This study used narrative inquiry to answer the question “What are the stories of older adults who choose not to share information with health care professionals?” The study explored the experiences of older adults who did not share information with health care professionals (HCPs), who they defined as doctors. A thematic analysis of five participants’ stories revealed three themes: Illusions of Care, describing the participants’ experiences with doctors before they chose not to share information; The Last Straw, revealing the final incident that caused participants to choose not to share information; and The Mask of the Non-sharing Older Adult, describing how participants interacted with their doctors after they decided not to share information. Relationship development between older adults and their doctors, sensitive topics, issues and perceptions of ageing, and structure of the health care system contribute to the complex issue of older adults not sharing information. The decision not to share information with health care professionals may adversely affect the health and health care of older adults.

Subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa [Hooker] Nuttall) and white spruce (Picea glauca [Moench] Voss) trees were sampled in an old growth forest in the northern Canadian Rocky Mountains. Dendroclimatological methods were used to analyse the relationship between annual radial-growth and climatic variability. The white spruce ring-width chronology showed stronger sensitivity to climatic variability than the subalpine fir chronology. Both chronologies were positively correlated with growing season mean and minimum temperature. Additionally, the white spruce chronology was correlated with summer maximum temperature, late spring minimum temperature, and diurnal temperature range during the growing season. The subalpine fir ring-width chronology was also correlated with maximum and minimum temperature and diurnal temperature range during the during the previous winter and with the Pacific Decadal Oscillation during each month from December to June. Analysis of the climate-growth responses of individual trees revealed a higher level of intraspecies variability in subalpine fir than in white spruce. The white spruce chronology was selected for use in creating a proxy climate record based on its greater length and stronger sensitivity to climatic variability. Dendroclimatological methods were used to create a regional proxy record of June-July mean temperature extending back to 1772. This reconstruction exhibits a shared pattern of low-frequency variability with other dendroclimatic reconstructions from western Canada and shows no evidence of the recent reduction in sensitivity to climatic variability that is apparent in many other northern spruce chronologies. This study represents the first detailed dendroclimatic analysis undertaken in northern interior British Columbia. This work has elucidated the complex interactions between climate and the radial growth of alpine conifers in the northern Canadian Rocky Mountains. The climate reconstruction presented here fills in one of the remaining spatial gaps in the coverage of annually resolved climate reconstructions in western North America.

Hydrological data extracted directly from Water Survey of Canada archives covering the 1913-2002 time period is used to assess river ice break-up in the Mackenzie River basin. A return-period analysis indicates that 13 (14) of 28 sites in the basin are dominated by peak water-levels occurring during the spring break-up (open-water) period. One location has a mixed signal. A map of flooding regimes is discussed in terms of physical, hydrological and climatic controls. Annual break-up is found to progress from south to north, over a period representing ~¼ of the year. Average annual duration is ~8 weeks. The at site break-up period, recognized as the most dynamic time of the year on cold-regions river systems is found to last from 4 days to 4 weeks. Break-up timing (1966-1995) is found to be occurring earlier in the western portions of the basin (~3 days/decade), concurrent with late 20th century warming.

