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Reports on the determination of structure, height and diameter growth, above-and below-ground biomass and nutrient distribution of a paper birch and subalpine fir mixed species stand in the Sub-Boreal Spruce zone of British Columbia. Findings that suggest normal distribution of height and diameter in paper birch; Distribution pattern of subalpine fir; Total biomass of both plants.

Growth and survival responses of 8 year-old interior spruce to reductions in paper birch density from 2500 to 1000, 50 and 0 overtopping stems ha[sup -1] were examined after five years on a single site in the Interior Cedar Hemlock biogeoclimatic zone of southern British Columbia. Stem diameter increased and height: diameter ratio decreased when birch density was reduced from 2500 to 50 stems ha[sup -1], but there were no further benefits to spruce growth when the entire birch overstory was removed. Spruce growth did not improve where birch was thinned to 1000 stems ha[sup -1], but its potential for release may have been confounded by the higher density of taller conifers in that treatment. Interspecific competition between spruce and paper birch appeared to be primarily for light because spruce responded to dramatic reductions in overstory density but not to reductions in understory sprout density. Spruce survival was unaffected by thinning treatments, indicating that birch density of 2500 stems ha[sup -1] was too low to induce mortality. Armillaria root disease was the main cause of mortality, and spruce leader weevil and Cooley's spruce gall adelgid were important damaging agents, but the behaviour of these organisms was unaffected by treatment. Stand structure was dramatically changed from a mixed coniferous-deciduous to a predominantly coniferous overstory when birch was thinned to 50 or 0 stems ha[sup -1], which may have negative implications for wildlife. If balancing maximum spruce growth with biodiversity is the primary objective, then between 50 and 1000 stems ha[sup -1] birch should be retained on sites similar to the one used in our experiment. This will require modification of the current legislation governing reforestation in British Columbia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The concept of biographical disruption has now enjoyed nearly 40 years of use in medical sociology. This paper argues that taking an embodied approach to biographical disruption helps to explain the concept's enduring efficacy. Drawing on the work of Maurice Merleau-Ponty and contemporary theories of embodiment inspired by his phenomenology, this paper advances that biographical disruption involves, in the first instance, a disruption to the ability to enact an embodied orientation towards the world. Biographical disruption does not, from this perspective, result from illness as such, but from the ways that illness impinges on one's physical ability to engage with daily life. This paper examines the experiences of solid organ transplant recipients for the purpose of shedding light on the conditions under which biographical disruption arises in experience. The analysis includes interviews with 36 post-operative solid organ transplant recipients (heart, liver, lung, and kidney) living in British Columbia or Ontario, Canada. These participants exhibit a wide range of illness experiences, some of which manifest as biographical disruption and others that do not. Tracing the contours of these experiences, this paper argues that the efficacy of biographical disruption for describing the illness experience depends not only on the illness experience but also, fundamentally, on the content of embodiment prior to the onset of that experience. Highlights • The embodiment perspective improves the efficacy of biographical disruption. • The embodied context of an experience structures the illness experience. • Organ transplant recipients present variable experiences of biographical disruption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the articulation and mobilization of competing notions of energy (in) justice and energy future visions in the struggle over the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project (TMX) in British Columbia, Canada. The TMX is a controversial fossil fuel project because it leads to the appropriation of First Nations lands, gender violence, and the unequal distribution of the socio-environmental costs of tar sands operations. Despite these impacts, the Canadian state argues that the TMX contributes to economic growth, job creation, and increased tax revenues, thereby legitimizing tar sands expansion on Indigenous lands. Drawing upon literature on Indigenous climate/energy justice, we problematize conventional understandings of energy justice and energy futures by examining multiple, interconnected, and often neglected dimensions of justice in the TMX conflict. Through critical discourse analysis, this paper explores how First Nations opposing this pipeline mobilize different notions of justice to envision alternative energy futures. Our study shows how they challenge Canada's fossil fuel future vision by asserting jurisdiction over the lands crossed by the TMX and demanding the cancellation of this pipeline. Centering counter-hegemonic perspectives in discussions about tar sands development provides a starting point for imagining and building more just energy futures. • Indigenous notions of justice problematize Western hegemonic understandings of energy justice. • Energy justice involves Indigenous self-determination, gender justice, and community-led renewable energy development. • First Nations discourses of justice challenge Canada's fossil fuel future vision. • Indigenous energy futures are based on multiple interconnected dimensions of justice. • Just energy futures involves dismantling the settler colonial logic underpinning the TMX project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Estimation shows that the waste LED lamps will reach 12 kt by 2021 in Canada. • Aluminum concentration of LED lamps was ˜22%. • Other major elements present in LED lamps were iron, copper and zinc. • Presence of heavy metals such as arsenic, antimony and lead were reported. • The toxic leachate concentration was reported below the BC landfill limit. Lamps and lighting products are the most commonly used electrical products around the globe. With the improvement in lamp technologies, products have grown complex and hence require an improved recycling process. Light emitting diode (LED) lamps consist of various valuable and hazardous metals such as copper, aluminum, iron, zinc, lead, arsenic, and antimony. This paper provides an estimation of the waste LED lamps generation in Canada. It shows that the cumulative waste from LED lamps is expected to reach 12 kT by 2021. A characterization of LED lamps was also conducted to estimate the metal concentration and landfill leachate toxicity characteristics, which have not yet been studied with a bulk sample. The results showed that aluminum is the major metal present in LED lamps with a concentration of over 22%, followed by iron, copper, and zinc. It also showed the presence of heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, and antimony. On the contrary to the previous study, the landfill leachate concentration for waste LED lamps was found to be lower than the British Columbia (BC) landfill limits for all metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Global warming is already affecting the oceans through changes in water temperature, acidification, oxygen content and sea level rise, amongst many others. These changes are having multiple effects on marine species worldwide, with subsequent impacts on marine fisheries, peoples' livelihoods and food security. This work presents a review of the recent literature on the current and projected impacts of climate change on Canada's Pacific marine ecosystem. We find that there is an increasing number of studies in British Columbia focusing on changes in ocean conditions and marine species responses under climate change, including an emerging literature on the socio-economic impacts of these changes considered to be a knowledge gap. According to the literature, it is well established that ocean temperatures are increasing over the long-term, especially, in southern areas of British Columbia. Warming trends are increasing in the spring and are strongest in summer. However, there are important uncertainties regarding other climate drivers, such as oxygen concentration and acidification, stemming mainly from the insufficiency of data. Pacific salmon, elasmobranchs, invertebrates and rockfishes are amongst the most vulnerable species groups to climate change in British Columbia. Also, shifts in stock distribution and fish abundance under climate change may have a significant impact on fish supply affecting the livelihoods and food security of some British Columbians. The magnitude of these impacts is likely to vary according to a latitudinal gradient, with southern coastal areas being more affected than northern and central areas; challenging multiple areas of governance, such as equity and fishing access amongst First Nations; and institutional arrangements for transboundary stocks between the U.S. and Canada. Highlights • Climate change is