Environment, Resources and Sustainability

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This is the collection for the University of Waterloo's School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability.

Research outputs are organized by type (eg. Master Thesis, Article, Conference Paper).

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The 2009 H1N1 Health Sector Pandemic Response in Remote and Isolated First Nation Communities of Sub-Arctic Ontario, Canada
(University of Waterloo, 2011-05-26T16:43:49Z) Charania, Nadia A.
On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization declared a global influenza pandemic due to a novel influenza A virus subtype of H1N1. Public health emergencies, such as an influenza pandemic, can potentially impact disadvantaged populations disproportionately due to underlying social factors. Canada’s First Nation population was severely impacted by the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic. Most First Nation communities suffer from poor living conditions, impoverished lifestyles, lack of access to adequate health care, and uncoordinated health care delivery. Also, there are vulnerable populations who suffer from co-morbidities who are at a greater risk of falling ill. Moreover, First Nation communities that are geographically remote (nearest service center with year-round road access is located over 350 kilometers away) and isolated (only accessible by planes year-round) face additional challenges. For example, transportation of supplies and resources may be limited, especially during extreme weather conditions. Therefore, remote and isolated First Nation communities face unique challenges which must be addressed by policy planners in order to mitigate the injustice that may occur during a public health emergency. The Assembly of First Nations noted that there has been very little inclusion of First Nations’ input into current federal and provincial pandemic plans. Disadvantaged groups know best how they will be affected by a public health emergency and are able to identify barriers and solutions. Therefore, the objective of my research was to gain retrospective insight into the barriers faced by three remote and isolated First Nation communities of sub-arctic Ontario (i.e., Fort Albany, Attawapiskat, and Kashechewan) during their 2009 H1N1 pandemic response. Culturally-appropriate community-based suggestions for improvement of existing community-level pandemic plans were also elicited. Collected data informed modifications to community-level pandemic plans, thereby directly applying research findings. Being a qualitative community-based participatory study, First Nation community members were involved in many aspects of this research. Semi-directed interviews were conducted with adult key informants (n=13) using purposive sampling of participants representing the three main sectors responsible for health care services (i.e., federal health centers, provincial hospitals, and Band Councils). Data were manually transcribed and coded using deductive and inductive thematic analysis to reveal similarities and differences experienced within and between each community (and government body) regarding their respective pandemic response. Another round of semi-directed interviews (n=4) and community pandemic committee meetings were conducted to collect additional information to guide the modifications to the community-level pandemic plans. Reported barriers due to being geographically remote and isolated included the following: overcrowding in houses, insufficient human resources, and inadequate community awareness. Primary barriers faced by government bodies responsible for health care delivery were reported as follows: receiving contradicting governmental guidelines and direction from many sources, lack of health information sharing, and insufficient details in community-level pandemic plans. Suggested areas for improvement included increasing human resources (i.e., nurses and trained health care professionals), funding for supplies, and community awareness. Additionally, participants recommended that complementary communication plans should be developed. As suggested by participants, community-specific information was added to update community-level pandemic plans. Remote and isolated First Nation communities faced some barriers during their 2009 H1N1 health sector pandemic response. Government bodies should focus efforts to provide more support in terms of human resources, monies, and education. In addition, various government organizations should collaborate to improve housing conditions, timely access to resources, and the level of coordination regarding health care delivery. Furthermore, as pandemic plans are dynamic, government bodies should continue to aide First Nation communities with updating their community-level pandemic plans to satisfy their evolving needs. These recommendations should be addressed so that remote and isolated western James Bay First Nation communities and other similar communities can be better prepared for the next public health emergency.
Abandoned Mid-Canada Radar Line Site 500 in the Western Hudson Bay region of sub-Arctic, Canada: A source of organochlorines for the people of Weenusk First Nation?
(University of Waterloo, 2008-05-26T14:27:25Z) Bertrand, John
Interest in the presence of environmental contaminants in the Canadian arctic and sub-arctic arises in part over concerns that Aboriginal people residing in these regions continue to rely on subsistence harvesting. Organochlorines (OCs) are a type of persistent organic pollutant (POP) that have a unique chlorine-carbon bond; this bond facilitates their unprecedented environmental longevity, lipophilicity and hydrophobic nature. OCs have been found in both the biotic and non-biotic compartments of northern ecosystems. This study examined patterns of differences with respect to body burden of organochlorines (lipid-adjusted) between the residents of the Ontario First Nations of Fort Albany (the site of MCRL Site 050), Kashechewan (no radar site), and Peawanuck (the site of MCRL 500) to assess whether geo-proximity to abandoned radar sites influenced organochlorine body burden with respect to the people of Fort Albany and Peawanuck. Correspondence analysis (CA-1) revealed people from Fort Albany had relatively higher pesticide concentrations (β-HCH and DDT, but not Mirex) and relatively lower CB (156 and 170) body burdens when compared to participants from Kashechewan and Peawanuck. CA- 2 revealed Peawanuck residents had relatively higher concentrations of CB180, DDE and hexachlorobenzene and relatively lower levels of DDT and mirex compared to participants from Kashechewan and Fort Albany. Results are suggestive but not conclusive that MCRL Site 500 may have influenced body burdens of Peawanuck residents.
