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Public Montessori education progression: a Richmond School District case study
No full textThis study, the first of its kind, examined the historic progression of the public Montessori education movement in British Columbia (BC). To do so, a case study was created highlighting the growth of public Montessori education in the Richmond School District No. 38 [SD 38]. Using historic sources, school board minutes and local newspapers sourced within the City of Richmond archives and SD 38, a broad overview of the progression of the public Montessori movement in SD 38 was pieced together to create a high level understanding of the evolution of the program. Pinpointing recurrent themes that ran through the historic progression of the public Montessori program in SD 38 allowed for suggestions for the program’s future viability and continued growth to occur. These recommendations, although specific to the Montessori program in SD 38, were made with the intention of supporting public Montessori programs collectively in BC
Advances in paper spray mass spectrometry (PS-MS) for on-site harm reduction drug checking and illicit supply surveillance
No full textThis article was originally published as: Zarkovi, T.M., Abruzzi, L.R., Kielty, C., Wallace, B., Hore, D.K., & Gill, C.G. (2025). Advances in paper spray mass spectrometry (PS-MS) for on-site harm reduction drug checking and illicit supply surveillance. AppliedChem, 5(4), Article 36. https://doi.org/10.3390/appliedchem5040036Harm reduction drug checking utilizing paper spray mass spectrometry (PS-MS) has been the focus of ongoing research since 2017 and has seen many refinements. The presented work is the result of this research and has led to the public-facing PS-MS use for on-site drug checking in Victoria, BC. Included are the improved methods and approaches required to develop and implement PS-MS as an on-site drug checking technology. Critical details regarding appropriate direct mass spectrometry tune and calibration suites required to avoid isobaric interferences, calibration details, quality control strategies, detailed MS scan approaches to implement rapid drug tests, as well as future work considerations are presented. The PS-MS method presented currently directly quantifies 107 targeted drugs in a two-minute measurement, and can be easily adapted to include additional new targets that appear in the unregulated drug supply that are detected by either low or high resolution PS-MS. The presented methodologies provide a framework to assist those interested in implementing PS-MS to reduce harms from the toxic drug supply, but will have value for those developing rapid, quantitative drug testing for other applications.This research was funded by a Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Discovery Grant (RGPIN-2021-02981) and a New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRFE-2022-00886). Additional support and contributions were made by the Vancouver Foundation (F0120-5607), BC Ministry of Health, and the Island Health Authority. Infrastructure funding was provided by the BC Ministry of Health and the Canadian Foundation for Innovation: John R. Evans Leaders Fund & British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund (CFI 40274)
Fostering artists through choice: an approach to middle school visual arts education
No full textFostering Artists through Choice: An Approach to Middle School Visual Arts Education explores how integrating choice-based visual arts instruction with core principles of Montessori pedagogy can enhance student engagement and autonomy in middle school art classrooms. Grounded in the belief that young adolescents thrive when given meaningful choices in their learning, this thesis examines the intersection of learner-directed artmaking and Montessori’s emphasis on independence, grace and courtesy, and prepared environments. Through a project-based approach, the study culminates in the development of a practical teacher tool designed to support educators in implementing greater student choice within visual arts curricula. This tool aims to empower teachers to create classroom environments that nurture creativity, agency, and sustained artistic inquiry through a series of 21 short video lessons. Ultimately, this work contributes to the growing conversation around student-centered art education and the transformative potential of choice in fostering lifelong artistic engagement
Developing an Indigenous Tourism Course: Indigenizing Curriculum through Participatory Action Research
No full text2025This research documents a Participatory Action Research (PAR) project that supported the development of a new Indigenous Tourism course within the Master of Arts in Tourism Management (MATM) program at Royal Roads University (RRU). Guided by principles of Indigenous Resurgence (Simpson, 2011) and anti-racist education (Dei 1996, 2000), the study explored collaborative models for co-constructing curriculum that decolonizes tourism education and reflects aspirations on Indigenization of education.The project was conducted in partnership with Indigenous scholar and curriculum developer Jasmine Feather Dionne, MATM Program Head Rebecca Wilson-Mah, and the researcher, with valuable contributions from Indigenous educators, subject matter experts, and representatives of Destination British Columbia. Semi-structured interviews conducted with emerging Indigenous scholars at RRU and non-Indigenous MATM faculty, as well as with an Indigenous tourism industry expert were analyzed using Deductive Qualitative Analysis (DQA), which combined theory-informed constructs with openness to emergent insights (Fife & Gossner, 2024).
Six themes were identified: history and experiences of the land; Indigenous cultures and representation; governance and economies; Indigenous ways of teaching and learning; profiling Indigenous tourism businesses; and pedagogy for Indigenous business profiling. DQA allowed to capture three more emergent themes: local and global context; Indigenization out of time; and legacy of tourism. Together, these findings emphasized the importance of situating curriculum in land-based histories, respecting cultural protocols, promoting Indigenous governance and economic autonomy, and treating Indigenous tourism businesses as co-educators through relational, experiential, and storytelling pedagogies.
