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How cities can lead: Urban nature-based solutions for climate change
No full textThis article was originally published as: Alexander, D. (2025). How cities can lead: Urban nature-based solutions for climate change. Watershed Sentinel, 35(2), 28-29.In the absence of national governments taking decisive action to address the climate crisis, cities are taking the lead to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience with nature-based climate solutions
In Her Own Words: An Experiential Inquiry into Outdoor Adventure Narratives in British Columbia
No full text2025This research explores outdoor adventure narratives, blending insights from outdoor literature and personal lived experience. Using an intuitive inquiry methodology, this study consists of five iterative cycles. In cycle 1 the research topic is selected and refined. Cycle 2 then critically examines paradigmatic texts to identify key themes. These are presented alongside personal statements to create a set of preliminary research lenses. In cycle 3, I undertake a series of solo backpacking trips in British Columbia and report them from an embodied, first-person perspective. Cycle 4 then revisits previously articulated lenses in light of subjective insights gained from cycle 3 to highlight transformations in understanding. Cycle 5 synthesizes the findings and discusses potential relevance for the broader outdoor community. Findings indicate the need to expand upon existent narratives to include diverse voices, particularly those of women and individuals with intersecting identities, to promote inclusivity and representation within the outdoor community
Increased Shipping Activity and Marine Mammals in Baffin Bay and Davis Strait: Developing a Low-Impact Shipping Corridor.
No full text2025As the Canadian Arctic warms at a rate far surpassing the global average, the changing sea ice regime invites increased development and shipping activity. This increased activity introduces greater anthropogenic pressures on cetaceans, resulting in increased risk of strikes, behavioural disturbances, and other negative impacts. The Canadian waters of Baffin Bay and Davis Strait are experiencing this increased vessel traffic as part of the Northwest Passage. Managing these worsening impacts is of the utmost importance to preserve the sensitive ecosystem of the Canadian Arctic. This thesis explores how increasing vessel traffic trends are overlapping with cetacean distributions and assesses the placement of a low-impact shipping corridor aiming to reduce this overlap. The low-impact corridor is compared to an existing shipping corridor that did not account for ecological inputs. The outcomes of this work and the identified low-impact corridor can be used to inform sustainable development in the Canadian Arctic
Intimate Partner Violence and Its Influential Factors: Men Who Turn to Physical Violence
No full text2025Abstract Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive problem in Canada. The rates of men who turn to physical IPV towards their female partners are higher than for any other couple relationship. Most studies to date focus on victim/survivor experiences and do not explore IPV by understanding the experiences of men who have perpetrated the physical IPV, leaving a gap as to why this turn occurs. This socio-ecological study explores the influential factors in five overarching determinants for men at risk of turning to physical IPV: intrapersonal, interpersonal, environmental, organizational, and policy. One-on-one interviews were conducted with eight facilitators of IPV-mandated treatment programs for men who had been charged with assault on an intimate partner. The insights provided by the facilitators were based on their recall of group setting scenarios including dialogue, individual interactions with group members, and facilitators’ overall professional knowledge of IPV. Through a socio-ecological theoretical framework, influential factors on physical IPV are identified, showing that both organizational and policy determinants have an important role for those at risk and most definitely have failed to offer adequate interventions before IPV tendencies begin to emerge. The data also revealed that the more influential factors increase, the higher the likelihood of a man turning to physical IPV. I offer recommendations to call for government and stakeholders alike to fund early intervention programming and support families struggling with all types of IPV. Early intervention provides young people the opportunity to choose a different way to behave, reduce toxic stress, and lower the impact of adverse childhood experiences by inserting protective factors into their lives
Beyond Violence: Towards Equity and Safety in Canada’s Work Camps
No full text2025This research explores the relationship between industrial work camps and sexualized violence in Canada. Based on qualitative interviews with individuals working in these environments and subject matter experts, it aims to shed light on the challenges faced by women in industrial work camps and provide recommendations for effective mitigation measures. This study strives to contribute to systemic change in these environments by addressing gaps in safety and equity. The study also aims to inform policymakers, industry stakeholders, and workers on practical ways to enhance safety and well-being in these work camps
Living in a good place: Breaking down barriers to cohousing development on Vancouver Island
