In the spring of 2016, a wildfire consumed the boreal forest that encircles the municipality of Fort McMurray, Alberta. Notwithstanding the severity of the blaze, known as “The Beast,” attention turned to the community because of its link to Canada’s largest industrial project – the Athabasca tar/oil sands in northern Alberta. A moment of controversy erupted in May 2016 when commentary pinned the cause of the wildfire on climate change, a charge that was quickly judged insensitive. With this context in mind, Fort McMurray holds scholarly value in the investigation of discourse related to today’s dominant form of energy – fossil fuels. Using a dataset of opinion discourse (N=40) sourced from four Canadian newspapers (The Globe and Mail, the National Post, the Calgary Herald, and the Edmonton Journal), this thesis presents a critical discourse analysis of how commentators and editorial boards articulated the relationship between the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire and concerns about the tar/oil sands contribution to climate change. The opinion pages are free from the journalistic pressure of objectivity and thus offer a place for argumentative narratives to reside. As such, my analysis focuses on the use of storylines in the dataset to give meaning to the wildfire and the tar/oil sands industry. The analysis reveals that the storylines cast environmentalist groups as ideologically motivated radicals while the oil industry was positioned as Alberta’s economic champion, thereby fusing the petro-state with the common good.

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This study is part of a three year project aimed to assess the effects of industrial water withdrawals on the ice regime of the Athabasca River. A 2-D numerical model was used to provide quantitative data for this effort. Freeze-up monitoring was carried out over two years along 80-km of the river from Fort McMurray to Bitumount. Summer bathymetric and winter ice surveys were conducted along with discharge measurements on a 5-km long detailed study reach that exhibited the full range of ice cover initiation processes. The data collected was used to build a CRISSP2D river ice process model for the simulation of freeze-up processes. An extensive parametric assessment was carried out to evaluate the capabilities of the model. Although it was not possible to simulate bridging, the simulated border ice agreed very well with field observations. Limitations of the model are addressed and future research recommendations are included. / Water Resources Engineering

Titre de l'écran-titre (visionné le 1er mai 2023) / Après un événement traumatique, certains individus peuvent vivre des changements positifs, c'est-à-dire une croissance post-traumatique. La littérature montre des résultats contradictoires concernant la façon dont elle évolue, les facteurs contribuant à son apparition et ses impacts positifs sur la vie quotidienne des individus. Les objectifs de ce mémoire doctoral étaient de 1) décrire comment la croissance post-traumatique et le fonctionnement quotidien évoluent dans le temps après une catastrophe naturelle, 2) tester si la sévérité des symptômes du trouble de stress post-traumatique (TSPT) peut prédire la croissance post-traumatique et si la croissance post-traumatique peut prédire le fonctionnement quotidien de manière longitudinale, et 3) explorer la contribution des cognitions post-traumatiques, des stratégies d'adaptation et du soutien social perçu dans la relation entre la sévérité des symptômes du TSPT et la croissance post-traumatique. Trois cent quatre-vingt-quatre évacués des incendies de Fort McMurray en 2016 ont rempli des questionnaires d'auto-évaluation à quatre reprises pendant deux ans. Les résultats ont révélé que la sévérité des symptômes du TSPT et le fonctionnement quotidien sont restés stables jusqu'à trois ans après les incendies. La sévérité des symptômes du TSPT et les difficultés de fonctionnement ont prédit positivement la croissance post-traumatique à certains temps de mesure. Aucun effet indirect n'a été trouvé, indiquant que les cognitions post-traumatiques, le soutien social et les stratégies d'adaptation ne pouvaient pas expliquer la relation entre la sévérité des symptômes du TSPT et la croissance post-traumatique. Cette étude apporte un soutien à la théorie de Tedeschi et Calhoun selon laquelle une certaine détresse est nécessaire pour que la croissance post-traumatique se produise, et soutient la nécessité de trouver des moyens d'aider les survivants de catastrophes naturelles à améliorer leur fonctionnement. / After a traumatic event, some individuals may experience positive changes, i.e. post-traumatic growth. The literature shows conflicting results regarding how it evolves, the factors contributing to its occurrence, and its positive impacts on individuals' daily lives. The objectives of this doctoral dissertation were to 1) describe how posttraumatic growth and daily functioning evolve over time after a disaster, 2) test whether the severity of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms can predict posttraumatic growth and whether posttraumatic growth can predict daily functioning longitudinally, and 3) explore the contribution of posttraumatic cognitions, coping strategies, and perceived social support in the relationship between PTSD symptom severity and posttraumatic growth. Three hundred and eighty-four evacuees from the 2016 Fort McMurray fires completed self-report questionnaires on four occasions over two years. Results revealed that PTSD symptom severity and functioning remained stable up to three years after the fires. PTSD symptom severity and functioning difficulties positively predicted posttraumatic growth at some time points. No indirect effects were found, indicating that posttraumatic cognitions, social support, and coping strategies could not explain the relationship between PTSD symptom severity and posttraumatic growth. This study provides support for Tedeschi and Calhoun's theory that some distress is necessary for posttraumatic growth to occur and supports the need to find ways to help survivors of disasters improve their functioning.

