Societal changes have changed the function and presence of downtowns over the years and a variety of strategies have been implemented in an effort to revitalize downtown cores. One of the most recent strategies employed has been using urban catalysts, such as stadiums and markets, to stimulate downtown revitalization. The primary purpose of this strategy is to create catalysts for further development and investment. This study examines the role the John Labatt Centre (JLC, a recent arena) and Covent Garden Market (a farmers market with a large range of permanent food retailing facilities) play in revitalizing Downtown London, Ontario. Within the last decade the City of London invested millions of dollars into rebuilding the Covent Garden Market and constructing the John Labatt Centre in the heart of London’s downtown. The purpose of this research is to determine whether these venues act as catalysts for new development, and thus assess their spin-off effects. Data was collected by reviewing planning legislation, administering a survey to local business owners and interviewing key stakeholders. Findings show that the impact of the JLC and Market is unevenly distributed. The results provide insight on differences based on business type, and geographical location. Planning implications derived from the London, Ontario case study show that continued commitment from the public and politicians is the most important factor in downtown revitalization. Implementing urban catalysts helps to anchor downtown districts, by providing a destination. However, this strategy needs to be applied in conjunction with innovative ideas, such as a Main Street program and incentive programs (façade improvements, waiving development charges on residential buildings) that instill confidence in the private sector.

The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of the requirements of the Postsecondary Education Assessment Board (PEQAB) for graduate credentials for faculty teaching in college degree programs and the impact on hiring policies and practices at Ontario’s five Institutes of Technology and Advanced Learning (ITALs) which are part of the 24 Ontario Colleges and Applied Arts and Technology (CAAT). The Innovative Hiring Practices model developed by Jones-Kavalier and Flannigan (2008) served as a framework for identifying relevant concepts, questions, and data collection strategies that were used in this study. This study used the exploratory descriptive case study method to analyze data collected from ITAL websites and from interviews with 16 key informants who are most directly involved in the recruitment and hiring process at the five ITALs. Interviews were conducted with five Human Resource Managers (one from each ITAL) and eleven Deans responsible for programming in business, media studies, applied technology and liberal arts across the five ITALs. The conclusions drawn from this study suggest that there a number of policies and practices that enhance or deter from hiring the most appropriate faculty across all credentials - degrees, diplomas, and certificates - at the participating ITALs. The review of the relevant documents posted on the ITAL websites revealed a lack of clarity for potential applicants around the definition of the institutions referred to variously as ITALs, polytechnics, or colleges. Job descriptions that describe faculty roles did not capture the full essence of the position, the importance of teaching or the role of research. Attracting sufficient numbers of appropriate candidates to meet the Postsecondary Quality Assessment Board (PEQAB) requirements was identified by study participants as a serious concern. The constraints of the Academic Employees Collective Agreement on faculty utilization was perceived by participants as a substantive challenge for recruiting faculty with the appropriate expectations and expertise to facilitate student learning in the unique context of Ontario colleges. The study findings may inform policy and practice that would enhance the quality of work-life for faculty teaching in the degree programs in the five ITALs, for the ultimate benefit of student learning.

The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of the requirements of the Postsecondary Education Assessment Board (PEQAB) for graduate credentials for faculty teaching in college degree programs and the impact on hiring policies and practices at Ontario’s five Institutes of Technology and Advanced Learning (ITALs) which are part of the 24 Ontario Colleges and Applied Arts and Technology (CAAT). The Innovative Hiring Practices model developed by Jones-Kavalier and Flannigan (2008) served as a framework for identifying relevant concepts, questions, and data collection strategies that were used in this study. This study used the exploratory descriptive case study method to analyze data collected from ITAL websites and from interviews with 16 key informants who are most directly involved in the recruitment and hiring process at the five ITALs. Interviews were conducted with five Human Resource Managers (one from each ITAL) and eleven Deans responsible for programming in business, media studies, applied technology and liberal arts across the five ITALs. The conclusions drawn from this study suggest that there a number of policies and practices that enhance or deter from hiring the most appropriate faculty across all credentials - degrees, diplomas, and certificates - at the participating ITALs. The review of the relevant documents posted on the ITAL websites revealed a lack of clarity for potential applicants around the definition of the institutions referred to variously as ITALs, polytechnics, or colleges. Job descriptions that describe faculty roles did not capture the full essence of the position, the importance of teaching or the role of research. Attracting sufficient numbers of appropriate candidates to meet the Postsecondary Quality Assessment Board (PEQAB) requirements was identified by study participants as a serious concern. The constraints of the Academic Employees Collective Agreement on faculty utilization was perceived by participants as a substantive challenge for recruiting faculty with the appropriate expectations and expertise to facilitate student learning in the unique context of Ontario colleges. The study findings may inform policy and practice that would enhance the quality of work-life for faculty teaching in the degree programs in the five ITALs, for the ultimate benefit of student learning.