impacting marine species worldwide, affecting marine fisheries, peoples' livelihoods and food security. • There is an emerging literature on the socio-economic impacts of climate change at the local level. • This paper presents a review of the literature published on these impacts in British Columbia's marine species and fisheries. • Socio-economic impacts will vary according to a latitudinal gradient with unequal distribution of losses in marine catches. • We identify some of the risks that fisheries, communities and the economy are facing in the region due to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper summarizes the results from a comprehensive laboratory experimental research program conducted at the University of British Columbia, Canada to study the mechanical behavior of natural fine-grained soils. Constant-volume direct simple shear tests were performed on natural silt samples collected from various locations in British Columbia to investigate the monotonic and cyclic shear loading response of these materials. Influencing factors such as effective confining stress, over-consolidation ratio, initial static shear bias, soil plasticity, and soil fabric/micro-structure on the mechanical behavior of silts were systematically investigated using a series of controlled laboratory tests. The key observations arising from these examinations are presented and discussed to serve as input for the development and/or refinement of design practice approaches for seismic geotechnical design. New directions to be considered to advance the current state of understanding and knowledge on the mechanical behavior of natural fine-grained soils are identified. • Seismic response of natural fine-grained soil was experimentally investigated. • Effect of wide range of physical parameters on the soil behavior was investigated. • Behavioral patterns were explored for a number of different natural soils. • Outcomes were interpreted and translated for potential practice usage. • Findings will contribute to advancement of earthquake engineering design practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Just-in-time fuel inventories reduce resilience against fuel shortages. • Subduction earthquakes can cause widespread fuel shortages. • Localized fuel shortages after earthquakes are likely in the next 50 years. • A new object-oriented network model was developed to explore resilience scenarios. • Local emergency planners helped improve simulations and build realistic solutions. Abstract An agent-based object-oriented model for the fuel distribution network in coastal British Columbia in Canada is presented. Objects representing infrastructure components with varied attributes and behaviors are described together with objects representing transportation modes on land and on water. A novel feature of the modeling approach is its capacity to represent the diverse nature of the objects in a network. Another novelty of the approach is its capacity to simulate discrete deliveries based on requests, which is a requirement in the modeling of the considered fuel distribution network. This paper presents the software architecture and applies it to assess the probability of fuel shortages following an earthquake for six storage facilities in coastal British Columbia. The results of this assessment can be used to inform emergency response plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: High quality agricultural land is extremely scarce in the province of British Columbia, Canada. As a consequence of this scarcity and development pressure, the provincial government established a province-wide land preservation scheme – the agricultural land reserve – in 1973. The principal focus of the paper is an examination of the consequences of recent changes to the reserve''s enabling legislation. One of the changes is of particular importance: the Commission which manages the reserve is now explicitly required to consider community needs within the over-arching objective of land preservation. An important question immediately presents itself: how will the Commission balance the two conflicting objectives? An outline for a land evaluation and site assessment (LESA) framework is presented which – if adopted – would ensure that the Commission''s land use decisions reflected a range of concerns; including, the agricultural value of the parcels of land being considered for removal from the reserve, the likely impact of the removal of a parcel on the agricultural value of nearby parcels, the impact that development of a parcel removed from the reserve would have on environmental, recreational and open space amenities, the social, cultural and heritage effects stemming from the removal of a parcel, and community needs. The paper also addresses the likelihood of government support for the implementation of a LESA framework. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper, a comparative review of the community forest models prevailing in two countries is made: the province of British Columbia in Canada and Cameroon in Central Africa. A series of assessment criteria emanating from community forest attributes in both jurisdictions were identified and employed as a basis for assessing and comparing the performance of both models. Results of this study revealed that fundamental similarities and differences exist in the two models and none of the models is superior to the other. However, it is argued that when both models are evaluated against specific criteria, one model often exhibits some sort of dominance vis-à-vis the other. To conclude, the paper prescribes a series of recommendations for improving the efficiency and quality of the community forest model in both jurisdictions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Highway geometric design in mountainous areas has been a typical challenge. The combination of short horizontal curves and restricted right-of-way is a common ground for contemplating design exception in British Columbia, Canada. In practice, collision modification factors (CMFs) are advocated as quantitative measures of changes in road features on safety. However, in many situations, there are no CMFs in the literature to predict the safety impact of changing particular road features. An important example of these road features is sight distance restriction on horizontal curves. A mechanism for risk measurement has been proposed in earlier work to assist designers in comparing the safety impact of different deviations from sight distance requirements. This paper attempts to answer the questions as to whether it is possible to reduce overall risk and achieve consistency in such reduction without demanding wider right-of-way. This problem was formulated in a multi-objective optimization framework. Following this methodology, it was possible to achieve an average reduction in risk of 25% on the nine critical cross-sections. This reduction in risk was achieved without demanding wider right-of-way and without creating measurable increase in expected collision frequency due to independent re-dimensioning of different geometric elements. On theoretical grounds, this paper represents another step into the direction of developing fully probabilistic geometric design standards. On practical grounds, this paper provides an important decision mechanism that enables the efficient use of available right-of-way for new highway construction. Case studies in this paper have been applied on a major highway development in British Columba, Canada. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Environmental impact assessments (EIAs) include economic benefit predictions that influence whether project proposals proceed to the construction and operational phases of development. Decision-makers often reason these benefits outweigh the potential adverse effects to environmental and social valued components, e.g. endangered species. But rarely are the economic impacts monitored and audited. This paper evaluates predicted and actual economic benefits through a predictive audit of three coal mines in the critical habitat of endangered caribou in British Columbia, Canada. Based on data collected from publicly available documents, including financial reporting, we compare the predicted employment and corporate tax revenue against the projects' actual performance for these two indicators. Economic impacts were significantly overestimated for both indicators: only 59% of forecasted employment and 34% of forecasted tax revenue materialized. The results challenge the credibility of trade-off analyses that underpin rationales for these project approvals and more broadly raise questions about the confidence and uncertainty of economic predictions in other EIAs and decision rationales. The study echoes existing calls for rigorous economic follow-up and demonstrates the critical role of predictive audits in that undertaking. • We undertake a predictive audit of three coal mines in BC, Canada. • We audit two direct economic benefit indicators: employment and corporate tax revenue. • Both indicators were significantly overstated in the mines' EIAs. • The mines' regulatory approval rested on inaccurately predicted trade-offs. • Predictive audits are crucial to assess the credibility of trade-off analyses in EIAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early child development (ECD) – the development of physical, social–emotional, and language–cognitive capacities in the early years – is a foundation of health, well-being, learning, and behaviour across the life course. Consequently, the capacity to monitor ECD is an important facet of a modern society. This capacity is achieved by having in place an ongoing flow of high-quality information on the state of early child development, its determinants, and long-term developmental outcomes. Accordingly, there remains a considerable need for research that merges community-centred, longitudinal, and linked-data approaches to monitoring child development. The current paper addresses this need by introducing one method of summarising and quantifying the developmental trajectories of British Columbian children at the neighbourhood- or district-level: computing the Community Index of Child Development (CICD) for each geographic area. A simple index that describes change in children's developmental trajectories at the aggregate level, the CICD is computable because of our capacity to conduct individual-level linkage of two population data sets: the Early Development Instrument (EDI), a holistic measure of children's readiness for school which is administered at Kindergarten, and the British Columbia Ministry of Education's Foundation Skills Assessment (FSA), a Grade 4 measure of academic skills. In this paper, we demonstrate: (a) wide variation in the CICDs according to the children's district of residence in Kindergarten; (b) an association of the CICDs with an indicator of the socioeconomic character of the neighbourhoods; and (c) contrasting patterns of neighbourhood convergence and divergence in two different school districts – such that, in some areas, children from high vulnerability neighbourhoods tend to catch up between Kindergarten and Grade 4 whereas, in other areas, they tend to fall further behind. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper focuses on analyzing the ice and wind conditions for a high voltage transmission line system going over mountainous terrain in British Columbia, Canada. After analyzing sixteen surrounding weather stations, an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) is performed for wind speed predictions, the Inverse Distance Weighted Interpolation method (IDW) is used for temperature estimations, and the K Nearest Neighbor Imputation (KNNI) is performed for precipitation rate on the unsampled site of interest. In-cloud icing is estimated using a simple empirical equation proposed by Makkonen & Ahti (1995), in addition to the ice accretion model proposed by Makkonen (2000). The weather data from the described procedure is compared with data from a Weather Research and Forecast model (WRF) reported in previous studies. The wind speed and ice accretion data are fitted to the Weibull and Generalized Pareto distributions, respectively, and five hundred years of data pairs are simulated in addition to the historical data based on those distributions. Finally, hazard contours are drawn, and the results are compared with the combined wind and ice values proposed in the National Standard of Canada (CSA-C22.3) for different reliability levels. • Provides weather analysis of 16 weather stations for a specific site of interest located in mountainous terrain. • Analyzes ice accretion on transmission lines. • Characterizes joint wind and ice hazard. • Provides a comparison with the standard CSA-C22.3 for three different hazard levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a novel framework to conceptualize and investigate license and quota holdings within fisheries jurisdictions and regions. We motivate and develop the framework by drawing together two bodies of literature that have been relatively disparate: one on fisheries industrialization and the other, from food studies and food systems scholars, on consolidation and concentration in farming and agrifood value chains. An important observation from food studies and food systems research is that a spectrum of logics -- from productive through to speculative -- motivate farmland accumulation and shape patterns of ownership, investment, and power in farming regions. We apply the framework to investigate license holding portfolios within the federally-managed fisheries jurisdiction off of Canada's western-most province, British Columbia (BC). We calculate the market value of a selection of large portfolios. We also begin to explore power dynamics, finding that those with large and valuable portfolios are uniquely positioned to exercise and expand control within the jurisdiction. Fisheries and marine policy researchers should assume that hedge funds, private investment and equity firms, and other publicly traded businesses now regularly assess the investment potential of licenses and quota; case-based, comparative, and policy-oriented research are all urgently needed. • Reviews literature on consolidation and concentration in farming; highlights patterns relevant to industrial fisheries. • Proposes a novel framework to conceptualize and investigate commercial fishing license and quota holdings. • Applies framework and calculates market value of a selection of license portfolios active in Pacific Region (BC, Canada). • Large and diverse portfolios are valuable assets; holders are uniquely positioned to exercise control in various ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deformation of rock slopes is associated with the formation and accumulation of internal and external features (such as tension cracks, rock mass bulging and dilation, rockfall, etc.) that can be comprehensively referred to as "slope damage". In this paper, we use a 3D distinct element numerical modelling approach to investigate the role of shear zone morphology and groundwater pressure on the displacement and slope damage accumulation at the Downie Slide, a large, extremely slowly moving rockslide in British Columbia (Canada). First, we briefly review the external slope damage features that can be observed in an airborne laser scanner (ALS) dataset, allowing four slope damage domains (upper, central, northern, and southern domain) to be interpreted within the slide area, based on the orientation and type of features. Using the same ALS dataset we construct a 3D model of the present-day slope, explicitly including the two shear zones along which displacements occur, in order to investigate their role in the later stage of the landslide evolution. We assign a strain-softening constitutive model to the slide body, in order to account for the decrease in material properties due to damage accumulation. Virtual inclinometers are also implemented in the model, allowing for the comparison of simulated and observed displacement direction along the shear zones. The progressive deformation and failure of the slope is then simulated both assuming dry and wet conditions, in order to examine the role of pore water pressure, and the morphology of the upper and lower shear zones on the magnitude, orientation, and distribution of displacements. For each numerical model, the simulated slope damage features are recorded, by analyzing the zone volumetric strain and failure state, and compared with the type and orientation of features observed in each of the interpreted slope damage domains, thus allowing the numerical results to be better constrained and validated. It is clearly demonstrated that the orientation and distribution of slope damage and displacements observed in both the surface ALS and the subsurface borehole inclinometer data can be well reproduced in the 3D numerical models. Numerical modelling results show that the principal factor controlling the spatial distribution of slope damage at the Downie Slide is the morphology of the lower shear zone, whereas a negligible role is played by the upper shear zone morphology. We also observe that models incorporating a groundwater table display larger displacements, without significant effects on the orientation and distribution of simulated slope damage. This paper demonstrates that an analysis of slope damage is very important for understanding the mechanisms underlying the behavior of large landslides and should be a fundamental step in the comprehensive characterization of any major slope failure. • Slope damage features form as a result of deformation in rock slopes. • Characterizing slope damage provides insights on the failure mechanism and process. • The Downie Slide (BC, Canada) was investigated using a 3D distinct element approach. • Slope damage features can be used to constrain numerical modelling results. • Slope damage formation at the Downie Slide is controlled by shear zone morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay presents three film examples from across the cinemas of Canada which grapple with the politics of sobriety amidst unique cultural contexts: Werewolf (Ashley McKenzie, 2016) broaches the topic of opioid addiction on Cape Breton Island; Love in the Time of Civil War (Rodrigue Jean, 2014) of drug addiction on the streets of Montreal; and The Honour of All (Phil Lucas, 1992), the history of alcoholism on Esk'etemec First Nation in British Columbia. The narratives, aesthetics and modes of production of each film are analysed