Regional disparities, most notably of the 'heartland-periphery' pattern, have been a distinctive feature of Canadian urban geography throughout the industrial era. New regimes of economic prosperity, recessions, and restructuring in the post-industrial era coupled with demographic fluctuations have added new and accentuated divisions and disparities creating an increased gap between cities that are growing and not growing. Under these conditions, it seems realistic to expect that no-growth cities might begin to develop distinctive planning strategies centered on a theme of decline or no-growth scenarios. However, this has not been the case. The City of Greater Sudbury is located in North-eastern Ontario and is best known across Canada for its original resource-based ‘boom’, its unsustainable mining practices and subsequent decline. The 21st-Century City of Sudbury has since evolved into a more balanced regional centre. Nonetheless, the population of the City has been fluctuating over the last 30 years, experiencing decline, slow growth, and no-growth scenarios. The first phase in the research establishes the documentary record of Sudbury’s decline alongside remedial initiatives undertaken at the federal, provincial, and local levels in the general attempt to kick start growth locally and remediate decline. The second phase in the research investigates how those involved in planning and economic development at the grassroots level deal with no growth through key informant interviews with planners, economic developers, consultants, and politicians. The research findings document the contradictory perceptions that surround planning in no-growth locales and further explore the challenges and opportunities associated with no growth urban areas. It concludes with a discussion of what might constitute alternative criteria for a new model of planning and development capable of generating more realistic economic and planning policy and strategy considerations for no growth urban areas and Northeastern Ontario.

This thesis envisions sustainable forestry communities in Northern Ontario. Forestry communities struggle to maintain a quality of life against obstacles such as external (often global) economic pressures on the community’s forestry operation, youth out-migration and lack of local control over their natural resources. Principle aims in this thesis are to understand the built environment of small, remote forestry communities; to propose a vision for community self-sufficiency and long-term sustainability; and lastly, to identify the role of architecture in envisioning a built environment that might evolve alongside principles for long-term sustainability. The design exploration is focused on enhancing the quality of place in the north through effective integration with the boreal forest and its renewable resources. Scandinavian models emerging in towns with similar ecological conditions to Canada suggest that rethinking the use of local ecological resources might lead to appropriate architectural response in the region – one which offers stronger identity for these forestry communities. Such design processes are centered on two main questions: what overall framework will allow communities themselves to self-organize local resources, culture and knowledge towards long-term sustainability and regional identity?; and how can architecture and design specifically contribute to these objectives as well as sustain forestry communities?

As Canada employs a federated system of government, there are separate environmental assessment (EA) processes. In Ontario, Canada, there is a streamlined, pre-approved, self-assessed process (i.e., the Minister of the Environment’s approval is not required) for “classes” of projects. These Class EA projects are routine, with known impacts, being predictable and mitigable, in a southern Ontarian environment. However, it is assumed that Class EA protocol developed in the southern Ontarian context is directly transferable to northern Ontario. A case-based approach, using the Victor Mine electricity transmission line project, was employed to critically examine whether the Class EA template developed in southern Ontario, could be effectively applied to the western James Bay region of northern Ontario. Specifically, the two assumptions (and corollaries) of Class EAs of predictability (corollaries: the environment is similar in all locations where Class EAs are applied; and the environment is well understood) and mitigability (corollary: all negative effects are mitigable) were examined. Primary (semi-directive interviews) and secondary (literature search) data were used to inform a themed analysis. Results indicate that the northern environment is unique: biophysically, the western James Bay area is Ontario’s only salt water coastal region, and contains one of the largest wetland regions in the world; and socio-economically, no southern Ontarian region can claim that one third of their total regional economy is related to subsistence pursuits. In addition, the northern environment is dynamic, disproportionately changing over time with respect to climate change and post-glacial isostatic adjustment. Moreover, not all negative effects are mitigable (i.e., the effects the existing electrical transmission line has had on waterfowl harvesting). Thus, the Class EA template is not transferable to the northern Ontarian context. Similarly, in other northern regions of the world where glacial isostatic adjustment is a reality and these regions uniqueness must be recognized and be reflected in the EA process, if a process exists.