The changing functions, uses, and value of literacy in the lives of three successive biological generations of Anishinaabe residing in the same community form the basis of this study. Aboriginal people need and value western notions of literacy for participation in mainstream society. They are, at the same time, aware that western literacy has been imposed upon them, damaging their own forms of literacy which are closely rooted in their cultural traditions. The study describes three prevailing ideas about literacy among these seven sets of Anishinaabe families. The cultural traditions rooted in their relationships with land and family represent the understandings of Aboriginal literacy for the first generation of Anishinaabe, the oldest of this study. These Aboriginal women and men have constructed broader meanings for literacy that include print traditions and dominant languages, but also respect Aboriginal ways of knowing and incorporate cultural practices that give meaning to how people live and make sense of their world. A shift in cultural traditions and language is apparent as members of the second generation discuss their understandings of literacy within the contexts of family, school, and society. Formal schooling attempted to supplant Aboriginal literacy with the traditions of print in official languages that characterize western literacy. Western literacy becomes the means by which members of the second generation have re-asserted their rights to self-determination. The third generation, the youngest of this study, experience a greater orientation towards western literacy. The features that distinguish Aboriginal literacy are in decline. At the same time, their hold on western literacy allows them to assert their identities and prepare for a future beyond their community. The thesis is intended to challenge western notions of literacy, which privilege the written word and English/French languages, arguing for a broader conceptions of literacy which include languages, narrative traditions, and rich symbolic and meaning-making systems of Aboriginal culture.

Societal changes have changed the function and presence of downtowns over the years and a variety of strategies have been implemented in an effort to revitalize downtown cores. One of the most recent strategies employed has been using urban catalysts, such as stadiums and markets, to stimulate downtown revitalization. The primary purpose of this strategy is to create catalysts for further development and investment. This study examines the role the John Labatt Centre (JLC, a recent arena) and Covent Garden Market (a farmers market with a large range of permanent food retailing facilities) play in revitalizing Downtown London, Ontario. Within the last decade the City of London invested millions of dollars into rebuilding the Covent Garden Market and constructing the John Labatt Centre in the heart of London’s downtown. The purpose of this research is to determine whether these venues act as catalysts for new development, and thus assess their spin-off effects. Data was collected by reviewing planning legislation, administering a survey to local business owners and interviewing key stakeholders. Findings show that the impact of the JLC and Market is unevenly distributed. The results provide insight on differences based on business type, and geographical location. Planning implications derived from the London, Ontario case study show that continued commitment from the public and politicians is the most important factor in downtown revitalization. Implementing urban catalysts helps to anchor downtown districts, by providing a destination. However, this strategy needs to be applied in conjunction with innovative ideas, such as a Main Street program and incentive programs (façade improvements, waiving development charges on residential buildings) that instill confidence in the private sector.

Background: Bisphosphonate related osteonecrosis of the jaws (BRONJ) is a severe but extremely rare complication of prolonged treatment with bisphosphonates. Improper treatment or misdiagnosis can have serious repercussions. Objective: is to measure the awareness of Ontario dentists about BRONJ and to identify any gaps in their knowledge of the condition and its treatment. Material and Methods: A survey was sent to a random sample of dentists in Ontario, Canada. Information about their awareness of bisphosphonates, and their awareness of an established BRONJ guideline was collected. Results: 60% of responding Ontario dentists had good knowledge of BRONJ, only 23% followed the guideline when surgical treatment was indicated. However, about 50% of responding Ontario dentists are not comfortable treating BRONJ patients. Conclusion: The finding reveals that Ontario dentists have moderate knowledge about BRONJ, which suggest greater educational efforts should be made to promote their knowledge.

Avian intestinal spirochetosis is a disease of poultry caused by the spirochete bacterium Brachyspira, and is characterized by increased mortality, reduced egg production, weight loss, diarrhoea, and fecal staining of egg shells, which leads to downgrading of eggs. The presence of Brachyspira species in Ontario layer chicken flocks and its association with downgrades for dirty eggs was explored. Further, farm interviews were conducted to determine risk factors associated with the presence of Brachyspira species. The prevalence of Brachyspira species was significantly higher in flocks with a higher proportion of dirty eggs (dirty flocks) compared to those with a lower proportion of dirty eggs (clean flocks). Brachyspira pilosicoli was the only pathogenic species detected. Risk factors associated with the presence of Brachyspira species were flock age, barn age, multi-age farms, and housing type. Based on these findings, recommendations were suggested to control the occurrence of Brachyspira species and the associated dirty egg problem. / Animal Health Laboratory