with an eye towards how they advance a new temperance sensibility that is non-prohibitionist, non-universalist and non-moralist. The three films are positioned within a canon of Canadian films about alcohol and substance misuse, as well as within a broader set of new temperance initiatives found in Canadian society at large. By selecting one film each from an English-Canadian, Acadian-Québécois and First Nations milieu, this paper proposes that their diffuse affinity for surviving addiction offers a means of organizing Canadian cultural studies for reasons other than national belonging, and conceives of temperance as an autonomous movement distinct from state-based public health solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban centres in the US, Britain and Canada have responded to identified visible 'social problems' such addiction, mental health and homelessness by providing some supportive housing for the urban poor and marginalized. While some critics have questioned what supportive housing specifically entails in terms of the built environment, what remains under explored, though a growing area of concern, is the relationship between surveillance and supportive housing for urban residents identified as having addiction and mental health problems - a gap addressed in this paper. Drawing upon qualitative ethnographic observational data we examine some of the measures of control and coercion that are encroaching into social housing primarily established for poor and marginalized people with addiction and mental health problems in the urban centre of Vancouver, Canada. We witnessed three modes of regulation and control, that vary widely, among the residencies observed: physical surveillance technologies; site-specific modes of coercion; police presence and staff surveillance, which all together impact the everyday lives of residents living in low-income and supportive housing. We argue that supportive housing has the potential to provide its intended commitment - safe and secure affordable housing. However, owing to an (over)emphasis on 'security', the supportive housing we observed were also sites of social control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In dendrochronology, temporal patterns in radial growth are considered an expression of historical climate processes that cannot be measured. Dendrochronological networks, developed to characterize the geographical and temporal patterns of tree rings, have additional spatial information that can add to our understanding of historical climate conditions. This paper summarizes the use of spatial autocorrelation statistical tools for quantifying spatial trends in dendrochronological networks. Using this approach it is possible to characterize the spatial nature of the process influencing radial growth trends within a tree-ring network. Using a local or mapable measure of spatial autocorrelation it is possible to locate clusters of similar and extreme radial growth trends in any given year and to characterize the persistence of spatial patterns of growth through time. Applied to a dendrochronological network of yellow-cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis (D. Don) Spach), our results suggest that spatial patterns in extreme growth are most often associated with growth limiting climate processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite a wealth of financial, technical, and human capacity in Canadian cities, it remains a challenging task to transform this capacity into effective climate change adaptation and mitigation. Indeed, mitigative and adaptive capacities only represent the potential to achieve the ultimate goals of greenhouse gas and vulnerability reduction. This paper builds on previous explorations of barriers to identify powerful levers by which action can be triggered and sustained at the local level through the study of three municipalities in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada. The necessity of an explicitly articulated high-level directive, leadership that stimulates an organizational culture of innovation and collaboration, and the ‘institutionalization’ of climate change response measures within standard operating procedures emerged as crucial enablers of action. Addressing a lack of technical, financial, or human resources is less a matter of creating more capacity than of facilitating the effective use of existing resources. This facilitation depends most fundamentally on re-working the path dependent institutional structures, organizational culture and policy-making procedures that have characterized the unsuccessful patterns of climate change policy development in the past. The ultimate goal is to contribute to the ongoing efforts to adapt institutions to the complex and uncertain futures associated with a changing climate, while simultaneously embedding broader sustainability goals in long-range strategic planning. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In current policy discourse, rural decline is often described as an inevitable process associated with such broader structural trends as globalization and urbanization. The purpose of this paper is to challenge the supposed inevitability of rural decline in northern British Columbia (BC), Canada. We argue that rural decline in northern BC has been facilitated through an intentional policy program that views hinterland areas as a ‘resource bank’ from which to fund provincial infrastructure and services, without adequate attention to rural reinvestment. We highlight the potential discrepancies of this approach through a comparative study of two development eras in the province. In the first era, we examine the policies and development approach adopted by the W.A.C. Bennett provincial government, which governed from 1952 to 1972. We argue that the Bennett regime confronted the complexity of the post-war era with a comprehensive vision and coordinated policy program for ‘province building’ through intensive investments in industrial expansion and community infrastructure throughout the BC hinterland. By comparison, the post-1980s era in BC has witnessed a continuation of the resource bank approach, minus a concomitant commitment to hinterland investment. Reversing the inevitability of rural decline requires a renovation of the investment orientation witnessed during the Bennett era through an appreciation of the role of place in economic development. Our recommendations for renewed rural development in northern BC are drawn from a synthesis of the Bennett lessons with those emerging within place-based development literature. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Farmers overproduce to hedge against uncertainty and risks. • Practice theory offers a useful lens to analyse farming practices. • External factors influence the decision by farmers to leave food on the field. • There are many barriers to implementing common solutions to address food losses. Reducing food loss is key to improving farmers' economic well-being and the sustainable management of water, energy, labour, and other resources. To develop appropriate solutions, we seek to identify the reasons for farm-level losses, and more specifically, why edible food intended for human consumption does not reach the intended recipients and remains unharvested in British Columbia, Canada. The study also explores the barriers to adopting solutions such as gleaning, food donation tax incentives, and selling "ugly" fruits and vegetables. We conducted forty interviews with farmers and stakeholders in the food and agricultural industry and found issues of overproduction due to power imbalances, gaps in infrastructure, rejected produce due to stringent aesthetic values, precarious labour, and economic and environmental reasons for farm-level losses. In this paper, opportunities to address food loss are also identified by farmers and other agri-food stakeholders. Drawing from practice theory, a wide array of structural factors beyond the farmers' control often limits their scope for reducing food loss. As such, focusing exclusively on changing farmers' practices is unhelpful. Recommendations from this study include investing in processing infrastructure, connecting farmers with alternative markets such as "farm to school" programs, focusing on the "food as a right" paradigm, and revising policies such as the current donation tax incentives in Canada, which fail in the long term to benefit many farmers and food-insecure households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arguing that community-based assessments of vulnerability to climate change are congruent with the scale at which policy action takes place, this paper presents an assessment of vulnerability conducted in forest-based communities surrounded by a catastrophic outbreak of forest disease. Our assessment includes measures of several dimensions of vulnerability, developed using an interdisciplinary and participatory research process. We find that for some communities vulnerability represents a high level of economic risk, while for others risk is exacerbated by institutional limitations. We also find that community perceptions of risk and bio-physical assessments differ widely for communities anticipating future outbreaks of disease. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Increases in the environmental awareness of global consumers coupled with pressure from regional stakeholders has forced forest managers to demonstrate the potential implications of forest management activities for a broad range of indicators. This paper describes the construction and application of a hierarchical decision-support system for evaluating multi-objective management options for a 288,000 ha forest in northeastern British Columbia. The decision-support system includes a stand-level model, a forest estate model, a habitat model and a visualization model. A set of criteria and indicators, developed in conjunction with a public advisory committee, were used to identify key economic, ecological and social objectives. Indicators include volume harvested, gross profit, active road density, ecosystem carbon storage, age-class distribution, patch-size distribution, snag density, visual aesthetics and backcountry recreation area. A natural disturbance baseline and two alternative harvest strategies that include natural disturbance are projected and assessed with the decision-support system. The first strategy represents a dispersed harvesting approach in which cut blocks are limited to sizes <60 ha. The second strategy represents an aggregated harvesting approach in which a range of cut block sizes (up to 2000 ha) and shapes is created that more closely follows the distribution of openings generated from natural disturbance events in the region. Spatial and temporal changes in each indicator are presented and evaluated for the harvest strategies, and compared to the natural disturbance baseline where appropriate. The application of the decision-support system for strategic analysis of management options is discussed, including a review of the importance of representing the impacts of natural disturbance and the benefits and risks associated with the use of visualization techniques for presenting results to stake holder groups. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper applies effectiveness as a criterion to measure the participation of First Nations'' participation in British Columbia''s environmental assessment process. Effectiveness is reviewed as a means to measure policy implementation and an expanded framework is proposed to measure effectiveness. The framework is applied to three case studies in north-central British Columbia to measure the effectiveness of First Nations'' participation in the EA process for mining development. All three cases failed to achieve procedural, substantive, and transactive efficacy and thereby failed to meet overall policy effectiveness. The policies used by the British Columbia government, including the relatively recent Environmental Assessment Act (1995), reflect a poor integration of First Nations people in the EA decision-making process with respect to mine development. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Integrated surveillance of pathogens along the food chain and the multidisciplinary investigation of food hazards are considered international best practices. Integrated surveillance of Salmonella was initiated in British Columbia (BC), Canada in 2006. The objectives of this paper were 1) to describe the BC integrated surveillance experience, 2) to present findings from the integrated surveillance of Salmonella, and 3) to identify the components that enabled the program. Data about BC animal, food and human Salmonella isolates from 2006 to 2010 (n =5003) were centrally collated and analysed. Among chickens, chicken meat and humans, the most common serotypes identified were S. Enteritidis, S. Typhimurium and S. Heidelberg. An increase in S. Enteritidis in all three sectors in 2007–9 led to a multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral investigation. An evaluation of the integrated surveillance program helped identify four critical program elements: dedicated people, cross-sectoral sharing and integration of data, multi-disciplinary analysis and interpretation of findings, and collaborative multi-sectoral response. Ongoing challenges include lack of resources and infrastructure to sustain the program. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper analyses the use of fringe financial institutions (FFIs), such as payday loan and check cashing providers, by urban Aboriginal people based on a survey undertaken in Prince George, British Columbia. We found that 60% of FFIs’ clients surveyed self-identified as Aboriginal. Their characteristics, compared to the non-Aboriginal FFI clients, included having lower average incomes, lower levels of education, more likely to be female, a higher incidence of being unemployed, higher levels of financial exclusion, and less satisfaction with the service provided by FFIs. We find that government policy towards regulating the FFI industry is inadequate for meeting the basic financial needs of urban Aboriginal people. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Palliative care is intimately connected with place, yet little research has explored these relationships in depth, especially with respect to rural and remote settings. This paper uses multiple dimensions of the concept ‘place’ as an analytic tool to understand the nature of palliative care provision in a rural region of British Columbia, Canada. We draw upon primary data from formal and informal providers (n=31) to explore the social and physical place of rural palliative care. We unpack four highly geographic issues raised by participants, namely: (1) distance, (2) location, (3) aesthetics, and (4) sites of care. This analysis reveals a rich and complex experience of rural care-giving long overlooked in palliative care research and policy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In 2003, semi-structured interviews were conducted in British Columbia, Canada with participants obtained using a purposive sample on the ethnoveterinary remedies used for animals. Twenty-nine participants provided the information in this paper on the ethnoveterinary remedies used for reproductive health in dogs and cats. The plants used for pregnancy support and milk production in pets were raspberry-leaf (Rubus idaeus), motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca), flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) and ginger (Zingiber officinale). Uterine infections were treated with black cohosh (Actaea racemosa) and goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis). Most of the studies conducted on these plants have not been conducted on companion animals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The health of the world''s oceans and their impact on global environmental and climate change make the development of cabled observing systems vital and timely as a data source and archive of unparalleled importance for new discoveries. The VENUS and NEPTUNE Canada observatories are on the forefront of a new generation of ocean science and technology. Funding of over $100M, principally from the Governments of Canada and BC, for these two observatories supports integrated ocean systems science at a regional scale enabled by new developments in powered sub-sea cable technology and in cyber-infrastructure that streams continuous real-time data to Internet-based web platforms. VENUS is a coastal observatory supporting two instrumented arrays in the Saanich Inlet, near Victoria, and in the Strait of Georgia, off Vancouver. NEPTUNE Canada is an 800km system on the Juan de Fuca Plate off the west coast of British Columbia, which will have five instrumented nodes in operation over the next 18 months. This paper describes the development and management of these two observatories, the principal research themes, and the applications of the research to public policy, economic development, and public education and outreach. Both observatories depend on partnerships with universities, government agencies, private sector companies, and NGOs. International collaboration is central to the development of the research programs, including partnerships with initiatives in the EU, US, Japan, Taiwan and China. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

