Digital Commons Network^™

Nato Cyber Defence, 2000-2022, Ryan J. Atkinson

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The emergence of more devastating and organized cyber attacks by non-attributable threat actors internationally raises questions about whether classical deterrence theory in its contemporary form has assisted important military defence alliances, like the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), to adapt to the changing threat landscape. The timeline of the NATO Alliance's adaptation to external cyber threats is examined at critical historical junctures. Changes and adaptation within internal policy-making processes at NATO headquarters and its affiliated centres, think tanks, and military bases are analysed with input from informed decision-makers. The research project demonstrates that NATO policy substantively changed over the period …

A Review Of Accessibility And Return To Sport (Covid-19) Policy In Provincial And Territorial Sport Organizations Across Canada, Elias Boussoulas

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Issues with lack of accessibility in sport for those with both physical and mental disabilities have been prevalent throughout Canada. In order to understand and address these concerns, we must first review the provincial and territorial sport structure as well as accessibility policy in each provincial/territorial sport organization across Canada.

As a result of COVID-19, many provincial and territorial sport organizations found challenges in returning to play successfully while following provincial and territorial phased plans.The setbacks and restrictions put in place created a difficult environment for organizations to return to play, and without a sport-specific Return to Sport plan many …

Fostering An Evaluative Culture By Addressing A Breakdown In The Policy Development Cycle, Michelle Anderson-Draper

The Dissertation-in-Practice at Western University

This Organizational Improvement Plan (OIP) aims to address the problem of practice (PoP) of a breakdown in the policy development cycle. The breakdown has resulted in a lack of evaluative feedback on the extent to which policies have been implemented as intended and are effective in achieving their intended outcomes. The PoP challenges elected trustees, in a large and diverse K–12 school division in Western Canada, to carry out their governance role. To address the PoP, the OIP offers a comprehensive change implementation plan, guided by a four-step change path model, actions, and continuous improvement cycle, supported by communication strategies …

Freedom From Discrimination Or Freedom To Discriminate? Discursive Tensions Within Discrimination Policies In Medical Education, Javeed Sukhera, Helly Goez, Allison Brown, Wael Haddara, Saleem Razack

Paediatrics Publications

The importance of advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion for all members of the academic medical community has gained recent attention. Academic medical organizations have attempted to increase broader representation while seeking structural reforms consistent with the goal of enhancing equity and reducing disproportionality. However, efforts remain constrained while minority groups continue to experience discrimination. In this study, the authors sought to identify and understand the discursive effects of discrimination policies within medical education. The authors assembled an archive of 22 texts consisting of publicly available discrimination and harassment policy documents in 13 Canadian medical schools that were active as of …

Better Solutions: A Comparative Analysis Of Long-Term Care Home Policies In Canada, China And Japan, Chaoran Wu

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Failures of long-term care (LTC) policies caused undesirable negative outcomes for Canadian long term care residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to explore similarities and differences in LTC policies between Ontario (Canada, Ontario), China, and Japan and identify potentially beneficial ideas for policy improvement in all countries. An adapted framework for comparing health care systems guided data collection. Information about four major policy areas: regulation, service provision, PSW workforce, and financial policies was extracted from LTC policy documents, government reports, and research articles. Data was described and compared for similarities and differences. Findings show that …

Implementation Adherence And Perspectives Of The Childcare Physical Activity (Play) Policy: A Process Evaluation, Monika Szpunar, Andrew M. Johnson, Molly Driediger, Shauna M. Burke, Jennifer D. Irwin, Jacob Shelley, Brian W. Timmons, Leigh M. Vanderloo, Patricia Tucker

Paediatrics Publications

The Childcare PhysicaL ActivitY (PLAY) policy was an evidence-informed, eight-item institutional-level policy document targeting children’s physical activity, outdoor play, and sedentary time. Nine childcare centers in London, Ontario, participated in this cluster, randomized controlled trial. Early Childhood Educators allocated to the experimental group, from five childcare centers in London, Ontario, implemented the policy for young children (18 months to 4 years) for 8 weeks and documented adherence to each policy item (i.e., dose) in daily logs. Program evaluation surveys (n = 21) and interviews (n = 10) were completed postintervention to assess Early Childhood Educators’ perspectives of feasibility, context, enjoyment, …