Commercial cultivation of switchgrass in Ontario is limited mainly due to inadequate market opportunities. However, recent developments in bioproducts identify switchgrass as a promising biomass crop for bioenergy and biomaterials applications. At present assessment of environmental impact of growing switchgrass in Ontario is lacking. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the energy use and environmental impacts of switchgrass biomass production in Ontario through life cycle assessment. Cradle to farm gate life cycle assessment was conducted following the ISO 14040/14044 guidelines. Life cycle inventory data were collected from farmers, experts and available literature. Life cycle impact assessment was conducted for energy use and environmental impact using the SimaPro software. Life cycle processes related to fertilization, harvesting and soil N emission were identified as major hot spots for energy and environmental impacts. Improving efficiency of energy, inputs and biomass yield will reduce the environmental burden associated with growing switchgrass in Ontario. / OMAFRA- UofG Highly Qualified schlorship programme and OMAFRA- UofG Partnership bioeconomy industrial uses reaserch theme project funding.

The 2006 Clean Water Act requires each municipality to come up with science-based plans to protect the quality and quantity of their drinking water. A literature review concerning applicable processes in Lake Ontario along with previous modelling of the lake is presented. The three dimensional Estuary, Lake and Coastal Oceans Model (ELCOM) is used to model Lake Ontario on a 2×2km grid scale. The model is forced using meteorological data from the 2006 summer season, inflows and outflows. The lake-wide model is evaluated using field data from thermistor chains and ADCPs as well as historical water level data. Simulated and observed temperature profiles compared well. However, modelled temperature profiles were slightly cooler than observed. Current results were more variable than temperature profile results but compared better to observed data in the offshore regions. Simulating Lake Ontario water levels proved to be problematic because an accurate water balance is difficult to force with a large drainage basin. A 300×300m nearshore model of the eastern portion of Lake Ontario and the upper St. Lawrence River is also presented. The open boundary is forced using temperature data which is (A) varied with depth, (B) constant with depth and (C) spatially varied over the length of the open boundary and varied with depth. Both spatially varied and non-varied water level data forcing the open boundary is also compared. Spatially varied temperature and water level data is computed from the coarse grid lake-wide model. Lake-wide coarse grid model error appears to propagate through the open boundary negatively affecting nearshore modelled current when coupling the models. It was concluded that lake-wide model results should not be used to force the open boundary for the nearshore model. Nearshore model results using constant temperature with depth forcing files and non-spatially varied water level data agree well with observed temperature profiles, but further analysis is required for better confidence in the model's ability to properly reproduce currents at a 300×300m grid scale. / Thesis (Master, Civil Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2008-10-07 10:08:44.145

As part of Parks Canada’s management initiatives, St. Lawrence Islands National Park (SLINP) funded this study to learn more about the natural local fire regime, learn about the risks associated with fire in a changing climate scenario, and to aid in protection efforts of the fire-dependent species Pinus rigida (pitch pine), which is listed provincially as a species at risk. The study site selected was Little Black Lake (44º 32'45.20" N, 76 º 03'12.06” W), which is ideal because of its small size and isolated watershed. A 4.5 m Livingston-piston core and a 0.5 m Glew gravity core were extracted from the lake basin. Charcoal macrofossils >125 µm were quantified at 0.5 cm intervals to produce a high-resolution (14 years) fire record. A chronology was created for each of the two cores together using a combination of 13 14C dates and 20 210Pb dates to complete a record spanning from 2008 to >11000 Cal yrs BP. In general, the fire regime appears to be non-stationary with overall low CHAR (charcoal particles per cm2 of sediment per year) throughout the Holocene. The mean fire return interval for the entire record was on the century scale, at 244 years. The early- and mid-Holocene show low CHAR and few peaks during a period dominated by spruce and pine. Contrastingly, the late Holocene shows an increase in CHAR and peaks during hardwood dominance, which may be due to a change in fuel, as suggested by charcoal morphotypes. A detailed look at the Late Holocene through an analysis of the Glew gravity core, shows a shorter mean fire interval. Comparisons of the Little Black Lake fire record with other vegetation and charcoal records from this region indicate interactions between climate and changing fuel sources may be explanations for the non-stationarity of the fire regime. Management steps for St. Lawrence Islands National Park could include continuing small, isolated and infrequent burns and continued monitoring of local Pitch Pine populations provided spatial and temporal heterogeneity are taken into account. / Thesis (Master, Environmental Studies) -- Queen's University, 2010-01-31 23:58:09.579