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An Exploration of the First Nations Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: A Multiple-Case Study of Canadian First Nation Entrepreneurial Support Organizations and their Role in First Nations Entrepreneurship
No full text2024Entrepreneurship serves as a central channel to increase economic activity and express self-determination. However, First Nations entrepreneurship has remained stagnant and well below the national average since 2001. One of the main barriers to First Nations entrepreneurship is access to capital and continued financial and non-financial support. The long-lasting and persisting complexities of the Indian Act and settler-colonialism exacerbate these barriers. Barriers remain despite a plethora of support services offered by First Nations Entrepreneurial Support Organizations (FNESOs). However, First Nations entrepreneurs rarely utilize these services. This study explores why there is an underutilization of FNESO services and supports through information gathering utilizing qualitative semi-structured interviews drawing on 22 participants located across Canada, including FNESO employees and First Nations entrepreneurs. The results are presented via three case studies. This study employs reflexive thematic analysis to identify key themes through the lens of entrepreneurial ecosystem theory and conduct a cross-case analysis of the enabling and constraining factors of First Nations entrepreneurship. The case studies reveal key domains enabling and constraining First Nations entrepreneurship, finance, culture, and support top the list in impacting this form of entrepreneurial support in Canada. A focus on strengthening support of these three elements could, quite possibly, contribute to more FNESOs mobilizing support, therefore strengthening the broader First Nations entrepreneurial support ecosystem
Dungeons & Dragons & professional development: inquiring as to whether, how, and why D&D provides a space in which pedagogical and epistemological beliefs can be explored by educators
Get PDFIn the following thesis, the principal investigator begins an initial exploration into the possibilities of using Dungeons & Dragons as a tool of professional development for educators based on some key anecdotal experiences hinting at its potential. More specifically, this inquiry aims to examine whether using D&D in this way provides a safe and effective space for teacher‘s beliefs and perspectives to be explored, reflected upon, and perhaps even shifted. After grounding the inquiry in academic literature on the subjects of difficult-to-alter teacher beliefs and their importance, the impact of fun and collaboration on education, and some direct research into role-playing as a form of learning, the principal investigator will lead a group of secondary colleagues through several sessions of Dungeons & Dragons while asking them to reflect upon some key educational implications. What the participants report back in their written reflections and a subsequent focus group discussion represents a vast, complex array of reflective thoughts on subjects like the role of the teacher, the role of the student, the role of the classroom, pedagogy, and epistemology. Though this is intended to be just an initial inquiry as to whether further research on this topic is warranted, the depth and quality of the reflection is encouraging enough to provide ample justification to continue this exploration
Born to be Blue? The Constructing of Canadian Police Officers’ Identity
Get PDF2024Police professionals navigate competing conceptions of what it means to be a police officer, giving rise to a unique police identity crisis (Hunt, 2021; Pickett et al., 2022). Given the dynamic nature of personal and professional self-identity, this crisis can be examined through discursive practices involving interaction and storytelling among and by police officers. This research project critically analyzes law enforcement discursive practices and its impact on police officer’s self-identity. It specifically examines how and why discourses are constructed and reinforced within police culture to create the idea of what it means to be a police officer. As well, it considers the opportunities to change the normative discourses of police culture so that the profession becomes more equitable, diverse, and inclusive. The research data informing this dissertation involved semi-structured interviews with 30 police officers from four Canadian police services. Utilizing Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), specifically Fairclough’s (2005) Dialectical-Relations Approach to CDA, the insights provided by the research participants assisted me in making recommendations to address challenges and opportunities for police officers and their organizations to drive change as follows: (1) Police officers and organizations must come to terms and answer whether today’s police officers are guardians or warriors (or both). In this regard, I argue that today’s police officers must be encouraged to build their self-identities based on the guardian model as their “default” lens through which they do their jobs. Self-identity is a driver through which individuals see themselves and act in their personal as well as their professional lives. (Hunter, 2011; Zheng et al., 2022). Given their prime role as law enforcers in democratic societies, police officers will always need to be trained and educated to perform the law enforcement duties sometimes required to ensuring public safety and well-being. However, I posit that the training officers receive in their police academies and organizations, the workplace policies and supervisory oversight under which they operate, and the workplace norms and values that are accepted and promoted throughout the police hierarchal structure must be turned toward the constant promotion of police officers as public servants; as the peoples’ guardians. This contrasts with the continued emphasis in training on a paramilitary enforcement of the law (Ho, 2020; Morgan, 2022), the trend towards the