The main objective of the present thesis was to investigate the spatial and temporal variability of macrophyte growth and productivity in the Amazon floodplain, and the possible effects of this variability on the carbon budget of the floodplain. In Chapter 3, two methods for estimating macrophyte biomass were compared in terms of accuracy and applicability to the Amazon floodplain conditions. Phenotypic variation was large enough to preclude indirect (phenometric) modelling of biomass, while direct sub-sampling was able to account for this variation. Sub-sampling also allowed reduction on the biomass sampling effort, presenting the best trade-off between accuracy and coverage for macrophyte biomass measurements in the Amazon floodplain. In Chapter 4, annual net primary production (NPP) of macrophytes was estimated for a large lake on the eastern Amazon floodplain, and the uncertainty associated with these measures was assessed, offering a comparison of previous estimates of macrophyte productivity in the Amazon region. Annual net primary production was estimated at 2400 – 3500 g m-2 yr-1, with above water production between 650 – 1100 g m-2 yr-1, and below water production between 1700 and 2600 g m-2 yr-1. Echinochloa polystachya (Poaceae) and Paspalum fasciculatum (Poaceae) were the most productive species, followed by Paspalum repens (Poaceae), Hymenachne amplexicaulis (Poaceae), and Oryza perennis (Poaceae). The four main sources of uncertainty in the estimates were macrophyte taxa, location, sampling design, and lack of measurements of dead material loss. Chapter 5 presented a new object oriented method for combining radar and optical image time series to characterize seasonal evolution of macrophyte cover for an eastern Amazon floodplain lake. Macrophyte cover varied between 104 and 198 km2 (10% and 20% of total floodplain area, respectively) and exhibited significant changes both seasonally and inter-annually. Two distinct growth strategies were observed: short-lived communities that thrived during low water periods and year-long communities able to survive flooding year-round. Although the majority of the macrophyte carbon fixation derived from the latter, about 17% of macrophyte NPP was attributed to the short-lived communities, which depend directly on the flood levels for a given year. The increased frequency of droughts predicted for the Amazon system could potentially result in an increase on the macrophyte-derived carbon input to the Amazon floodplain.

The term 'men who have sex with men' (MSM) as commonly used by HIV/AIDS researchers and policy makers is said to describe an obvious group of men. Or does it? While MSM disrupts the homosexual/heterosexual dichotomy through focusing on sexual practices rather than sexual identity, it remains entrenched in binary understandings of sex and gender. Influenced by queer and trans theories, a genderqueer methodology is employed to examine what discourses are deployed when MSM are categorized as a seemingly homogenous group. Who are the “men” in MSM and what are the material consequences of MSM discourse in HIV/AIDS work? Guided by feminist poststructural and Foucauldian theories, this study highlights how MSM discourse functions to exclude trans, intersex, and other non-normative sexed and gendered people while considering the potentially deadly effects of this discourse on those outside of MSM categorizations particularly focusing on its use in the Canadian Guidelines on STIs.

Systems-level homelessness report cards are an intricate part of managing and resolving homelessness within a community. Homelessness report cards can be used to both educate communities around the complexities of homelessness and capture pertinent data required to formulate evidence-based strategies towards ending (rather than managing) homelessness. The process of developing and implementing homelessness report cards can be fraught with challenges relating to: limited resources; fragmented information; and political roadblocks. To help reduce the potential of these roadblocks, a system-level Homelessness Outcome Reporting Normative framework (the “HORN Framework”) was developed. The HORN Framework is based on a literature review and synthesis of the best-practice, systems-level homelessness report card development and implementation methods. The framework was then tested in a case study with the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness (GVCEH), through the creation of their 2010 Greater Victoria Homelessness Report Card. The framework and case study results are presented in this thesis.

Queer-identified women in Canada and elsewhere are underserved as a community with regard to the provision of support for drug use related problems. In order to provide much needed inclusive support services, researchers, policy makers and treatment providers must recognize and act on the interface of oppression with substance use in populations of queer women. The homophobia and heterosexism endemic to our society is an issue that necessitates the exploration, development, and inclusion of responsive policies and services for queer women who seek - or desire to seek - support for problematic substance use. This research study explores the support needs of queer-identified women who experience difficulties as a result of drug use. Through qualitative, interview-based research, my inquiry examines responses to the question: What are the support needs of women who are impacted by the confluence of heteronormativity and problematic drug use? Data are derived from nine, semi-structured in-depth interviews with women in the Vancouver Island and Lower Mainland areas of British Columbia. The methodological framework incorporates a critical feminist approach. A thematic analysis technique was utilized to analyse the interviews, with data categorized into three primary themes of discrimination, resistance, and support. Findings indicate that queer women require distinct support services for problematic substance use issues in an effort to redress systemic heteronormativity.

