College of Sustainability Undergraduate Honours Theses

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Open Access
Relearning Food: Agricultural Literacy in the Elementary School Science Curriculum of Nova Scotia
(2012-05-16) Norton, Emma; Buszard, Deborah
This study uses manifest coding to review the Nova Scotia elementary school science curriculum guides for agricultural literacy content. The codes are derived from peer-reviewed definitions of agricultural literacy. Throughout the entire curriculum, twenty-four of the forty-eight codes emerge at least once. Agricultural literacy connections peak in grade 3 before falling to almost negligible numbers in grade 6. The most common agricultural subject area was “agriculture’s relationship with the environment” followed by “the production of plant products.” More complex issues such as the economic impact and marketing of agriculture are not present. The study concludes that students will attain enough information to know how to do basic gardening but rarely is the connection made to agriculture or food and fiber production.
Open Access
CONNECTING PLACES: A PRAGMATIC APPROACH TO RAPID TRANSIT FOR THE HALIFAX REGION
(2012-05-29) Kawchuk, Alex; Campbell, Claire; McOuat, Gordon
Connecting Places: A Pragmatic Approach to Rapid Transit for the Halifax Region explores the potential for the development of a simple, cost-effective rapid transit system for the Halifax Region, specifically for parts of the urban area that are not currently served by the MetroLink bus rapid transit system. The thesis examines previous proposals for rail-based transit along the Mainland North-Bedford Corridor as well as rapid transit systems that exist in other Canadian cities. Halifax Regional Municipality’s long-term development goals were also examined in depth. Based on this research, a rapid transit system proposal has been generated, drawing inspiration from local proposals dating back to the 1970s as well as existing rapid transit systems elsewhere in Canada. This system is designed to help HRM achieve its development goals, particularly those related to land use, settlement patterns, and transportation, while also encouraging a more efficient, cost-effective public transit system. The proposal is not meant to be a “turn-key” system that could be implemented immediately, rather, it is intended to stimulate discussion and to provide the groundwork for further research and development.
Open Access
Young Agrarian Culture in Nova Scotia: The Initial and Ongoing Motivations for Young Farmers from Non-Agricultural Backgrounds
(2013) Haalboom, Sarah; Fitting, Elizabeth
For Nova Scotia, a province historically characterized by rural communities and family farms, the overhaul of Canadian agriculture to an industrial production model has had major ramifications. Farmers are an aging and shrinking demographic. There is growing support for an alternative food system, focused on re-establishing local capacity for food production. Despite financial constraints, a new generation of young people are pursuing farming in Nova Scotia. This study interviewed eight such individuals from non-farming backgrounds to determine their motivations. Participants described fulfillment attained through a farming lifestyle, including a sense of emotional, personal and social wellbeing. Farming as a livelihood was acknowledged as a risky business decision, requiring several years to become securely established. Having a thriving peer network of farmers and direct marketing to customers were viewed as essential for surviving the early years. Economic viability remains the greatest challenge, and further studies are needed to discuss opportunities for income generation in small-scale farming, to support a sustainable agriculture sector in Nova Scotia.
Open Access
Tapping In: Community-Based Water Monitoring Program in Atlantic Canadian First Nations Communities
(2013-04-10) Reed, Victoria; Krkosek, Wendy; Gagnon, Graham
Drinking water quality is an issue in First Nations communities across Canada. To address this, in 2003 Health Canada created the Community-Based Water Monitoring Program across Canada to employ First Nations community members to monitor their own community’s drinking water. This study was part of a larger audit conducted by the Centre for Water Resources Studies to determine the effects this program had on water quality in Atlantic Canada, and to test its compliance with federal standards. Water quality data from WaterTrax (online database) for all First Nations in Atlantic Canada was evaluated for the following parameters: free chlorine residual, total coliforms, Escherichia coli, trihalomethanes, and haloacetic acids between 2007 and 2012. It was found that at least one third of all sites were not meeting the sampling frequency recommended in the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality for chlorine and microbial samples. There was some improvement in total coliform concentration, and little to no improvement for the other parameters. No definitive conclusions could be drawn because there were not enough samples taken to provide an accurate representation of overall water quality. These findings indicate a need to re-evaluate the program’s training and implementation effectiveness, and to also determine the cause(s) behind the poor water quality found in these communities.