militarization of policing in North America (Phillips, 2016; Cyr et al., 2020), and the glorification of warrior cops in popular culture, (Nichols-Pethick, 2012; Salter, 2014). (2) The deep divide between senior leaders, managers, and police unions must be acknowledged and addressed if meaningful change is to occur. Police unions in North America exert political clout and retain the ability to negotiate effectively on behalf of their members, despite uneasiness among the public for their perceived power (McCormick, 2015; Levin, 2020). Police unions are and are likely to remain important and powerful interest groups within Canadian policing. Given this, effective reform of policing as an institution and any positive change in the self-perception of police officers as guardians as well as warriors will require buy-in from their unions. I argue that police managers and unions leaders must move beyond traditional mistrust and commit to system change because police officers are common members to both groups. (3) Recruitment of new police officers must be seen as the first step to officers’ identity-building, specifically to achieve the goal of diverse police organizations that truly reflect the community. Given the systemic challenges to recruiting from groups that have traditionally felt oppression at the hands of police, it is critically important for police recruitment to both continuously improve the quality of service provided to these communities and place an emphasis in recruiting from diverse communities (Walters et al., 2007). Better alignment of the demographic profile of a police service with the communities it serves is crucially to more effective policing (McMurray et al., 2010) and efforts to attract qualified and diverse candidates for future success, and (4) Police training must shift from a paramilitary to a public service model. The paramilitary model of policing is increasingly under pressure to meet contemporary community safety needs, what Fry and Berkes (1983) called a “misfit” in terms of its ability to meet policing functions in modern society (p. 255). Following Blumberg et al. (2019), I posit that police training that focuses largely on the law or on “perishable skills” such as arrest and control, defensive tactics, driving, and firearms will not assist police officer in developing their identity as one of service to their community (p. 19). A police officer who sees him or herself as a public servant requires training from the academy and on-going through their community service, combining traditional law enforcement skills with the psychological skills that help officers navigate the changing nature of crime and contemporary social challenges to police work. My research findings are presented in the form of a three-part portfolio consisting of an article for a major Canadian peer-reviewed journal, The Journal of Community Safety and Well-being, a White Paper to be presented to the CACP and made available to senior police leaders in Canada, and a seminar syllabus and website that could be delivered through police organizations for internal training of police officers. The findings and recommendations contained in the portfolio should be useful to police leaders, academics, and educators/trainers both within and external to policing, as well as policymakers with an interest in the future of policing as a social service
Play-based peer mentorships in the inclusive early years' classroom
No full textThis single case study aimed to identify a teacher and students’ perceptions and experiences of play-based peer mentorships within the inclusive early years’ classroom environment. Friendship Groups, an evidence-based social competency program, was taught inclusively by the teacher participant to all students. Utilizing a qualitative, naturalistic approach, triangulated evidence was gathered using teacher questionnaires and student group discussion comments, self-reflections, and artistic creations. The results affirmed that students’ perceptions and experiences of play-based peer mentorships were predominantly positive. Both the students and the teacher showed increased awareness of play-based peer mentorships. The students applied and retained the social competency skills they learned. The teacher’s initial concern that students who already have strong social competency skills might not benefit from the program decreased after teaching Friendship Groups inclusively within the classroom. Based on a comprehensive literature review and the findings of this research study, it was recommended that school districts: prioritize collaborative opportunities between teachers and specialists, increase teacher professional development on play-based peer mentorships, and implement inclusively taught social competency programs such as Friendship Groups more broadly
"Invest in the millennium:" Reimagining partnerships with nature in the Long Now
Get PDFThis article was originally published as: Latremouille, J., & Bajer, D. (2024). "Invest in the millennium:" Reimagining partnerships with nature in the Long Now. Holistic Education Review, 4(2).In this article, we consider how we might enter into Partnership with Nature in “The Long Now”— as an ethical, relational and careful (Donald, 2016) response to the often fight/flight/freeze/finance-inducing narratives of our current times of ecological crisis (Latremouille, 2020; Macy, 2014) and profound change. With this in mind, we consider what it might mean to “think like an ecosystem” (Bringhurst, 2018, p. 31) in partnership with nature, in layered, recursive, complex, dialogical, spiralling, emergent and nourishing interdependent relationships
Walking the Path of Humility: White Settler Positionality in Research with Tsartlip First Nation