When dealing with spatial data or modelling in a geographical context, identifying an appropriate scale for analysis is a critical precursor; however, it is difficult to determine due to limited availability of data at an adequate spatial resolution. This paper describes a mobile monitoring method to collect spatially representative measurements of woodsmoke particulates in support of spatial modelling. A geostatistical technique is described to characterize the spatial scale of woodsmoke particulates collected for 19 evenings over two heating seasons in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Semivariograms were applied to 20 data sets (19 evenings and a combined data set) to characterize the appropriate spatial-analysis scale as defined by the semivariogram range, the maximum distance of spatial dependence. Typically, the semivariogram range occurred at 2673m. This method can be used to identify an optimal sampling interval for woodsmoke data collection, to define the neighbourhood size for performing spatial analyses, and to produce robust model variables and parameters by characterizing the degree of spatial autocorrelation in the data set. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A two-dimensional (2D) numerical hydrodynamic-morphological model is developed to investigate gravel transport and channel morphology in a large wandering gravel-bed river, the Fraser River Gravel Reach, in British Columbia, Canada. The model takes into count multi-fraction bedload transport, including the effects of surface coarsening, hiding and protrusion. Model outputs together with river discharge statistics were analyzed, producing distributed sediment budget and well-defined, localised zones of aggradation and degradation along the gravel reach. Long-term channel response to gravel extraction from aggrading zones as a flood hazard mitigation measure was also investigated numerically to assess the effectiveness of such an extraction. The total computed sediment budget agrees well with results based on field measurements of gravel transport available to us. This study points to the importance of a number of factors to bedload predictions: the gravel-to-sand ratio, the adequacy of resolving the wandering planform, and the distinction between bed shear stress driving bedload transport and bed resistance on the flow. These are in addition to the physical processes governing the flow field and gravel mobilization. The methodology presented in this paper can provide a scientific basis for gravel management including monitoring and extraction in order to maintain adequate flood protection and navigation, while preserving the ecosystem. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Relatively little prior use has been made of information theory in air quality analysis. This paper explores whether basic, but formal, quantitative measures of information content might yield fresh perspectives on seasonal variations in the ground-level ozone concentration field across the lower Fraser Valley (LFV), British Columbia, Canada. I calculate Shannon entropy in daily maximum ozone concentration on a month-by-month, station-by-station basis, using 1 year of hourly measurements from 18 air quality monitoring stations. The values are then qualitatively compared with an eye to identifying spatial and seasonal patterns. The results further demonstrate the potential utility of information theoretic concepts for assessing air quality variability; yield some new insight into tropospheric ozone dynamics across the LFV; and may provide some guidance to the refinement of monitoring network configuration. Of particular note is that, although entropy and mean concentration exhibit some similarities in their respective seasonal patterns, maximum uncertainty and information content appears to occur at times and locations somewhat different from those at which highest concentrations are experienced. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Forests are experiencing the cumulative negative impacts of multiple disturbances. • Community forestry in British Columbia has gained experience over 20 years. • Lessons from community forestry can serve to enhance the resilience of forests. • Area-based tenure fosters long-term forest health and community well-being. • Community forests shift mindsets towards a dynamic and holistic view of the forest. Forests around the world are experiencing the cumulative effects of rapid social and environmental change. Building resilience in the forestry sector has thus become of major importance in many countries, including Canada. While British Columbia (BC) generates the highest revenue from the forestry sector in Canada, the planning and management of forests in this province face several limitations that hinder the application of resilience thinking in a fully integrated way that accounts not only for ecosystem processes but also the close interconnection between forests and people. Community forestry in BC provides experience gained over 20 years that can form the basis for a more holistic, long-term approach to enhance the resilience of forested landscapes. Based on interviews with managers of 5 case study community forests (CFs), and a survey of all CFs in BC over three consecutive years, we present pilot practices to manage forests for resilience at the stand- and landscape-levels. Findings show that these practices mainly focus on (1) age and species diversification, (2) introduction of more drought-tolerant species, (3) systematic long-term monitoring of productivity and forest health, (4) wildfire risk management, and (5) introduction of enhanced silviculture such as thinning, rehabilitation and fertilization. Between 2016 and 2018, 38 CFs in BC invested more than CAD 4.5 million in enhanced silvicultural practices using their own funds. The area-based tenure of CFs motivated not only long-term planning and investment, but also shifted the mindset among residents towards a more multi-functional and dynamic view of the forest. Building adaptive capacity and social license, CFs foster a future where forest health and community well-being are compatible. These lessons can be scaled to BC and other forested landscapes in Canada and around the world. Scaling mechanisms include: (1) facilitating knowledge exchange; (2) increasing multi-stakeholder collaboration; (3) replication and mainstreaming of effective practices; (4) rethinking the forest tenure system; and (5) systematic research and monitoring to learn from pilot studies that could inform strategic interventions with landscape-scale impact. Multi-functional forests which are increasingly affected by climate change and novel disturbances could particularly benefit from the insights shared in this paper to build social-ecological resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Nisga’a Nation of Northwestern British Columbia have been pioneers in the area of obtaining administrative control over health services. This would seem to mark the end of medical colonialism for this First Nation. But the author argues that health program devolution, in this case, was part of a longer tradition of incorporating aspects of non-Native medicine in a way that supported Nisga’a social structure. Nevertheless, the author argues that health program devolution is part of the process of decolonization since it has supported the traditional social structure, enhanced community self-esteem and provided an opportunity for the locus of control to shift from the medical profession and the federal government to Nisga’a people. This paper sets the development of Nisga’a-centered health care in a historical context that sees the Nisga’a exerting a resistive will in the context of medical colonialism in twentieth century British Columbia. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper presents reconstructions of Holocene sediment yield from four alpine lakes in southern British Columbia. Sediment yield is reconstructed on the basis of suites of dated and correlated cores from each lake. Facies analysis of the complete set of cores suggests that significant changes in sediment delivery have occurred during the Holocene, specifically a shift to a higher energy sedimentary environment in cooler wetter conditions in the late Holocene. Estimated sediment yields range between 2.3 and 11.2 t km-2 a-1. Maximum Holocene variability is a 115% increase at one site. Highest variability is observed at sites just above treeline suggesting that reduced vegetation cover under cooler conditions is a key control on temporal variability of sediment yield at these sites. The temporal variability observed at Holocene timescales is within the range of natural spatial variability observed between the four closely spaced lakes. Overall, the results suggest that the response of small catchments to climate change is highly contingent upon local catchment conditions, and that at all but the most sensitive sites sediment yield changes associated with moderate climate warming are likely to be of a lesser magnitude than the natural spatial variability. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A deflection of the fault controlled southwestern coastline of Vancouver Island suggests the presence of a minor orocline, with a Southern Crustal Block (south of Barkley Sound–Alberni Inlet) rotated 20° counterclockwise relative to a Northern Fixed Crustal Block about a pole of rotation located northeast of Port Alberni. In this paper two models of orocline development, one of pure block rotation and one of pure bending, are proposed. The predictions of these models are tested against available geological maps, structural orientation data, identified regions of extension and contraction, and paleomagnetic data. Structural orientation and paleomagnetic data are consistent with 18° of post-Late Cretaceous counter clockwise rotation of the Southern Crustal Block relative to the Northern Fixed Crustal Block. A southward increase in the magnitude of rotation evident in the structural orientation data argues for a model of bending. Both bending and block rotation models predict the development of a zone of contraction along the northeast margin of the Southern Crustal Block, coincident with the location of the Eocene Cowichan fold-and-thrust belt, that diminishes northward toward the pole of rotation. As predicted, the fold-and-thrust belt is characterized by a northerly decrease in the amount of shortening, from >30% at the south end of the thrust belt, to 0% shortening north of Port Alberni. The northerly decrease in shortening is complemented by a north to south change in structural style from cylindrical to conical folds, and finally to planar, undeformed strata. The model of block rotation predicts the presence of a zone of extension extending southwest from the zone of rotation, coincident with the location of Eocene extensional structures within Barkley Sound and with horst and graben structures in the offshore Eocene to Miocene Tofino basin. Extension is less than predicted by a model of pure block rotation and suggests that much of the oroclinal rotation was accommodated by bending. Timing constraints indicate that orocline development was coeval with, and resulted from, the Eocene accretion of seamounts of the Crescent terrane. These findings demonstrate that oroclinal orogeny, the buckling of a linear crustal beam about vertical axes of rotation, can significantly impact the geometry, structure and character of an orogenic belt, even where the buckles are minor (<20° of rotation). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Although alkalic porphyry Au--Cu deposits are much less common than their calc-alkalic counterparts, they represent attractive exploration targets both due to their occurrence as, locally concealed, clusters and their high Au contents. In this paper, the geology of the Mt. Milligan Au--Cu deposit, Canada, and its geophysical footprint on magnetic and AEM data is used as a case-study for the exploration and discovery of concealed alkalic porphyry Au--Cu deposits. The Cole-Cole parameters in the AEM data are extracted using an improved Airborne Induced Polarization (AIP) mapping algorithm. We propose that the subtle electromagnetic signatures of disseminated sulfides around the intrusive porphyry stocks at Mt. Milligan could be mapped by the m τ product, where m is AIP apparent chargeability, and τ the Cole-Cole time-constant, provided that the depths of the alteration zone does not exceed 75 m. The product is called Tau-Scaled Chargeability or TSC. In order to improve the exploration success in the search for concealed alkalic porphyry Au--Cu deposits, we propose to: (1) concentrate the exploration on known and well-endowed mineral districts; and (2) apply innovative digital data-processing techniques capable of extracting weak and subtle signatures from airborne geophysical data and, subsequently, to utilize DCIP ground surveys in the follow-up of anomalies, ideally in combination with enzyme-leach soil sampling. • Alkalic porphyry Au-Cu deposits are attractive exploration targets due to their high Au contents. • They occur in clusters, typically above fractionating magma chambers in the upper crust. • AIP mapping can define pyrite halos around concealed intrusive stocks at Mt. Milligan. • AIP mapping can be used as a vectoring tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since their widespread establishment in the 1970s, home support services across Canada have been subject to shifting state logics, policies, and funding models. The impacts and responses of local actors differ across historical, socio-cultural, and geographical settings. This paper traces the development and evolution of a small home support society on two rural islands off the coast of British Columbia, Canada. Using historical and current data sources, we demonstrate that local actors have consistently engaged a relational ethic that challenges neo-liberal discourses and practices. Our central thesis is that the islands' distinct social, cultural, and rural features set the context for particular constructions of relational care. We identify three themes central to a relational ethic of home support on two rural islands : the strength of intergenerational connections, community-embedded relationships, and care as compassionate civic engagement. Within each theme, we consider how shifting policy structures inform changes over time in the nature and delivery of home support. To conclude, we elaborate on the conditions that allow for relational care to flourish in a particular rural context, and on the potential relevance to other settings. • People aging in rural areas have distinct home support needs. • Repeated government cutbacks undermine quality home support for older people. • Clients and workers form meaningful intergenerational connections. • Rural home support challenges personal/professional boundaries. • Rural citizens understand care as a civic duty, but women do most of the work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fishery and wildlife managers face important challenges in reconciling recovery of historically over-harvested or extirpated populations of marine mammals with effective fisheries management. For example, the reestablishment of sea otters in British Columbia (B.C.) has had repercussions that led to one of the more interesting resource management problems involving commercial fisheries in Canada. As a case study, this paper reviews the history of sea otter exploitation and reintroduction in B.C., and discusses the nature and context of the problem today. Fisheries and marine mammals in Canada continue to be managed under overlapping legislative mandates and often with quite different goals. The case study highlights persistent social and institutional constraints on reconciling marine mammal-fishery conflicts. To reduce tensions and uncertainty, Fisheries and Oceans Canada should prioritize intensive marine mammal sampling programs for non-endangered species to disentangle fishing and predation effects, and fully implement Species At Risk Act and Fisheries Act measures to reduce uncertainty among increasingly diverse stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The Arctic is a unique food-producing region with the potential for location-specific premiums. • Domestic Arctic char from the Canadian Arctic or British Columbia is preferred to Alaskan char. • Consumers value wild Arctic char harvested by Indigenous fishers. • Certification for sustainability is preferred over certification for origin or authenticity. • A generalized mixed logit model accommodates scale heterogeneity in choice behaviour. The food industry increasingly seeks to differentiate food products based on sustainability assurances, the use of traditional or 'authentic' production methods, a unique origin, or an association with a distinct cultural identity, often relying on certification to enhance the credibility of a quality claim. The natural conditions of the Arctic circumpolar region, its pristine environment, and the relational tie to Indigenous cultures in many circumpolar Arctic nations, distinguish Arctic foods from other commercially available foods, however, little is known about how consumers respond to foods from the Arctic. This paper examines consumers' perceptions of and willingness to pay (WTP) for foods originating from the Canadian Arctic, and their receptivity to certification for sustainability, authenticity, and origin in the presence of multiple credence attributes. Data from an online survey of 1342 Canadian consumers show that preferences for Arctic foods are driven by the unique geographic origin and a connection with Indigenous cultures and traditions, as well as a desire to improve social and economic conditions in northern Canada. A discrete choice experiment featuring Arctic char elicits consumers' WTP for attributes related to origin, certification, wild vs farmed fish, and Indigenous vs non-Indigenous fishers. Random parameters logit and generalized mixed logit models allow for both preference and scale heterogeneity. The analysis informs strategies to promote the Arctic food system, both from a Canadian regional economic development context and across the broader Arctic circumpolar region. Limitations imposed by the current seafood labelling regulatory environment in Canada are noted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have shown that Canada will not achieve its 2030 emission reduction targets outlined in the Paris Agreement. Canadian energy decision makers are now at a crossroad between making sound fiscal decisions and ramping up efforts to meet emission reduction commitments. Approximately 195,000 people are living in off-grid Canadian communities, with most of these communities relying on fossil-fuel based energy generation. Hybrid renewable energy systems provide a novel solution to address the high costs of off-grid energy and Canada's emission reduction targets. To address the competing stakeholder priorities in off-grid energy planning (e.g., economic, environmental, and system performance), the authors of this paper employed a generalizable combinatorial-based alternative ranking method. Alternative energy technology combinations were simulated to calculate key performance indicator values. The framework allows decision makers to identify the most feasible energy system based on their priorities. A case study was performed with the developed framework for a small off-grid community in British Columbia, Canada. The results show that feasibility of energy system configurations vary greatly based on differing decision-making priorities. The case study also confirmed that hybrid renewable energy systems have better