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    Exploring the Experiences and Perceptions of African-Canadian Immigrants’ Cultural Food Practices within Waterloo-Wellington Region
    (University of Waterloo, 2026-10-09) Omache, Rhoda
    Cultural food practices are fundamental to health, well-being, and cultural identity of African-Canadian immigrants (ACIs). While ACIs often rely on culturally meaningful foods to maintain identity, community connections, and cultural food security, less is known about the food experiences of ACIs living in mid-sized Canadian cities.This dissertation explored the food experiences and perceptions of first- and second-generation ACIs living in the four major cities within Waterloo-Wellington Region and examined the social, cultural, and environmental factors influencing access to culturally appropriate foods and the maintenance of cultural food practices. Guided by the Oral Traditional Storytelling (AOTS) framework, an Afrocentric qualitative methodology, this dissertation includes a scoping review, storytelling-based semi-structured interviews, and community fireside chats with photo-elicitation. Reflexive Thematic Analysis (RTA) was utilized for Chapter 4 and 6, while Chapter 5 employed Thematic Narrative Analysis (TNA). Findings form the scoping review (Chapter 3) showed that Sub-Saharan African immigrants face interconnected nutritional, cultural, and social challenges that affect belonging and cultural food practices. In Chapter 4 first-generation ACIs described migration as both challenging and transformative. They navigated barriers such as unfamiliar food environments, limited access and availability of culturally appropriate foods, and transportation challenges while simultaneously exercising agency over their food environment. Chapter 5 found that second-generation ACIs negotiated cultural identity through food, faith, community, and meaningful connections to their heritage. Chapter 6 showed that across generations, participants demonstrated resilience by using adaptive strategies to sustain culturally meaningful diets. Overall, this dissertation highlights the importance of cultural food security and food sovereignty as a critical component of immigrant health and well-being and supports policies and programs that improve equitable access to culturally appropriate foods in mid-sized Canadian communities.
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    Towards meeting the needs for cultural foods in long-term care homes
    (University of Waterloo, 2026-10-09) Syed, Safura
    Introduction Canada’s older adult population is both growing and becoming more culturally diverse, necessitating adaptations in our health care service, and specifically long-term care homes (LTC), a continuous residential form of health care. Immigration is a key driver for these demographic changes; earlier waves of immigrants are now aging and increasingly represent those aged 65 years and above. As a result, there is a growing proportion of residents in Canadian LTC homes who were not born in Canada. LTC in Canada provides care for those who have chronic health conditions and functional limitations, affecting their ability to live independently in the community, even with support. In Ontario, residents receive approximately four hours per day of direct care to support their activities of daily living (e.g. bathing, washroom use, medication management) as well as all meals and snacks and housekeeping. The increasing proportion of residents in LTC homes from diverse cultural backgrounds, necessitates understanding how food provision is aligned or not with their cultural traditions. A few studies have explored the experiences of culturally diverse residents and their families with services provided in LTC homes and have noted challenges with receiving cultural foods. Yet, this information is limited and does not sufficiently demonstrate the impact of misaligned food offerings. Unfamiliar foods or foods that do not align with cultural preferences could reduce food intake, making it a major risk factor of malnutrition. Providing meals based on ethnic and cultural preferences is also an identified challenge for registered dietitians and food service managers in LTC homes. However, there is limited research that has examined specific barriers these menu planners encounter in meal provision for a diverse resident population. Further, potential strategies to support culturally inclusive meal provision need to be identified. There are notable gaps in research understanding the impact of misaligned food offerings for culturally diverse residents and their family members, as well as dietitians and food service managers current practices, experiences and confidence in creating culturally inclusive menus, and what barriers they face in doing so. This thesis investigates how culturally inclusive meal provision can be better supported in Ontario LTC homes by addressing these gaps. The overarching objective of this dissertation is to understand current practices, their impact on culturally diverse residents, and to identify strategies to improve culturally inclusive meal provision in LTC. This dissertation comprises three interconnected studies with the following objectives: 1) to understand the perspectives of culturally diverse resident and family members, including the challenges they face and what has facilitated accessing and attaining culturally inclusive foods within LTC homes; 2) to describe the perspectives, experiences, practices and confidence of food service managers and registered dietitians, including reported barriers/facilitators, to developing culturally inclusive menus in Ontario LTC homes and determine the factors associated with confidence and cultural inclusivity of current