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A Local Level Response to Reducing Childhood Hunger and Advancing SDG#2
No full text2025Child hunger continues to be ongoing concern in Canada due to adverse effects that poor nutrition can have on developmental outcomes. The objective of this research was to investigate a local-level approach as a potential solution to reducing hunger and improving nutrition for vulnerable children (aged one to fourteen) in the Region of Waterloo (ROW) through a case study of Food4Kids Waterloo Region (F4K-WR). Additionally, the F4K-WR program model was investigated to understand how local-level interventions are helping Canada achieve Sustainable Development Goal # 2: Zero Hunger. A case study approach was the most appropriate method to fulfill the study's objectives because it allowed for an in-depth collection of evidence, which helped to identify gaps and capture information on F4K-WR as a necessary intervention, while debates continue regarding policy reform. Data were collected through observations, document analysis, and in-depth semi-structured interviews. questions. Inductive coding was used to generate themes emerging from the data to identify gaps that need to be addressed for Canada to advance SDG #2. The study found that F4K-WR provides safe access to healthy and nutritious food to vulnerable children on days when they are not in school, a gap in Canada’s food policy. F4K-WR program should maintain a core focus on vulnerable children and nutrition, by ensuring that they continue to receive nutritious food and the support they need to thrive. Due to the interconnectedness of F4K-WR activities with the broader SDGs, a more holistic view is necessary to measure how local-level approaches are helping advance progress on all the SDGs. F4K-WR can achieve this by mobilizing action in partnership with local school boards, the London Branch of the United Way and the Children and Youth Planning Table of Waterloo Region. Key Words: Food Insecurity, Hunger, Vulnerable Children, Local Level, and SDG #
Adult Third Culture Kid’s (ATCK’s) Concept of Belonging and Identity Creation: Can Spiritual Self-Leadership be a Solution?
Full text link2025Adult Third Culture Kids (ATCKs), with their mobile and cross-cultural childhood, bring into adulthood both benefits and challenges which impact their personal and professional lives. This research was conducted through narrative inquiry with 25 ATCK participants ranging in age from 18 to almost 80. These participants came from various backgrounds: military kids, diplomatic kids, missionary kids, and business expat kids. The research question that guided this study was “How can spiritual self-leadership foster identity development and sense of belonging in ATCKs in order for them to elevate their potential and value contribution in the workplace?” The four objectives for this study were to: (1) identify how ATCKs’ professional lives are impacted by their cross-cultural mobile life before the age of 18; (2) explore how the Spiritual Leadership model (Fry & Nisiewicz, 2020) can foster identity development (inner life) and sense of belonging (membership) for ATCKs within the workplace; (3) examine how ATCKs’ deconstruction and/or construction of faith impacts their inner life and, by extension, spiritual self-leadership; and, (4) propose recommendations for how ATCKs can cultivate spiritual self-leadership for themselves and leverage their value within their workplaces.Four emerging threads arose from the participants’ stories. The first emerging thread was professional mobility and restlessness, which were the most commonly cited impacts on ATCKs’ professional lives. Many ATCKs feel the need to change jobs, organizations, and geographical locations frequently, mirroring their mobile lives before the age of 18. The second emerging thread was spiritual leadership in the workplace. Although only a few of the ATCKs highlighted how organizational leaders who exercise spiritual leadership had helped them mitigate their challenges, those who did, spoke of how these leaders helped to foster a sense of belonging and provided outlets for purposeful living. The third emerging thread was the core spiritual beliefs questioning process. This process varied between ATCKs where some completely deconstructed the faith they followed before the age of 18 while others only sifted through their core spiritual beliefs. Some settled on their spirituality, while others still search for their path. Regardless of where this questioning process led them, the value was in the journey, not the destination. The fourth emerging thread was spiritual self-leadership principles. These principles were gleaned from examples from the lived experiences of the ATCKs, as well as their advice for other ATCKs. The ATCKs’ narratives clearly showed how they had used spiritual self-leadership to cultivate their inner life, mitigate their challenges, and engage with their community.
The spiritual self-leadership principles from the fourth emerging thread informed the creation of the Spiritual Self-Leadership model, a signature contribution of this study. The model includes six principles which are housed under two headings: Focus on Self and Taking Self into Community. The four principles under Focus on Self are know yourself, develop your spirituality, seek professional help, and commit to a lifelong, continual journey. The two principles under Taking Self into Community are build your community and live your purpose. This model was developed as a tool for ATCKs to lead themselves towards fostering identity creation and sense of belonging; however, it has implications for a much wider audience. For organizational leaders, this model provides a pathway towards greater understanding of ATCKs and their challenges, as well as awareness of the need to provide space for ATCKs to cultivate their spiritual self-leadership. As well, leaders can use this model as a guideline on how to cultivate their own inner life and spiritual self-leadership, and, using this knowledge, to encourage their followers to do the same. If organizational leaders provide space for all organizational actors to cultivate and practice spiritual self-leadership, a climate of spiritual well-being can be created and encouraged for everyone within the organization.