environmental performance compared to their fossil fuel counter parts, but at a significantly higher cost. The study further confirms that the balance between environmental and economic performance of off-grid energy systems can be improved through proper component sizing, management practices, and the integration of energy storage. • Life cycle impacts need to be considered in off-grid hybrid renewable energy systems planning. • Hybrid renewable energy systems incur lower environmental impacts at higher costs. • Combining fossil fuel generators and battery banks reduces emissions at a lower cost. • Decision makers' priorities has a high impact in the ranking of energy system configurations. • The developed method accounts for different priorities in energy system feasibility assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Two new advanced configurations for CO 2 capture in pulp mill was investigated. • A rate-based model in ProMax® 4.0 was used for modeling the CO 2 capture process. • Techno-economic assessment was analyzed for the new advanced configurations. • The combined effect of carbon tax and CO 2 sales price on the NBSK price was analyzed. • CO 2 capture plant in pulp mill only led to a slight increase in the NBSK pulp price. This project study involves the techno-economic assessment of two new advanced configurations for amine-based carbon dioxide capture from a pulp mill. The newly proposed advanced configurations include advanced rich amine four split (ARA4S), and advanced rich amine three split with desorber inter-heating (ARA3S-DI) which is aimed at reducing carbon capture cost and carbon emissions. The rate-based model in ProMax® 4.0 was used for the simulation study while the flue gas was provided by a 365,000 air dry tonne of pulp (ADt Pulp) per annum pulp mill in British Columbia, Canada. Comparative analysis revealed that the Capture Cost (US$/tCO 2 and US$/ADt Pulp) of the 5 kmol/m3 MEA system was lowest for the conventional configuration, while for the 2 kmol/m3 AMP-3 kmol/m3 MEA blend it was lowest for the advanced rich amine 3-split with desorber inter-heating configuration. In addition, the Capture Costs of the MEA solution with a conventional configuration system is 8.7% higher than the AMP-MEA blend with advanced rich amine three split with desorber inter-heating configuration. Sensitivity analysis revealed that the combined effect of a carbon tax (US$ 40/tCO 2), CO 2 sales price (US$ 40/tCO 2) and advanced configuration only led to a slight increase (2.6% for MEA and 2.1% for AMP-MEA blend) in the price of the northern bleached softwood kraft pulp. With an even better-performing solvent system and process configuration, the price of NBSK pulp may not be affected given the indicated CO 2 tax and CO 2 price regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In Canada, Provincial Governments have jurisdiction over delivery of healthcare including harm reduction services and Methadone Maintenance Therapy (MMT). While policy directives and funding come from the provincial capital, individuals’ access to these services happens in neighbourhoods and municipalities spread out across the province. In some cases, public health objectives targeted at people living with addictions and the rights to equitable access to healthcare are at odds with the vision that residents, business associations and other interest groups have for their neighbourhood or city. This paper looks at the cases of four British Columbia municipalities, Mission, Surrey, Coquitlam and Abbotsford, where local governments have used zoning provisions to restrict access to harm reduction services and drug substitution therapies including MMT. This paper will contextualize these case studies in a survey of zoning and bylaw provisions related to harm reduction and MMT across British Columbia, and examine the interplay between municipal actions and public discourses that affect access to healthcare for people living with addictions. Finally, this paper will explore possible legal implications for municipalities that use their zoning and permitting powers to restrict access to health care for people with addictions, as well as public engagement strategies for healthcare advocates that have the potential to reduce resistance to health services for people living with addictions in communities across the province. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Video analysis of a whale-fall discovered in the northeast Pacific Ocean, off Vancouver Island at a depth of 1288m during ROV diving operations has identified 26 taxa of deep-sea benthic organisms inhabiting the seafloor immediately surrounding remnants of the whale skeleton. A photo-mosaic derived from high-definition video provides a quantitative visual record of the present condition of the site, the species richness, and substrate preference. Only the skull and caudal vertebrae remains of this large whale skeleton are estimated to have been approximately 16.5m in length. Most organisms identified near the whale-fall are common benthic deep-sea fauna, typical of this water depth and seafloor composition. Much of this species richness comes from sessile suspension feeding cnidarians attached to the numerous glacial dropstones found throughout the area rather than the presence of the whale skeleton. Seep and bone specialists are rare (4 taxa) and may be, in part, a remnant population from a sulphophilic stage of whale-fall decomposition. Evidence of past colonization by Osedax sp. is visible on the remaining bones and we conclude that rapid degradation of the missing bones has occurred at this site as has been observed at whale-falls off central California in Monterey Canyon. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We present inorganic carbon data from the coastal upwelling region west of Vancouver Island, Canada (∼48.5°N, 126°W) directly after an upwelling event and during summer downwelling in July 1998. The inner-shelf buoyancy current, the outer-shelf and the slope regions are contrasted for both wind regimes (up- and downwelling). Results show strong biological drawdown of the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2) in response to upwelling over the outer-shelf. In contrast, measured pCO2 is exceptionally high (pCO2>1000 ppm) in the inner-shelf current, where biological uptake of carbon is consistently large. The biological C:N uptake ratio appears to increase when nitrogen becomes limiting (during downwelling), while the POC:PON ratio is relatively constant (slightly lower than the Redfield ratio) suggesting that excess carbon uptake does not go into the POC pool. As expected, large cells dominate where measured primary productivity is greatest. Sub-surface inorganic carbon (and pCO2) is high over the shelf. We suggest that carbon concentrations may be higher in coastal waters because of remineralization associated with high productivity that is confined to a smaller volume of water by bathymetry. At the coast these sub-surface concentrations are more efficiently mixed into the surface (especially during winter) relative to deeper offshore regions. Thus, despite high primary production, coastal waters may not aid in sequestration of atmospheric carbon. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The montane alternative silvicultural systems (MASS) study was established to test the feasibility and ecological consequences of alternative silvicultural systems in montane old-growth forests of coastal British Columbia. The experiment includes replicated treatments representing a range of overstory removal (shelterwood, patch clearcut and green tree retention), adjacent old-growth and clearcut `control' areas and pre- and post-harvest measurement of a variety of ecological attributes. In this paper, we report results from vegetation and bird studies. Forest trees and understory vegetation were sampled on a series of permanent plots. Forest birds were monitored using transect methods during winter and point-counts during the breeding season. The cover, frequency and number of species of understory plants decreasedafter all harvesting treatments. Three years after harvest, cover increased in the harvested areas primarily due to herbaceous colonizers. The shelterwood, where understory vegetation was protected in undisturbed groups of leave trees, retained the greatest diversity of understory trees, shrubs and bryophytes compared to the other systems. Shelterwood species richness and abundance were greater 3 years after harvesting than before harvesting, but changes in species composition were quite variable. Presence of bryophytes and herbs that prefer moist, shaded habitats generally decreased after harvesting. Pre-harvestbreeding bird communities were dominated by a few abundant species. Of 26 species detected, 4 species accounted for 64% of all bird detections, and 10 species accounted for 96%. Different levels of canopy retention produced dramatic effects on breeding birds. Species richness and bird abundance were reduced 3 years after harvesting. Most common species (9 species) showed evidence of population decline, 2 species showed significant increase, and 3 species showed unchanged abundance. Few species were completely lost or added to the avifauna. Only 17 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]