The residential fabric has the capacity and role to interpret and employ the identity, priorities, values and aspirations of a society into physical manifestations of the built environment. To this effect, the residential environment is a reflection of ourselves, we are defined by the lifestyle it affords us. In the last century residential development has morphed and transformed our landscape, particularly apparent in North America, largely taking the form of suburban sprawl. Suburban living is currently the most significant residential legacy of North America. The lifestyles defined by suburban development has brought about profound impact on the socio economic aspects of our communities as well as the environment in which it inhabits. This thesis studies how suburban development has occurred over time and posits to architecturally intervene in Saskatoon, a midsize Canadian prairie city. Saskatoon displays many characteristics unique to midsize Canadian cities, however the city is currently experiencing a rapid increase in private and public investment due to above normal population increases and relatively recent economic prosperity. The work will seek to define an appropriate architectural response to the challenges facing Saskatoon housing today. This thesis seeks to understand the role of design in employing a reflection of how we choose to live; our values and aspirations. Current residential development and architecture provides the foundation and insight into how we might move forward in designing our neighbourhoods.

The saskatoon (Amelanchier Alnifolia Nutt.) is a woody shrub from the rose family. One of the main challenges to its culture is Entomosporium leaf and berry spot (ELBS) disease, which is caused by a hemibiothrophic fungus Entomosporium mespili (Sacc.). Due to the limited growth of the pathogen in vitro, we tested several culture media, and potato dextrose agar remained the best tested medium to grow the pathogen in vitro. E. mespili showed high variations in the morphology and sporulation of its cultures on PDA, which were not related to the geographic origin of the tested isolates. The amount of spores produced by the fungus in vitro was significantly high compared to its sporulation in nature. The use of liquid media such as potato broth was essential to produce enough mycelium for other experiments. The pathogen produced big spherical balls of mycelium where the nutrient and the aeration were sufficient. In absence of previous protocols to extract DNA from this pathogen, we tested several methods and determined a mixture of CTAB and SDS to be best for extraction of good quality DNA from E. mespili grown in vitro. Lyophilisation of E. mespili’s tissue and the addition of proteinase K to the extraction buffer reduced DNA degradation. To avoid the co-precipitation of polysaccharides with DNA, we used a high concentration of salt to precipitate polysaccharides, followed by a separation by phenol:chloroform:isoamyl (25:24:1). Molecular markers including Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and Amplified Fragments Length Polymorphism (AFLP) revealed a high level of polymorphism in E. mespili. The artificial inoculation gave different results from natural infection, with a high level of diversity both on detached leaves and seedlings. According to our tests, growing E. mespili in vitro reduced its pathogenicity.

The saskatoon (Amelanchier Alnifolia Nutt.) is a woody shrub from the rose family. One of the main challenges to its culture is Entomosporium leaf and berry spot (ELBS) disease, which is caused by a hemibiothrophic fungus Entomosporium mespili (Sacc.). Due to the limited growth of the pathogen in vitro, we tested several culture media, and potato dextrose agar remained the best tested medium to grow the pathogen in vitro. E. mespili showed high variations in the morphology and sporulation of its cultures on PDA, which were not related to the geographic origin of the tested isolates. The amount of spores produced by the fungus in vitro was significantly high compared to its sporulation in nature. The use of liquid media such as potato broth was essential to produce enough mycelium for other experiments. The pathogen produced big spherical balls of mycelium where the nutrient and the aeration were sufficient. In absence of previous protocols to extract DNA from this pathogen, we tested several methods and determined a mixture of CTAB and SDS to be best for extraction of good quality DNA from E. mespili grown in vitro. Lyophilisation of E. mespili’s tissue and the addition of proteinase K to the extraction buffer reduced DNA degradation. To avoid the co-precipitation of polysaccharides with DNA, we used a high concentration of salt to precipitate polysaccharides, followed by a separation by phenol:chloroform:isoamyl (25:24:1). Molecular markers including Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and Amplified Fragments Length Polymorphism (AFLP) revealed a high level of polymorphism in E. mespili. The artificial inoculation gave different results from natural infection, with a high level of diversity both on detached leaves and seedlings. According to our tests, growing E. mespili in vitro reduced its pathogenicity.

The residential fabric has the capacity and role to interpret and employ the identity, priorities, values and aspirations of a society into physical manifestations of the built environment. To this effect, the residential environment is a reflection of ourselves, we are defined by the lifestyle it affords us. In the last century residential development has morphed and transformed our landscape, particularly apparent in North America, largely taking the form of suburban sprawl. Suburban living is currently the most significant residential legacy of North America. The lifestyles defined by suburban development has brought about profound impact on the socio economic aspects of our communities as well as the environment in which it inhabits. This thesis studies how suburban development has occurred over time and posits to architecturally intervene in Saskatoon, a midsize Canadian prairie city. Saskatoon displays many characteristics unique to midsize Canadian cities, however the city is currently experiencing a rapid increase in private and public investment due to above normal population increases and relatively recent economic prosperity. The work will seek to define an appropriate architectural response to the challenges facing Saskatoon housing today. This thesis seeks to understand the role of design in employing a reflection of how we choose to live; our values and aspirations. Current residential development and architecture provides the foundation and insight into how we might move forward in designing our neighbourhoods.