ABCD and beyond: From grain merchants to agricultural value chain managers
(Canadian Food Studies, 2015-09-08) Clapp, Jennifer
The world of agricultural commodity trading firms has changed over the years, although corporate concentration has long been a defining feature of this sector. The four dominant agricultural trading firms—the ABCDs (ADM, Bunge, Cargill and Louis-Dreyfus)—have a long history dating back to the 1800s and early 1900s. First established as private, family-owned grain merchant companies with specific geographical specialties, these firms have since evolved to be quite complex companies. They buy and sell grain as well as a host of other agricultural and non-agricultural commodities, while they also undertake a range of activities from finance to production to processing and distribution. New entrants into this space have also taken on complex structures and activities in a bid to stay competitive. In many ways the world’s major grain trading firms now operate more like cross-sectoral “value chain managers” on a truly global scale compared to their grain trade origins. High degrees of concentration combined with control over a vast array of activities give these firms enormous power to shape key aspects of the global food landscape. As a result, the agricultural commodity-trading sector has important implications for farmer livelihoods, hunger and the environment. Following a brief snapshot of the main firms that dominate global grain trading today, I examine the major trends that have reshaped the sector in the past decade. I then outline the main challenges that these changes present for the food system, and suggest possible research directions moving forward.
Adaptation for whom? Assessing Environmental Equity within British Columbia’s Climate Change Adaptation Policies
(University of Waterloo, 2023-09-20) Huynh, Thy
Climate change is expected to disproportionately affect social groups and geographical regions made vulnerable by persistent social inequalities understood in terms of race, Indigenous status, age, gender, and disability (Anguelovski et al., 2016; BCCDC, 2020; Leonard, 2021; Solecki & Friedman, 2021; Vadeboncoeur, 2016). Globally, research on climate justice has shed light on how adaptation policies disproportionately impact vulnerable communities. In Canada, research has begun to explore adaptation responses to flooding and rising sea levels in New Brunswick (Chouinard et al., 2020), British Columbia (Birchall & Bonnett, 2021; Oulahen et al., 2918) and Quebec (Friesinger & Bernatchez, 2010; Lapointe et al., 2020). However, an explicit analysis of Canadian adaptation policies in terms of environmental justice, including its distributional, procedural, corrective, and social justice dimensions (Kuehn, 2020) is yet to be conducted. Recent climate-driven crises in British Columbia such as wildfires, flash flooding, and collapse of salmon fisheries bring urgency to developing climate adaptation policies and for considering the inequities of climate change. Coastal communities in British Columbia face an unavoidable challenge as sea levels continue rise. With 80% of British Columbia’s population residing within 5km of the coast and near sea level (BCCDC, 2020, pg.71), efficient and holistic adaptation protocols are needed. Through a discursive policy analysis (DPA) and semi-structured interviews (n=15) with key informants, this thesis examined how government climate adaptation strategies and plans for British Columbia’s west coast communities conceptualize and address equity concerns. The findings revealed inconsistent and vague perceptions of environmental equity within adaptation strategies and plans; lack of monitoring of initiatives and efforts being made across government; the fragmenting of adaptation efforts from complementary work; and the lack of awareness of roles and responsibilities within and across jurisdictions. Beyond the urgency for vulnerable groups, addressing equity concerns in adaptation strategies and practices could offer co-benefits in improving the efficiency of broader government operations. This study provides a foundation for future research that explores how multi-level government systems can deepen the conceptualization of environmental equity and prioritize addressing equity concerns within adaptation strategies and plans. The integration of such principles is vital to ensure a just and sustainable response to climate change impacts in British Columbia and beyond.
Addressing cumulative effects in the context of sustainability and co-governance in Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in traditional territory, Yukon
(University of Waterloo, 2022-05-26) Staples, Kiri
Cumulative effects and impacts associated with non-renewable resource development are issues of sustainability, with potentially significant implications over broad geographic and temporal scales. In Canada, Indigenous authorities and peoples have consistently raised concern with adverse cumulative effects, which continue to impact their homelands and communities. Despite these circumstances, approaches to addressing cumulative effects continue to struggle with implementing a sustainability agenda and the cumulative effects literature has paid little attention to the specific requirements of addressing cumulative effects in the context of co-governance, or shared decision-making involving Indigenous and non-Indigenous authorities. In light of these gaps in understanding and practice, this research involved a case study of the nexus of cumulative effects and co-governance in the Yukon, northern Canada, including detailed work in partnership with Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in, a First Nation in the Yukon. This research aimed to answer the following question: How can decision-making structures and processes best be designed and used to address the overall cumulative effects of past, existing, and anticipated activities in the context of concern for sustainability and shared authorities involving Indigenous and non-Indigenous decision-makers? I focussed on the governance system established in part through the modern treaty context in the Yukon, looking most closely at non-renewable resource development in Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in traditional territory. I used an integrative literature review and synthesis to establish a consolidated framework of criteria for the development and application of sustainability-based approaches to addressing cumulative effects in a co-governance context, which was grounded in cumulative effects assessment and management, co-governance and natural resource management, and sustainability assessment literatures. I drew on semi-structured interviews, document analysis, and participative engagement to specify and apply this framework to the case context, as well as identify barriers and opportunities. The findings from this research highlight the centrality of evaluating the design and implementation of approaches to cumulative effects and associated governance structures through an approach informed by co-governance and sustainability literatures. The consolidated framework established, specified, and applied here demonstrated that this combined lens can inform criteria to guide evaluation, understandings of the contexts in which cumulative effects approaches are embedded, and the analysis of current approaches to cumulative effects. Co-governance literature identifies key blind spots and underlying assumptions that may otherwise go unnoticed, new ways of understanding long-established criteria, and possibilities for navigating persistent challenges within the cumulative effects literature. Sustainability criteria similarly recognize and address shortcomings of dominant approaches that often fail to emphasize mutually reinforcing contributions to lasting wellbeing. These criteria can inform how cumulative effects literature understands