The perceptions of young farmers about what is necessary for them to achieve farm business sustainability are explored using a phenomenological research design with an interview approach. Six young farmers suggest eight key themes as necessary for sustainability into the next generation: characteristics such as adaptability, passion, work-life balance and human resource skills and literacy strategies which include adult education, economic viability, environmental and socio-political literacy, and change management. Participants linked their farm business sustainability to the personal characteristics of lifespan learning, adaptability, and passion for farming. They seem to understand agricultural sustainability in the context of the economic, socio-political, and environmental aspects of their farm business. Their change management strategies account for their personal and their family needs as well as those required by regulatory bodies. Recommendations are offered in support of family farm business sustainability.

With the global trend of transnational migration, a huge influx of highly skilled immigrants has been influencing Canadian society and economy. However, there is little literature that illuminates highly skilled migrants’ workplace experiences and their identities in terms of second language acquisition. This multiple case study explores three highly skilled Korean immigrants’ experiences, focusing on the interplay of their language learning, identity, and workplace communities. Grounded in the notion of “imagined communities” (Kano & Norton, 2003) and the theory of “communities of practice” (Lave & Wenger, 1991), this study analyzes the process of how highly skilled migrants have constructed their imagined workplace communities. By revealing the multiple dynamic negotiations co-constructed by the workplace contexts and the individuals, this study shows the interlocked relationship between second language learning, identity, and the given community. This study also argues the importance of membership and positive social arrangements in a community for language learning.

Manitoba Education Citizenship and Youth (MECY) recently redesigned Grade 11 and 12 Chemistry curricula in an effort to be responsive to new developments in chemistry education research. In order to support the teaching of the microscopic level of chemistry, the new curricula encourage the use of technology and computer simulations into specific outcomes to aid meaning making of abstract chemistry concepts by students. This study identifies constraints and contributing factors to the use of computer simulations to facilitate student meaning making in chemistry. A questionnaire survey and case study approach informed by Urie Bronfenbrenner’s bio-ecological model was used to identify factors. The results of this survey show the chemistry teaching inventory of teachers has become more diversified. Although teachers are using technology as differentiated instruction, their pedagogical use of technology is primarily for content dissemination rather than utilizing the technology to assist students in a deep understanding of chemistry ideas.

Canada's immigration policy is based on the notion that increased levels of immigration will bring economic prosperity to the nation and its citizens. However, some immigrants and refugees face a number of challenges in finding adequate employment which has contributed to their living in low socio-economic conditions. Using a document analysis, I investigated the structural and historical contexts and the accountability mechanisms of Canada’s immigration policy under the lens of critical political studies theory and critical race theory to gain some insight as to what some of the dynamics are which could account for the discrepancy between the expected economic outcomes and the actual experiences of new Canadians. I learned that the policy is driven by hegemonic economic forces. From this perspective, I have concluded that immigration is a policy tool used to support the nation’s economic policy resulting in settlement and integration practices favouring the industry that immigration has created rather than the interests and needs of immigrants.

This qualitative study includes a comparison of the perceptions of students with and without intellectual disabilities regarding the opportunities they have to make decisions during the school day and school year. The data from the student groups were shared with adults in the school who then explored their perspectives regarding reasons for any similarities or differences in the perceptions of the student groups. Within-case and cross-case analysis of the data obtained from the three student focus groups, one teacher focus group, one educational assistant focus group and an interview with an administrator resulted in the identification of three major themes: structure of the system, role of adults and safety. Various ways that each of these can facilitate or limit opportunities for students with and without intellectual disabilities to make decisions during the school day and school year are discussed

Our fast-paced and seemingly ever-changing world is reflected in the transformations that are occurring in our school systems. Meeting the dynamic needs of all stakeholders in a school building’s ecosystem falls on the shoulders of the school principals. Employing capable leaders in this role is vital yet many countries do not require candidates for the position to have special qualifications. In addition, training programs that do exist have been subject to much criticism. Recently, suggestions for reform have been implemented and this study explored a newly mandated school leader training program to assess its perceived effectiveness. This qualitative research study contributes a missing link to current research into educational leadership training programs world-wide which tends to focus on educational reforms in Canada, the United States and Australia. Twelve Hungarian school principals, or directors as they are termed in their native land, were interviewed for this research and asked to share their personal formal and informal pre-service preparation and training experiences. The directors were also asked to provide their opinions regarding the relative value of different components of their compulsory School Leaders’ Training program. Findings support the theories presented in existing literature regarding effective school leader training programs using methods specifically targeted toward adult learners and add to the call for mandatory school administrator training and preparation.