This thesis is a study of railway relocation and subsequent commercial redevelopment in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The primary purpose of the study is to test the hypothesis that railway relocation in a western Canadian city could prove beneficial to such a City in terms of community objectives. The City of Saskatoon is utilized as a case study. A secondary purpose, upon validation of the hypothesis, is to attempt the use of Saskatoon's experience as a bench-mark in determining the feasibility of railway relocation in other Saskatchewan cities. In order to place the City in its proper historical and developmental context, the history of Saskatoon is briefly traced from its origin in 1882 to the present. This review pictures Saskatoon as a dynamic urban center with a relatively bright future. A detailed review of events and negotiations leading up to the joint decision by the City and the C.N.R. to relocate railway facilities from downtown Saskatoon indicates that the primary community objectives involved were consolidation of the downtown area and improvement of access to the downtown area. These and other objectives are discussed in detail and analyzed in terms of their relevance and where possible, in terms of the magnitude of costs associated with achievement of a particular objective. The impact of the commercial development proposed for construction in the area vacated by the C.N.R. is demonstrated in terms of its effect on the supply of downtown retail space as opposed to the projected demand. On the basis of certain explicit assumptions, this analysis predicts an excess supply of retail floor space for a period of eight years. Quantifiable costs and benefits to the City attributable to relocation are compared with the resulting conclusion that, on the basis of current estimates, benefits accruing from relocation will yield a 9½% return on the City's investment by 1984. A subjective evaluation of non-quantifiable costs and benefits results in the further conclusion that benefits will again exceed costs. The aggregate conclusion, which validates the hypothesis, is that railway relocation in Saskatoon will prove beneficial to the City in terms of community objectives. The key factors which led to consideration of railway relocation in Saskatoon and which made the project viable were the dynamic nature of the city; the relative location of railway facilities; demand for retail space, and the location of railway rights-of-way relative to the location of required traffic facilities. These factors are tested against four other cities in Saskatchewan; Regina, Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, and Swift Current. Of the four, only Regina is consistantly comparable to Saskatoon, leading to the conclusion that detailed investigation of railway relocation from downtown Regina is warranted.It is further concluded that railway relocation from other Canadian cities might be equally feasible, and certainly worthy of further study. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

Breastfeeding is the optimal form of infant feeding. It appears to protect children from certain childhood diseases that are over represented in the Aboriginal population. Although breastfeeding rates in the general Canadian population have increased over the past two decades, they remain lower than recommended. Rates in the Canadian Aboriginal population are even lower. Breastfeeding literature among Aboriginals is largely demographic and statistical in nature and focuses primarily on First Nations women living on reserves. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors influencing the infant feeding decisions of Aboriginal women living in Saskatoon. Data were collected using qualitative methods, including face-to-face interviews and prolonged observation. Between October 2003 and May 2004, interviews were conducted with a total of eight participants recruited from the Food for Thought program in Saskatoon. A semi-structured prenatal interview was followed by two unstructured, in-depth interviews at approximately one month postpartum. The researcher's participation in two weekly Food for Thought sessions over the same time period allowed for prolonged observation. Observations were recorded using field notes and interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Observation and interview data from each participant were analyzed separately for dominant themes and then integrated to establish collective influencing factors. Results indicated influencing factors are numerous and varied in nature. Contextual (sociocultural and environmental), attitudinal, cognitive (knowledge, information and beliefs), experiential (previous infant feeding experiences), and psychological influences were revealed. The principle implication of this study for those involved with the protection, support, and promotion of breastfeeding in this population is that there are many factors capable of influencing feeding decisions. Feeding decisions are not static; they are dynamic and result from the complex interplay between influencing factors. The importance or significance of any single factor is a reflection of the circumstances surrounding the particular feeding decision.

Breastfeeding is the optimal form of infant feeding. It appears to protect children from certain childhood diseases that are over represented in the Aboriginal population. Although breastfeeding rates in the general Canadian population have increased over the past two decades, they remain lower than recommended. Rates in the Canadian Aboriginal population are even lower. Breastfeeding literature among Aboriginals is largely demographic and statistical in nature and focuses primarily on First Nations women living on reserves. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors influencing the infant feeding decisions of Aboriginal women living in Saskatoon. Data were collected using qualitative methods, including face-to-face interviews and prolonged observation. Between October 2003 and May 2004, interviews were conducted with a total of eight participants recruited from the Food for Thought program in Saskatoon. A semi-structured prenatal interview was followed by two unstructured, in-depth interviews at approximately one month postpartum. The researcher's participation in two weekly Food for Thought sessions over the same time period allowed for prolonged observation. Observations were recorded using field notes and interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Observation and interview data from each participant were analyzed separately for dominant themes and then integrated to establish collective influencing factors. Results indicated influencing factors are numerous and varied in nature. Contextual (sociocultural and environmental), attitudinal, cognitive (knowledge, information and beliefs), experiential (previous infant feeding experiences), and psychological influences were revealed. The principle implication of this study for those involved with the protection, support, and promotion of breastfeeding in this population is that there are many factors capable of influencing feeding decisions. Feeding decisions are not static; they are dynamic and result from the complex interplay between influencing factors. The importance or significance of any single factor is a reflection of the circumstances surrounding the particular feeding decision.