and operationalizes the concept of sustainability. The findings from this research also draw attention to the importance of the governance structures associated with approaches to addressing cumulative effects. They highlight the need to interrogate the ways that relationships between peoples and the world around them are understood and inform systems of governance, as well as how they may be implicitly invoked through the design and implementation of approaches to cumulative effects. These findings apply to both theory and practice. The case study explored here provided preliminary insights into a specific type of governance arrangement, which centres primarily on governance bodies with appointed, independent membership and limited delegated authority, as well as decision-making determined in part by specific Crown and First Nation land designations, as laid out within a modern treaty. These preliminary insights showed the strengths of such governance arrangements in meeting some criteria, such as the recognition of specific First Nation authorities and rights explicitly laid out in the modern treaty. They also showed potential limitations, including limitations in their ability to create space for a more fulsome understanding that encompasses dimensions of Indigenous governance that exist within and outside of a modern treaty and may challenge dominant systems of governance. Further implications for practice were raised by this research. Given the broad range of potential cumulative effects and associated impacts – as well as interactions among impacts – that are of concern in regions such as the Yukon, reliance on single processes such as regional land use planning as the sole avenue through which cumulative effects will be addressed is unwise. This work highlighted the possibilities that may exist for well-integrated and authoritative interim approaches, in particular those that adopt a broader understanding of the possibilities for co-governance arrangements. It also highlighted the need for attention to areas where shifts in practice can contribute to multiple, mutually reinforcing steps towards sustainability objectives across multiple approaches to cumulative effects, acknowledging that efforts to meet criteria within one area can contribute to building or undermining effectiveness in other areas. Numerous case-specific areas of success, challenges, and opportunities were identified through this research. The broad implications of these findings highlighted some of the inherent tensions within modern treaties in the Yukon, tensions that pre-dated the signing of the treaties and are tied to core components of the dominant governance system. Possibilities for navigating these tensions through the processes and structures for addressing cumulative effects exist if understandings of key principles laid out within these agreements are allowed to evolve, in particular concerning the concepts of sustainable development, wellbeing, and way of life. If understandings of these concepts are allowed to evolve, if non-Indigenous authorities further undertake the work required to develop capacities for co-governance, and if more ambitious interpretations and applications of sustainability are pursued, then their connections to broader understandings of how best to pursue sustainability and engage with Indigenous systems of governance may be strengthened.
Addressing Systemic Barriers to Truth and Reconciliation in Canadian Higher Education Institutions
(University of Waterloo, 2022-06-24) Phillips, Jenna
Education served as a driving force for the colonization of Indigenous Peoples in what is now known as Canada. Today, education is essential for truth and reconciliation. In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada published 94 Calls to Action that demand change across the country, including in higher education. Academia's response has been slow due to systemic barriers in this inherently colonial system. The purpose of this study is to understand the systemic barriers to truth and reconciliation in Canadian higher education institutions and propose transformative solutions, in order to support the University of Waterloo's strategic response to the Calls to Action. Through a literature review, semistructured interviews (N=10), and an analysis of strategic plans for reconciliation (N=49), four thematic barriers were identified.
Adolescent Perceptions and Attitudes towards Invasive Species and Nature
(University of Waterloo, 2011-09-30T14:11:07Z) Creelman, Kyle
Invasive species are one of many important environmental issues facing Canadians today. A great deal of research has explored both the scientific and social aspects of invasive species. However, the cumulative research has not yet thoroughly explored people’s thoughts and feelings about, or perceptions of, invasive species and the influence these may have on management of, or policy decisions regarding, invasive species. This thesis research project was designed to assess the attitudes and perceptions that high school students have towards invasive species and to determine to what extent learning about invasive species alters their connection with nature. The study group was comprised of students from four Grade 11 Environmental Science classes from three high schools within the city of Guelph, Ontario. The students received regular classroom instruction from their teachers covering the course content, including invasive species. Students also made weekly visits to a local nature centre, providing them with hands-on learning experiences related to the course content. Students responded to an 80-question survey that assessed their knowledge of local invasive species and attitudes towards them as well as students’ connection to nature. Their connection to nature was assessed using a modified version of the Connectedness to Nature Scale (Mayer & Frantz, 2004). The surveys were administered by the classroom teachers in October, 2010, prior to the presentation of instructional material covering invasive species and then again in December, 2010 when the presentation of instructional material concerning invasive species was complete. The results showed that the students’ knowledge of invasive species upon entering the course was quite low and each of the classes witnessed a significant increase in knowledge. The survey results did not reveal any change to the students’ connection to nature; however, they did reveal three underlying themes in students’ attitudes towards invasive species: a concern about invasive species as a threat or problem; feelings of acceptance towards invasive species; and feelings of anxiety about invasive species. These attitudes remained relatively unchanged after the course.
Adoption of a Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) in a Municipal Area: a Case Study in Suzhou, China
(University of Waterloo, 2007-01-23T22:26:07Z) Ge, Yujing
Assessment of tourism’s contribution to the economy of a country or a region is extremely complicated because of the nature of tourism. A tourism satellite account (TSA) is a major recent contribution in this area. It involves building a specific tourism account in the context of a national account. After more than 20 years of development, the current trend in TSA research is to refine and implement the method. This paper summarizes the methodology developments of TSA and explores the feasibility of adopting a TSA in municipal area. Thus, it discusses the TSA system from a municipal perspective. Because it is a new topic, a qualitative method is adopted by using a case study in Suzhou, China. The paper discusses and provides a definition of TSA from varied perspectives. It also provides a technical framework for a municipal TSA, illustrates the driving forces and institutional attitudes behind the development of such a TSA, and examines the limitations and advantages of the TSA methodology in a municipal context.
