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The act of creation: an exploration of transgender possibilities in Paradise Lost through pottery
No full textWinning essay - English Department Competition 2022-2023Winning essay - ENGL 34
Understanding emergency medicine physician leadership within the Saskatchewan Health Authority
No full textThis thesis explores the qualities that support Emergency Medicine (EM) physicians’ leadership work and how the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) may better support, learn from, and leverage their knowledge and skills. EM physicians in Saskatchewan who also held physician leadership roles within the SHA or the College of Medicine were randomly selected to participate in semi-structured interviews and focus groups conducted by the principal investigator. The themes explored included EM physicians’ clinical experiences and how these affected their physician leadership roles. EM physician leaders were asked about their leadership journeys, their experiences of leadership support or mentorship, any overlap they might identify between ER physicians’ clinical skills and leadership roles, and shift work and remuneration. Based on the study findings and conclusions, the research recommends that the SHA (a) should recruit EM physicians for leadership positions to bring EM insights and decision-making abilities into a variety of healthcare administrative roles, (b) leverage the knowledge EM physicians have gained from broad clinical exposure to the health care system, (c) consider a fair remuneration package for EM physicians when they enter a physician leadership role, and (d) establish mentorship for new EM physician leaders
Introducing interdisciplinary curricula into conservation biology: Exploring changes in students' perceived proenvironmental attitudes and behaviors
No full textThis is a copy of an article that was originally published as: Janes, J. & McCunn, L.J. (2022). Introducing interdisciplinary curricula into conservation biology: Exploring changes in students' perceived proenvironmental attitudes and behaviors. Journal of Educational Research & Practice, 12(1), 25-277. https://doi.org/10.5590/JERAP.2022.12.1.18Today, conserving the natural environment is paramount. Educators have been striving to develop pedagogical approaches that facilitate greater engagement in conservation behaviors. However, many of these reforms have been targeted at an institutional level, without necessarily testing whether changes in proenvironmental perceptions, attitudes, or behaviors occur for students. This step seems important when developing conservation biology courses that provide well-rounded education that may better prepare students for future challenges in biodiverse conservation contexts. Our objective was to assess the proenvironmental attitudes and conservation values of undergraduate students enrolled in an undergraduate conservation biology course before and after instruction to determine whether a multidisciplinary curriculum, in conjunction with traditional conservation biology content, would alter their perceptions. Students in both the control and intervention groups felt relatively neutral about a range of environmental and conservation topics. No statistical significance between curricula and impact on student perception was revealed. However, in the experimental course, shifts were found concerning students’ understanding of the complexity of conservation. Results also highlight longstanding issues related to conservation education, such as a bias toward mammal conservation, and suggest that guest lectures are insufficient to bring about attitude change related to sustainability. Further research on incorporating cross-disciplinary pedagogy into STEM courses is recommended.https://viurrspace.ca/bitstream/handle/10613/26909/JanesMcCunn.pdf?sequence=
Is ecofeminism the answer?: An altenative perspective for a more sustainable and equitable climate action plan
No full textClimate change has become one of the most formidable challenges in the twenty first century. Mitigation and adaptation climate action plans are designed to reduce the consequences of climate change; however, these plans fail to address the resulting impacts of a changing climate on vulnerable populations. As the focus of climate action plans tends to be on the economic and environmental impacts of global warming, this research seeks to examine an ecofeminist perspective to provide a framework for how climate change action can be better developed and addressed through a more inclusive and holistic lens. The methodology for this research involves a secondary research approach that utilizes qualitative data analysis. This data will be primarily derived from a review of the literature, and an examination of current thinking within climate change policy. A framework is proposed to set out the essential considerations of climate change planning from an ecofeminist perspective.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
Psychological safety in high-performance sport
No full textThe purpose of this action-oriented research was to evaluate the current state of psychological safety within Rugby Canada’s Women’s 7s team and provide actionable recommendations to create change. The inquiry question was: How might Rugby Canada foster a more psychologically safe sport environment? A survey and a focus group were the methods used to delve into the inquiry question, which adhered to the Royal Roads University Research Ethics Policy. The findings revealed the presence of a hierarchical environment, maltreatment, grooming, fear of failure, and the athletes’ need for a safer environment. Further, the results supported the recommendations in service of Rugby Canada’s need to prioritize the psychological safety of their athletes through the implementation of new member onboarding, clear selection guidelines, support for the coach-athlete partnership, and providing athletes with a safe platform to share feedback
Variability in the unregulated opioid market in the context of extreme rates of overdose
No full textThis article was originally published as: Larnder, A., Saatchi, A., Borden, S.A., Moa, B., Gill, C.G., Wallace, B., & Hore, D. (2022). Variability in the unregulated opioid market in the context of extreme rates of overdose. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 235, 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109427Background: Drug checking uses analytical chemistry technologies to report on the composition of drugs from
the unregulated market to reduce substance use-related risks, while additionally allowing for monitoring and
reporting of the supply. In the context of an overdose crisis linked to fentanyl, we used drug checking data to
examine variability within the illicit opioid supply.
Methods: In this time-series analysis, data was collected from a drug checking service in Victoria, Canada from
November 2020 to July 2021. Drugs reported as opioids by participants of the service (N = 454) were analyzed
to determine sample composition and paper spray mass spectroscopy was used to quantify low-concentration
actives. Interquartile and statistical process control (SPC) analysis, namely standard deviation control charts,
were used to examine the degree of variability among samples.
Results: Fentanyl was found in 96% of samples reported to be opioids, with a median concentration of 9%.