Open Access
Canada and its commons:institutional support for a nascent social sector
(2013-04-25) Boggild, Lars; Sur, Sujit
Social enterprise may help address many social and environmental issues, but needs support from a strong funding market in order to flourish. This study seeks to understand how well public Canadian institutions are supporting the development of this “social finance” industry. An analysis of internal and external publications in two Canadian governmental bodies, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), shows an awareness of this sector which is not communicated in external publications. It demonstrates organizational activity relevant to the development of the social sector. This activity is currently un-directed towards the social sector when compared to a socially-directed comparison organization, Big Society Capital of the UK. Analysis of financial statements points to possible focus areas for ACOA and HRSDC in this space. ACOA’s familiarity with direct business services makes it well placed to shape the delivery of training and business education within the social sector. On the other hand, HRSDC is better positioned at a more “meso” level of activity given its history of funding bodies which themselves distribute resources. This indicates considerable ability to support an important diversity of mid-level and intermediary actors in the development of this marketplace.
Open Access
Examining the impacts of marine tourism in the Seaflower MPA of San Andrés, Colombia
(2013-05-04) Novaczek, Emilie; Fanning, Lucia
San Andrés attracts roughly 400 000 tourists annually to white sand beaches and coral reefs. The island sits within the Seaflower Marine Protected Area, which covers 75% of Colombia’s coral reefs, including the western Caribbean biodiversity hotspot and provides habitat for 192 IUCN red list species. A study of marine tourism was requested by MPA managers to support policy, monitoring and enforcement decisions. This paper uses quantitative and qualitative information on tourism activity types, user density and coral reef condition to provide baseline information on the local tourism industry and its relationship with shallow reefs. Data was collected through interviews with marine tour operators and shallow reef transects following Reef Check protocols. There are up to 3700 visitors on the water every day during the high season, including SCUBA divers, snorkelers, kite surfers, sail boats, cruise ships, etc. It is clear that the impact of tourism is not linear nor is it easily divided by activity type. However spatial and historical analyses indicate that San Andrés reefs have been significantly changed by tourism development. High traffic areas showed lower hard coral cover, increased algal growth, increased coral rubble and low invertebrate diversity. This research offers valuable insight into where managers should focus time and resources. Speed-boat operators carry the vast majority of tourists, and represent a high impact community who could be targeted with environmental education campaigns. The highest traffic and highest damage area occurs in the San Andrés Bay, an area that would benefit from increased vigilance and enforcement of no-entry zones. Tourism policy recommendations suggested and supported by many operators during interviews include limiting speed-boat and jet ski permits, and establishing activity-specific regulations (ex. PWC best practices). This paper represents a baseline study, providing a platform for additional research. Further historical and comparative analyses are required to understand the area more completely.
Open Access
Sowing the Seeds of Experiential Learning: Perspectives on the Creation of a High School Gardening Class in the Halifax Regional Municipality
(2013-05-05) Dykhuis, Lucy
This study uses a Grounded Theory framework to explore the opportunities and barriers of integrating an elective gardening class into the curriculum for high school students in the Halifax Regional Municipality. Four community garden workers participated as key informants in this research. They shared their perspectives on the benefits and detriments of school gardens and how a gardening class could be structured. The conclusion of this study is that the participants believe that the implementation of a high school gardening program would be beneficial to the students, schools and community. The next step for this research is to explore the students’ perceptions of a gardening class to determine whether it would be a worthwhile program that they are interested in.
