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Measuring tourism impacts: the critical role of residents' perceptions and sentiments
No full textOvertourism has become a growing concern in many tourism-dependent destinations worldwide, leading to environmental degradation, rising costs of living, and conflict between residents and visitors. In Canada, tourism plays a crucial role in the economy, with popular destinations like Tofino experiencing significant visitor influx, particularly during peak seasons. While tourism brings economic benefits, its impacts on local communities remain a subject of debate. This study examines residents' perceptions of tourism impacts in Tofino and highlights the importance of incorporating these perceptions into tourism planning and policy. By comparing subjective perceptions with objective tourism data, this research aims to identify potential gaps and provide insights into how tourism development affects the local community. A quantitative survey was conducted to assess residents' views on tourism's environmental, economic, and sociocultural impacts. The study also explored residents' perceived level of involvement in tourism decision-making. The results indicated that while residents recognized tourism’s economic contributions and its role in conservation efforts, concerns persisted regarding environmental degradation, increased costs of living, housing affordability, traffic congestion, and seasonal overcrowding. Additionally, many residents felt not actively involved in tourism planning processes, raising questions about transparency and engagement. However, it is important to note that the results cannot be generalized due to the sample size. Findings suggest the need for improved communication between tourism organizations and residents. This research highlights the significance of aligning tourism development with community interests to foster a more sustainable and inclusive tourism industry
Segmenting visitor behaviour in the Comox Valley: a comparative analysis of purpose-based Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR) and holiday tourists
No full textThis study compares the behaviour of Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR) tourists with holiday tourists in the Comox Valley region, British Columbia. Drawing on General Consumer Behaviour Theory, Expected Utility Theory with Utility Maximization Model, and Distance Decay Theory, the research tests five hypotheses concerning activity preferences, accommodation choice, likelihood of recommending the destination, transport mode, and temporal patterns of travel. Findings reveal a divergent accommodation preference pattern. 58.6 % of VFR visitors relied exclusively on non‑commercial accommodation versus 8.7 % of holiday tourists (χ² = 62.18, p < .001). Importance ratings for certain outdoor activities also differed, indicating that the two segments value the destination’s recreational offerings in subtly different ways. By contrast, segments did not differ significantly in Net Promoter Score categories, main transportation mode, overall trip nights (t = –1.03, p = .304), or the allocation of time spent in certain destination. In summary, the findings suggest that in the Comox Valley region the behavioural differences between the two groups of tourists are not dramatic. The different lodging choices may be due to the fact that utility attainment for VFR visitors relied on social bonds rather than the experience of traveling. In contrast, the convergence of trip length, mode of transportation, and satisfaction with Comox Valley region suggests that all short-haul tourists in this context of Comox Valley region may share common constraints. Therefore, local DMOs should target short-haul tourists in BC with packages that promote social bonding-oriented travel and relevant information about local communities, as well as avoid assuming large behavioural differences when designing transportation or length-of-stay programs for the broader tourist market
Leveraging DEI to Enhance Collective Creativity and Organizational Learning at Jiva Consulting
No full text2026This thesis explores how diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) can support the learning organization at Jiva Consulting, a small Calgary-based firm specializing in knowledge transfer within the energy industry. Grounded in a constructivist paradigm and guided by Appreciative Inquiry methodology, the research engaged current Jiva team members through a focus group, semi-structured interviews, and a collaborative dissemination process. The inquiry was guided by the central question: How might DEI be leveraged to enhance collective creativity and support Jiva Consulting as a learning organization? Six findings emerged, highlighting the importance of intentional DEI practices, distributed leadership, psychological safety, curiosity, vulnerability, and the influence of early socialization on equity values. These findings informed a set of prioritized, participant-informed recommendations designed to integrate DEI more deeply into Jiva’s organizational strategy, team dynamics, and learning systems. Key conclusions emphasized the importance of cultural alignment, shared accountability, and reflective leadership practices in sustaining DEI momentum. The inquiry also surfaced broader personal and systemic themes, including the emotional labour of inclusion, the role of family in shaping equity values, and the complexity of hiring for difference. Through this process, DEI was affirmed not as a discrete initiative, but as a relational and evolving practice embedded in how people learn, lead, and belong together. The thesis concludes with reflections on learning as ceremony, the role of community, and the possibility that meaningful change begins not with knowing, but with curiosity and care