The College of Family Physicians of Canada, responsible for accreditation of residency programs, prescribe ‘The Four Principles of Family Medicine’ and the 27 competencies derived from them, as the curricular framework for Canadian family medicine residencies. The literature reveals little about the development of the Four Principles of Family Medicine. This study was conducted to determine the degree to which each competency was considered relevant to clinical practice and learned by recent graduates of the University of Manitoba Family Medicine program. For the 27 competencies, the ratings of graduates were similar to those of family medicine experts as the competencies were generally viewed as moderately important and frequently used. Graduates reported being well prepared in most of the competencies. This supports the use of the Four Principles of Family Medicine as a curricular framework for family physician trainees in Canada.

The metabolic syndrome is characterized by obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension and dyslipidemia. It has also been suggested that hepatic steatosis and inflammation should be added to the classical components of the metabolic syndrome. Previous research on obesity and insulin resistance has examined the effects of many different fats and oils, however, the effects of canola oil on metabolic syndrome parameters have yet to be investigated. It is hypothesized that in a diet induced obese (DIO) rodent model, the combination of canola and flax oils will reduce the severity of metabolic syndrome parameters and favorably alter hepatic phospholipid (PL) and triacylglycerol fatty acid composition. The objective of the study was to investigate the biological effects of a 12 week dietary intervention with high fat diets based on various vegetable oils (high oleic canola, canola, canola/flax (3:1; C/F), safflower and soybean) and lard in 6 week old obese prone rats with regards to obesity, insulin resistance, lipidemia, hypertension, inflammation, hepatic steatosis, hepatic fatty acid composition and markers of hepatic fatty acid oxidation and synthesis. Overall the C/F diet attenuated more of the components of the metabolic syndrome, including obesity, glycemia, lipidemia, inflammation and hepatic steatosis, than the other high fat diets in DIO rats. However, each of the dietary treatments attenuated various components of the metabolic syndrome suggesting that all dietary fats and oils have their role in the prevention of different components of the metabolic syndrome. Additionally, the C/F diet led to increased eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid concentrations in hepatic PL suggesting that α-linolenic acid can be efficiently converted to its very long chain derivatives in DIO rats. Thus, the addition of flax oil to conventional canola oil, in the C/F diet, appeared to enhance the beneficial effects of canola oil on metabolic syndrome parameters.

The safety of antipsychotic use in elderly persons has recently been questioned. The incidence of adverse events (AEs) (extrapyramidal syndromes (EPS), cerebrovascular and cardiac events, and all-cause mortality) in the elderly users of first-generation antipsychotics (FGAs) and second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) was compared. Risks of AEs in antipsychotic-exposed persons and non-exposed individuals were also assessed. A population-based retrospective cohort study was conducted in the elderly Manitoba residents who received their first antipsychotic medication between April 1, 2000 and March 31, 2007. Cox proportional hazards models were built to compare risks of AEs in FGA and SGA users, as well as in non-exposed subjects. SGAs were associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality (adjusted HR 0.683, 95% CI 0.577–0.809) and a higher risk of myocardial infarction (1.614 [1.024–2.543]) compared to FGAs. No significant differences between FGAs and SGAs were found for cerebrovascular events, cardiac arrhythmia and congestive heart failure (CHF) but a higher incidence of EPS was observed for FGAs compared to risperidone. Both FGA and SGA users were at a higher risk of cerebrovascular events (FGAs 1.415 [1.114–1.797]; SGAs 1.611 [1.388–1.869]) and CHF (FGAs 1.228 [0.893–1.689]; SGAs 1.242 [1.003–1.536]) compared to non-exposed subjects. Only FGA-users were at a higher risk of death compared to non-exposed subjects (FGAs 1.387 [1.065–1.805]; SGAs 0.824 [0.708–0.959]). Both FGA and risperidone use were associated with a higher risk of EPS (FGAs 3.503 [2.271–5.403]; risperidone 1.733 [1.214–2.472]). Both classes of antipsychotics might lead to potentially life-threatening AEs. Neither FGAs nor SGAs seem to have a superior overall safety profile. Antipsychotic pharmacotherapy should be prescribed in elderly persons after careful consideration of all risks and benefits.

This research includes two areas, with the first area focusing on supermarket food purchasing decisions by consumers in China. A probit model, using consumer food survey data indicates that supermarket food purchases are related to shopping habits, supermarket and food attributes, and demographics. This information should be helpful for those businesses attempting to market food within the Chinese supermarket supply chain. The second part of the study attempts to identify and analyze non-tariff barriers for food and agriculture, with a focus on China. These can include for example, import regulations, such as food safety regulations, food standards, labeling requirements, inspections, import licenses, and SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary conditions), and they are sometimes used by food importing countries to restrict imports. These results show that there are a number of significant non-tariff barriers regarding China – Canada food trade.