The Spiritual Self-Leadership model has implications for both the academic and non-academic world. This model is the first of its kind to marry spiritual leadership and self-leadership into one model. This overlap can inform literature in both subject areas in the organizational leadership discipline, as well as set itself apart in its own subject area. In addition, the model can fill a gap in the mainstream leadership literature for the same reason. For the ATCK academic literature, the model contributes knowledge on how to mitigate ATCK challenges of identity and belonging in order to elevate their potential and value contribution in the workplace. Very little has been written about ATCK professional challenges and nothing on solutions. The model’s practicality can be attractive to both academic and practitioner audiences.
The recommendations for practice are centered around the Spiritual Self-Leadership model and how it can be made available and usable to the greatest number of people. First, training materials should be developed for ATCKs, ATCK practitioners, and organizations with target audiences such as those who dispatch expatriates, those for whom ATCKs work, organizational leaders, HR practitioners, and academic institutions. Second, a published book should be written to widen the access for ATCKs and organizational leaders. Third, a website should be developed to further widen access and provide videos and resources for all interested in the model. Although the Spiritual Self-Leadership model was birthed from ATCKs’ narratives and was designed to help ATCKs mitigate their belonging and identity challenges, this model will also help leaders who desire to cultivate their inner life in order to become a more effective spiritual leader. Keywords: Adult Third Culture Kid, Spiritual Self-Leadership, Spiritual Leadership, Workplace Spirituality, Belonging, Identit
Smart Home Governance in Hong Kong and Vancouver: A Comparative Study of Smart Home Technologies
No full text2025The idea of ‘smart cities’ has been proposed by some scholars as an overall response to the energy challenges associated with climate change. A more granular or localized aspect of smart cities, namely the concept of 'smart homes', it is argued in this work, can provide an important focal point for addressing urban sustainability challenges such as energy and climate change. This research aims to shift the discussion about 'smart homes' from a technical or top-down solutions-oriented approach to a more user-centric perspective. A five-factor framework which includes Agency, Sustainability, Equity, Privacy and Durability (ASEPD) forms the conceptual foundation for this research. This study also develops an original, comparative study between two distinct city-regions: Hong Kong and Metro Vancouver. The study examines specific understandings of smart homes and smart home technologies (SHTs) amongst end users, builders, designers, developers, property managers, planners and government officials in each of these city-regions. Quantitative and qualitative data collected in online surveys (n=120) and semi-structured in-depth interviews (n=9), as well as a literature review, offers insights on a diversity of respondents’ expectations and concerns regarding SHTs in both city-regions. Such insights are linked to a set of specific recommendations about design and public policy, and governance for sustainability issues (and future research directions) related to SHTs in the hope of better aligning the needs and desires of diverse users and communities in both unique city-regions
When we fall, we get back up again: Survivors of equestrian trauma report a lack of physical and psychological support
No full textPosterThe current study investigated the psychological effects of equestrian accidents on athletes in Canada. By understanding these effects, the study aims to contribute to the development of better support systems and preventive measures for equestrian athletes
First Response: Centering Victim Care in Human Trafficking
No full text2025This research study focuses on human trafficking for sexual exploitation, one of many forms of gender-based violence. Victims are often recruited and groomed at an early age, experience manipulation, and complex forms of coercion and control. There are few studies that examine the types of support that victims need when reaching out for help. The current study employed a feminist methodology to examine victim service and specialized police officer insights into the types of responses victims need when seeking support. The research suggests centering support around the needs of victims using a collaborative model focused on a trauma-informed, client-centered approach. Enhanced knowledge is recommended for victims of trafficking to receive a consistent response from professionals, whether that be healthcare, education, or criminal justice personnel
Post-school transition planning: creating a pathway to success
No full textSupporting students with diverse abilities as they transition from the K-12 education system to post-school life requires appropriate transition planning and programming. However, from the author’s perspective this has not been a major focus in education in British Columbia, Canada. The literature review explores how the United States, and many other countries, have developed best practices and programming for post-school transition planning, as well as laws requiring it begin by age 16 for all students, especially students with diverse abilities. This study used a mixed methods approach to investigate the current knowledge levels and beliefs about postschool transition planning with the goal of influencing the degree to which it is included in classrooms across British Columbia. The hypothesis is that post-school transition planning was not a well-known topic in education in British Columbia, nor was it widely being implemented. An online questionnaire and follow-up semi-structured interviews were used to gather data from 29 individuals. Three individuals participated in both the questionnaire and interview, while the remaining 26 completed only the questionnaire. This study found that while more post-school transition planning is being done than initially believed, it is not being done in an explicit, consistent, or structured way across the province. Implications are shared for the education system, including an increase of province-wide over-sight and increased teacher training; and individual teachers, including making it a student-driven process that starts earlier in a student’s school career and directly teaching self-determination skills