ATR Process Geomatics: Process, Content, and Style
No full text2025This portfolio dissertation examines the Addition to Reserve (ATR) for new reserve land parcel recovery within the Indian Act and other land management regimes applying to First Nations in Canada. The three portfolio papers explore a land-based geomatics data perspective, exploring its process, data practice, and process history-engagement style. The ATR process geomatics is an emerging topic that has moved to a digital post-counter mapping practice, with land title transfer factors outlined in the portfolio. The findings illustrate the importance of understanding complex ATR land transfer geomatics topics for all First Nations, and showing that a two-eyed seeing data protocol is required in the updated reserve lands transfer program and practice. A. A policy brief on the ATR process (policy and geomatics practice critique)B. A practice primer on the ATR process (on geomatics practice and the ATR process data)
C. Two-eyed seeing ATR process geomatics: enabling Canada's land back program, all ATR outcomes and geomatics practice needs (journal article on ATR history & practice style). The suggested study structure for the portfolio dissertation utilizes:• Synthesis essay (a guide to the portfolio dissertation)
• Policy brief (bibliography specific to the paper)
• Practice paper (bibliography specific to the paper)
• Journal article (bibliography specific to the article)
• Appendices (including specific bibliography to each appendix as needed
Car-free street initiatives: Exploring perceptions towards a night market event in Nanaimo, British Columbia
No full textCar-free street initiatives, whether through temporary street closures for car-free days, Sunday streets, summer streets, night markets and special events, or permanent closures that restrict vehicles altogether, are part of a growing movement in cities worldwide to prioritize people over vehicles. However, cities have also faced challenging times in recent years as recovery from the pandemic continues, in addition to changing consumer habits, rising interest rates and growing social challenges like increased cost of living, a growing unhoused population and illicit drug use. This thesis explores perceptions toward a night market event in Nanaimo, British Columbia. Research for this thesis utilized a mixed-methods approach to examine perceptions toward car-free street initiatives among residents, business owners, planning and transportation professionals, senior administrative officials, and local organizations. Research also assessed the impact of the night market event on businesses and the willingness to support more car free initiatives in the city. Findings showed that while perceptions of downtown Nanaimo were generally positive, public perception could be further improved by enhancing public spaces and hosting more events and activities. There was strong support for expanding car-free initiatives, particularly a Sunday street closure and temporarily restricting vehicle access on Commercial Street. Support also existed for a permanent street closure, provided an incremental approach to implementation was considered and adequate resources and funding were secured to ensure long-term success. Current and future car-free street initiatives in the city can serve as trial periods or pilot projects for potential long-term street closures.Thesis 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
360º/VR Video Storytelling As Seen Through the Lens of the Narrative Paradigm
No full text2025This research delves into the innovative intersection of 360-degree /Virtual Reality(360º/VR) technology and documentary storytelling, specifically focusing on the historical narrative of Hatley Park National Historic Site, as interpreted through Walter Fisher's narrative theory. At its core, the study addresses three pivotal questions: How effectively can 360º/VR serve as a medium for immersive storytelling? What role does narrative rationality play in shaping the story within this medium? How does the final product navigate the technical and aesthetic challenges inherent to 360º/VR while staying true to narrative principles? The first phase of the research involved the creation of a 360º/VR video, titled Hatley Park VR (hereafter referred to as the film). The film was designed for VR headset viewing, aiming to immerse audiences in the story and explore how this medium presents compelling narratives. In the second phase, individual participants evaluated the effectiveness of 360/VR as a communication tool, focusing on its ability to foster these storytelling qualities and test the outcomes. Viewers' perceptions of this approach were examined by applying Fisher's concepts of narrative coherence and fidelity. It was found that viewers became actively involved in the scenes that sparked memories of a person, a place, or an event from their past, or that they wanted to experience in the future. Viewers’ emotional responses revealed a strong connection to the film
WIP: Comparing persistence in engineering education between direct entry and transfer students using a comprehensive survey tool