Students with ASD may experience challenges in school; however, literature suggests that they should still have access to public education with appropriate services and supports (Burge, Ouellette-Kuntz, Hutchinson & Box, 2008; Levy & Perry, 2008; Mesibov & Shea, 1996; Odom, 2000; Porter, 2008). The purpose of the current study was to examine the views and perceptions of those involved in the transition of students with ASD from IBI to school in Northern Ontario. Using a mixed-methods approach, members of multiple transition teams were asked to complete The Transition Beliefs Inventory (Levy & Perry, 2008) and the Transition Practices Questionnaire (Levy & Perry, 2008) to assess their transition beliefs and experiences. The results of this study suggest that the transition is occurring as outlined by the North region Autism Intervention Program (AIP) and the Connections for Students model and could be used to inform continuous improvement of service and practices.

Nursing is a stressful occupation with various physical and psychosocial stressors inherent in its practice. While the physical stressors of nursing are generally understood, less understood are the psychological and social stressors of the profession. With the many changes in healthcare facilities and structures that are occurring today and, in turn, affecting nurses, it is increasingly important to better understand the psychosocial stress experiences of nurses. Grounded in the Job Demand-Control-Support Framework, the objectives of this study were to: 1) examine factors associated with quality of work life (QWL) of Registered Nurses working in four small urban hospital-based obstetric programs, 2) determine if nursing occupational stress, QWL, and various factors (e.g., demographic, locations with and without cross-training) are associated with nurses’ work ability, where work ability is the worker’s capacity to perform their work, as was measured by the work ability index, and 3) review and evaluate some workplace interventions targeting occupational stress management and burnout for nurses.

This research project acknowledged that the introduction of PS 3150 guidelines were presented to Ontario municipalities as a new, unfunded mandated responsibility which was viewed by these municipalities to be an impossible challenge within the completion timeline. This research project identifies impacts that PS 3150 guidelines will have on infrastructure planning for municipalities, with a population of less than 5000, in Northern Ontario. The PS 3150 guidelines were created by the Public Sector Accounting Board (PSAB) of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA) to outline the general process for public sector organizations to change from a modified accrual format to full accrual accounting complete with new financial statements. Municipalities have had to better account for both financial and non-financial assets when reporting on revenues and expenditures. The evaluation of the policy mandate outlined in PS 3150 guidelines has yet to be completed, however the impacts of the guidelines can be assessed based on the development and subsequent implementation of Tangible Capital Asset policies and asset management plans by municipal governments. The findings identified four key similarities among responses from the municipal representatives. The Impacts of PS 3150 legislation are primarily related to personnel, financial, planning, and technical issues. The key recommendation arising from the completion of this research is that municipalities need to move forward, pursue complete asset management plans, in order to demonstrate in a quantitative manner the costs associated with municipal infrastructure planning.

This research project acknowledged that the introduction of PS 3150 guidelines were presented to Ontario municipalities as a new, unfunded mandated responsibility which was viewed by these municipalities to be an impossible challenge within the completion timeline. This research project identifies impacts that PS 3150 guidelines will have on infrastructure planning for municipalities, with a population of less than 5000, in Northern Ontario. The PS 3150 guidelines were created by the Public Sector Accounting Board (PSAB) of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA) to outline the general process for public sector organizations to change from a modified accrual format to full accrual accounting complete with new financial statements. Municipalities have had to better account for both financial and non-financial assets when reporting on revenues and expenditures. The evaluation of the policy mandate outlined in PS 3150 guidelines has yet to be completed, however the impacts of the guidelines can be assessed based on the development and subsequent implementation of Tangible Capital Asset policies and asset management plans by municipal governments. The findings identified four key similarities among responses from the municipal representatives. The Impacts of PS 3150 legislation are primarily related to personnel, financial, planning, and technical issues. The key recommendation arising from the completion of this research is that municipalities need to move forward, pursue complete asset management plans, in order to demonstrate in a quantitative manner the costs associated with municipal infrastructure planning.