Open Access
Promoting change throughout energy systems using economic incentives - A novel approach to electricity billing to improve The City of Summerside’s energy security and reduce its carbon emissions
(2013-05-16) McCarthy, Megan
With energy demands increasing rapidly, energy suppliers are struggling to keep up. Upgrading the existing systems comes with an enormous price tag for the supplier, who in turn must recover these costs by increasing rates to the consumer. Not only are the supplier and consumer strained by this solution, but the environment suffers as well, since roughly 80% of the world’s energy comes from fossil fuels. In order to ensure that resources will be available to meet the needs of future consumers and to protect our fragile environment from depletion and pollution, it is critical that changes occur now. Maintaining a balance in the energy system consisting of the supplier, the consumer, the government and the environment needs to be achieved in order to ensure energy security. To do this, each stakeholder’s needs must be determined and taken into consideration. Primary research confirms that currently, the consumer’s biggest concern is affordability, while the supplier’s is reducing production cost. The government sets policies and guidelines that must be met to protect all stakeholders, while the environment often takes the brunt of our collective actions. The objective of this thesis is to determine the viability of promoting behavioural change in consumption habits in order to reduce the amount of electricity used, shift on-peak loads to alleviate the need for costly upgrades, and to encourage the use of renewable energy sources. By inviting consumers to participate in a supplier endorsed survey to determine their main concerns and motivators, the goal is to develop a customized billing system for the supplier that will motivate consumers to reduce energy usage. In turn, this alleviates the strain on the existing system, substantially reduces costs to the end-user, encourages the use of alternative energy, and protects the environment. This model is tested using a case study on The City of Summerside, Prince Edward Island.
Open Access
Exploring Marine Protected Areas: A baseline governance assessment of the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve
(2013-05-27) Pirie, Robyn E; De Santo, Elizabeth
Governance is a key component of sustainable ocean management and utilizes stakeholder collaboration to build resilient conservation and management schemes. Marine protected areas are governed from a top-down, bottom-up, market-based or cooperative approach, all of which involve a variety of actors. The ability of a reserve to meet its objectives, particularly those focused on conservation, depend heavily on the ability of stakeholder groups to communicate effectively and work cohesively to protect and promote the mandates of a reserve. The diverse nature of marine protected areas and their management schemes can make it difficult to determine and develop methods for assessing the success of a reserve in meeting its objectives. The purpose of this case study was to create a baseline governance assessment of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, located in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. The analysis will begin to determine how well the reserve is meeting its conservation objectives from a governance perspective. The focus is placed on investigating the five variables of governance outlined by Jones et al. (2011) in the Marine Protected Area Governance (MPAG) framework. These five variables include: legal, economic, knowledge (role of science), interpretative, and participative incentives. An in-depth desktop analysis of peer-reviewed and gray literature was conducted alongside informal stakeholder communication to determine how well the Sian Ka’an Reserve is meeting its conservation objectives. The analysis identified areas where the Sian Ka’an Reserve had excelled; it has also uncovered deficiencies in the application of good governance, e.g. the lack of a comprehensive legal framework. The discovery of these shortfalls and successes aims to improve governance in the Sian Ka’an Reserve and to identify transferable lessons for other MPAs. Overall, the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve has had moderate success in meeting its conservation objectives.
Open Access
"Every kid from Brazil is not a soccer star": Exploring race as a factor for service provision for immigrants in Truro, Nova Scotia
(2013-09-20) McCaffrey, Grace; Tirone, Susan
This study reviews the literature on systemic racism in Canada, how it is perpetuated through white privilege and how it influences national immigration policy. Using a qualitative exploratory approach, this study then examines how larger forces of institutionalised racism might influence immigration and services on offer in the small, rural community of Truro, Nova Scotia. Service providers' perspectives on race as a factor for service provision for immigrants in Truro were gathered through a one-on-one interview process. Identified as a successful community, in terms of attraction and retention rates, this study looks at what is unique to Truro's approach to welcoming and supporting that might allow it to deviate from norms born of systemic racism. This study posits that 'social' issues such as systemic racism are inherently linked with sustainability and must be addressed in combination with 'environmental' issues.