Structural Distress: Experiences Of Moral Distress Related To Structural Stigma During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Javeed Sukhera, Chetana Kulkarni, Taryn Taylor

Obstetrics & Gynaecology Publications

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a significant toll on the health of structurally vulnerable patient populations as well as healthcare workers. The concepts of structural stigma and moral distress are important and interrelated, yet rarely explored or researched in medical education. Structural stigma refers to how discrimination towards certain groups is enacted through policy and practice. Moral distress describes the tension and conflict that health workers experience when they are unable to fulfil their duties due to circumstances outside of their control. In this study, the authors explored how resident physicians perceive moral distress in relation to structural stigma. …

Space Resource Discussions Within The United Nations Committee On The Peaceful Uses Of Outer Space Legal Subcommittee: The Past, Present And Future, Anne Campbell

Institute for Earth and Space Exploration White Papers

The sixtieth session of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) Legal Subcommittee occurred virtually between May 31^st, 2021 and June 11^th, 2021. The sixtieth session of the Legal Subcommittee included the highly anticipated scheduled informal consultations on “potential legal models for activities in exploration, exploitation and utilization of space resources” (United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs, 2021f, p.2), which concluded with the establishment of a COPUOS Legal Subcommittee Working Group under a five-year workplan (United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs, 2021f, p.33). The establishment of a Legal Subcommittee …

Impact Of The Childcare Physical Activity (Play) Policy On Young Children’S Physical Activity And Sedentary Time: A Pilot Clustered Randomized Controlled Trial, Monika Szpunar, Molly Driediger, Andrew M. Johnson, Leigh M. Vanderloo, Shauna M. Burke, Jennifer D. Irwin, Jacob Shelley, Brian W. Timmons, Patricia Tucker

Paediatrics Publications

Background: The importance of daily physical activity is crucial for healthy development during the early years. Currently, a formal written physical activity policy is lacking in Canadian childcare centers, but holds promise for offering consistent physical activity opportunities. With eight recom-mendations, the Childcare PLAY policy is an evidence-informed, institutional-level document, target-ing children’s physical activity, outdoor play, and sedentary time. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of the Childcare Physical Activity (PLAY) policy on the physical activity and sedentary time of young children (18 months–4 years) in childcare. Methods: Nine childcare centers in London, Ontario participated in …

Examining How Changes In Provincial Policy On Vape Marketing Impacted The Distribution Of Vaping Advertisements Near Secondary Schools In London, Ontario, Gina Martin, Drew D. Bowman, Megan Graat, Andrew F. Clark, Alexander J. Wray, Zoe Askwith, Jamie A. Seabrook, Jason A. Gilliland

Paediatrics Publications

Objectives: On January 1, 2020, the Government of Ontario passed a regulation banning vaping advertisements by retailers, apart from specialty shops. A motivation for this ban was to limit youth exposure to vaping advertisements. The primary goal of this research was to evaluate the impact of this ban on the number and density of vaping advertisements surrounding secondary schools. Additionally, we examined whether the number of vaping advertisements varied by school socio-demographic characteristics. Methods: This study used a pre-post design. Audits were conducted December 2019 (pre-ban) and again January to February 2020 (post-ban), to identify vaping advertisements within 800 m …

Cannabis For Therapeutic Purposes: Older Adult Perspectives, User Characteristics And Motivations For Use, Lean Fiedeldey

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Use of cannabis among adults 55 years of age and older is increasing. In Q4 of 2018, slightly over half of cannabis users used for therapeutic purposes at least once, where many reported using for both medical and non-medical reasons (mixed use). Research on older adults regarding the use of Cannabis for Therapeutic Purposes (CTP) is fragmented and there are no comprehensive or in-depth studies on their perceptions or self-reported motivations. Understanding in these areas is important to inform policy that takes the protection of public health and safety as central aims. Does policy affect one of, if not both, …

Comparison Of Ontario’S Home Care Policies With The Perspectives Of Personal Support Workers In The Provision Of Quality Dementia Home Care, Rachel Breen