Immigration has been a prominent aspect of Canada’s make-up, and the effects of immigration on the nation’s economy and society continue to be debated. Largely ignored in the grand narrative of Canada’s multicultural history is the recognition of a first wave of immigrants of Lebanese descent who settled in Canada at the turn of the twentieth century. Little is known about the adaptation process that these immigrants were compelled to navigate during their settlement experience on the newly developed northern frontier of Ontario. These pioneer immigrants were instrumental in building and supporting the northern Ontario communities that would become the foundation for Canada’s mining industry. This thesis argues that the domains of family, work, and community engagement were significant factors in facilitating the process of adaptation and acculturation of early Lebanese immigrants to Canada. Using a narrative phenomenological approach to research, the emphasis was on understanding the roles that family, work, and community played in facilitating acculturation and adaptation of early immigrants. These roles were evident in the life story testimonies of ten descendants of the pioneer immigrants who immigrated to northern Ontario circa 1900. The last surviving elders, children of the pioneer immigrants, ranged in age between 79 and 93 and were born and raised in the northern Ontario mining communities of Cobalt, New Liskeard, Haileybury, Kirkland Lake, Cochrane, and North Bay. Findings were organized under three analytic categories: a) the role of the traditional family b) early immigrants’ role in peddling and entrepreneurship c) community engagement. A documentary film entitled Finding a Silver Lining is included in Chapter Five of the thesis and serves as an annex to the written text. A form of digital storytelling, the film interweaves historical events from the time period between 1900 and 1930 with video clips from participant interviews, archival images, and recorded audio narration.

Immigration has been a prominent aspect of Canada’s make-up, and the effects of immigration on the nation’s economy and society continue to be debated. Largely ignored in the grand narrative of Canada’s multicultural history is the recognition of a first wave of immigrants of Lebanese descent who settled in Canada at the turn of the twentieth century. Little is known about the adaptation process that these immigrants were compelled to navigate during their settlement experience on the newly developed northern frontier of Ontario. These pioneer immigrants were instrumental in building and supporting the northern Ontario communities that would become the foundation for Canada’s mining industry. This thesis argues that the domains of family, work, and community engagement were significant factors in facilitating the process of adaptation and acculturation of early Lebanese immigrants to Canada. Using a narrative phenomenological approach to research, the emphasis was on understanding the roles that family, work, and community played in facilitating acculturation and adaptation of early immigrants. These roles were evident in the life story testimonies of ten descendants of the pioneer immigrants who immigrated to northern Ontario circa 1900. The last surviving elders, children of the pioneer immigrants, ranged in age between 79 and 93 and were born and raised in the northern Ontario mining communities of Cobalt, New Liskeard, Haileybury, Kirkland Lake, Cochrane, and North Bay. Findings were organized under three analytic categories: a) the role of the traditional family b) early immigrants’ role in peddling and entrepreneurship c) community engagement. A documentary film entitled Finding a Silver Lining is included in Chapter Five of the thesis and serves as an annex to the written text. A form of digital storytelling, the film interweaves historical events from the time period between 1900 and 1930 with video clips from participant interviews, archival images, and recorded audio narration.

Background: Children continue to experience pain in hospital. Few studies examine pediatric pain management in the rural context. Objectives: 1) To explore nurses’ experiences providing pain care to pediatric inpatients in Northern Ontario. 2) To identify institutional resources to support nurses’ pain care practices. Method: Across methods approach. Study I used qualitative description completed with 10 nurses using semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using inductive content analysis. Study II was an exploratory descriptive online survey using a study-specific questionnaire that was completed by 8 hospital administrators. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and narrative synthesis was used for open-ended questions. Findings: Pediatric pain management presents challenges in Northern Ontario, including competing priorities, gaps in pain knowledge, unclear policies, and resource constraints. Potential facilitators include nurses’ motivation to improve pain management, leveraging local resources, and an increase in context specific standards. Conclusion: Context specific strategies need to be designed and implemented to support nurses’ practices in delivering recommended pediatric pain management to their patients.