menus; and 3) to provide an in-depth examination of current menu planning practices from the perspectives of LTC registered dietitians and food service managers and comprehensively assess key facilitators and barriers to menu planning for a culturally diverse population, and how they potentially interact. Methods This thesis encompasses three interconnected studies. To address the first objective, a reflexive thematic qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews from diverse cultural backgrounds in Ontario LTC homes. Data was collected from February to December 2024 through in person and virtual interviews. Reflexive thematic analysis was employed to identify patterns of meaning across the dataset. The Life Nourishment Theory (LNT) supported interpretation of findings. For study 2, an online survey was completed by registered dietitians and food service managers working in Ontario LTC homes (November 2022-April 2023). The COM-B (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behaviour) model of the Behaviour Change Wheel was used to develop survey questions. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, bivariate tests (Kruskal-Wallis, Wilcoxon signed-rank), and multivariable ordinal and linear regressions. Qualitative content analysis was conducted on open-ended responses. Finally, study 3 was a qualitative study that used focus groups and interviews with registered dietitians and food service managers working in Ontario LTC homes between September and December 2024 to gain further insight into barriers and facilitators and potential strategies for including cultural food in LTC menus. Data were analyzed using qualitative description with open inductive coding. Making the Most of Mealtimes (M3) framework and the Person-Centered Care (PCC) model supported interpretation of findings. Results There were 15 participants (n = 10 family members of LTC residents, n = 5 LTC residents) in study 1. Three themes were developed: 1) Losing my food, losing myself: Lack of cultural food availability and disconnect from culture, 2) Surviving on unfamiliar food: Eating without cultural connection or pleasure, and 3) Bridging the gap: Families and staff reconnecting residents to culture through food. In study 2, a total of 123 registered dietitians and food service managers from Ontario participated in the survey with 85 completing all questions. The majority of participants were female (94%, n = 80/85), White (53%, n = 45/85), and experienced (62%, n = 51/84 with 10+ years working in LTC). Participants rated cultural inclusivity as important (median = 8, IQR = 6.25-10; 10-point scale) but only reported a moderate rating when asked about current menu inclusivity (median = 7, IQR = 5-8; 10-point scale). Their confidence was neutral (median = 3, IQR = 2-4; 5-point scale) for creation of menus that are culturally inclusive. The most frequently reported barriers were: too few residents from diverse cultures not served by current menus; lack of cooking staff skills with cultural recipes; increased expense for culturally unique ingredients; lack of time to prepare cultural dishes; and limited selection of ingredients and food products through third party purchasing organizations. Suggested facilitators included resident feedback opportunities, availability of cultural demographic data, incorporation of cultural days as a way to introduce new foods, and resource availability (e.g. budget, cultural ingredients and staff skill). Sixty-five percent (n = 62/96) of participants had received no training on incorporating cultural preferences while menu planning. The ordinal logistic regression model indicated that perceived likelihood of adapting menus was significantly associated with higher odds of reporting greater confidence (OR = 1.38, 95% CI [1.14,1.68], p<0.001), and selection of ‘other challenges’ was significantly associated with lower odds of reporting greater confidence (OR = 0.23, 95% CI [0.06, 0.79], p = 0.022). Perceived likelihood of adapting menus was significantly associated with higher inclusivity ratings (B = 0.24, 95% CI [0.07,0.41], p = 0.007). Use of resident questionnaires as a meal satisfaction evaluation method was significantly associated with higher inclusivity ratings (B = 1.05, 95% CI [0.12, 1.99], p = 0.03). However, perceiving cultural foods as difficult to eat was negatively associated with inclusivity of the menu (B = -1.29, 95% CI [-2.47, -0.31], p = 0.014). In study 3 there were 15 participants (n = 10 registered dietitians, n = 5 food service managers). Three thematic categories resulted from the qualitative analysis: 1) Building cultural knowledge through collaborative inquiry and strategies, 2) Varying individual ability for cultural meal provision impacted by systemic barriers, and 3) Requiring systemic changes for cultural meal provision. Conclusion These studies provide valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities for culturally inclusive meal provision in Ontario LTC homes from provider, resident and family perspectives. The findings emphasize the importance of addressing cultural food preferences when menu planning to support resident well-being and promote quality of life. This dissertation contributes to knowledge by framing culturally inclusive meal provision as a multi-level issue shaped by individual, organizational, and system level factors, rather than solely the skills and practices of registered dietitians and food service managers. It highlights how structural constraints limit the ability to deliver culturally inclusive care, a core component of PCC. In response, this research offers recommendations across multiple levels (government, sector, organizational, staff, and resident), emphasizing the need for coordinated efforts to support meaningful change.