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Personal support workers (PSW) play a primary role caring for persons living with dementia (PLWD). Policies guide PSW to provide quality dementia home care. This study aimed to explore PSW perspectives on providing quality home care for PLWD in comparison to Ontario home care policies. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze fifteen interviews with PSW and six Ontario policy documents. Alignments included: interprofessional care team approach; dementia-specific education and training for PSW; accessible services, information and education for PLWD and family caregivers; and increasing the respect and supports PSW receive from employers. Differences included: PSW emphasizing person-centred care and …

Assessing The Impact Of Denizenship In The Making And Evaluation Of Temporary Foreign Worker Policies In Canada, Sihwa Kim

MA Research Paper

Despite the larger number of temporary foreign workers (TFWs) that are channelled through a long-standing Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), their experience with the program and, more broadly, within the Canadian society has been overlooked.

This study examines the ways in which a denizen status coupled with other social factors, such as race and amount of human capital, create marginalizing migratory experience for low-skilled TFWs in Canada. As denizens, these migrant workers are isolated in the geographical, economic, political, and social periphery of Canadian society. The longstanding inequality embedded in the structure of TFWP legitimizes differential entitlements and experiences of …

Weaving The Braid Of Culturally Responsive Leadership Within Policy And Governance To Improve Indigenous Student Success, Shelly L. Niemi

The Dissertation-in-Practice at Western University

This Organizational Improvement Plan (OIP) explores a Problem of Practice (PoP) that highlights the need for why the Board of Education and the Senior Administration team within the Raven Bay School Division (RBSD, pseudonym) would benefit from using a culturally responsive leadership approach when making decisions and how this may be achieved through policy and governance to guide their practice. The goal of this OIP is to examine why this leadership approach would be relevant for the Board of Education and the Senior Leadership team when they are making any policy and governance decisions, as it relates to Indigenous …

Environmental Changes Following The Implementation Of The Childcare Physical Activity (Play) Policy, Victoria Tran

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Environmental factors such as the infrastructure and equipment in childcare centres can influence the physical activity levels of young children. This study explored if implementing the Childcare PhysicaL ActivitY (PLAY) policy resulted in unintended environmental changes that were conducive to physical activity in childcare. Childcare centres were randomized to an experimental (n = 5) or control (n = 4) condition. Three Environment and Policy Assessment and Observation Self-Report (EPAO-SR) tools were used to measure 12 best practice items in relation to the childcare environment and early childhood educators’ (ECEs) practices. Descriptive statistics and mixed-effects logistics regression models were …

Implementation Adherence And Perspectives Of The Physical Activity (Play) Policy Study: A Process Evaluation, Monika B. Szpunar

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This study entailed a process evaluation of the Childcare PhysicaL ActivitY (PLAY) Policy. Early childhood educators (ECEs) in childcare centres (n = 5) delivered the policy (which included 8 recommendations) and documented adherence (i.e., dose) in daily implementation logs. Program evaluation surveys (n = 21) and interviews (n = 10) were completed post-intervention to assess barriers/facilitators, feasibility, enjoyment, and likelihood of future implementation. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were conducted. Adherence was highest for delivery of child-directed play (85.9%) and lowest for delivery of frequent outdoor periods (16.5%). Participants reported they were likely to continue policy implementation, …

Exploring The Characteristics And Behaviors Of Nurses Who Have Attained Microcelebrity Status On Instagram: Content Analysis, Hanna Kerr, Richard Booth, Kimberley Jackson

Paediatrics Publications

Background: Instagram is a social media platform that enables users to share images and videos worldwide. Some nurses have used Instagram to document their experiences as a nurse and have subsequently gained microcelebrity status-that is, a user who purposefully seeks to amass a substantive Web-based following and has become recognized as a niche area of interest. Objective: This study aimed to identify the characteristics and behaviors of microcelebrity nurses who act as influencers on Instagram and use their nursing profile to gain attention and presence on the Web. Methods: A qualitative, exploratory, nonparticipatory content analysis of media and text generated …

Employability In Covid-19, Melody Viczko Dr, Shannon Mckechnie

Education Publications

The impacts of the COVID-19 global pandemic on higher education could be seen in education in early 2020. Significant labour market disruptions places students among the group experiencing the heaviest burden from layoffs and work insecurity during this time. Higher education institutions also face financial uncertainty, bracing for shifts in enrolment and tuition revenue, particularly related to international student cohorts. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on student employability are on the radar of policymakers, university faculty and administrators, employers, and students alike.