No full textCohousing is an alternative housing form, often described as a type of intentional community that combines the privacy of individual dwellings, which include kitchens and bathrooms, with the benefits of shared spaces, such as common rooms, gardens or play areas. Cohousing development is typically led by a group of people interested in living together through a participatory process and shared decision-making. As an innovative housing option that is designed to encourage social connection, resource-sharing, and mutual support, cohousing could help to address societal challenges such as social isolation, demographic changes, and even climate change. However, cohousing communities are relatively rare in Canada, and are not generally considered an affordable housing solution. Through several focus groups with cohousing residents and advocates, planners, and consultants, as well as a public survey, this research explores existing barriers to cohousing development in the context of Vancouver Island. The research also situates the opportunities cohousing can provide considering current societal issues. Finally, recommendations are made on how barriers to cohousing development can be removed by municipal, provincial, and federal governments, financial institutions and funders, developers, and community planners.Thesis/major project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Community Planning in the Department of Community Planning, Faculty of Social Sciences, Vancouver Island University
Chemistry vs. compensation: Comparing integrated respiratory-renal 3 responses between acute inspired normobaric hypoxia vs. sustained 4 hypobaric hypoxia
No full textThis is an Accepted Manuscript version of an article that was originally published as: Johnson, N.A., Strzalkowski, N.D.J., Russell, M.K., Clermont, C.A., Demarty, J.M., Transfiguracion, L.C., Horton, J.F., Asmussen, M.J., & Day, T.D. (2025). Chemistry vs. compensation: Comparing integrated respiratory-renal 3 responses between acute inspired normobaric hypoxia vs. sustained 4 hypobaric hypoxia. Journal of Applied Physiology. https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.01014.2024During acute exposure to hypoxia, peripheral respiratory chemoreceptors detect decreases in blood oxygenation, eliciting a hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR), which is enhanced with the duration and intensity of exposure (ventilatory acclimatization). The HVR protects oxygenation, but a secondary consequence is the elimination of PaCO2, resulting acutely in hypocapnia and respiratory alkalosis. With sustained exposure to hypobaric hypoxic conditions (e.g., high altitude ascent; HA), the renal tubules reduce HCO3- reabsorption and H+ excretion, excreting HCO3 - and retaining H+, returning arterial pHa toward normal values. We aimed to characterize and compare blood oxygenation and acid-base homeostasis between two models of hypoxic exposure with matching PIO2 (~74-76 mmHg): acute hypoxic exposure eliciting an HVR-mediated hypocapnia over 24-min vs. sustained hypoxic-hypocapnia with incremental ascent to HA over 10-days. Using arterial blood draws, we measured PaO2, SaO2, PaCO2, [HCO3 −]a and pHa, obtained before and following (a) acute stepwise reductions in FIO2 for ~24-min, with the last step being an FIO2 of 0.12 (PIO2≅74mmHg) and (b) sustained exposure to hypoxia during incremental ascent to 5,200m over 10-days (PIO2≅76mmHg). We found that (a) acute normobaric hypoxia elicited hypocapnia and respiratory alkalosis, as expected, and (b) after sustained exposure to hypobaric hypoxia, there was persistent alkalosis, despite appreciable renal compensation. These findings highlight the time-course and magnitude of integrated respiratory responses and subsequent renal compensation mounted by the kidneys, specifically that the hypoxia-mediated hypocapnia and respiratory alkalosis experienced at 5,200m is likely beyond the threshold for a full renal compensation in healthy lowlanders.This study was funded in part by an NSERC Discovery Grant (TAD; RGPIN-2016-04915). We are grateful to Polar Electro Oy (Kempele, Finland) for providing funding in support of the data collection utilized in Part A.Accepted manuscrip
Stay, Leave or Wait and See: Determinants of Residents’ Evacuation Behaviours and Protective Actions During the 2023 Bush Creek East Wildfire in British Columbia
No full text2025Wildfires in Canada are increasingly destructive, driven by urban expansion, population growth, and climate change. The steady rise in evacuation orders presents significant challenges for residents and communities. Using an Exploratory Sequential Mixed Methods design, this study identified factors influencing residents’ evacuation behaviours and protective actions during the 2023 Bush Creek East Wildfire in British Columbia. Among 213 participants, evacuation behaviours were shaped by perceived risk, prior experience, personal circumstances, available information, and trust in authorities. The findings call for evacuation policies (and alternatives) that balance public safety with residents' welfare. Future research should explore how demographics, household composition, and residency tenure affect evacuation behaviours across various communities. Policymakers must develop sustainable solutions that embrace local capacities to help mitigate wildfire risks
Blue and green forays into planning for a resilient future: The example of Vancouver
No full textThis article was originally published as: Alexander, D. (2025, December 7). Blue and green forays into planning for a resilient future: The example of Vancouver. Strong Towns Nanaimo. https://www.beautifulnanaimo.ca/posts/2025/12/07/blue-green-planningFrom daylighted streams to car-free rainways, Vancouver's blue-green infrastructure showcases how landscape design, hydrology, and urban resilience converge at street level