This thesis looks at public participation in the formulation of three official community plans within the Columbia Shuswap Regional District. As background, a historical review of the literature makes the case that historical events led to the democratization of planning and supports communicative action theory as a pragmatic framework for modern planners. An examination of local government legislation and practice exposes the great deal of discretion afforded to each local government. Local resident advisory group members’ experiences, gained through face‐to‐face semi‐structured interviews, are analyzed using qualitative data coding. The analysis reveals four major themes across the three processes: sense of agency and level of input, process, power and group identity and cohesion. The interview analysis is then fed back through the literature, lending varied support to the communicative turn in planning and providing a more broad interpretation of the data that informs future planning practice.

This thesis looks at public participation in the formulation of three official community plans within the Columbia Shuswap Regional District. As background, a historical review of the literature makes the case that historical events led to the democratization of planning and supports communicative action theory as a pragmatic framework for modern planners. An examination of local government legislation and practice exposes the great deal of discretion afforded to each local government. Local resident advisory group members’ experiences, gained through face‐to‐face semi‐structured interviews, are analyzed using qualitative data coding. The analysis reveals four major themes across the three processes: sense of agency and level of input, process, power and group identity and cohesion. The interview analysis is then fed back through the literature, lending varied support to the communicative turn in planning and providing a more broad interpretation of the data that informs future planning practice.

Five phases of deformation are recognized in Shuswap metamorphics south of Vernon, British Columbia. Phase 1 and 2 deformations are isoclinal gently dipping folds which trend N and ESE respectively. Some thermal activity may have occurred prior to phase 2 deformation but metamorphism culminated in the amphibolite facies during and following phase 2. Metamorphism waned prior to the development of NE trending phase 3, folds of which are angular and moderately tight with one steep and one shallowly dipping limb. Phase 4 and 5 deformations trend NE and N respectively, and comprise open upright buckle folds and fractures which are contemporaneous with abundant hydrothermal alteration. The 42- 10 m.y. B.P. sr/Rb whole rock age date secured from a phase 2 sill probably represents thermal upgrading. Low metamorphic grade "Cache Creek" metasediments west of Vernon have undergone 4 recognized deformational phases. Phase 1 folds are tight, steeply dipping, and trend WNW. Phase 2 comprises E trending, angular mesoscopic folds. Phase 3 and 4 comprise NE and N trending fracture sets. A large amphibolite sill defines the "Cache Creek" albite-epidote-amphi-bolite facies metamorphic culmination. Metamorphic hornblendes from the amphibolite yield a 178 + 6 m.y. B.P. age date, using the K/Ar method. Hydrothermal activity occurred in association with phase 3 and 4 deformations. The final four phases of Shuswap deformation appear to correlate with respective "Cache Creek" phases, based on structural similarities. This suggests that the two complexes may be, at least in part, structural equivalents. / Science, Faculty of / Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of / Graduate