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    Spin Qubit Compact Modeling and Co-Design with Cryogenic CMOS for Large-Scale Quantum Computing
    (University of Waterloo, 2026-10-08) Absar, Rubaya
    Quantum computing has emerged as a promising computational paradigm with the potential to solve certain classes of problems beyond the capabilities of conventional classical computers. Realizing this potential, however, requires the integration of millions of physical qubits with highly scalable cryogenic classical control electronics capable of generating precise, low-noise control signals while operating under stringent power and thermal constraints. Consequently, the co-design of quantum devices and classical control electronics has become a key challenge in the development of practical large-scale quantum computing systems. However, conventional quantum simulations typically assume ideal control signals, while classical circuit simulations neglect quantum dynamics, making it difficult to accurately evaluate the interaction between quantum devices and their control electronics at the system level. This thesis presents a unified quantum-classical co-simulation framework for silicon quantum-dot (QD) spin qubits integrated with cryogenic CMOS control electronics. The proposed framework combines a SPICE-compatible compact qubit model, a scalable cryogenic CMOS control architecture, and a unified simulation methodology that enables realistic control-electronics behavior to be evaluated directly in terms of quantum-device performance. A SPICE-compatible compact model for silicon QD spin qubits is first developed based on the density-matrix formalism and the Lindblad master equation. The model translates voltage waveforms applied to quantum-dot gate electrodes into time-dependent Hamiltonian parameters and computes the resulting quantum-state evolution, enabling direct prediction of gate fidelity using realistic control signals generated by classical circuits. Implemented in Verilog-A and integrated within standard electronic design automation tools, the model enables seamless incorporation of quantum-device dynamics into circuit-level simulations. A scalable cryogenic CMOS control architecture is also developed to support signal routing and local addressing for large-scale spin-qubit arrays. The proposed architecture incorporates current-steering local-addressing circuits, hierarchical digital addressing, and globally distributed control waveforms generated by digital-to-analog converters (DACs), reducing wiring complexity while supporting operation compatible with surface-code quantum-error-correction architectures. The compact qubit model and cryogenic CMOS control circuitry are integrated into a unified quantum-classical co-simulation framework. The framework is validated against reference quantum simulations using representative single-qubit and two-qubit gate operations, including X(π/2), Z(π/2), Hadamard, √SWAP, and controlled-phase (CZ) gates. The validated framework is subsequently applied to co-simulation using realistic CMOS-generated control waveforms to quantify the impact of classical control-electronics non-idealities on quantum-gate fidelity. The investigation encompasses both static and dynamic non-idealities, including DAC quantization, current-source mismatch, systematic voltage errors, stochastic noise, and timing-related imperfections. The results show that systematic voltage errors and low-frequency stochastic noise are the dominant fidelity-limiting mechanisms, whereas DAC quantization, current-source mismatch, and timing-related imperfections have comparatively minor effects over the investigated operating ranges. In summary, by integrating a SPICE-compatible compact qubit model, a scalable cryogenic CMOS control architecture, and a unified quantum-classical co-simulation framework within a single simulation environment, this work establishes a practical methodology for quantum-classical co-design. Furthermore, it provides quantitative design guidelines for cryogenic CMOS control electronics by relating realistic circuit-level imperfections directly to quantum-gate fidelity, thereby laying the foundation for the development of scalable silicon spin-qubit quantum computing systems.