The Adoption of Residential Solar Photovoltaic Systems in the Presence of a Financial Incentive: A Case Study of Consumer Experiences with the Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program in Ontario (Canada)
(University of Waterloo, 2009-05-11T14:59:41Z) Adachi, Christopher
Traditionally, high initial capital costs and lengthy payback periods have been identified as the most significant barriers that limit the diffusion of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. In response, the Ontario Government, through the Ontario Power Authority (OPA), introduced the Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program (RESOP) in November, 2006. The RESOP offers owners of solar PV systems with a generation capacity under 10MW a 20 year contract to sell electricity back to the grid at a guaranteed rate of $0.42/kWh. While it is the intent of incentive programs such as the RESOP to begin to lower financial barriers in order to increase the uptake of solar PV systems, there is no guarantee that the level of participation will in fact rise. The "on-the-ground" manner in which consumers interact with such an incentive program ultimately determines its effectiveness. The purpose of this thesis is to analyze the relationship between the RESOP and solar PV system consumers. To act on this purpose, the experiences of current RESOP participants are presented, wherein the factors that are either hindering or promoting utilization of the RESOP and the adoption of solar PV systems are identified. This thesis was conducted in three phases – a literature review, preliminary key informant interviews, and primary RESOP participant interviews – with each phase informing the scope and design of the subsequent stage. First, a literature survey was completed to identify and to understand the potential drivers and barriers to the adoption of a solar PV system from the perspective of a consumer. Second, nine key informant interviews were completed to gain further understanding regarding the specific intricacies of the drivers and barriers in the case of Ontario, as well as the overall adoption system in the province. These interviews were conducted between July and September, 2008. Third, interviews with 24 RESOP participants were conducted; they constitute the primary data set. These interviews were conducted between November and December, 2008. Findings of this thesis suggest that the early adopters of solar PV systems have been motivated by their self-identified sustainability-oriented social attitudes, rather than the lowering of the financial barrier. Only six of 24 respondents noted that they would not have purchased a solar PV system in the absence of the RESOP. For nine of 24 respondents, the catalyst for the purchase of the solar PV systems was not the creation of the RESOP, but instead the presence of a community-based co-operative purchasing group (CBCPG) that had selected a vender and that provided a support service to help the consumer navigate the administrative processes associated with the RESOP. Regarding the functioning of the RESOP, interview respondents reported lengthy periods of time to secure electrical connection, hidden additional fees, and arduous administrative processes. Based on their experiences interacting with Local Distribution Companies, vendors, and the OPA, respondent evaluations of the overall adoption process ranged from extremely positive (some interviewees praised the RESOP for its ease of participation and utility), to extremely negative (other interviewees condemned the RESOP because of its administrative complexity and hidden costs and fees). A key finding from this research is that weaknesses in the administration and promotion of the RESOP have been mitigated by the presence of CBCPGs and third parties aiding consumers in the purchase, installation, administration, and connection of their solar PV system. Recommendations of this thesis include the creation of new and enhancement of existing CBCPGs, a simplification of the required administrative processes, and an increase in the rates of compensation.
The African Green Revolution and the Food Sovereignty Movement: Contributions to Food Security and Sustainability A Case-study of Mozambique
(University of Waterloo, 2017-02-21) Shilomboleni, Helena
ABSTRACT Although there is consensus among academics and policy makers that how we grow and distribute food needs to be more sustainable, the most appropriate ways of doing so remain unclear and are at times deeply contested. Over the last decade, two vastly different approaches to food security and sustainability have become increasingly prominent in Sub-Saharan Africa. One is the African Green Revolution, implemented by a consortium of partners comprised of African governments, the private sector, philanthropic donors, and multilateral institutions. The other is the African food sovereignty movement, headed by Africa’s peasant unions and civil society organizations. The ontological backgrounds of these two agrarian models inevitably influence their respective approaches to food security and sustainability in the different regions of Sub-Saharan Africa. The African Green Revolution is bent in favor of modern rationalist notions about structural transformation and development. The food sovereignty model is inspired by historical structural theories that tackle issues of power and (in)justice embedded within global political and economic structures. These diametrically opposed ideological foundations help to explain the polarization and tensions that exist between the two models. Such tensions, however, also hinder fruitful discussion about how to effectively address key concerns in Africa’s food systems. To advance the academic debates, this dissertation explores the following question: in what ways can sustainability assessment frameworks give insights into the potential contributions of the African Green Revolution and food sovereignty approaches to food security and sustainability in rural Mozambique? This study had three research objectives: (1) to refine conceptually and apply a sustainability assessment framework that merges key food security and sustainability goals in southern Africa’s food and agricultural systems; (2) to better understand the perspectives of stakeholders implementing the African Green Revolution and the food sovereignty models as well as the farmers that they serve to determine what each model offers in terms of food security and sustainability; and (3) to tease out the implications of the two models’ activities on the ground, including their potential impact on food and agricultural policies. In 2014 and 2015, fieldwork was conducted in Mozambique, where both agrarian models are being implemented by two organizations. The African Green Revolution is supported by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), and the food sovereignty model is represented by the National Union of Mozambican Peasants (UNAC).The field-research was designed to comparatively assess how the activities of these two organizations contribute to food security and sustainability from farmer perspectives. Various techniques were used to gather data, including a comprehensive literature review, semi-structured interviews with key informants (n=71) and participant observations. The research identified five interrelated sustainable food system indicators that were informed by farmer perspectives and sustainability assessment literature: access to quality seeds, activities to improve soil health, income opportunities, land rights and policy engagement. Taken together, these indicators can help to address both the technical aspects of meeting food security (issues of production) and the policy and political economy issues that facilitate (or hinder) the means to achieving food security. The research finds that the African Green Revolution and food sovereignty models respond to the needs of Mozambican smallholder farmers in more complex and nuanced ways than mainstay discussions in academic and public forums reveal. While some scholars and actors contend that the African Green Revolution and food sovereignty models are incongruent, Mozambican smallholder farmers utilize some of the resources that the models offer in complementary rather than competing ways. Neither model addresses critical components of food security and sustainability in their entirety. Where possible, farmers engage both models—taking from each what helps them to meet these two goals. The conflicting interplay between the African Green Revolution and the food sovereignty movement at the broader political-economy level, versus farmers’ complementary engagement with the two models, illustrates that meeting food security and sustainability objectives is, in some contexts, messy. This realization suggests a need for further research, particularly on options that may serve broad-based sustainability goals in Africa’s food systems.
