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This thesis is an investigation of the Travel Safety Attitude Scale (T-SAS), a measure that can be applied to assess tourists’ attitude and behavior intentions towards travel safety. Previous studies have shown that travel behaviors are influenced by tourists’ attitudes toward safety at a destination. This study enhanced and validated an existing travel safety scale with data collected from two countries—China and Canada. A set of purified travel safety scale items was revised by checking the wording and content adequacy. The refined scale was translated into Chinese by utilizing back translation. Questionnaires were developed to conduct research using online survey systems in both China and Canada. With the sample (N=535), a 5-factor solution with 22 items was supported, and the internal consistency, test reliability and predictability were found to be adequate. Research results discuss the theoretical and practical implications of this research.

Food safety culture might well be the most discussed item in modern food safety. As such, many offer opinions on what food safety culture is without offering science-based arguments and subsequently create more confusion than resolution. The research presented seeks to further the conversation through development of a valid and predictable system for evaluating food safety culture in food manufacturing. The researcher proposes five dimensions that can help segment the topic of food safety culture. These were derived from a comparative analysis of eight existing systems designed to evaluate either organizational culture or food safety culture. The dimensions were applied through method triangulation to evaluate maturity of food safety culture in five North American food companies. Analysis of the data proved the scale’s predictive validity as well as the validity and necessity of assessing social desirability in the food safety context. The research concludes with an updated food safety maturity model that provides researchers and practitioners alike with a roadmap to maturing food safety culture along four of the five suggested dimensions. Finally, the researcher proposes a culture model for defining critical actions between food safety cultural building blocks and calls for more research in quantifying business impact of the maturity of these critical actions.

Globally, foodborne illness impacts an estimated 30% of individuals annually. Meals prepared outside of the home are a risk factor for acquiring foodborne illness and have been implicated in up to 70% of traced outbreaks. While millions of dollars have been invested in food safety communication strategies, training programs and interventions, the annual estimate of morbidity and mortality remains stagnant. As a result, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have called upon food safety communicators to design new methods and messages aimed at increasing food safety risk-reduction practices from farm-to-fork. Food safety infosheets, a novel communication tool designed to appeal to food handlers and compel behaviour change were created and evaluated. These interventions were designed utilizing evidence-based best communication practices including surprise, context and storytelling. A limitation of existing food safety communication interventions is the lack of a structured evaluation process to assess effectiveness. Food safety infosheets were evaluated with the target audience for acceptability. Resultant food safety infosheets consist of relevant and timely food safety narratives culled from media sources, and produced weekly to supplement traditional food safety training. Following three iterations of refinement, food safety infosheets were provided to food handlers in working foodservice operations. It was hypothesized that through the posting of food safety infosheets in highly visible locations, such as kitchen work areas and handwashing stations, that safe food handling behaviours of foodservice staff could be positively influenced. As the literature lacked a valid and reliable technique to capture, analyze and catalogue foodservice food handler actions, one was developed. The resultant methodology, video observation, utilized multiple webcams connected to laptop computers and was used to capture food safety practices in real-life situations. Using video observation, food handlers (n=47) in eight working foodservice operations were observed for a total of 348 hours (pre- and post-intervention combined). Post-food safety infosheet introduction, food handlers demonstrated a significant increase (6.7%) in mean handwashing attempts, and a significant reduction in indirect cross-contamination events (19.6%). Posting food safety infosheets are an effective intervention to positively impact the food safety practices of food handlers.

Boil water advisories (BWAs) are issued when municipal drinking water supplies are found to be contaminated with microbial pathogens. This event case study describes how a BWA in 2000 influenced in-home consumer practices in a small Canadian rural community with high rates of morbidity and mortality during a waterborne outbreak. Fifty-eight adult respondents answered opened-ended questions in focus groups or telephone interviews relating to a 198-day BWA. Responses from a purposive sample are presented. A home pathogen control framework systematically positioned self-reported handling practices of three groups (Mothers, Seniors, and Others) for assessment. Mothers reported using bottled water for all in-home activities, including bathing children, out of fear that boiling would not render the tap water safe. Older respondents had problems coping as evidenced by using potentially risky dishwashing practices, needing more time to change practices, reporting difficulties transporting water within the home, choosing to avoid purchasing fresh food for the duration of the event, and failing to recognize that Seniors are as much at risk for illness or complications as are young children. Seventy-two per cent of Others took two or more days to comply with the initial recommendations. Only males stated the BWA was not problematic. Issues requiring attention include: the need to provide multiple compelling messages repeatedly in more than one format targeted to specific at-risk groups; the need for messages to be prescriptive, practical, salient and timely for residents to change practices that reduce or eliminate crosscontamination and exposure; and a requirement that messages must be correct the first time they are presented. Respondents in this study were mostly well educated and experienced in handling food in the home but were unable to implement a full home pathogen control plan. Less well educated individuals or those with cognitive deficits would likely experience greater difficulty in managing the BWA. Changes in food purchasing and consumption patterns in a BWA of long duration could have serious nutritional implications for at-risk populations. The results are of greatest use to those preparing advisory messages for the general public or food and health professionals working with individuals during a waterborne outbreak.

This report provides a useful guide to investors seeking business opportunities in the energy and telecommunications industries in Canada, particularly Alberta and British Columbia. The coverage includes a review and analysis of the regulatory framework, market structure and modus operandi relating to the component sectors in the two industries. The report also aims to provide penetrating insights into the latest developments and trends taking place in Canada's energy and telecommunications industries. Master of Business Administration