Get PDF2024With humility and transparency, this thesis offers insight into how white settlers may conduct research “in a good way” with Indigenous communities amongst a dominant colonial system. Through a first-person/organizational inquiry, I explored, as a non-Indigenous leader in Tsartlip First Nation, how my research process reflected the legacies of colonization. After using action research to gather data from First Nations community health centre primary care providers, I shifted my inquiry process to a first-person action research methodology to critically explore my assumptions and perspectives as they related to my initial inquiry. The findings indicate my need to consider the impact of my positionality as a white settler, barriers to doing research “in a good way,” how systemic impacts of colonization shaped my thoughts and actions as a researcher, and challenges faced when seeking to apply the principles of Indigenous research ethics due to dominant Western ways of thinking and doing.Keywords: Indigenous, positionality, humility, safety, researc
Expanding Circular Bioeconomy and Carbon Sequestration in British Columbia
No full text2024In British Columbia (B.C.), there is growing interest in circular bioeconomies and negative emissions technologies in light of provincial emissions reduction targets, and a growing realization that landfills are costly and nearing capacity. This research examined policies, technology and market dynamics from a systems perspective to expand the circular bioeconomy in B.C. by viewing biomass waste as an economic and environmental opportunity to create usable by-products like biochar to reduce landfill methane and lifecycle emissions, create saleable products for local governments through industrial ecologies. A case study was conducted in qathet Regional District, on the Sunshine Coast of B.C., and in the Capital Regional District (CRD), the Greater Victoria area. The research concludes that increased biomass recovery and valorization can be achieved by adopting and expanding circular policy, and that a significant economic opportunity exists in centralized and place-based thermal processing particularly when supported by carbon sequestration
Enhancing pedestrian experience: Exploring community-oriented processes for outdoor dining patios
No full textThe COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted urban landscapes, leading to the implementation of strict public health measures that have challenged traditional parking norms in urban centres. This research focuses on outdoor dining patios on Main and Commercial Street in Vancouver, British Columbia, exploring how private business patios are established in public spaces, such as parking stalls and sidewalks. The study uses a combination of non-participant observation of five patios and semi-structured interviews with five professional practitioners in British Columbia. It aims to answer several questions, such as the specific design outcomes of patios that can be observed on public sidewalks, the interpretation and implementation of design guidelines, the potential of patios as inclusive gathering spaces, their adaptability to changing sidewalk dynamics, and the strategies for equitable design interventions. The research evaluates outdoor dining patios' practical qualities, uses, and societal impacts. Its findings contribute to a better understanding of patios' role in the social fabric of urban environments and provide insights for future urban planning and design interventions.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
Before the Handshake: Wise Practices for the Support of Unpaid Officials in Athletics in Alberta
No full text2024The sport of track and field involves many unpaid volunteers, called officials, who judge and assess athletic performance. In Alberta, Canada, not enough new volunteers are signing up to replace retiring officials. This recruitment gap was the catalyst to explore how Athletics Alberta, the provincial governing body for track and field, might better support the recruitment and retention of sanctioned officials at all levels in Alberta. This research followed a framework of action research engagement. The researcher used focus groups, with an appreciative stance, to engage officials of varying levels in collaborative dialogue to share their experiences of officiating. Reflexive thematic analysis distilled the 88 unique findings into three key themes connected to (a) relationship, (b) motivation, and (c) knowledge. The findings also supported self-determination theory (SDT), as an effective way to understand the motivation of officials and their desire to continue. SDT asserted the importance of autonomy as it relates to human motivation. Further analysis of findings led to a framework of job embeddedness (JE) to reveal why officials devoted their time to officiating long term. In the literature, JE was described as a web or net that connected an employee to their work within an organization. The resulting recommendations provide important considerations for developing long-term volunteer programming
Talking over the waterfront: A qualitative study of Waterfront Toronto’s public engagement practice
Get PDF2024This is a qualitative study of Waterfront Toronto’s (WT) public consultation practice, a hallmark of its work leading the redevelopment of Toronto’s urban waterfront, since 2001. Motivated in part by the absence of similarly focused studies on one of the longest and most sustained public engagement efforts by a public agency in Canada. Data was gathered by interviewing a purposive sample of key informants all of whom participants in, or close observers of WT’s public engagement practice. This is an appreciative though not uncritical ‘insider’ study, one that accepts its adjacency to the research topic. The key informants offered their views on what worked, what was missed and could be improved in the conduct of WT’s public consultation practice. The predominant view being that WT has set the gold standard for public consultation and could serve as model for public agencies to emulate. The key caveat to this positive finding was the issue of adequate inclusion: a question of who is or is not ‘in the room’. It is recommended that deficits of inclusion by remedied by proactive meliorative approach to enhancing outreach, while recognizing the limits of consultation, which is seen as a supplement to, not a replacement for representative democracy