Agricultural GMOs in India: Dimensions of influence in the politics and policy of Bt cotton and Bt brinjal
(University of Waterloo, 2013-01-15T20:54:49Z) Chopra, Taarini
This thesis looks at the divergent policy decisions on the commercial release of two genetically modified (GM) crops in India. Bt cotton was introduced in India in 2002, and has spread widely across the country, though not without controversy. In 2010, the first GM food crop – Bt Brinjal (eggplant) – was put forward for approval. In contrast to the Bt cotton decision, and following heated debate and a series of public consultations across the country, an indefinite moratorium was placed on the crop. In this thesis, I unpack the various factors that shaped both decisions and the politics that accompanied them. To facilitate this analysis, I use a conceptual framework that combines four key forces that are often the focus of food governance analysis, but which are not always considered together. I argue that the divergence in outcomes can be explained by a confluence of shifts in key elements of the policy process. These dimensions of influence can be understood in four related categories: corporate actors, institutional mechanisms, science and science networks, and discursive elements. Changes that took place in each of these dimensions in the period between the two decisions align to explain divergent outcomes that no individual influence could. The conceptual framework I develop in this thesis presents a useful structure to analyse the often-complex and multi-causal processes and outcomes related to food and environmental issues. The results of this research have implications for the future direction of agricultural GMO policy in India, as well as in other countries in the global South.
Agroforestry Community Gardens as a Sustainable Import-Substitution Strategy for Enhancing Food Security in Remote First Nations of Subarctic Ontario, Canada
(University of Waterloo, 2011-05-03T18:55:30Z) Spiegelaar, Nicole
The high prevalence of food insecurity experienced by remote First Nation (FN) communities partially results from dependence on an expensive import-based food system that typically lacks nutritional quality and further displaces traditional food systems. In the present study, the feasibility of import substitution by Agroforestry Community Gardens (AFCGs) as socio-ecologically and culturally sustainable means of enhancing food security was explored through a case study of Fort Albany First Nation (FAFN) in subarctic Ontario. Agroforestry is a diverse tree-crop or tree-livestock agricultural system that has enhanced food security in the developing world, as low input systems with high yields of diverse food and material products, and various ecological services. Four study sites were selected for biophysical analysis: two Salix spp. (willow)-dominated AFCG test plots in an area proposed by the community; one “no tree” garden control test plot; and one undisturbed forest control test plot. Baseline data and a repeatable sampling design were established to initiate long-term studies on the productive capacity of willow AFCGs as a means to enhance food security in subarctic FN communities. Initial soil and vegetative analysis revealed a high capacity for all sites to support mixed produce with noted modifications, as well as potential competitive and beneficial willow-crop interactions. Identification of barriers to food security and local food production in FAFN revealed a need for a locally-run Food Security Program (FSP) in partnership with the AFCGs to provide the personnel, knowledge and leadership necessary to increase local food autonomy and local food education and to manage the AFCG as a reliable food supply. Continued research on AFCGs and the FSP may allow wide-scale adoption of this strategy as an approach to enhance community food security and food sovereignty in remote FNs across Canada. An integration of conventional crops and native species in the AFCGs is recommended as a bicultural approach to enhance social, cultural and ecological resiliency of FN food systems. As an adaptable and dynamic system, AFCGs have potential to act as a more reliable local food system and a refuge for culturally significant plants in high-latitude FN socio-ecological systems, which are particularly vulnerable to rapid cultural and ecological change.
Akimiski Island, Nunavut, Canada: An Island in Dispute
(University of Waterloo, 2012-09-26T16:31:02Z) General, Zachariah
On April 1, 1999, Akimiski Island, Northwest Territories, Canada, became part of the newly created Inuit-dominated territory of Nunavut, even though the Inuit never asserted Aboriginal title to this island. This is why the Omushkegowuk Cree of the western James Bay region of Ontario, Canada, assert Aboriginal title over this island. Essentially, the Government of Canada has reversed the onus of responsibility for proving Aboriginal title from the Inuit to the Cree. In this paper, we examined whether the Omushkegowuk Cree fulfill all the criteria of the common law test of Aboriginal title with respect to Akimiski Island, utilizing all available printed and online material. All criteria of the common law test of Aboriginal title were met; however, the written record only alludes to the Cree using Akimiski Island at the time of first contact and prior, Cree oral history was consulted to illuminate upon this matter. I documented and employed Cree oral history to establish that Cree traditional use and occupancy of Akimiski Island was “sufficient to be an established fact at the time of assertion of sovereignty by European nations” (INAC, 1993:5; INAC, 2008); thereby, fulfilling criterion 2 of the test for Aboriginal title. As the Cree have now met all criteria of the common law test for proof of Aboriginal title in Canada, with respect to Akimiski Island, a formal land claim should be considered by the Cree.