Open Access
Act think eat drink, locally? Understanding the motivations of student consumers to support the local food movement in Nova Scotia
(2014-04-24) Maize, Sam; Cameron, John
The local food movement has become a popular alternative to industrialized agriculture in the global North. The goals of the local food movement are to support local farmers, build strong local communities and to reconnect the consumer to the source of their food. This paper challenges the local food movement, arguing that consumers tend to fetishize local food without asking the critical questions that led to the local food movement in the first place. This paper argues that the local food movement has become romanticized as a social good, and that rather than addressing the issues of the global food system, the local food movement represents an exit strategy instead of addressing the problems within the global food system. In order to explore the research question, “what motivates students in Nova Scotia to eat local?”, a survey of 148 student consumers was conducted at Dalhousie University. Survey responses reflect the popular rhetoric of the local food movement, supporting the local food movement for it’s perceived environmental superiority, ethical production and economic benefit. The local food movement is based on well-meaning values; however, it is moving away from deeper concerns of equity and citizenship. The local idea becomes problematic when our sense of justice becomes territorially bounded by a shared, exclusionary, sense of place. This paper argues that local activity could be adapted to offer more equity and stability to higher, more global levels of the food system. This would contribute to the resilience of the food system as a whole, while allowing for the values of the local food system to be extended beyond a bounded sense of place.
Open Access
Political Responses to Environmental Activism Tactics: A matrix analysis approach using case studies from the anti-pesticide movement in eastern Canada between 1960-2000
(2014-04-29) Belliveau-Thompson, Emilia
Despite scientific and social support, campaigns of the environmental movement often struggle to gain political traction. This research explores political responses to environmental activism using a matrix analysis approach that compares various activism tactics with six designations of potential political response in order to better understand the relationship between activism tactics and the polity, and to consider the relevance of Antonio Gramsci’s Counter-Hegemonic theory within the environmental movement. Case studies are drawn from five campaigns within eastern Canada’s anti-pesticide spraying movement between 1960-2000, largely collected from the archives of the Ecology Action Centre. Discussion of the case study results suggest that Gramsci’s indicators of successful counter-hegemony do not appear to affect the overall likelihood of receiving a political response, but that some individual tactics or trends in tactical approach consistently appear more advantageous. A critical analysis of the method also reflects on the matrices’ ability to synthesize information about complex and interconnected events, so that they can be displayed, understood, and compared visually, while also maintaining their complexity and narrative depth. This research provides an interdisciplinary analysis approach, applies activism theory to tactics and events as the intersection between polity and activism, and also adds to the understanding of environmental activism within the Canadian context.
Open Access
The Effectiveness of Compost and Biosolids for Land Remediation on Tailings from an Iron Mine
(2014-04-30) Hooey, Kieran; Hoyle, Jeff
Mine tailings inhibit the growth of living organisms and give rise to unstable living conditions for the existing flora and microorganisms. The abandoned iron mine site in Londonderry, Nova Scotia is almost completely barren save the occasional tree or bush. The area has not been used for nearly 90 years and should this land be able to be remediated, it could help revive the town or potentially become an area for agricultural purposes. Because they are proven to be somewhat effective on their own, this study attempted to combine microorganism remediation and phytoremediation together in order to execute a thorough bioremediation process. The purpose of this experiment was to test the theory that compost, biosolids and well-chosen native plants can help produce biodiversity on the abandoned Londonderry site. Various combinations of compost and biosolids were poured into plastic pots that had exactly 500mL of tailings from the Londonderry mine site. Roadside mix seeds were added. The replicates were watered every three days for 25 days and then plant height and weight for each replicate was determined. Compost was extremely effective on its own and biosolids were not. However, when biosolids were mixed into the tailings, they were effective at producing high biomass yields. The experiment showed that a threshold point for compost is present. 73.5mL of compost on top of the tailings and 25mL of both compost and biosolids mixed into the tailings to simulate tilling were hypothesized to be the ideal mixture for producing maximum yields. Further studies on the actual site to determine the validity of this hypothesis are required. A soil analysis determined that iron levels were still extremely high and wild blueberries were suggested as the plant to be used for phytoremediation as it is an iron-loving plant and is native to Nova Scotia. A cost analysis revealed that the organic material will cost a mere $4000 to remediate the Londonderry site but labour and transportation costs will likely drive the cost up to $80,000 or higher. However, it is unfair to the Londonderry residents to leave a mine site that was abandoned 90 years ago unremediated. The Government of Nova Scotia should take some accountability and fund the project especially since $100,000 or less is not an obscene amount of money.
