VIURRSpace (Royal Roads University and Vancouver Island University)
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An explorative study of resilience among internally displaced Sudanese youth
No full textResilience is a construct commonly cited by humanitarian and disaster management establishments. Despite the construct’s centuries-old multidisciplinary evolution and interpretations, our current perception of resilience is largely informed by Western research. This study sought to contribute to our understanding of resilience by exploring its manifestation in a non-Western society. The study focused on a group of internally displaced youth in Sudan who have experienced political violence and/or natural hazards. Interpretations of resilience from the literature on Disaster and Emergency Management and Developmental Psychology were reviewed and explored. The study employed a generic qualitative research design that included semi-structured interviews with 6 internally displaced participants. Thematic Analysis was the method used for data analysis. Three interrelated umbrella themes were generated and discussed. Findings supported cited resilience frameworks and revealed resilient behaviours that pivoted on two factors, (1) individual attributes, and (2) social resources.
Keywords: Resilience, Sudan, internal displacement, coping mechanisms, religiosity, access to resources, political violence, complex emergency, complex disaste
Hierarchical leadership, ableism and avoidance : coach and administrator conflict in the Canadian para sport system
No full textThe para sport system across Canada is relatively new in relation to the Canadian sport system that serves able bodied participants. Given the relative newness of the system, combined with the inherent ableism and lack of understanding that accompanies disability, all stakeholders, but particularly the athletes, coaches and administrators within the para system, experience substantive and affective conflict that impacts positive progress in the development of the para sport system. This study, using Dugan’s (1996) Nested Theory of Conflict to understand the layers of conflict within the system, and work of Fletcher (2004), Bilal et al. (2019), and Brown (2014) to understand the differences between feminine, post heroic, shared leadership, and masculine, heroic leadership structures, examines the conflict experienced by coaches and administrators in the para sport system
Through participatory action research, coaches and administrators in the Canadian sport system participated in semi structured interviews and a focus group to explore both the conflict they experienced and their ability to respond to it. Ultimately, the study identifies a lack of psychological safety caused by the power dynamics that exist within hierarchical leadership structures as the main contributors to a state of threat and fear for coaches and administrators. Perceived threat and fear, combined with a conflict skillset that is largely centered on avoidance, leaves coaches and administrators with low capacity to advocate for positive adjustments to the para sport system. Future recommendations are to explore the opportunities that exists in shared leadership structures, as well as educational opportunities to impact the conflict skillset of coaches and administrators across the sport system.
An outcome of this project was to create understanding of effective conflict competencies needed by coaches and sport administrators as they navigate the sport system. This research combined with future research contributes to refinements of the Canadian sport development syste
Local ecological knowledge of mountain goats in the Skeena Region of British Columbia and its importance to wildlife management
No full textThe Skeena Region of British Columbia is home to 49% of the province’s mountain goat population. Mountain goats have cultural, economic, and ecological value in the Skeena Region. However, despite continual efforts by the Province to manage the species, many local populations have declined or been extirpated. One blind spot for scientists and managers has been the use and integration of local ecological knowledge (LEK) of experts who frequently interact with and monitor mountain goats. Often mistaken as “anecdotal”, LEK has been overlooked in the role that it could play in localized management programs. I interviewed local experts throughout the Skeena Region, focusing on harvest selection, monitoring practices, observations of local population dynamics and habitat, anthropogenic disturbances, and perceptions of management. My research indicates that local experts have substantial knowledge and expertise that can be incorporated into managerial systems by careful study and analysis using ethnoecological methods (e.g., how to identify experts, how to validate and confirm knowledge, observations, etc.). Most local experts who participated in this study have observed mountain goat declines in the areas they frequent (as observed over decadal scales). Input by local experts, and further study into these areas have found that high harvest rates, growing backcountry recreation, and the effects of climate change could be important factors for these declines
Agency through play: exploring inclusive classrooms through play-based learning and student agency
No full textDesigning learning to foster inclusion, play, and student agency continues to be heavily discussed in education, specifically in early childhood. This qualitative study sought to explore how teachers in inclusive preschool and primary classrooms address student agency through play-based learning? Through focus group methods involving 4 teacher participants, three themes emerged in the data: constraints and barriers (time, teacher control and classroom makeup), student agency encourages student's voice, and educators' experience of delight. Participants of the study shared their experiences and stories which were linked to the literature of the study. Findings suggest that play-based learning can be a valuable aspect of a teacher's practice, although there can be barriers to implementation, teachers who reflected on the inclusive practice of play and student agency found delight in their students and in turn themselves, and teachers who foster student agency in their classrooms were more likely to notice increased verbal and non-verbal communication as a form of agency in their students.https://viurrspace.ca/bitstream/handle/10613/25837/Mrak.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=
Holistic representation in Casey Plett’s “Hazel and Christopher”
No full texthttps://viurrspace.ca/bitstream/handle/10613/26020/Driesen.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=yWinning essay - English Department Competition 2021-2022Winning essay - ENGL 13
VIU Library Collections Spend Breakdown 2021-22
No full textA list of VIU Library collections-related expenses by format, acquisition model, and individual products. This includes data for fiscal year 2021-22.A list of VIU Library collections-related expenses by format, acquisition model, and individual products. This includes data for fiscal year 2021-22
Is the Sea to Sky Gondola Squamish's Gondola?