Alcohol Mixed with Caffeinated Energy Drinks: Consumption Patterns and Trends Among Canadian Youth & Young Adults
(University of Waterloo, 2015-01-16) McCrory, Cassondra
Use of caffeinated energy drinks (CEDs) and alcohol mixed with energy drinks (AmEDs) is a growing trend worldwide, and in Canada, youth and young adults are the biggest consumers. Health Canada has recently changed regulations for CEDs, mildly affecting AmEDs. There are growing concerns around AmED use, including adverse health effects, excessive caffeine and alcohol consumption, and risk behaviours. There is currently insufficient evidence around AmED use in Canada to adequately inform policy and support stricter regulations. The current study sought to examine AmED use among youth and young adults in Canada, including associations with socio-demographics and behavioural characteristics. Responses were collected from an online-survey for 1989 respondents in Canada between the ages of 12-24. AmED outcomes, including awareness, use, type of AmED, location of use, reasons for use and risk behaviour were examined with multivariate logistic regression models including covariates sex, age, ethnicity, BMI, province, sleep patterns, school grades, maternal education, spending money, sensation seeking and binge drinking. Approximately 25% of the total sample reported AmED use in their lifetimes, and 74% of users reporting use in the past 12 months. Ever having AmED was greater (at p<0.05) among older youth and young adults, those living in BC or AB, SK, MB, and who binge drink. Current AmED use was greater among non-‘Whites’, those who did not report sleep time, and who reported greater binge drinking. Binge drinking was associated with the majority of AmED outcomes examined, including ever use, current use, pre-mixed AmEDs, AmED served by a bartender, used for intoxication or energy, and AmED awareness. Consumption of AmEDs is common among youth and young adults, and strongly associated with age, binge drinking and location of residence.
Amphibian Occurrence on South Okanagan Roadways: Investigating Movement Patterns, Crossing Hotspots, and Roadkill Mitigation Structure Use at the Landscape Scale
(University of Waterloo, 2014-06-19) Crosby, Jonquil
Road expansion and increased traffic likely exacerbates barriers to amphibian migration and dispersal. Within British Columbia’s south Okanagan valley there is particular concern that the COSEWIC-listed blotched tiger salamander (Ambystoma mavortium melanostictum) and Great Basin spadefoot (Spea intermontana) are vulnerable to road effects in their annual movements from upland overwintering habitat to lowland breeding areas. My study utilizes a before after control impact approach to assess amphibian movement and population threats across this highway-bisected landscape. Throughout the spring and summer of 2010-2012, fifty two kilometers of roadways (31 km of highway, 21 km of paved backroad) were repeatedly surveyed from the Canada-USA border to north of Oliver, BC; surveys were carried out utilising vehicles and on foot. Along Highway 97, a three kilometer four-lane highway expansion project was constructed through 2010 and open to traffic use in 2011. Adjacent to a floodplain, survey effort was focused throughout this transect for informed roadkill mitigation structure placement and ongoing ecopassage effectiveness monitoring. Automated camera trap monitoring of culverts within highly concentrated amphibian road hotspots during spring and summer 2011 (three culverts) and 2012 (two culverts) resulted in over eight hundred amphibian culvert events observed. Two sample Wilcoxon tests revealed differences between years in amphibian occurrence between 2010 and 2012 (W = 4679.5, p= 0.02), and mortalities among transect areas, with the largest differences between years within the Osoyoos passing lanes transect. Amphibian mortalities within the passing lanes transect were significantly reduced with the implementation of mitigation structures (x̅2010= 13.2 ± 32.5, x̅2011= 4.7 ± 12.8, x̅2012= 2.3 ± 7.3; 2010 vs. 2012: W= 1535.5, p< 0.001). Roadkill mitigation structures proved effective in observed amphibian occurrence of the entire passing lanes stretch as well as at distances 100 m and 200 m from observed culverts. Double fenced areas resulted in a 94% reduction in amphibian road occurrence. Five species of amphibians were observed over the three survey years (4051 road incidences over 657 survey hours): Pacific chorus frog (Pseudacris regilla), Western toad (Anaxyrus boreas), long-toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum) plus blotched tiger salamander and Great Basin spadefoot. This study aims to provide a better understanding of amphibian hotspots on roadways and ecopassage use within the south Okanagan. It may act as a catalyst to further wildlife-vehicle interaction studies with improved mitigation solutions for amphibian roadway fatalities.
Application of Learning Technologies to Support Community-Based Health Care Workers and Build Capacity in Chronic Disease Prevention in Thailand
(University of Waterloo, 2009-07-27T14:54:17Z) Sranacharoenpong, Kitti
Thailand has faced under-nutrition and yet, paradoxically, the prevalence of diseases of over-nutrition, such as obesity and diabetes, has escalated. Since access to diabetes prevention programs is limited in Thailand, especially in rural areas, it becomes critical to develop a health information delivery system that is relevant, cost-effective and sustainable. Therefore, the main objective of this program is to build capacity for chronic disease prevention in Thailand through application of learning technologies in the education, support and accreditation of community health care workers (CHCWs). This program stems from established partnerships among: The University of Waterloo (UW), Department of Health Studies and Gerontology; Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University (INMU); The Office of Disease Prevention and Control 10 Chiang Mai province; Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), Thailand and UW, Centre for Teaching Excellence (CTE) . The development of the community-based diabetes prevention education program in Chiang Mai, Thailand was informed by in-depth interviews with health care professionals (n=12) and interviews (n=8) and focus groups (n = 4 groups, 23 participants) with community volunteers, screened as at-risk for diabetes. Coded transcripts from audio-taped interviews or focus groups underwent qualitative analysis by hand and using NVivo software. Health care professionals identified opportunities to integrate health promotion/ disease prevention into CHCWs’ duties. However, they also identified potential barriers to program success as motivation for regular participation, and lack of health policy support for program sustainability. Health care professionals supported an education program for CHCWs and recommended small-group workshops, hands-on learning activities, case studies and video presentations