Open Access
An exploration of the range in public perceptions of small-scale and large-scale wind power developments in Nova Scotia, Canada
(2014-04-30) Morin, Izzy; Beazley, Karen
Hostility towards wind energy developments is prevalent in Nova Scotia in recent years, and has culminated in the formation of wind-opposition groups, such as the Friends of Jeddore and the Friends of South Canoe. These two groups are against the development of industrial-scale wind energy developments near their communities. This research explores the differences in public perceptions of large- and small-scale wind- energy developments in Nova Scotia, as seen through online news articles. A conceptual content analysis was conducted of 128 articles from 12 on-line-news sources from January 2013 to January 2014. The data show that there is a discernible difference in volume and types of public commentary about large-scale and small-scale wind energy developments, with comments about small-scale developments being overall more positive than those regarding both large-scale and unspecified-scale developments. The data suggest that the public perceptions of small- and large-scale wind energy are different enough that communities who are opposed to large-scale developments may be supportive of small-scale developments. However, consideration of other factors is also necessary in the face of new developments. Specifically, consideration of levels of public engagement and ownership of new projects, and being able to answer to citizens’ environmental concerns are especially important. Other emergent ideas include NIMBYism, the politicization of wind energy, and differences among real and perceived risks and benefits of wind developments and how they affect behaviour.
Open Access
Pilot Test for Reliability and Validity of a New Assessment Tool Measuring Relationships between Individual Health and Environmental Sustainability
(2014-04-30) Bartlett, Laura
This study surrounds the creation of a comprehensive assessment tool designed to measure the relationships between individual health and environmental sustainability. The existing literature surrounding health and sustainability shows there is currently no assessment tool of this kind available. A self-reporting survey comprised of 103 questions divided among ten categories was created based on the existing literature. The five categories for health include: Mental Health, Physical Health, Physical Functioning, Eating Habit, and Stress/Relaxation. The five categories of sustainability are: Recycling, Energy Consumption, Greenhouse gas (GHG) Emissions, Water Usage, and Connection with Nature. The survey was tested for several reliability and validity measures. Participants (N=60) were students from Dalhousie University. Results of the pilot test show the tool to be reliable and valid in many of the psychometric categories. Recommendations to improve reliability, validity, and to create a more usable tool are included.
Open Access
Experiences of Silence: An exploration of peoples' experiences of intentional silence
(2014-05-05) Reid-Howells, Benjamin; Gallant, Karen
Guided by literature that suggests that mindfulness practices can be used to cultivate cognitive flexibility, creative thinking, compassion and a sense of interconnectedness, this study explored peoples experiences of opportunities for silence in a university student leadership program focused on sustainability. Guided by the research question: What are participants' reflections of their experiences of intentional silence within the Sustainability Leadership Certificate program?, this research explored experiences of intentional silence as an example of mindfulness practice. This study drew on Grounded Theory and Creative Analytic Practice (CAP) in its analysis and presentation of the findings. The Sustainability Leadership Certificate (SLC) program at Dalhousie University's College of Sustainability incorporates intentional silence into its programming with the goal of creating skilled, motivated leaders committed to actions of sustainability. Participants of the SLC were asked to reflect on their experiences of two, thirty-second moments of silence within the SLC's programming. Overall, participants felt appreciative of the opportunities to be silent and expressed an increased ability to absorb what they were learning, to engage with the material, and to take the silences as breaks from a mentally and socially demanding learning experience. Participants reflected on their experiences within three layers of context: their personal context; their immediate surroundings; and abstract concepts of the value of silence, mindfulness, reflection and more. These layers of context are explored as being nested within one another. A parallel is discussed, of people's experiences of sustainability challenges and experiences of silence. It is possible that mindfulness practices such as intentional silence can be used as the bridge between theory and action, enabling and inspiring people to develop a personal practice of mindfully enacted sustainability.