Leadership Approaches to International Mindedness in CAIS IBDP Boarding Schools
No full text2025International mindedness (IM) is crucial in education, promoting global perspectives, intercultural understanding, and responsible citizenship. This thesis examines leadership strategies for fostering IM in students attending Canadian boarding schools offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) and accredited by the Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS). Despite existing research on IBDP, IM, and leadership, there is a gap in studies connecting these areas in the Canadian context. The study explores how school leaders promote IM, providing insights for policymakers, educators, and the community. It looks at strategies to integrate IM into school culture, curriculum, and community engagement, highlighting leadership's role in enhancing students' cultural competence, global engagement, and academic performance. Using a multiple-case study methodology, the research includes interviews with nine leaders from six of the eight CAIS IBDP boarding schools. Findings reveal themes of collaboration, inclusivity, empathy, and principled decision-making, while also identifying challenges like workload and social media influence. The thesis concludes that effective leadership in IM involves professional development, community engagement, and integrating IM into the school's mission and values. Keywords: international mindedness, leadership, boarding schools, International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS)
Curating Connection: How Millennial Women Navigate Self-Presentation, Intimacy, and Rejection in Online Dating
No full text2025This thesis examines how millennial women navigate self-presentation, intimacy, and rejection in online dating. Grounded in social penetration theory and the hyperpersonal model, it explores the tension between authenticity and desirability in profile curation, the transition from superficial to deeper intimacy, and the cultivation of resilience in response to rejection. Through the thematic analysis of a sample of media (2023–2025), active interviews with seven Canadian millennial women, and reflexive journaling, findings reveal a dynamic negotiation: women strategically curate profiles that balance authenticity with appeal, cautiously disclose intimate details, and often prioritize in-person validation, particularly among elder millennials. While artificial intelligence (AI) tools enhance self-presentation, they may also foster superficiality and erode trust. Rejection, including ghosting, is common, yet participants exhibit resilience, sustained by self-confidence and community support, which enables continued openness to intimacy. This thesis emphasizes the importance of online dating platform designs that foster genuine responsiveness to mitigate fatigue and support meaningful connections. By integrating and updating the social penetration theory’s onion model through the lens of the hyperpersonal model and AI influence, this research offers new insights into how millennial women adapt to the evolving landscape of digital romance, informing both platform design and future scholarship on AI-mediated relationships
Green or Greenwashed? A case study of Urban Greenery in Sustainable Residential Development in Vancouver
No full text2025This thesis investigates the incorporation of urban greenery in the form of nature-based solutions (NbS) in high-rise residential developments in the City of Vancouver and critically examines how greenwashing practices may undermine their authenticity and effectiveness. Employing a qualitative case study approach, the research analyses urban greenery proposals and environmental claims across ten residential developments. This is achieved by validating development-related government documents, developers’ submissions, and marketing materials against real-life conditions observed through site surveys, visual inspections, and online aerial imagery and street-view platforms. The findings indicate that while the City of Vancouver has developed a robust policy framework promoting urban greenery , such as green roofs and urban agriculture, implementation varies across developments. A pattern of greenwashing practice was observed in residential developments built for sale, where green features were exaggerated, misrepresented, or presented as future commitments. In contrast, purpose-built rental residential developments demonstrated more genuine integration of sustainability features, likely due to their alignment with policy-driven, rather than market-driven, objectives. The thesis identifies three phases of greenwashing: direct consumer deception, stakeholder manipulation, and unverifiable future pledges, and explores their implications for stakeholders, governance, and public trust. The thesis concludes by recommending enhanced monitoring mechanisms, more straightforward guidelines for sustainability claims, and more stringent regulatory enforcement to safeguard the credibility of urban greenery
ADHD & The Algorithm: Diagnosis in the Age of TikTok
No full text2025This project examines how TikTok has influenced ADHD awareness and self-diagnosis, with a focus on adult women who have historically been underdiagnosed and often misunderstood. Through a participatory ethnographic documentary film, the research captures the real-life experiences of women who first identified their symptoms on TikTok, prompting them to seek formal assessments. The film features interviews with women recently diagnosed, healthcare professionals, content creators, and researchers, and explores how the platform’s algorithm promotes both accurate information and misinformation. It investigates TikTok’s dual role in validating long-neglected struggles while potentially oversimplifying complex disorders. By centring the research on women's stories, this study highlights how digital spaces are transforming narratives around ADHD, providing visibility, language, and a community, sometimes for the first time. It considers whether the advantages of increased awareness outweigh the risks of misinformation, and what this means for women navigating this journey in the era of algorithm-driven media