that bring knowledge to practice within their cultural context; CHCWs should receive a credit for continuing study. Community volunteers lacked knowledge of nutrition, diabetes risk factors and resources to access health information. They desired two-way communication with CHCWs. A tailored diabetes prevention education program was designed based on this formative research. Learning modules were delivered over eight group classes (n=5/class) and eight self-directed E-learning sessions (www.FitThai.org). The program incorporated problem-based learning, discussion, reflection, community-based application, self-evaluation and on-line support. The frequency that students accessed on-line materials, including video-taped lectures, readings, monthly newsletters, and community resources, was documented. Participant satisfaction was assessed through three questionnaires. Knowledge was assessed through pre-post testing based on an exam that was pilot tested with 32 CHCWs from a district outside of the 5 districts in semi-urban Chiang Mai province from which the 69 participating CHCWs (35 intervention, 34 control) were randomly selected. The program was implemented over four months. Three quarters of participants attended all eight classes and no participant attended fewer than six. Online support and materials were accessed 3 – 38 times (median 13). Participants reported that program information and activities were fun, useful, culturally relevant, and applicable to diabetes prevention in their specific communities. Participants also appreciated the innovative technology support for their work. Comfort with E-learning varied among participants. Scores on pre-post knowledge test increased from a mean (SD) of 56.5% (6.26) to 75.5% (6.01) (P < .001). The effect of the program on knowledge of CHCWs was compared between intervention and control communities at baseline and the end of the program. Overall, the knowledge at baseline of both groups was not significantly different (56.5% (6.26) intervention versus 54.9% (6.98) control) and all CHCWs scored lower than 70%. The lowest scores were found in the “understanding of nutritional recommendations” section (mean score = 28% in intervention and 30% in control CHCWs). After 4 months, CHCWs in the intervention group demonstrated improvement relative to the control group (75.5% (6.01) versus 57.4% (5.59), respectively, p <.001, n=69). The percent of CHCWs achieving a total score of 70% was 77% (27/35) in intervention and 0% in control groups. The diabetes prevention education program was effective in improving CHCWs’ health knowledge relevant diabetes prevention. The innovative learning model has potential to expand chronic disease prevention training of CHCWs to other parts of Thailand. Ultimately, prevention of chronic diseases and associated risk factors should be enhanced.
The Application of Occupancy Modeling to Evaluate the Determinants of Distribution of Jaguars Panthera onca, Pumas Puma concolor, and Valued Prey Species in a Protected Area
(University of Waterloo, 2016-06-17) Booker, Holly
In the past four decades, both biodiversity and individual populations of numerous species in the tropics have consistently declined. Tropical forests constitute only 6% to 7% of the Earth’s surface, yet they contain more than half of all species richness, making them a significant reservoir for global biodiversity. Maintaining healthy populations of both predators and prey in the tropics is therefore crucial for supporting dynamic ecosystems and for preserving biodiversity. As apex predators, jaguars Panthera onca and pumas Puma concolor play a critical role in helping to support dynamic tropical ecosystems. Correspondingly, prey species of value to these felids are equally important. Ecological models have become valuable tools for facilitating an understanding of how species distribution is influenced by natural landscape variables and anthropogenic factors. The objectives of this study were to utilize hierarchical occupancy modeling to assess if jaguars, pumas, and valued prey species (brocket deer Mazama sp., white-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus, collared peccary Pecari tajacu, white-lipped peccary Tayassu pecari, lowland paca Cuniculus paca, Central American agouti Dasyprocta punctate, and white-nosed coati Nasua narica) are non-randomly distributed across the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve in Campeche, Mexico, and how natural and anthropogenic features are influential in shaping this distribution. Because felid distribution is thought to largely depend on prey availability, latent occupancy estimates for focal prey were also incorporated into occupancy models for jaguars and pumas. Spoor sampling was conducted using line transects in four survey areas throughout the core and buffer zone of the reserve from June 25th to August 8th, 2013. Detection histories for focal species were utilized for occupancy modeling that was completed in the ‘unmarked’ package in R. It was determined that distribution was random for brocket and white-tailed deer species, was largely random for collared peccary, and non-random for white-lipped peccary, large prey as a group, and medium prey species collectively. Model averaged occupancy of collared peccary was 30% higher than it was for white-lipped peccary and occupancy was weakly associated with increasing tree species richness. White-lipped peccary occupancy was lower in areas with decreased tree species richness and diminished total basal area, likely corresponding to disturbed habitat. Occupancy of large prey as a collective group had a weak negative association with proximity to water (aguadas specifically). A weak association of site (survey area) was found for occupancy of medium prey collectively, as models exhibited higher occupancy estimates for the survey areas located in the core zone of the CBR, which is an area intended to be free of disturbance. Distribution of jaguars and pumas was found to be primarily influenced by occupancy of brocket deer and medium prey species. There was also a weak negative association with proximity to an aguada. Results from this study reinforce the need for evaluating tropical species occupancy, as understanding the factors that are influential in determining distribution is quite complex. Due to the troubling status of jaguars and pumas, understanding how landscape variables, as well as prey occupancy, influences their distribution is of utmost importance to ensure that critical habitat is protected and/or restored and that human-wildlife conflicts are minimized. This study is the first to explicitly integrate both landscape variables and latent occupancy of prey species as covariates in occupancy models for jaguars and pumas and it adjoins only a handful of studies that model occupancy of the focal species in Mexico.
An Application of the Resilience Assessment Workbook on the Town of Caledon, Ontario, Canada: Resilience of What? Resilience to What? Resilience with What?
