) benefits of arts-based experimental methods, and (3) benefits of strength-based group work. Participation in HAP helped women survivors mitigate the negative impacts of stress, and taught them mindfulness concepts and activities that they were inspired to use in their own lives and introduce them to their children. My research demonstrates how interventions such as the HAP could make a difference in women’s mental health. As MBIs may not have universal appeal they should not be a mandatory program requirement, but consideration may be given to offer mindfulness interventions to empower women survivors of IPV in emergency shelters.Master of Social Work (MSW) Progra

Supporting child survivors of trauma at school: depathologizing behaviour and educating teachers

Childhood trauma is a substantial concern in our education system in Ontario, as it has been noted that approximately 32% (Afifi et al., 2014) to 36% (Findlay & Sutherland, 2014) of Canadian adults report that they were exposed to abuse as children. Trauma can have significant impact on a child’s learning (Vasilevski & Tucker, 2016), behaviour (Greeson et al., 2014), and wellness (Roberts, Ferguson, & Crusto, 2013), and puts them at an increased risk of being retraumatized or further punished in schools due to the Western education system relying on the behavioural model (Costa, 2017). A 450-hour social work practicum was completed with the Mental Health Team at the Sudbury Catholic District School Board (SCDSB) as a partial requirement of the Laurentian University MSW program. This practicum project report employs structural and anti-oppressive social work perspectives and a trauma theory lens to undergo an exploration into: (a) what trauma-informed practices (TIPs) and primary models are used by the SCDSB to inform their practice in supporting students who have been exposed to trauma, (b) to what extent school-based social work in this setting reflects certain models that function to further harm child survivors of trauma, such as the behavioural model, and its relationship to understanding student experiences through the lens of trauma, and (c) how trauma theory can be used to establish alternatives to pathologization in regards to children within schools who have experienced trauma. Trauma-informed professional development lunch-and-learns were presented to teaching staff in four schools as the intervention provided during this practicumMaster of Social Work (MSW

Emplacement of sharp-walled sulphide veins during reactivation of impact-related structures at the Broken Hammer Mine, Sudbury, Ontario

Broken Hammer is a hybrid, Cu-Ni-Platinum Group Element (PGE) footwall deposit in the North Range of the ca. 1.85 Ga Sudbury impact structure. The sulphide vein system and associated low sulphide PGE mineralization were mined as an open pit operation over a 15-month period, providing a unique opportunity to study a complete 90-meter vertical section across a footwall deposit. The deposit is hosted within Archean basement rocks and impact-induced Sudbury breccia, 1.5 km north of the Sudbury Igneous Complex (SIC) – basement contact. The low sulphide mineralization consists of disseminated to blebby chalcopyrite (<5%), minor pyrite, chalcocite, galena, sphalerite and platinum group minerals, associated with Ni-bearing chlorite overprinting alteration patches of epidote, actinolite and quartz. The veins comprise massive chalcopyrite and minor magnetite, chalcocite, millerite, and rare sperrylite, surrounded by thin epidote, actinolite and quartz selvedges. They are grouped into five, steeply-dipping, NE-, SW-, SE-, S- and EWstriking sets, which intersect in a common line controlling the plunge (60°) and trend (220°) of ore shoots. The veins were emplaced along syn-impact fractures that were reactivated multiple times during stabilization of the impact crater floor. Early reactivation of the fractures created pathways for the migration of hydrothermal fluids from which quartz and chlorite precipitated sealing the fractures. Renewed slip and reactivation shattered the quartz-chlorite veins into fragments that were incorporated in massive sulphide veins that crystallized from strongly fractionated sulphide melts or high temperature (400°C-500°C) hydrothermal fluids which migrated outward into the basement rocks from a cooling and crystallizing impact melt sheet represented by the SIC. Hydrothermal fluids syn-genetic with the epidote-actinolite-quartz alteration distributed the PGE into the footwall rocks, or late hydrothermal fluids associated with the Ni-bearing chlorite leached Ni and PGM’s from the sulphide veins and re-distributed them within the footwall rocks, forming the low-sulphide high-PGE mineralization. During post-impact tectonic events, reactivation and slip at temperatures below the brittle-ductile transition for chalcopyrite (<200°C-250°C) produced striations along the vein margins. The Broken Hammer deposit exemplifies how Cu-Ni-PGE footwall deposits formed by the reactivation of syn-impact fractures that provided conduits for the migration of melts and hydrothermal fluids.Master of Science (MSc) in Geolog