The principle source of heterogeneity affecting flow behavior in conventional clastic reservoirs is discontinuous, low-permeability mudstone beds and laminae (shales). Simple ‘streamline’ models have been developed which relate permeability anisotropy (kv/kh ) at the reservoir scale to shale geometry, fraction, and vertical frequency. A limitation of these models, especially for tidally-influenced reservoirs, is the lack of quantitative geologic inputs. While qualitative models exist that predict shale character in tidally-influenced environments (with the largest shales being deposited near the turbidity maximum in estuaries, and in the prodelta-delta front), little quantitative shale character data is available. The purpose of this dissertation is to collect quantitative data to test hypothetical relationships between depositional environment and shale character and to use this data to make geologically-based estimates of for different reservoir elements. For this study, high-resolution, lidar point-clouds were used to measure shale length, thickness, and frequency. This dissertation reports a novel method for using distance-corrected lidar intensity returns to distinguish sandstone and mudstone lithology. Lidar spectral and spatial data, photo panels, and outcrop measurements were used to map and quantify shale character. Detailed shale characteristics were measured from four different tidally-influenced reservoir analogs: estuarine point bar (McMurray Formation, Alberta, Canada), tidal sand ridge (Tocito Sandstone, New Mexico), and unconfined and confined tidal bars (Sego Sandstone, Utah). Estuarine point bars have long (l=67.8 m) shales that are thick and frequent relative to the other units. Tidal sand ridges have short (l=8.6 m dip orientation) shales that are thin and frequent. Confined tidal bars contain shales that are thin, infrequent, and anisotropic, averaging 16.3 m in length (dip orientation). Unconfined tidal bars contain nearly equidimensional (l=18.6 m dip orientation) shales with moderate thicknesses and vertical frequency. The observed shale geometries agree well with conceptual models for tidal environments. The unique shale character of each unit results in a different distribution of estimated . The average estimated kv/kh values for each reservoir element are: 8.2*10^4 for estuarine point bars, 0.038 for confined tidal bars, 0.004 for unconfined tidal bars, and 0.011 for tidal sand ridges. / text

Fort McMurray has experienced significant environmental disruptions, raising concerns about chemical releases that affect the environment, particularly berries. This thesis explores the relationship between environmental factors and the nutritional quality of pin cherry (Prunus pensylvanica L.F.) and common blueberry (Vaccinium myrtilloides Michx) fruits and soil in Fort McMurray (reclaimed and natural lands). Samples were collected in August 2022 and analyzed for chemicals and quality variables. The results revealed concentration variations among samples, with hydrocarbons higher in reclaimed areas and blueberries than others and soil surpassing those in fruits. Copper and iron in fruits exceeded regulatory limits. A strong association between soil chemicals and alkylated hydrocarbons in fruits explained most differences. Soil trace elements and properties were primary environmental drivers, while hydrocarbons were secondary influencers, evident mainly in reclaimed berry environments. Antioxidant-focused nutritional quality in reclaimed berries was predominantly influenced by these key drivers in soil, requiring consistent monitoring.

Exposure to a natural disaster and the presence of post-traumatic stress (PTS) symptoms following a natural disaster leads to a decrease in social support. Few studies have examined ways to improve social support among victims of natural disasters. The first objective of this study was to determine if a 12-session internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) targeting PTS, insomnia and depression symptoms could improve emotional and tangible social support and if so, to determine at which point in the treatment this improvement became significant. The second objective was to examine the predictive value of post-treatment PTS, insomnia, and depression symptom severity on post-treatment emotional and tangible support. The third objective was exploratory and aimed to examine the associations between the use of the platform and emotional and tangible support. One hundred and seventy-eight wildfire evacuees with significant PTS, depression and/or insomnia symptoms were given access to the ICBT. They completed validated self-report questionnaires at pre-and post-treatment to measure social support and symptom severity. Results show that completion of the treatment led to an improvement in emotional support, t(13) = -3.286, p = .006. The improvement in emotional support was also significant for participants that completed at least seven sessions, one of which addressed social support (i.e., session 6), t(15) = -2.143, p = 0.49. Lower post-treatment PTS, β = -.23, p < .05; R² = 0.38, F(4,129) = 13.348, p < .001, and insomnia, β = -.175, p = .04; R² = 0.37, F(4,129) = 19.786, p < .001, symptoms was also associated with higher post-treatment emotional support. ICBT may contribute to improve emotional support through symptom improvement and probably more so when the importance of social support after a disaster and ways to improve it are addressed directly. / L'exposition à une catastrophe naturelle ainsi que la présence de symptômes de stress post-traumatique (SPT) entraînent une diminution du soutien social chez les victimes de catastrophe naturelle. Peu d'études ont examiné les moyens pouvant améliorer le soutien social chez cette population. Le premier objectif de cette étude était de déterminer si une thérapie cognitive comportementale sur internet (TCCI) ciblant les symptômes de SPT, d'insomnie et de dépression pouvait mener à une amélioration du soutien émotionnel et tangible. Le deuxième objectif était de déterminer la valeur prédictive des symptômes de SPT, d'insomnie et de dépression post-traitement sur le soutien émotionnel et tangible post-traitement. Le troisième objectif était exploratoire et visait à examiner les associations entre l'utilisation de la plateforme de traitement et le soutien émotionnel et tangible. Cent soixante-dix-huit évacués des feux de forêt de Fort McMurray présentant des symptômes cliniquement significatifs de SPT, d'insomnie et/ou de dépression ont eu accès à une TCCI. La sévérité des symptômes et le soutien social ont été mesurés au pré- et au post-traitement à l'aide de questionnaires validés autorapportés. Les résultats révèlent une amélioration significative du soutien émotionnel chez les participants qui ont complété au moins sept sessions du traitement, t(15) = -2,143, p = 0,049, dont l'une portant sur le soutien émotionnel (i.e., session 6). La faible sévérité des symptômes de SPT, β = -.23, p < .05; R² = 0.38, F(4,129) = 13.348, p < .001, et d'insomnie β = -.175, p = .04; R² = 0.37, F(4,129) = 19.786, p < .001, au posttraitement était aussi associée à un meilleur soutien émotionnel post-traitement. La TCCI peut mener à une amélioration du soutien social. Cette amélioration est possiblement plus importante lorsqu'il y a une amélioration des symptômes psychologiques et lorsque le soutien social est abordé directement dans le traitement.