(University of Waterloo, 2011-08-31T15:12:21Z) Liu, Wai Ting, Elizabeth
This research involves conducting a resilience assessment on the Town of Caledon in southern Ontario, Canada, through the use of the Resilience Assessment Workbook authored by the Resilience Alliance. The purpose of the research is to develop a comprehensive understanding of Caledon, and identify ways to enhance its resilience as a linked social-ecological system in the context of urban growth. Urban growth pressures have brought multiple challenges to Caledon in land use, infrastructure maintenance, farmland preservation and watersheds conservation. Urban growth management in Caledon is situated in the provincial growth strategy for the Greater Golden Horseshoe areas in Ontario. Provincial legislation including the Places to Grow Act (2005), the Greenbelt Act (2005), the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Act (2001) and the Provincial Policy Statement (2005) aim to reconcile the needs for population increase, economic growth and environmental protection. The results of the resilience assessment of Caledon consist mainly of a cross-scalar study and interviews with twenty-six community members. The cross-scalar study examines Caledon in its social, ecological and economic domains on the provincial, regional and municipal levels. The study also identifies potential resilience threats and assets of Caledon in the context of urban growth. Interviews have been conducted to verify and complement findings of the cross-scalar study. Interviewees include Caledon municipal staff, residents, environmental group leaders, politicians, an aggregates industry representative, a social services representative and a local property developer. The results of this research reveal resilience threats and assets in Caledon, and identify ways for the town to enhance resilience against urban growth pressures. Threats to resilience are found to be associated with urbanization, agricultural land loss, aggregates mining and a lack of affordable housing. Assets of resilience in Caledon are found to be related to civic engagement, participatory planning and agricultural diversification. Based on the cross-scalar study and interview results, emerging themes of resilience and recommendations are developed. Recommendations for Caledon to enhance its resilience include: promoting continual learning and adaptive governance; diversifying agriculture; providing affordable housing; treating urbanization as an opportunity; and developing trade-off principles for the implementation of an integrated plan for resilience.
Application of the Theory of Gender and Power to Relationships and Experiences among Middle Eastern and/or Arab Canadians
(University of Waterloo, 2007-08-07T17:46:12Z) Schoueri, Nour
Background. The study explored associations between factors derived from the application of the Theory of Gender and Power (TGP) as they relate to HIV-risk behaviour among Middle Eastern/Arab-Canadians. This area deserves increased attention, as the proportion of HIV incident cases among Canadian women—due to heterosexual transmission—is increasing. Methods. A web-based survey was administered to Middle Eastern/Arab-Canadians who were aged 18-35 years, of Middle Eastern and/or Arab descent, living in Canada, heterosexual, and in a relationship. Multivariate regression analyses were used to assess factors associated with condom-use risk and lifetime number of sexual partners. Analyses were stratified by gender. Results. The study sample consisted of 157 participants, with more female participants (65.38%), and a mean age of 22.71 years. Females were more likely to have an older partner and more likely to be virgins, compared to males. Only a third (27.45%) of sexually active participants in this sample reported using condoms every time they have sex and participants reported a mean of 4.31 lifetime sexual partners. Factors associated with both condom-use risk and lifetime number of sexual partners varied greatly between genders. Among females, having low self efficacy towards practicing safer sex was predictive of condom-use risk. Among males, not being worried about getting HIV was predictive of condom-use risk. Thinking they knew how to use condoms was predictive of having more sexual partners among females, while being low acculturated from Middle Eastern culture was predictive of more partners among males. Conclusions. Factors associated with HIV risk varied greatly between genders among this sample and may contribute to power imbalances within relationships. The application of the TGP to this sample was moderately successful in predicting number of sexual partners among females and condom-use risk among males. However, it was not as successful in predicting condom-use risk among females and number of sexual partners among males. Many factors associated with HIV risk have been identified in this study, and should be used to create interventions designed to increase equality within Middle Eastern/Arab-Canadian relationships. However, many issues are discussed that still need to be addressed in future research.
Applied soybean and maize residue contributions to soil organic matter in a temperate soybean/maize intercropping system
(University of Waterloo, 2013-02-22T18:42:44Z) Bichel, Amanda
Intercropping, defined as two or more crops grown on the same land area at the same time, is a sustainable alternative to sole crops. Intercropping has been associated with multiple benefits, such as increased nutrient and soil organic carbon (SOC) cycling, decreased soil erosion and increased carbon (C) sequestration. A common intercropping practice is to integrate cereal and legume crops such as maize (Zea mays L.), and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.). Most studies on intercropping have focused on yield, weed control, and land use efficiency in the tropics. Few studies have researched C and nitrogen (N) dynamics in temperate intercrops, with respect to soybean and maize residue stabilization. Soil from Balcarce, Argentina, was incubated for 140 days with soybean, maize, or no residue. Throughout the incubation, results illustrated the effect of residue application upon the soil, specifically through significantly higher amounts of light fraction (LF) C and LFN concentrations, soil microbial biomass (SMB) C and SMBN concentrations, higher microbial diversity, lower N2O production rates, in addition to distinct isotopic values in soil fractions and CO2 (p<0.05). Furthermore, it was observed from δ15N-TN and δ15N-LF that treatments with soybean residues included had higher N cycling (p<0.05), emphasizing the importance of including N-fixing legumes in complex agroecosystems. Significant changes over time in SMB and SMCS characteristics, and isotope values (p<0.05) indicated the preferential utilization of relatively young and easily accessible litter. Furthermore, the loss of labile material over the incubation resulted in more recalcitrant forms (such as older C and lignin) to be utilized. Slightly higher SOC, TN, LFC and LFN concentrations, as well as lower CO2 production rates suggested 2:3 (rows of maize:rows of soybean) as a more desirable intercrop design for C sequestration. The 1:2 intercrop design was observed to be more beneficial for microbial community structure, furthering the idea that intercropping is a beneficial alternative to sole cropping. This study improves knowledge in residue stabilization and C sequestration in complex agroecosystems, providing encouragement for the implementation of more sustainable management practices.

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