Policy Problems: Preparing Students For The “Real World”, Shannon Mckechnie

Education Publications

Employability of students has risen as a key indicator of success of institutions, alongside an increased focus on policy for skills development in Canada. In Ontario, a hub for Canada’s economy, the issue of the “skills gap” has sustained interest as a significant but contested policy issue in public post-secondary education (Viczko, Lorusso, & McKechnie, 2019). Directed by policy and by public demand, significant resources at universities are invested into efforts to increase students’ skills capacities, career prospects, and overall employability. For student affairs staff (SAS), developing student career readiness and employability is central to many portfolios of our work …

Student Employability In Covid-19 Project Summary, Melody Viczko Dr., Shannon Mckechnie

Education Publications

The impacts of the COVID-19 global pandemic on higher education could be seen in education in early 2020. Significant labour market disruptions places students among the group experiencing the heaviest burden from layoffs and work insecurity during this time. Higher education institutions also face financial uncertainty, bracing for shifts in enrolment and tuition revenue, particularly related to international student cohorts. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on student employability are on the radar of policymakers, university faculty and administrators, employers, and students alike.

Occupational Therapists As Street-Level Bureaucrats: Leveraging The Political Nature Of Everyday Practice., Rebecca M Aldrich, Debbie Rudman

Occupational Therapy Publications

BACKGROUND.: As front-line service providers who often work in systems regulated by governmental bodies, occupational therapists can be conceptualized as "street-level bureaucrats" ( Lipsky, 1980/2010 ) who effect and are affected by policy.

PURPOSE.: Drawing on understandings from a study of long-term unemployment, this article proposes that occupational therapists, as street-level bureaucrats, respond to inter-related policies and systems in ways that can perpetuate, resist, or transform opportunities for doing and being.

KEY ISSUES.: By highlighting practitioners' everyday negotiation of governmental, organizational, and professional power relations, the notion of street-level bureaucracy illuminates the political nature of practice as well as the …

Ch. 04 - The Pursuit Of Happiness: Music Access In 21st Century America, Carla E. Aguilar

The Road Goes Ever On: Estelle Jorgensen's Legacy in Music Education

This chapter describes policy mechanisms that can be revised to support “music making by all.” Aguilar starts with the normative claim that engagement in music education in elementary, secondary, and post-secondary institutions should encompass opportunities for a range of music-making experiences, especially those experiences that may be ignored or marginalized because of the traditional structure of post-secondary institutions. Broadening choices for musical engagement may provide greater relevance, as well as increased access and participation in learning music by all and for all.

Exploring The Feasibility And Effectiveness Of A Childcare Physical Activity (Play) Policy: Rationale And Protocol For A Pilot, Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial, Patricia Tucker, Molly Driediger, Leigh M. Vanderloo, Shauna M. Burke, Jennifer D. Irwin, Andrew M. Johnson, Jacob Shelley, Brian W. Timmons

Paediatrics Publications

Background: Young children are prone to low levels of physical activity in childcare. This environment, inclusive of equipment, policies, and staff, has been identified as influencing young children’s activity behaviours. To date, no study has examined the feasibility and effectiveness of such policies in Canadian childcare centres, while the provision of physical activity policies in other countries has shown some promise for improving the activity levels of young children. As such, the primary objective of the Childcare PhysicaL ActivitY (PLAY) Policy study is to examine the feasibility of an evidence-based, stakeholder-informed, written physical activity and sedentary time policy for centre-based …

Inclusion And Policy Enactment In Teacher Education: A Focus On Pre-Service Teacher Preparation For The Inclusive Classroom, Ayman Massouti

