Two characterization studies were undertaken to assess the concentrations and environmental loadings of 125 pharmaceuticals, personal care products, illicit drugs and their metabolites (PPCPs) in screened municipal wastewaters being discharged into Juan de Fuca Strait from two marine outfalls in the Capital Regional District, British Columbia, Canada. Two up-stream pump stations were also sampled. The PPCP concentration profiles were generally similar between the four sampling locations. Qualitative seasonal patterns in PPCP concentrations were also observed, primarily due to rainfall events that diluted wastewater contaminants during the winter. Increases in wastewater flow volumes following a rain event appeared to result in consistent shifts in PPCP concentration profiles for at least three of the four sites. Results indicated that the concentrations of PPCPs were similar to those observed in influents from other jurisdictions. Predicted environmental concentrations were predominantly well below literature concentration thresholds known to induce acute or chronic effects in organisms in the environment. However, there was slight potential for adverse chronic effects as a result of the predicted environmental concentrations of ibuprofen around the outfalls based on comparison to literature environmental effects thresholds. In general, sub-lethal and chronic effects endpoints were relatively limited in availability in the literature, as were literature thresholds derived from exposures to PPCP mixtures. Additional adverse chronic effects of these substances may be discovered in the future. Comparisons were made to regional prescription rates and population demographics to determine whether these factors could be good predictors of PPCP concentrations or loadings. Although wastewater concentrations and loadings were proportional to both prescription rates and population size, the regression relationships were statistically weak or insignificant. As such, prescription rates and population size could not be used to accurately predict pharmaceutical wastewater concentrations and loadings on their own. No qualitative relationships were observed between wastewater PPCP concentrations and either population age or gender breakdown. Overall, wastewater flow volumes, derived population equivalents and analytical method variability were also important factors to consider. Minor proportional deviations were observed following a preliminary loading comparison based on the relative population equivalent sizes of each of the four wastewater system catchment areas. These deviations could have been a result of disproportional hospital loading inputs and/or wastewater system inflow and infiltration. Comparisons were also made between the concentrations of PPCPs and the concentrations of conventional wastewater parameters typically used to characterize bulk wastewater loadings (i.e., carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand, biological oxygen demand, total suspended solids, volatile suspended solids). Only 18 of the 125 PPCPs were positively correlated with all four conventional parameters. This suggests that designing and optimizing treatment plants to efficiently reduce conventional parameter loadings may not lead to as efficient or consistent reductions in the concentrations of all of the assessed PPCPs. However, the PPCP results were based on analyses of the filtered aqueous fraction of the wastewater samples, whereas the conventional parameter results were based on whole unfiltered effluent samples. As such, there was no direct link between the two sets of results. / Graduate / 0306

Objective: The primary goal of this research is to identify social vulnerability and resilience to earthquake hazards within the Capital Regional District (CRD) and to generate recommendations for how the provincial health system and various local and regional government agencies can support the continued enhancement of disaster-resilient communities. Methods: Both quantitative and qualitative research methods were employed to evaluate social vulnerability and resilience. Quantitatively, the methodology developed by Cutter et al., was replicated to create a Social Vulnerability Index (SoVI). These data were supported by qualitative data obtained from focus group interviews in three communities in the CRD. Together, this mixed methods approach provided additional insights into the dimensions of social vulnerability, and resilience within the CRD. Results. From the SoVI, twenty-five census tracts (CTs) within the CRD exhibited ‘high social vulnerability’. These highly vulnerable CTs were most likely to be in more densely populated areas, whether they were in inner city neighbourhoods or suburbs of the City. The qualitative results suggest that a large scale seismic hazard will present substantial challenges for the CRD. The smaller, rural and remote communities of Sooke and Port Renfrew appeared to be more interested in emergency preparation than those in the City of Victoria, if judged by their participation rates. Conclusion. The information collected from research participants and the generation of the SoVI complements existing hazard maps and local knowledge well. Both have their place as tools for enhancing understanding of risk-assessment for the area. / Graduate

This thesis examines conflict transformation in public policy in the case of the British Columbia Farm Assessment Review public process in the Capital Regional District from December 2007 to July 2009. The research addresses three questions: 1) Were transformative approaches applied to public policy in the Farm Assessment Review (FAR) case? If so, how were those transformative approaches applied? 2) How did worldview conflicts arise in the FAR case? and 3) What were the effects of the FAR public process in terms of transformative capacity? Data were collected from newspaper articles, press releases, public reports, semi-structured interviews, and personal observations. The data were analyzed through directed content analysis and interpreted through the lens of social constructionism. The study found that the process had few transformative qualities and did not accommodate the worldview differences that were detected and recognized by the parties. Few transformational changes could be found in the data.

Communities such as the Capital Regional District (CRD) of Vancouver Island (BC) currently struggle to meet the transportation needs of older adults and other vulnerable populations, particularly in terms of resources and funding. In the future, these challenges will continue given the current demographic shift and the existing structure of the transportation system. Since the provision of transportation is an important element for the quality of life of older adults, it is important to consider solutions that promote a more effective use of transportation opportunities to ensure health, self-sufficiency and community connectedness amongst this population. This research study examines one solution to the issues surrounding the provision of transportation to older adults. A Coordinated Accessible Transportation (CAT) approach supports the pooling and sharing of existing transportation resources within a formalized framework, and aims to provide safe, efficient and affordable transportation options to older adults. This research focuses on the identification of barriers and incentives to the implementation of a CAT program. This project used a qualitative, case study approach to reach its objectives. Twenty-three semi-structured interviews were conducted with stakeholders involved in the provision of transportation. A Program Logic Model (PLM) was used to organize and analyze the information gathered. In summary, although aware of the need for a new approach, transportation providers in the CRD are reluctant to change the current system without active governance being in place at all levels. The results of this research provide a `blueprint' for the implementation of a CAT program and have relevance for other Canadian communities facing similar challenges.