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Ketamine-assisted therapy within a community of practice: A novel approach to disordered eating
No full textThis article was originally published as: Jeletzky, L., Dames, S., Kryskow, P., & Tsang, V.W.L. (2025). Ketamine-assisted therapy within a community of practice: A novel approach to disordered eating. Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology, 15. https://doi.org/10.1177/20451253251356980Given the high prevalence of eating disorders, affecting approximately 1 million Canadians, and their associated mortality rates—the highest among mental illnesses (with estimates of 10%–15% mortality), innovative approaches to treatment are crucial. Traditional therapies for disordered eating, particularly those addressing food restriction, such as group cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), are common; however, there is growing interest in alternative modalities such as psychedelic-assisted therapy (PaT). PaT, and more specifically, ketamine-assisted therapy (KaT), is increasingly being studied for its potential to treat various mental health condition
Systemic Team Coaching in a Volatile, Uncertain, Complex & Ambiguous (VUCA) World
No full text2025This thesis explores the impact of systemic team coaching and emotional intelligence (EI) development on leadership and team performance in hierarchical organizations within a VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous) world. The research investigates how these interventions can enhance team cohesion, communication, and adaptability. Utilizing an interpretative phenomenological approach, qualitative data was collected through semi-structured interviews and coaching sessions with team members from a municipal utility company. Findings reveal that systemic team coaching reduces hierarchical barriers, fosters psychological safety, and improves team dynamics, while EI development enhances self-awareness and interpersonal relationships. The integration of these approaches empowers leaders and teams to navigate complex challenges more effectively, promoting resilience and innovation in rapidly changing environments. This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on leadership development and offers practical recommendations for organizations seeking to thrive in the modern world
Mountain and Ocean Strikes: Exploring an Embodied Sense of Place and Ecological Identity in Kaihewalu Lua
Full text link2025What happens when the body learns to move like mountains and oceans? For this research, I used an autophenomenographic and ethnographic lens to explore how physical movements from the Hawaiian martial art, Kaihewalu Lua, could affect my ecological identity and sense of place. I collected data through journal reflections, video and audio recordings, interviews, and a literature review. Mountains and oceans emerged as metaphors for stability and fluidity and as an innovative way to structure this thesis.I present my research as a Thesis Watershed; adopting a metaphorical landscape to portray my transformative experience and the resulting patterns as they might apply to environmental education pedagogy. With permission, I have adopted traits from Kaihewalu Lua’s Indigenous method of embodied learning to suggest a pedagogical frame to help foster my own and my students’ sense of place and ecological identity. This framework emphasizes openness, intention, and acceptance through mindful movement
Influencing Employee Growth: How a Leadership Development Program Can Contribute to Nonschool-Based Employee Succession in a Catholic School Division
No full text2025This study investigated how a leadership development program could support succession planning for nonschool-based employees in the Edmonton Catholic School Division (ECSD). The research addressed the question: How might a leadership development program contribute to succession planning of nonschool-based ECSD staff? Conducted in the context of a need for succession planning due to impending retirements, I engaged seven nonschool-based leaders in a focus group and surveyed 28 employees across various roles. Employing action-oriented research with appreciative and humble inquiry methodologies, I combined qualitative and quantitative approaches to explore leadership development needs. Ethical standards, including informed consent and confidentiality, were rigorously upheld. Findings emphasized the need for a leadership framework, improved communication of career opportunities, and a structured program to foster leadership skills and enhance succession planning. Recommendations included developing such a program, fostering collaboration, and implementing systems for regular evaluation to ensure organizational continuity and growth
Her-story in Motion: Racialized Women's Narratives Resisting Race and Gender-based Violence on Transit
No full text2025Public transit is essential for racialized women’s access to employment, education, and social opportunities. However, the prevalence of violence against women has established public transit environments that fail to ensure women’s safety. Hierarchical power structures and patriarchal norms within transit systems intersect with racial oppression, reinforcing systemic inequalities and compelling racialized women to adapt their mobility behaviours. In this feminist narrative inquiry, I conducted two focus groups with six racialized women participants who had experience taking transit in Calgary and area. Participants shared narratives that described compounding oppressions and constructed forms of resistance. Racialized women offered counter-narratives that challenged existing dominant discourses that normalized the risks they faced on transit and repositioned safety through an intersectional lens. Focusing on “her-story,” racialized women’s narratives can influence new discourse, disrupt patriarchal domination, and support collective resistance through critical consciousness
Religious Leader Engagement (RLE) of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Chaplains
No full text2025Using sequential mixed methods, this study sought to identify ways through which the Religious Leader Engagement (RLE) capability of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) chaplains can be enhanced. For the qualitative phase, 12 CAF chaplains with RLE experiences were purposively selected for online interviews to obtain perceptions on RLE and the competencies needed for an effective RLE. In the quantitative phase, 48 of the randomly selected CAF chaplains responded to an online survey that used a Likert scale in determining the state of the chaplains’ RLE competencies. The chaplains were found to have relevant RLE skills and personal attributes but need reinforcement with respect to RLE theory. The RCChS needs to address this shortcoming if it is to remain germane in the CAF and enhance Canada’s status as a leader in political religious dialogues. This study proposed a training plan that would strengthen the RLE capability of the CAF chaplains.