“Revisiting sales as a human connection and a business transaction”

This study focusses on identifying what skills are essential for salespeople from a human motivation, sales skills, and business perspective. It uses historical research as a backdrop and then looks at today’s sales environment from a company perspective. The study identifies, compiles, organizes and validates core elements of sales skill requirements and factors that impact these requirements. The literature review helps study this complex issue by bringing disciplinary and non-disciplinary knowledges, perspectives, and insights to bear.Doctor of Human Studies (PHD) in Interdisciplinary Researc

Centre d'hébergement : traits de personnalité et attitudes de préposées aux bénéficiaires ayant l’intention de rester dans leur milieu de travail

Le vieillissement de la population canadienne a un impact sur les organismes de santé, le nombre de personnes âgées qui ont besoin de soins augmente. Les centres d’hébergement en Ontario ont de la difficulté non seulement à attirer, mais aussi à retenir les préposées aux bénéficiaires (PAB). La présente étude va déterminer les traits de personnalité et les attitudes des préposées qui décident de rester au travail dans les centres d’hébergement. Cinquante préposées de six centres d’hébergement du Grand Sudbury ont complété les questionnaires : le 16 personnality factor de Cattell (16 PF) et le Kogan’s Attitudes Toward Old People Scale (KAOP). De manière générale et selon l’administration de ses deux outils, les PAB de l’étude sont chaleureuses, concrètes, réactives, soumises, spontanées, consciencieuses, timides et objectives. Elles sont vigilantes, perfectionnistes, pratiques, intériorisées, appréhensives, traditionnelles, perfectionnistes et décontractées. Elles sont extraverties, anxieuses, fermées, contrôlées et dépendantes. Tout compte fait, les PAB ont des attitudes positives envers les personnes âgéesmaîtrise ès sciences infirmières (M.Sc.Inf.

Northern Ontario camp informing architecture

This thesis explores the idea of Camp in Northern Ontario and how it can inform architecture in the region. The work examines Camp through four categories: History, Community, Placemaking, and Sentiment. Six types of camps are analysed through drawing and text, which is based on personal experience, and through text-based research. A set of site and building design guidelines are developed from this analysis. A speculative cohousing project at Whitewater Lake in Azilda, Ontario, is chosen as an architectural typology and site to test an architecture informed by Camp. Using these design guidelines, the cohousing project contributes to maintaining a sense of place through its history and its making processes, providing a shared sense of community and creating a sentiment that is rooted in the collective memory of Camp. The final result indicates what an architectural regionalism can mean for Northern Ontario and how it will improve the way people interact with their built environment and communities.Master of Architecture (M.Arch

Wood architecture research and fabrication centres

This thesis explores architectural wood assemblies and fabrication methods, towards the design of a wood architecture research and fabrication centre, at Laurentian University. During the 19th century timber was the dominant building material used throughout Northern Ontario. The industrial revolution of the 20th century, introduced concrete and steel into the construction industry as fire-resistant alternatives to timber buildings. Due to increased environmental concerns and the advancement of engineering capabilities, wood has re-emerge in the 21st century as a low-carbon alternative to concrete and steel construction. This revolution towards a sustainable building industry is demanding an increased understanding of wood, and its potential within the built environment. This thesis examines academic and industry research facilities experimenting with wood buildings assemblies and robotic manufacturing processes. Design and fabrication research is conducted to develop a new architectural assembly that is applied in a building proposal for a Wood Architecture Research and Fabrication Centre at Laurentian University, in Sudbury, Ontario.Master of Architecture (M.Arch.

