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The right to housing and well-being: social connectedness as a means to develop quality, publicly-funded housing for the sandwich class
No full textNationally and internationally, legislation defines housing as a human right to ensure dignity and well-
being. However, with increasing costs of housing in Canada, it is instead treated as a speculative commodity.
In cities like Vancouver, this means the sandwich class (too wealthy for social assistance but too impoverished
for market housing) has no decent option. A new model (Income Accessible Housing) is thus proposed in order
to decommodify housing and promote health and well-being so new multi-residential buildings do not repeat
the errors of 20th century mass production of cheap residential units. More specifically, the focus is on social
connectedness, which is paramount to social and mental health, but is too often overlooked. This model involves
government investment and non-profit cooperatives to develop quality publicly-funded housing for the sandwich
class, increasing the availability of housing and incorporating the attributes of ‘good’ housing to foster a healthy
and desirable living environment
The tumour cellular senescence index: quantifying the effect of doxorubicin in inducing senescence in human A2780 ovarian cancer cells
No full textTherapy induced senescence (TIS) refers to senescence caused in cancer cells by anti-cancer agents. Many investigations indicate that TIS may increase invasiveness, survivability, and stemness in tumour cells. The goal of this study was to quantify changes in the expression of senescence-related genes (SRGs) in doxorubicin (DOX)-treated human A2780 cells to compute a tumour Cellular Senescence Index (CSI). Additionally, we examined the relationship between the CSI in DOX-selected cells and their sensitivity to DOX.
Reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) studies revealed that 6 SRGs (PAI1, CDKN1A, MKI67, ANKRD1, MMP1, and MMP3) reproducibly changed expression relative to 3 reference genes (GAPDH, RER1, and RPS28) as cells acquired DOX-induced senescence. Computed CSI values substantially increased as the exposure time to DOX increased. Higher tumour CSI values in DOX-induced senescent cells were found to be associated with increased DOX sensitivity, as seen through increased DOX-induced ribosomal RNA degradation (RNA disruption)
Richmond Hill 2050: reimagining identity and creating community through olympism
No full textThis thesis aims to reimagine Richmond Hill’s identity and create a community as a new and emerging ethnoburb through Olympism. This thesis advocates for applying Olympism as a guiding philosophy in urban development, focusing on its transformative potential within Richmond Hill, an ethnoburb primarily for the Chinese community. Drawing inspiration from Olympism’s broader implications beyond sports and physical activity, this counterproposal challenges the prevailing transit-oriented community (TOD) scheme by Quadrangle, a Toronto architecture firm. While acknowledging the TOD aspect as a significant component,
it positions Olympism as the central theme driving social reform and community cohesion.
By foregrounding Olympism, a philosophy rooted in the pursuit of excellence, education, and unity, this counterproposal offers a distinct approach tailored to Richmond Hill’s unique identity and aspirations. Emphasizing the Chinese community’s cultural values and social dynamics, the proposed master plan integrates Olympism principles into its design,
prioritizing community well-being, cultural identity, and inclusivity. Located at the southern gateway of Richmond Hill along Yonge Street and the 407 beltway, this reimagined urban development serves as a testing ground for applying Olympism in contemporary urban planning. While acknowledging the TOD framework as a practical starting point, this
counterproposal seeks to elevate the discourse by infusing it with the ethos of Olympism, thereby fostering a more authentic and inclusive vision for the future of Richmond Hill.Master of Architecture (M.Arch
Architectures of care: design responses to support unhoused neighbours in Toronto, Ontario
No full textHouselessness is an increasingly critical issue across Canada, affecting over 235,000
people annually. While the COVID-19 pandemic certainly exacerbated the crisis, the
underlying shortcomings of the social safety net have resulted in many community
members falling through the cracks. A stark example is the city of Toronto, where
over 7,000 people go unhoused nightly, with more than 700 of them forced to sleep
on the street. The current sociopolitical system criminalizes poverty and treats
unhoused neighbours with hostility, often culminating in violent evictions from public
spaces. This thesis argues for a paradigm shift towards a culture of care that centres
a Housing First approach to transitional housing and social reintegration. Focusing
on the Trinity Bellwoods neighbourhood, this proposal for a mixed-use supportive
housing development offers phased housing supports and social services as a test case
for a design framework of care ethics that could be applied to other urban sites
Recultivating identity: an agri-urban toolkit for Bradford West Gwillimbury, Ontario
No full textThis thesis explores an identity-based urban/
architectural/economic design Agri-Urban
Toolkit to mitigate the phenomenon of urban
sprawl. Like many growing communities in
Ontario, Bradford West Gwillimbury (BWG) is
at the crossroads of urban development. The
effects of urban sprawl have transformed
many communities into bedroom and
commuter towns. These placeless places have
lost their identity and place memory. This thesis
uncovers BWG’s historical roots and leverages
this understanding to recultivate the town’s
identity. It utilizes an applicable set of place-
based design strategies, or toolkit, to plant
the seeds for economic densification and
create opportunities for sustained community
growth. It contributes to the broader discourse
of sustainable urban development by building
upon previous methods of sprawl mitigation.