No full text© 2025 American Society for Engineering Education. This paper was originally published as: Dick, B. & Sjoerdsma, M. (2025). WIP: Comparing persistence in engineering education between direct entry and transfer students using a comprehensive survey tool [Paper presentation]. 2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition. https://peer.asee.org/57361 Conference paper: 2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition. Location: Montreal, Quebec. Conference dates: June 22-25, 2025.The purpose of this interactive poster is to provide, analyze, and contrast the demography and experience of first-year engineering transfer students within the college and teaching intensive university sector compared to direct entry engineering students at a medium-sized comprehensive research university offering undergraduate and graduate engineering degrees. In earlier work, the development of a survey instrument aimed to broadly capture the engineering student experience from entry to first-year through graduation was described. Here, defined and open-ended survey questions - coded as addressing autonomy, competency, or relatedness to align with the self-determination theory (SDT) framework - provided a broader contextualization of student experience than typically is captured. This preliminary work suggested student engagement with the survey may diminish with time spent responding to questions and/or the question content (e.g. when asked about gender identity or sexual orientation). The results supported other research that suggested student experience is impacted by their identity. In the present work, the usage of the survey instrument has been expanded to capture first-year engineering transfer programs at several colleges and teaching intensive universities within the British Columbia transfer system. Their responses are contrasted with direct entry students within the Schools of Engineering Science, Mechatronics Systems Engineering, and Sustainable Energy Engineering at Simon Fraser University, a receiving partner for these transfer programs. The results articulate the differences and similarities between the demographics and experience of each cohort, identify transfer barriers and suggest enhancement opportunities, and support work to develop resources for engineering programs that enhance equity, allyship, and representation.Conference session - First-Year Programs Division (FPD) Work-in-Progress 3: Integration of Math, Computing, and AI in First-Year CoursesFunding support has been provided through Vancouver Island University’s Inquiry and Time-Release grants
Alignment and Impact: A Comparative Analysis of NATO’s Women, Peace, and Security Policies and National Action Plans in Canada, Poland, and Greece
No full text2025In 2000, United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 was created, demonstrating a collective global commitment towards women’s rights in conflict. This watershed moment resulted in nine subsequent resolutions labelled the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, which numerous regional organizations and countries have adapted for themselves. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) released their first policy on WPS in 2009 and numerous additional policies, 25 of which are included within this comparative policy evaluation analysis. The primary mechanism, as dictated by UNSCR 2242, at the member-state level for WPS implementation is the National Action Plan (NAP). This study examines how NATO's WPS policies are reflected in the National Action Plans (NAPs) of member states, focusing on Canada, Poland, and Greece due to their varied political ideologies. This research shows a substantial alignment of policies between the member states and NATO, reinforcing a Western normative discourse
From Right-of-Way to Recovery: Challenges and Opportunities in Pipeline Right-of-Way Restoration in Northeast British Columbia
No full text2025Driven by global oil and gas demand, industrial development in Northeast British Columbia has significantly fragmented the boreal forest ecosystem, with pipeline right-of-way being a key contributor. Regulatory frameworks, critical for shaping restoration outcomes, remain fragmented and inconsistent. This study examined how the current regulatory framework influences ecological restoration for pipeline right-of-way in the region. Through document analysis and key informant interviews, the research identified regulatory gaps, compliance challenges, and barriers to effective restoration efforts along these linear anthropogenic impacts. Findings highlight where, in the absence of a cohesive regulatory framework, permit holders employ inconsistent methods, with many meeting minimal compliance standards rather than achieving meaningful ecological recovery. Increased regulatory clarity, effective assessment mechanisms, and improved knowledge-sharing networks could enhance restoration outcomes. Addressing barriers through policy reform, region specific-research, and collaborative engagement is essential for supporting long-term ecological resilience in Northeast British Columbia’s boreal forests
VIU Library Collections Spend Breakdown 2023-24
No full textA list of VIU Library collections-related expenses by format, acquisition model, and individual products. This includes data for fiscal year 2023-24.A list of VIU Library collections-related expenses by format, acquisition model, and individual products. This includes data for fiscal year 2023-24