The study on dehydration of frozen saskatoon berries and the need for dried fruits have been strategically identified in the Canadian Prairies. The motivation for this research was to find a suitable method for dehydration and extend saskatoon berry shelf life for long term preservation. Microwave, convection and microwave-convection combination drying processes were identified to finish-dry saskatoon berries after osmotic dehydration, using sucrose and high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) sugar solutions. Osmotic dehydration removes moisture in small quantities introducing solutes into the fruit that acts as a preservative and also reduces the total drying time. <p>Due to the very short harvesting season of saskatoon berries, an accelerated process such as the microwave combination drying can reduce the moisture to safe storage levels immediately after harvest. Untreated and osmotically dehydrated berries were subjected to convection (control), microwave and microwave-convection combination drying conditions at different product drying temperatures (60, 70 and 80oC) until final moisture content was 25% dry basis. A laboratory-scale microwave combination dryer was developed with integrated temperature and moisture loss data acquisition systems using LabView 6i software. A thin-layer cross flow dryer was used for convection-only drying and for comparison. <p>Drying kinetics of the process were studied and curve fitting with five empirical equations, including the Page equation, was carried out to determine drying constant, R2 and standard error values. The microwave-combination drying method proved to be the best for drying saskatoon berries. Dehydrated product quality analyses were accomplished by measuring the color changes, rehydration ratio and any structural changes, using a scanning electron microscope technique.<p>This research was instrumental in the modification and development of a novel drying system for high-moisture agricultural materials (fruits). Microwave-convection combination drying at 70oC, yielded good results with higher drying rates and better end-product quality.

Given the relative lack of information about female gang membership in Canada and the hidden nature of this population, a qualitative approach for understanding the lives of female gang members, through a life course perspective guided by feminist standpoint epistemology is utilized in this dissertation. The data for this study are obtained from interviews with fifteen girls and young women who claimed youth gang membership in their lives, from the cities of Saskatoon and Edmonton. .<p>The critical feminist perspective serves as the theoretical framework for this study. It directs us to an understanding in which girls are regarded as active agents in their own lives and who are striving to better their lives albeit with the limited options available to them in the face of locally available constructions of opportunity and possibility. The analyses reflect the lived experiences of the respondents and illuminate the ways in which the personal troubles and daily lives of respondents are explicitly overshadowed by larger public issues. Through critical analysis, this study draws attention to the ways in which girls experiences of ageism, racism, classism, and sexism interact, resulting in social exclusion, isolation from social institutions, and a subsequent involvement with youth gangs. .<p>The study reveals a heterogeneity of respondents experiences especially with respect to being treated as equals by their male counterparts. From the analysis, it is evident that gangs are highly gendered groups in which gender hierarchies force girls to find ways both to create personas of toughness and independence through participation in violent activities yet also to display appropriate feminine behaviours of sexually non-promiscuous females. Importantly, the decisions to leave the gang are triggered by the negative affects of gang life. Once out of the gang, the girls under study seemed to refocus their efforts toward educational opportunities and obtaining job-related skills. In the end, my research indicates that awareness about the dangers of gang life including the negative consequences of gang membership need to form a core of prevention programs, especially those designed for younger girls and children.

In the last decade historians have focused greater attention on the Canadian home front during the Second World War. This increased scrutiny has led to studies of not only the wars impact on the nation at large, but also on specific urban communities. A weakness in all of these urban accounts, however, is that patriotism is too often taken for granted. An examination of Saskatoon between 1939 and 1945 provides a case study for how patriotism was fostered in a community thousands of kilometers away from the battlefield. Of particular interest here were the ways in which Saskatoons collective imagination, stifled for nearly a decade by the Great Depression, nourished the citys patriotic zeal. Patriotism is considered from three main perspectives. The ways in which Saskatoon re-created at home the war over there are examined first. Instrumental to this endeavour were a deep and sympathetic interest in Englands weathering of the Nazi Blitz, a fear that the Germans might attack North America, and an idolization of the Canadian soldier, both abroad and in the citys own midst. Secondly, Saskatoons vicarious experience of the Second World War in turn energized the countless patriotic initiatives in the city. Saskatonians, from women to the smallest children, were encouraged to do their bit to contribute to the war effort on the home front. Finally, there was also a darker side to the patriotic imagination: a disturbing xenophobia dominated Saskatoon during the war years. People of German and Japanese ancestry, as well as those on the left of the political spectrum, were suspected of being fifth columnists. Using the Star-Phoenix newspaper as a mirror of the community, this thesis provides new insight into patriotism, Saskatoon, and the Second World War.