Keywords: religious leader capability, advisement, engagement, religion, chaplain, force multipliers, liaison, dialogue, religious leader competencies, CAF, RCCh
Forest and urban change analysis in Puerto Rico: A study utilizing TerrSet and remote sensing methodologies
Full text linkThis study presents a methodology for analyzing forest and urban transformations in Puerto Rico, using high-resolution GHS-POP population data and MODIS Vegetation Index (VI) products. The GHS-POP data, providing detailed total population per pixel distribution at a 100m resolution, and MODIS VI products, capturing vegetation dynamics at a 1km resolution, are interpolated using ArcGIS Pro to ensure spatial and temporal compatibility. Advanced analysis is conducted with TerrSet, a geospatial platform integrating IDRISI GIS and Image Processing tools, employing applications like the Land Change Modeler (LCM) and Earth Trends Modeler (ETM) to project land cover changes and analyze environmental trends. The study uses GDAL conversion utilities to integrate TIFF files into TerrSet for Empirical Orthogonal Teleconnections (EOT) analysis, identifying spatial-temporal patterns and exploring the relationship between urban expansion and vegetation changes. This framework provides critical insights into the interplay between urban development and ecological dynamics, informing sustainable development and conservation strategies in Puerto Rico
VIU Library Collections Spend Breakdown 2024-25
No full textA list of VIU Library collections-related expenses by format, acquisition model, and individual products. This includes data for fiscal year 2024-25.A list of VIU Library collections-related expenses by format, acquisition model, and individual products. This includes data for fiscal year 2024-25
Normative relationships between spinopelvic alignment and femoroacetabular orientation: A cross-sectional study
No full textThis article was originally published as: Ludwig, T., Bourget-Murray, J., Sridharan, S., Frederick, A., Smith, V., Johnston, K., Evaniew, N., Edwards, B., Asmussen, M., & Nicholls, F. (2025). Normative relationships between spinopelvic alignment and femoroacetabular orientation: A cross-sectional study. Global Spine Journal. https://doi.org/10.1177/21925682251353725Normative data describing the relationship between spinopelvic and femoroacetabular alignment is not thoroughly described in the literature; we aimed to explore potential associations in healthy young adults.The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Fraternal Order of the Eagles, Alberta Spine Foundation, Section of Orthopaedic Surgery, McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health
Bioaccessibility of Metals in Soils of Parks and Playgrounds – Fort McMurray, Alberta
No full text2025This study assessed the concentration and bioaccessibility of metals present in soils at parks and playgrounds in Fort McMurray, Alberta. Sixty soil samples collected from 20 parks and playgrounds were analyzed for pH, total metal concentration by X-ray fluorescence. In addition, in vitro bioaccessibility assay (IVBA) was conducted for seven of the samples. The pH values of all soil samples were within the Canadian Council of Ministers of Environment (CCME) soil quality guidelines for residential/parkland use. The mean metal concentrations were below the CCME guidelines; however, a few samples had metal concentrations exceeding the guidelines. These included barium (1), cadmium (1), chromium (1), and nickel (3). The metal IVBA values ranged from 9.5% to 79.6%. Based on metal concentrations and the IVBA, the human health risk associated with the ingestion of metals in soils in the parks and playgrounds sampled was deemed low