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Preparing pre-service teachers to enact inclusive teaching practices in the inclusive classroom has become a concern for national and international educational organizations. Adding to these concerns, research on inclusive educati­on policy enactment in teacher education programs, particularly in a continuously growing and recognized diverse society such as Ontario, Canada, is scarce. In order to provide insight to address these issues, this study aimed to examine the enactment of the policy document titled Equity and Inclusive Education in Ontario Schools: Guidelines for Policy Development and Implementation (OME, 2014) in one Ontario teacher education program. In particular, the study focused on exploring …

An Examination Of Municipal Policy-Makers’ Responses Towards The Provincial Implementation Of Retail Cannabis Stores Within Ontario, Mark Dean

MPA Major Research Papers

The rationale for this study is founded on the important role of municipal governments within the domain of cannabis legalization in Canada. In Ontario, a strategy of privatization for physical cannabis stores was implemented by the provincial government. The policy gave municipalities the authority to decide whether they opted in or out of physical cannabis stores within their specific communities. This scenario of allowing local governments to determine the introduction of physical cannabis stores has demonstrated a need for a deeper understanding towards the various factors that influence the decisions of municipal policy makers. This is a unique situation that …

Annual Research Review: Educational Neuroscience: Progress And Prospects, Michael S.C. Thomas, Daniel Ansari, Victoria C.P. Knowland

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

© 2018 The Authors. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health. Educational neuroscience is an interdisciplinary research field that seeks to translate research findings on neural mechanisms of learning to educational practice and policy and to understand the effects of education on the brain. Neuroscience and education can interact directly, by virtue of considering the brain as a biological organ that needs to be in the optimal condition to learn (‘brain health’); or indirectly, as neuroscience shapes psychological theory and psychology influences education. In …

Tracking Children’S Mental Health In The 21st Century: Lessons From The 2014 Ochs, Michael H. Boyle, Laura Duncan, Laura Duncan, Katholiki Georgiades, Jinette Comeau, Jinette Comeau, Graham J. Reid, Warren O’Briain, Robert Lampard, Charlotte Waddell, Kathryn Bennett, Terry Bennett, Khrista Boylan, Michelle Butt, Charles Cunningham, Eric Duku, Jim Dunn, Katholiki Georgiades, Stelios Georgiades, Andrea Gonzalez, Geoffrey Hall, Magdalena Janus, Melissa Kimber, Ellen Lipman, Harriet Macmillan, Peter Rosenbaum, Roberto Sassi, Louis Schmidt, Noam Soreni

Paediatrics Publications

No abstract provided.

Physical Activity And Screen-Viewing Policies In Canadian Childcare Centers, Emily Ott, Leigh M. Vanderloo, Patricia Tucker

Paediatrics Publications

Background: Physical activity (PA) offers numerous health benefits for young children; however, many children enrolled in childcare engage in low levels of PA and high levels of sedentary time. This study aimed to describe the prevalence and content of written PA and screen-viewing (SV) policies in Canadian childcare centers. Methods: Using a modified version of the Environment and Policy Assessment and Observation Self-Report (EPAO-SR) tool, an online survey was distributed to all directors/administrators of center-based childcare facilities across Canada. Reminder emails were sent to encourage survey completion and a strong response rate. Descriptive statistics were used to explore demographic characteristics …

Mapping International Refugee Access To Higher Education, Melody Viczko Dr, Marie-Agnès Détourbe Dr, Shannon Mckechnie

Education Publications

There are approximately 25 million refugees around the world, and over half of this 25 million are under the age of 25. While many refugees hold strong aspirations to attend higher education, about 3% of refugees have access due to political, social and economic challenges. The challenge is how to understand, support, and develop successful greater access to higher education for refugees.

The Governance Of Climate Change Adaptation In Canada: Two Multilevel Case Studies, Daniel J. Bednar

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Anthropogenic climate change is affecting, and will continue to affect, communities across Canada. From increased average temperatures and alterations of seasonal precipitation patterns, to extreme rainfall and heat events, Canadians face a 21^st century environment significantly different from that of the past. With risks to people and services identified via the global scientific and social science literature, the need to adapt to climate change is pressing. Climate change adaptation includes the identification of climate impacts in order to develop interventions into systems and services so to avoid negative effects and recognize opportunities. The emerging consensus is that climate change …