No full textThe Sea to Sky Gondola plays a vital role in Squamish, B.C.'s tourism ecosystem, and the residents of Squamish are essential stakeholders as customers for the operation. This research applies a stakeholder engagement theory to understand better the perception of the Sea to Sky Gondola to the residents. Semi-structured interviews and a self-administered survey, collecting market research, were applied to gather data related to the community perception of the gondola as well as the relevance of the gondola to the community. The research shows a positive perception that the gondola remains relevant to the residents; however, it also shares suggestions to ensure the Sea to Sky Gondola leadership team does not lose sight of what is essential to the community, especially as it grows and evolves
Achieving co-benefits of climate and biodiversity action in Canadian municipalities
No full textThe deeply interconnected climate and biodiversity crises are driving us to a critical global tipping point. Despite worldwide calls for integrated solutions by international agreements and researchers, climate change and biodiversity loss are too often addressed separately. Interest in and work on nature-based solutions (NbS) is expanding rapidly in response to the need for viable, integrated solutions. Recent research has shown that urban municipalities, at the forefront of addressing these challenges, have started incorporating NbS and integrated approaches. Awareness and interest in NbS have recently been increasing in Canada, but the overall use of NbS and integrated approaches by Canadian municipalities has been undocumented. This research investigated the extent to which large municipalities in Canada (>100,000 population) are implementing NbS to address both climate change and biodiversity loss. Through document analysis and interviews, results show that Canadian municipalities are using NbS to varying degrees with an increasing trend, but the NbS concept and the use of principles and standards is unclear in municipal plans. Some Canadian municipalities are integrating climate and biodiversity planning, but the use of NbS is not always an indicator of integrated practices. Recommendations include the need for common language, and development of a clear NbS concept and approaches in municipal plans. Canadian municipalities need to use principles and standards to guide NbS and ensure measurable biodiversity benefits. They would benefit from increasing forums to share information and experiences in order to increase understanding, address NbS barriers and respond to the urgent need for integrated solutions to climate change and biodiversity loss
Continuous video capture, and pollinia tracking, in Platanthera (Orchidaceae) reveal new insect visitors and potential pollinators
No full textThis article was originally published as: van der Voort, G.E., Gilmore, S.R., Gorrell, J.C., & Janes, J.K. (2022).Continuous video capture, and pollinia tracking, in Platanthera (Orchidaceae) reveal new insect visitors and potential pollinators. PeerJ, 1-21. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13191Orchids often have specific pollinators, which should provide reproductive isolation, yet many produce natural hybrids. Platanthera dilatata and P. stricta differ in floral morphology but often co-occur, overlap in flowering, and are reputed parents of P. xestesii. We used motion-triggered video detection units to monitor floral visitors of P. dilatata and P. stricta on Vancouver Island, Canada. Pollinia removal in P. dilatata was observed using histochemical staining, and cross-pollinations were performed to determine compatibility. From 1,152 h, 753 videos were recorded; 655 contained insects and 91 contained arachnids. Bumblebees, butterflies, and moths removed pollinia from P. dilatata. No pollinia removal was observed from P. stricta. Five videos showed insects moving between Platanthera species. Pollinia removal rates were low. Hand-pollinations resulted in capsule development and seed production. This study adds to the known diversity of insects interacting with these orchids, and highlights regional differences in floral visitors.https://viurrspace.ca/bitstream/handle/10613/25845/Gorrell2022.pdf?sequence=
From overtourism to COVID in Nepal : exploring the relationship between human security and tourism
No full textThe aim of this research is to explore the relationship between human security and tourism in Nepal and use the findings to theorize on post pandemic tourism development. Two key theoretical concepts were used: tourism area life cycle and the human security model. Semi- structured interviews with key informants working in the Nepali tourism provided insights into the relationship. The study findings suggest that tourism impacts the human security of Nepalese populations, providing benefit but also sometimes leading to conflict as defined by Bird (2011). Pre-Covid, the research would have been conducted in the context of overtourism. Carried out during the COVID pandemic, the research was conducted in the context of a loss of employment and earnings. Good governance was found to be key in achieving successful tourism development and human security outcomes, reflective of the need to control growth in order to ensure the best human security outcomes. Tourism was found to share a relationship with human security whereby the two extremes of overtourism and no tourism both decreased human security. However, there are conditions under which tourism is beneficial to human security. Finally, COVID was found to represent a crisis point of tourism in Nepal. While people are hopeful for a return to the benefits accrued by tourism, the future remains uncertain. There is a need for a humanitarian approach with the return of tourism post-COVID, envisaged as hopeful tourism