Concentrations varied significantly, with a standard deviation of 7% for fentanyl and where nearly 20% of data
points fell outside the control limits. Over half of the samples contained an additional and unexpected active,
most commonly etizolam (43% of samples). Etizolam also showed a large level of variability, uncorrelated to that
of fentanyl.
Conclusions: Based on our chemical quantification and SPC analysis, a high degree of variability was found in
opioid samples from the unregulated market in both the drugs detected and the concentrations of those drugs.
This demonstrated the opioid crisis to be less attributable to a bad batch of drugs but rather the general variability
found in the unregulated market.https://viurrspace.ca/bitstream/handle/10613/25742/Gill2022.pdf?sequence=3This work was supported by a grant from the Health Canada Substance
Use and Addictions Program, with additional support from the
Vancouver Foundation. PS–MS operation and consumables were
partially funded by the Vancouver Island University Research and
Scholarly Activity Fund and supplies graciously donated by Thermo
Fisher Scientific
In sight : MOVING Filipino Canadians into leadership?
No full textMy dissertation by portfolio introduces a practical framework outlining how Filipino Canadians (FC) can move into elected government positions (using MOVER as an acronym for the multistage process). Although FC are one of the largest and the fastest-growing visible minority ethnicity, they have not been stepping into public leadership positions at any level. Past research looks at FC as marginalized, and looks at structural barriers as reasons why FC are not represented in government. As an FC entrepreneur myself, in collaboration with fellow FC entrepreneurs, I used both narrative analysis and Participatory Action Research (PAR) to tell a different story - one where FC are empowered to run for elected leadership positions. A former broadcaster, I video recorded multiple “Curiosity Conversations” to produce a documentary to be posted on YouTube, and a video example of a “TED”-like Talk to invite FC, the Filipino diaspora, and the general public into conversation. Most importantly, as a final part of the dissertation project, I also wrote a journal article manuscript to elevate the credibility of this research within academia. The main findings: there is an identification process such that entrepreneurs need to see themselves as leaders; there is an intersection of entrepreneurship and leadership skills so that those who become entrepreneurs have already gained the skills they will need to become political leaders as well; and there is a change at three levels (individual, within the FC community, and society at large).
Keywords: Filipino Canadians, marginalized, empower, entrepreneurs, leadership, government, representatio
Under one roof: Best practices for implementing intergenerational housing initiatives in British Columbia
No full textAs Canada’s population is experiencing a triumphant aging shift, it is critical to ensure adequate resources are in place to accommodate older Canadians. One of these resources includes age-friendly housing opportunities to safely house our senior friends, family, and community members. In addition to older adults, young adults need adequate housing opportunities, especially in British Columbia, where affordable options are difficult to obtain. To address both populations, there are intergenerational housing initiatives that work toward accommodating an aging population, housing affordability, and challenges that coincide with aging, such as social isolation.
This research aims to gain insight into the current context of intergenerational housing initiatives in British Columbia between unrelated younger and older adults, specifically those between the ages of 18-29 and 65 and older. Using this enhanced insight, recommendations of best practices for implementing intergenerational housing initiatives between younger and older adults in British Columbia will be developed. This research works to assist planners, government officials, and housing providers in developing future intergenerational housing initiatives with respect to land use, funding, housing costs, and more.https://viurrspace.ca/bitstream/handle/10613/25767/LowesThesis.pdf?sequence=3Thesis 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
Mentorship in the Royal Canadian Regiment
No full textIn the Canadian Armed Forces, leadership is essential for the conduct of endeavours, which sometimes involve life and death. Consequently, leadership development is important. Mentorship is viewed as a component of leadership and its application is often seen as a long-term way of growing leaders. The Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR) is a unit of the Canadian Army and ostensibly employs mentors. This study sought to answer the question: How might reflection and interactive dialogue on mentorship by various ranks of the Royal Canadian Regiment enhance leadership? The study was conducted using insider action research and relied on interviews and a focus group to achieve data collection. The study adheres to the Royal Roads University Research Ethics Policy as well as the Department of National Defence’s Defence Administrative Orders and Directives on research. The findings highlighted that informal mentorship was variably occurring, however, as access to mentorship was unequal, it was recommended that a formal program be initiated
Descriptions of friendship support in the inclusive classroom
No full textAs educational support for students with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD) shifts from integration to inclusion, the topic of student friendship and social connection, for all students, merits attention. Current literature in the field has identified: perspectives of students with IDD are underrepresented; parents and guardians play a critical role in supporting the development and maintenance of friendship for children with IDD, and their perspectives and knowledge are also underrepresented in the literature as well as in the school setting; students with IDD disproportionately experience friendlessness when compared to their typically developing peers (Frostad & Pijl, 2007; Frostad et al., 2011; Hoffmann et al., 2020; Webster & Carter, 2013). This descriptive research followed a Mixed Methods Explanatory Sequential Design to investigate the question, How is the development of healthy, effective friendships described by students with IDD, their parents, and teachers? Results of this study identified the following themes: 1) Many students with IDD benefit from carefully planned and implemented support to facilitate the development and maintenance of friendships and promote healthy social interaction during unstructured times; 2) Effective friendship support takes time, people, and training; 3) Inclusive friendships are more likely to grow in inclusive environments; 4) Frequent, open, two-way communication among students’ support networks, including students, parents, teachers, administrators, and community partners, can provide important understanding and support for healthy friendships. While not generalizable due to small sample size, results are useful in guiding conversations to improve support and communication practices.https://viurrspace.ca/bitstream/handle/10613/25841/Hough.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=