Concern has been expressed regarding the impacts of climate change on the hydroecology of the Mackenzie Delta, thus identifying a need for better understanding of the ice break-up regime. Archived records at hydrometric stations in the delta for the period 1974 to 2006, supplemented with observations and remotely sensed imagery, are used to assemble a break-up chronology and examine spatial and temporal patterns of break-up flooding. Hydroclimatic controls on break-up are assessed by statistical, qualitative, and trend analysis of upstream discharge and downstream ice characteristics. For the most severe break-up flooding, two event types are identified: ice-driven events, with high backwater and high peak levels in the southern, eastern and western delta, and discharge-driven events, with high levels in the mid and outer delta and along Middle Channel. Break-up initiation during ice (discharge) events occurs earlier (later) than the delta average. Severity of break-up water levels is most influenced by upstream discharge, while timing is related to ice conditions and spring hydrograph rise. Rapid upstream melt and lower intensity melt in the delta prior to break-up characterize the most severe events. Trend analysis reveals a tendency toward earlier break-up, a longer prebreak-up melt interval, and a lower magnitude of hydroclimatic controls.

This study used narrative inquiry to answer the question “What are the stories of older adults who choose not to share information with health care professionals?” The study explored the experiences of older adults who did not share information with health care professionals (HCPs), who they defined as doctors. A thematic analysis of five participants’ stories revealed three themes: Illusions of Care, describing the participants’ experiences with doctors before they chose not to share information; The Last Straw, revealing the final incident that caused participants to choose not to share information; and The Mask of the Non-sharing Older Adult, describing how participants interacted with their doctors after they decided not to share information. Relationship development between older adults and their doctors, sensitive topics, issues and perceptions of ageing, and structure of the health care system contribute to the complex issue of older adults not sharing information. The decision not to share information with health care professionals may adversely affect the health and health care of older adults.

Records of abundance of salmon that return to their natal spawning stream (escapements) are important indices that can assist with monitoring, conservation, and management of a salmon population over time. On their own, however these data reveal very little about the habitat, ecosystem and human communities that salmon encounter on their journey from freshwater to sea and back again. This research examines monitoring protocols for Goldstream River salmon stocks (coho, chinook and chum Pacific salmon). It includes and reaches beyond biostatistics from stream surveys to gauge First Nations’ artisanal fishing activities at Goldstream River and Saanich Inlet as well as their commercial chum fishing endeavours in Saanich Inlet on south Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Methods included summations of major themes from interviews on traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) shared by local Saanich First Nation fishers whose families have lived in the communities around Goldstream River and Saanich Inlet for more than 200 years. Analyses of Goldstream salmon escapements for the period 1932 to 2004 and native harvest statistics of chum caught from Saanich Inlet between 1982 and 2004 are integrated with results from analysis of TEK research undertaken for this project. Key recommendations arising from the results of this research are: stream habitat restoration in response to loss and degradation of salmon-bearing streams; modification of stream survey procedures to measure for morphological and physiological attributes including indicators of the health of Goldstream salmon; monitoring and eliminating sources of pollution to Saanich Inlet waters; implementing precautionary measures to ensure that overfishing of Goldstream salmon and shrimp in Saanich Inlet does not recur; and safeguarding naturally abundant Goldstream chum populations at the river. Under current management of the Goldstream chum fishery, the maximum carrying capacity (K) or target escapement of chum that the Goldstream River spawning grounds sustain is 15,000. Based on population assessments as well as physiography and ecosystem dynamics, I infer that Goldstream River’s K for its natural chum population is between ~16,000 and 18,000; ~1,500 for the mixed stocks of natural and hatchery enhanced coho; and ~50 for chinook (based on the river’s naturally occurring populations between 1932 and 1973) or ~385 enhanced chinook (based on the returning population from 1975 to 2002 since hatchery enhancement took place). A co-management relationship exists between Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) resource managers and the Saanich First Nations bands (Saanich Tribal Fisheries councilors). Improvements to communication, collaboration and information sharing between DFO resource managers, Goldstream hatchery operators and Saanich First Nations with regards to decisions made about Goldstream salmon stocks are, however, necessary. In this thesis, I propose a model with recommendations for compatible fisheries management goals and techniques including adaptive management and ecosystem-based management to address this problem.