This thesis provides a new perspective through
agriculture-based urban/architectural
economic densification and establishes an
inclusive and thriving community.Master of Architecture (M.Arch
Développement des habiletés de pensée critique dans les pratiques pédagogiques des enseignant- e-s universitaires de l’École Normale Supérieure (ENS) d’Abidjan exerçant en formation initiale des futur-e-s intervenant-e-s au secondaire général en République de Côte d'Ivoire.
No full textMalgré un large éventail de définitions et de conceptualisations, le concept de pensée critique
(PC) demeure insuffisamment opérationnalisé dans l’enseignement supérieur (Abrami et al.,
2015b; Bezanilla et al., 2019, 2023a; Dwyer, 2023; Schendel et al., 2023). De plus, peu d’études
fournissent des informations empiriques quant à la manière dont cette compétence est enseignée
ainsi que les représentations et l’attitude des enseignant-e-s universitaires à l’égard de son
développement/enseignement. Cependant, la majorité de ces recherches se concentre dans les
pays membres de l’OCDE (Europe et États-Unis) et en Asie (Antonova et al., 2020). Ainsi, la
réalité du développement de la PC dans les structures de formation initiale des futur-e-s
enseignant-e-s en Afrique subsaharienne est insuffisamment documentée. Or, plusieurs décennies
après l’implémentation du LMD, des pratiques magistrales issus de l’enseignement traditionnel
persistent dans un contexte mondial où la compétence de PC est exigible des formateurs et des
apprenant-e-s.
L’objectif de cette étude est de décrypter l’épistémologie pratique des enseignant-e-s
universitaires de l’ENS d’Abidjan afin de découvrir comment ils conçoivent et développent la
PC. Cette recherche qui abrite deux axes a convoqué une dizaine d’enseignant-e-s universitaires.
Le premier volet a permis de décrire, expliciter et interpréter leurs conceptions de la PC par le
biais des entretiens semi-structurés. Le deuxième utilise l’observation in situ non participante,
ainsi que des entretiens semi-structurés pré et post-classe. Ce privilège rare que nous avons eu de
combiner pratiques déclarées et pratiques effectives des enseignant-e-s a permis d’appréhender
les processus didactico-pédagogiques mis en place en situation réelle.