Open Access
White Gold or Fool's Gold? An analysis of the textual representation of GM cotton production in Burkina Faso
(2014-05-06) Gawron, Samantha; Schnurr, Matthew
This study uses Foucauldian Discourse Analysis to examine textual representations of genetically modified cotton production in Burkina Faso. Media, organizational, and academic sources are included in the analysis. Three main discourses are identified from the chosen texts: “Poor, Smallholder Farmers as Justification” explores the power corporate actors exercise in the creation of promotional narratives; “The Textual Silencing of Poor Producers” describes the way in which the use of language can make certain stakeholders invisible; and “Cotton Production as Incontestable” reveals the power that the cotton sector itself holds in the discourses. These discourses provide a basic understanding of power relations surrounding GM cotton production in Burkina Faso, an important aspect to consider when regarding the Burkinabe GMO experience as a model for other African nations. This study can be used as an overview of textual representations of GM cotton in Burkina Faso, as well as an introduction to the power structures existing within the discourse.
Open Access
Cookbooks as cultural indicators: An examination of protein consumption trends in North America
(2014-05-14) Mosher, Makayla
The production of animal-derived products from cattle, pigs, poultry, and fish has negative impacts on the environment. These negative effects such as climate change and eutrophication are being driven by consumer demand. As population increases, demand for animal protein increases. Demand, however, is increasing in excess of population growth. It is important to understand why animal protein consumption is increasing in excess of population growth in order to predict and, if possible, limit negative impacts on the environment. This study seeks to document whether there has been a change in what North American society considers a “typical” portion of animal protein over the past 100 years. Cookbooks were used to collect information on what authors and readers of these books understood as an acceptable serving size of protein in the year the book was published or printed. Documenting the trend demonstrated that portion sizes in the recipes examined have, in fact, been decreasing. This suggests that increased protein consumption may be caused by factors such as increasing meal frequency rather than portion size. Further studies should be done to examine the frequency of meals being eaten containing animal protein as this is likely contributing to the increase.
Open Access
Forward Moving Growth: Dartmouth as a Candidate for Transit Oriented Development
(2014-05-23) Crewe, Brady; Grant, Jill
Urban sprawl is becoming an increasingly serious problem faced by the Halifax Regional Municipality. It is an unsustainable form of growth whose consequences include traffic congestion and the elimination of open space and local resources. In response to this issue, many scholars have argued the merit of Transit Oriented Development (TOD), which can be defined as any dense, mixed-use, walkable development within close proximity to a transit station. They are often built in urban areas as infill, and they attempt to increase transit use by reducing the need for the car. This study explores the potential for TOD implementation in the area within 800 meters of the Bridge Terminal in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. It begins by investigating the benefits and limitations of TOD in general, and includes a bus-based TOD case study in the comparable suburb of Westboro, Ontario. It then develops a ‘best practice’ framework to help define the scale and scope of development that is needed to increase transit use. The study area is divided into 6 land use categories for individual assessment: (1) Low-Density Residential, (2) Park and Institutional Zones, (3) Vacant Lots, (4) Land with Intensification Potential, (5) the Brightwood Golf and Country Club, and (6) Harbour-Oriented Industrial Zones. Finally, each land use category is assessed based on its ability to contribute to TOD, as outlined in the framework and comparable case study. To determine suitability of the area, the study identifies the challenges and opportunities with TOD implementation under each land use category. This study has determined that TOD potential is widely varied among land use categories. The land use category with the greatest short term potential was determined to be ‘Vacant Lots’. The most prominent challenges with TOD implementation among all categories include political resistance to development, and current policy restrictions. To mitigate these issues, this study recommends that HRM re-evaluate several restrictive regulations under the Dartmouth Land Use By-Law, including zoning and view plane requirements. Municipal support is vital to TOD success. To deal with community resistance, it recommends that each potential development be taken on a case-by-case basis, with consistent community engagement sessions sponsored throughout the process. While this study is location specific, its implications traverse the boundaries of its study area. The framework can be used, and the methods replicated, in order to assess other areas with potential for TOD implementation.
Open Access
Examining the Media’s Portrayal of Idle No More: A Critical Discourse Analysis
(2014-06-02) Caddell, Emily; Castleden, Heather

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