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    Indigenous Data Sovereignty Data Storage Analysis Project
    (Animikii, 2026) Doctor, Jeff
    The objective of this report is to develop materials and recommendations in support of meeting the University of Waterloo Research Data Management Institutional Strategy & Implementation Plan. These materials and recommendations will be used to build out further activities and deliverables to meet the University’s commitments to respecting Indigenous data sovereignty, defined as: "the authority of Indigenous peoples, Nations and communities over their own data, how their data is framed, and how their data is managed. The University of Waterloo respects and recognizes the sovereignty of Indigenous Peoples, Nations, and communities over research data produced by, with, for, and about them. This includes sovereignty over the collection, use, control, access, possession, and sharing of these data." This may seem like a simple endeavor, however none of the major Canadian research data repositories were created with Indigenous rights, much less Indigenous participation, in mind. Indigenous rights and wellbeing have been an afterthought in the dominant research community. To remedy this situation, we recommend that the university establishes a set of protocols for Waterloo-based data storage options that are owned and operated by the University that align with relevant Indigenous data sovereignty principles: 1. Be FAIR and CARE 2. Evaluate policies, practices, relationships, and data infrastructure for alignment to the CARE Principles via the CARE Data Maturity Model 3. Maintain situational awareness of Indigenous relations and rights 4. Engage in consistent outreach activities with appropriate Indigenous Peoples 5. Improve repository protocols so they are compatible with Indigenous data sovereignty principles 6. Ensure technology development and maintenance is adequately prioritized and resourced 7. Prioritize using software designed to respect Indigenous data sovereignty
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    MADBench - Measuring Agentic DBMS: Quantifying the Protocol Tax of MCP-Mediated Query Workloads
    (University of Waterloo, 2026-10-07) Ahmed, Yaseen
    Large language model agents increasingly access relational databases through the Model Context Protocol (MCP), a tool-calling standard in which the model discovers tool definitions from a middleware server, issues calls through it, and consumes query results serialized as text into its context window. Under this architecture, every database interaction pays costs that classical database clients do not: tool discovery, server lifecycle, result serialization, transport, and context-window consumption. Existing agent benchmarks report end-to-end task scores and therefore cannot attribute these costs to the layer that causes them. This thesis presents MADBench, a benchmark that measures and decomposes this overhead, termed the Protocol Tax: end-to-end interaction time minus raw database execution time. OpenTelemetry instrumentation splits the tax into seven protocol phases (discovery, lifecycle, handover, serialization, parsing, transport, and teardown), with the unattributed residual held below 5% of wall-clock time on 98.7% of runs. Two measurement tracks separate protocol effects from model effects. Track A replays fixed TPC-H queries through three open-source MCP servers over PostgreSQL, MySQL, and DuckDB at scale factors 1 through 10, under paired warm-start and cold-start conditions, collecting 5,378 traces with no model in the loop. Track B runs a fixed LLM agent over 30 pre-registered natural-language questions on the same server-backend grid, yielding 1,080 attempts scored against gold SQL results. Three findings emerge. First, Protocol Tax spans three orders of magnitude on identical queries, from 10⁻³ of database execution time for an in-process engine to 3× it for a subprocess server on PostgreSQL; the dominant cost is the server's process model, not its wire format. Second, protocol speed does not predict agent success: the server with the lowest Protocol Tax ranks last in agent completion, and DuckDB carries 112× less protocol overhead than the client-server backends yet finishes mid-pack. Third, completion is instead governed by result-payload compactness and schema-metadata quality; one server-backend pairing collapses from 61.1% to 17.8% completion between scale factors when verbose query results overflow the model's context window. The benchmark, pre-registered workload, and full trace corpus are released to support reproduction and extension.