L'identité professionnelle: mieux saisir le concept

Ce mémoire de maîtrise vise à explorer le concept d’identité professionnelle tel qu’il est rapporté dans la plupart des écrits en travail social. Malgré le fait que l’identité professionnelle soit un thème tout de même assez évoqué en travail social, il semblerait qu’à ce jour, le concept reste flou au plan sémantique. En autres mots, il n’y ait pas de définition stabilisée de l’identité professionnelle en travail social. La recherche sur ce thème reste pertinente, car plus les chercheurs étudient ce concept, mieux ils arrivent à comprendre l’identité professionnelle, et par ricochet, la pratique professionnelle et les travailleurs sociaux eux-mêmes. Dans ce mémoire, nous nous intéresserons particulièrement au flou sémantique entourant le concept d’identité professionnelle. L’objectif de cette étude est précis : il vise à explorer comment les experts définissent l’identité professionnelle en travail social, mais aussi en enseignement1 . Ce mémoire vise, enfin, à sensibiliser les lecteurs, et spécifiquement les travailleurs sociaux, quant à la complexité du thème même de l’identité professionnelle, la réalité des multiples définitions de l’identité professionnelle, ainsi que des enjeux reliés à l’identité professionnelle dans l’exercice de la profession.Maîtrise en service social (M.S.S.

A web-based intervention for perfectionism: an extension of previous findings

Transdiagnostic interventions may be a beneficial approach for reducing a number of mental health concerns. As such, the current study replicated and extended on a 10-week online intervention for perfectionism to reduce perfectionism, depressive and anxious symptomology, and negative affect using three groups: cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), general stress management (GSM), and no treatment (NT) waitlist. Moreover, a process and outcome approach was used to monitor weekly changes in psychological functioning, while considering the role of treatment readiness. At posttest, the CBT group exhibited greater adaptive changes in depressive and anxious symptomology, and negative affect than the GSM and NT groups. Although the CBT group exhibited declines on cognitively-focused perfectionism indicators and some traitlike perfectionism indicators, the GSM group exhibited more adaptive changes on most perfectionism indicators. Treatment adherence and treatment readiness are discussed as possible contributors to treatment outcomes and attrition.Master of Arts (MA) in Applied Psycholog

A metagenomic analysis of tailings microbial communities from both cold and hot environments

Mining practices produce a substantial waste product in the form of tailings, a problematic liability particularly in materials where iron and sulfur become oxidized leading to acid mine drainage (AMD). Native microbial consortia in tailings sites accelerate this oxidation by a factor of 106. The oxidative capabilities of these consortia can be harnessed to bioleach low-grade, refractory metals from the waste materials while also allowing for the potential stabilization of nuisance elements. This project explores the contributions of native microbes isolated from sulfide tailings from two different climates: colder climate tailings around Sudbury, Ontario and warmer climate arsenopyrite refractory gold tailings from Ecuador (ECT). The cold community project encountered technical challenges as is summarized here as an appendix. This thesis focuses primarily on the ECT community. The ECT tailings were enriched in medium ahead of bioleaching trials and a metagenomic analysis was performed to identify key organisms responsible for driving bioleaching. The main contributors to the ECT system at the order level were Acidithiobacillales, Bacillales, Burkholderiales, Clostridiales, and Thermoplasmatales. The dominant organisms representing these orders were found to have complementary genetic systems that drive iron and sulfur oxidation. Understanding these key players will help optimize the conditions that the ECT culture will be applied in using stirred-tank bioreactors and will provide the baseline metagenomic information to help monitor the health of these organisms throughout bioleaching campaigns.Master of Science (MSc) in Biolog