Les données recueillies ont été analysées, discutées et interprétées à partir d’une approche
qualitative de type herméneutique qui a permis la construction de sens en lien avec le contexte
historique, politique, social et culturel. À l’issue de cette approche, il ressort que les conceptions
de la PC des enseignant-e-s universitaires de l’ENS d’Abidjan, sont riches et variées
conformément aux données de la littérature. En revanche, ils adoptent des stratégies
pédagogiques qui ne développent pas efficacement la PC de leurs étudiants en raison de plusieurs
facteurs institutionnels, socio-historiques et psychologiques.Doctorat en philosophie (PhD) en sciences humaine
Architecture without barriers: creating thoughtful connections within the built environment
No full textThis thesis advocates for a fundamental shift in how
accessibility is approached in architecture, emphasizing its importance
in creating functional, safe, and inclusive spaces. It challenges the
notion that accessibility is a peripheral consideration and advocates
for it to be integral to architectural design from the outset. The current
regulations are criticized for providing insufficient solutions that fail to
create truly welcoming and accessible environments. This thesis calls for
the adoption of universal design principles from various organizations,
aiming to create a more universally accessible environment. The
proposed solution is a universally accessible learning centre located
in Ottawa which serves as a model for thoughtful design, providing
a space where people can gather, learn about aging in place, and
live temporarily. This thesis project aims to create a built environment
that fosters thoughtful connections and enhances the quality of
life for all individuals, regardless of age, size, ability, or disability.Master of Architecture (M.Arch
Resuscitating rural health clinics: building adaptation for rural health hubs in Northern Ontario
No full textIn rural and northern communities, health care clinics face resource limitations
that often result in them adapting existing buildings to suit a medical
program. Health clinics that are placed in repurposed commercial buildings
are frequently inadequate to their accessibility, professional, or community
needs. In 2015, the Ontario Hospital Association developed a Rural Health
Hubs Framework for Ontario that provides a guide for increasing access to
healthcare in rural areas through detailing the services and integration that
should be present in a health centre hub. It does not, however, address their
architectural requirements. This thesis examines the intersection of rural
health and building adaptations through design principles. A replicable model
of rural health hub design is developed that addresses spatial programs to
support the purpose of providing an integrated local healthcare centre. The
principles are demonstrated in Elliot Lake, Ontario, in the design of an adaptive
reuse rural health hub.Master of Architecture (M.Arch
The edge: a response to sea-level rise on Vancouver's coast through the design of a resilient multi-habitable built environment
No full textThe approaching threat of accelerated sea-level rise due to climate
change poses a significant risk to Vancouver, British Columbia, and its
coastal communities. With projections estimating damages of $20-30
Billion and detrimental effects on ecosystems, agriculture, and the city’s
1.83 million inhabitants, there is an urgent need for adaptive solutions.
Drawing upon research on mitigation strategies and the preservation
of coastal ecologies, this thesis advocates for a mixed-use residential
program aimed at creating a multi-habitable built environment along
vulnerable coastal edges. By exploring flood-resistant materials and
innovative construction methods, the proposal seeks to redefine
traditional architectural design that can be flooded and still be habitable
through an adaptive ground floor idea as well as flooded structures that
will shift its habitants from humans to ecologies, ensuring resilience
in the face of rising sea levels while fostering sustainable coexistence
between humans and nature.Master of Architecture (M.Arch
The metamorphic architecture of the Onaman-Tashota greenstone belt, eastern Wabigoon subprovince, Ontario
No full textA detailed metamorphic study of the Onaman-Tashota greenstone belt (OTGB) indicates peak
metamorphic mineral assemblages in mafic metavolcanic and metapelitic supracrustal rocks
developed during transitional greenschist-amphibolite facies or amphibolite facies
metamorphism at mid-crustal levels. This metamorphism resulted in metamorphic
devolatilization over large areas of the OTGB, and is an important requirement in metamorphic
gold mobilization models. Episodic M1A contact metamorphism (ca. 2705-2685 Ma) produced
localized amphibolite facies contact aureoles with variable temporal relationships to rock fabric
depending on pluton age. M1B regional metamorphism was relatively concurrent with M1A, and
occurred during D1 north-south compression (ca. <2699 – >2685 Ma) producing porphyroblasts
with syn-deformational geometries and minerals that define the strong S1 fabric across the
OTGB. Finally, M2 regional metamorphism occurred during D2 deformation (ca. 2671-2667
Ma), and can be identified in the Albert-Gledhill assemblage and the Humboldt Bay deformation
zone where the dominant S2 fabric is defined by M2 mineralogy