The study concludes that Indigenizing curriculum requires sustained institutional commitment, increased Indigenous faculty representation, and accountability for long-term collaboration with Indigenous communities and businesses. By documenting this process, the research contributes to scholarship on Indigenous tourism education and decolonizing education, offering a model for PAR-based curriculum design as both an educational and ethical act that supports Indigenous sovereignty and self-determined futures
Opinion: University's offerings full of holes after budget cuts
No full textThis article was originally published as: Alexander, D. (2025, July 10). Opinion: University's offerings full of holes after budget cuts. Nanaimo News Bulletin. https://nanaimobulletin.com/2025/07/10/opinion-universitys-offerings-full-of-holes-after-budget-cuts/An opinion piece regarding budget cuts at Vancouver Island University
Weaving Concepts and Competencies for Dialectical Leadership
No full text2025This first-person thesis explores the research question: How might practising dialectical thinking enhance my leadership practice? Using a first-person action research methodology, I employed reflexive journaling, semistructured interviews with feedback participants, and arts-based methods to examine the complex conditions I face as a leader and how I might develop my capacity for dialectical thinking. In adherence with Royal Roads University’s research requirements this study draws from my personal experiences, reflections, observations, and participant discussions. Key findings include balancing dichotomies and polarities expanded my sense of possibility, applying dialectical thinking heightened internal tensions, dialogue revealed new options amid uncertainty, transparency disrupts inequities and fosters trust, and practising dialectical thinking was difficult when under pressure. Based on these findings, my recommendations are to prepare for dialectical thinking through foundational competency and capacity building and learn the concepts associated with dialectical thinking through a scaffolded model
A Comparison of Biotic and Abiotic Components Between a Spring-Fed and a Predominantly Lake-Fed Creek on Southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia
No full text2025This study compares biotic and abiotic components between a spring-fed and a predominantly lake-fed creek on Southern Vancouver Island. Colwood Creek flows through a subdivision, golf course, forest and along a highway. Hatley Creek is spring-fed and flows through forest. Sediment, Western Skunk Cabbage (Lysichiton americanus), invertebrates, water quality and discharge were sampled over a one-year period. Sediment and plant samples were analysed using X-ray Fluorescence for arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, mercury, nickel, lead, and zinc. Results showed that the contamination level of heavy metals in Colwood Creek is low, though one site had sediment quality guideline exceedances for arsenic, cadmium, lead, nickel and zinc. Arsenic, cadmium, copper, nickel, lead and zinc concentrations are likely increased by anthropogenic activities, as higher concentrations were found at sites close to subdivisions and highways. Significant differences were found between locations for copper, nickel, lead and zinc in sediment, and zinc in skunk cabbage
Evaluating emergency care accessibility on Vancouver Island: A GIS-based approach
No full textThis research used a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) network analysis methodology to formally assess spatial equity in emergency medical services on Vancouver Island. By leveraging publicly available data, the study constructed travel-time catchments for eleven existing Emergency Departments and thirty-four ambulance stations for 836,543 residents dispersed over 124 populated census subdivisions through the application of Closest Facility, Service Area, and Location Allocation analyses. The findings suggest that while new Emergency Departments can improve access, broader strategies such as urgent care centers, mobile clinics, air ambulances, and telehealth are needed for remote populations. This study demonstrates the value of GIS in guiding healthcare planning and balancing efficiency with equity
Enhancing Misinformation Response in Local Government Communication: A Systems Inquiry with the Alberta Municipal Communicators Association
No full text2025This thesis examined how the Alberta Municipal Communicators Association (AMC) can strengthen its members’ ability to identify and respond to misinformation in municipal contexts. Guided by Appreciative Inquiry and informed by systems thinking, the study used a mixed-methods approach that included an online survey (n=101) and focus groups with communication professionals. Key findings revealed limited access to formal training, inconsistent leadership support, psychological strain among practitioners, and underutilization of artificial intelligence tools. Participants emphasized the value of peer networks, adaptive support systems, and strategic alignment across municipalities. The study recommends enhanced training, leadership engagement, AI integration, and knowledge-sharing mechanisms to improve municipal misinformation resilience. By incorporating Indigenous ways of knowing and prioritizing relational accountability, the findings contribute to trust-building and systemic learning within Alberta’s public sector communications. This research offers practical pathways for AMC to elevate member capacity while fostering more transparent and responsive governance
Exploring the Phenomenon of “Superficial Appreciation” in Tourism
No full text2025The research examines at how digital tourism encourages superficial appreciation, in which tourists prioritize visual elements over cultural or historical characteristics, motivated mostly by posts on social media sites such as Instagram and Facebook. The research combines Social Influence Theory (Kelman, 1958), the Tourist Gaze theory (Urry & Larsen, 2011), and Authenticity (Wang, 1999) principles to investigate the impact of visual framing by social media influencers on visitor experiences and activities. The study used qualitative approaches, including 16 semi-structured interviews, an analysis of 200 social media posts, and 100 hours of digital observation. According to research, posts that are solely focused on aesthetics lead to superficial interactions with heritage, which lead to commercialization and cultural significance degradation. Tourism stakeholders might profit from the research's practical techniques, which include ethical interactions with influencers, purposeful storytelling, hybrid digital tools, and new engagement metrics. The recommended techniques help to promote both genuine cultural representation and sustainable tourist practices. The study contributes vital insights to conversations about social media's impact on tourism and offers techniques for protecting cultural assets in our growing digital ecosystem, which is defined by visual and performative content.
Keywords: , ,, Social Media, Cultural tourism, Tourist gaze, Instagrammabilit