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Factors that influence women's perceptions of safety, and how these factors are spatially distributed in Canadian cities, are understudied. This case study determined key factors that affect perception of safely in Halifax, Nova Scotia. A survey asked participants to choose from a list of factors identified in empirical literature those that most positively or negatively affected their perceptions of safely. Media portrayal and stories from friends was a significant negative factor on perceptions of safety; presence of people on the street was the most important positive factor. A weighted multi-criteria analysis (MCA) created a proxy for levels of perceived safely across streetscapes, showing which streets are most likely to be perceived as safe or unsafe by women. Findings suggest that women feel safer when the number of people on the street is increased, which can be achieved through mixed-use areas. Keywords: street safety, women, perceived safely, multi-criteria analysis (MCA) Les facteurs qui influencent la perception de la s curit par les femmes, et la fa on dont ces facteurs sont distribu s spatialement dans les villes canadiennes, sont peu tudi s. Cette tude a permis de d terminer les principaux facteurs qui influent la perception de la s curit Halifax, en Nouvelle- cosse. Un sondage demandait aux participants de choisir, parmi une liste de facteurs identifi s dans la litt rature empirique, ceux qui affectaient le plus positivement ou n gativement leurs perceptions de la s curit . La repr sentation des m dias et les histoires des amis taient un facteur n gatif significatif sur les perceptions de la s curit ; la pr sence de personnes dans la rue tait le facteur positif le plus important. Une analyse multicrit re (AMC) pond r e a permis de cr er une approximation des niveaux de s curit per ue dans les rues, montrant quelles rues sont les plus susceptibles d' tre per ues comme s res ou dangereuses par les femmes. Les r sultats sugg rent que les femmes se sentent plus en s curit lorsque le nombre de personnes dans la rue augmente, ce qui peut tre r alis par des zones usage mixte. Mots-cl s : s curit dans les rues, femmes, perception de la s curit , analyse multicrit re, Introduction Women often feel more vulnerable in public spaces--particularly in urban environments--than men (Gargiulo et al. 2020; Tandogan and Ilhan 2016). Feeling unsafe can limit women's behaviour as it can [...]

This study assessed the effectiveness of a learning module we developed for planning students aimed to enhance their understanding for design issues in public spaces faced by wheelchair users. The module involves training of students to effectively navigate the environment in a wheelchair before they experience the real outdoor spaces. Through this evaluation study, we also attempted to add clarity to the problems observed from empirical studies about these 'try-it-yourself' exercises, such as potential stigmatisation and ableism. We employed a mixed-method study approach consisting of wheelchair skill tests, 'walkabout' audits, and a focus group, with 28 second-year undergraduate urban planning students. The cross-over design of the study involving two components of the module -- (wheelchair) Skill Learning Experience (SLE) and Real-World Experience (RWE) -- allowed us to assess the effect of the former on the performance of the latter and the module overall. The focus group also asked students' perspectives about the module. Our findings suggest that the wheelchair skills training component likely contributed to a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of design problems, while also fostering respect for wheelchair users. We believe that careful implementation is key to addressing potential negative consequences while optimising the benefit of experiential exercises.

Despite considerable progress in conceptualization of sense of place through multiple disciplines, there is still room for further clarification in light of its utility for planning research and practice. This discussion paper posits that sense of place can be conceptualized for planning based on two factors: 1) the type of function for using the concept (evaluative, leveraging and enhancing); and 2) the unit at which a sense occurs, or place of sense (individual-, place-level, or an interaction of individual, place, and other people). Through some illustrated examples, we demonstrate how the conceptual framework we propose can be used to better identify specific sense of place attributes and associated planning actions. While doing so, we also attempt to relate sense of place discourses with the roles of planning in environmental stewardship and promotion of health and well-being, which have previously been less articulated. Keywords: sense of place; place of sense; environmental stewardship, health and well-being Malgre les progres considerables de la conceptualisation du <> a travers de multiple discipline, il reste encore de la place pour une clarification supplementaire a la lumiere de son utilite dans une gamme de recherches et de pratiques en matiere de planification. Cet article postule que le <> peut etre conceptualise pour la planification en fonction de deux facteurs : 1) le type de fonction d'utilisation du concept (evaluation, efet de levier et amelioration); 2) l'unite a laquelle un sens se produit, ou le <> (au niveau de l'individu, du lieu et ou une interaction d'un individu, d'un lieu et avec d'autres personnes). A travers quelques exemples, nous demontrons comment le cadre conceptuel que nous proposons peut-etre utiliser pour mieux identifier les attributs specifques du <> et les actions de planification associees. Ce faisant, nous tentons egalement d'integrer les discours sur le sentiment d'appartenance pour les roles qui sont moins articules dans la planification--la gerance de l'environnement et la promotion de la sante et du bien-etre. Mots-cles : <>; lieu de sens; gerance de l'environnement ; sante et du bien-etre, Introduction Sense of place has been a subject of inquiry for over four decades of multidisciplinary scholarship (Williams 2014). In recent years, sense of place and its many related terms [...]

This study assessed the effectiveness of a learning module we developed for planning students aimed to enhance their understanding for design issues in public spaces faced by wheelchair users. The module involves training of students to effectively navigate the environment in a wheelchair before they experience the real outdoor spaces. Through this evaluation study, we also attempted to add clarity to the problems observed from empirical studies about these 'try-it-yourself' exercises, such as potential stigmatisation and ableism. We employed a mixed-method study approach consisting of wheelchair skill tests, 'walkabout' audits, and a focus group, with 28 second-year undergraduate urban planning students. The cross-over design of the study involving two components of the module – (wheelchair) Skill Learning Experience (SLE) and Real-World Experience (RWE) – allowed us to assess the effect of the former on the performance of the latter and the module overall. The focus group also asked students' perspectives about the module. Our findings suggest that the wheelchair skills training component likely contributed to a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of design problems, while also fostering respect for wheelchair users. We believe that careful implementation is key to addressing potential negative consequences while optimising the benefit of experiential exercises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Versions of deprivation indices have been increasingly used to monitor patterns and magnitudes of inequality in health. For policy-makers, it is of interest to assess whether they need to construct regionally tailored indices, or whether the existing indices perform sufficiently in detecting inequalities in their respective jurisdiction. Few studies have explored the benefits of constructing a more tailored index for a regional context. METHODS: The study examined, in linear regression models, the proportion of variance (adjusted [R.sup.2]) explained in age- standardized cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence rate ratios by an index emulating a now-widely-used multiple deprivation index created in Quebec (INSPQI), and a newly created index for Nova Scotia with additional census variables. The magnitudes of inequality were compared by the differences between mean incidences of most and least deprived groups. RESULTS: The newly created deprivation index did not explain as well as the INSPQI-like index the community-level variability in CVD incidences. The gap in mean CVD incidences between the most and least deprived groups was somewhat narrower with the new index, indicating that the new index is not necessarily more sensitive to the inequality attributed to community social disadvantages. CONCLUSIONS: Complicating the indices may not necessarily be of benefit when used for surveillance of population health inequalities. For public health practitioners and decision makers who need to make quick decisions in provisions of services and programs, a generic, well-established deprivation index such as INSPQI can serve well in a regional context. KEY WORDS: Deprivation indices; population health surveillance; small-area variation analysis; geographic context CONTEXTE/OBJECTIFS : On utilise de plus en plus des versions des indices de defavorisation pour surveiller les grandes tendances dans les inegalites de sante et l'ampleur de ces inegalites. Pour les responsables des politiques, il est interessant de pouvoir evaluer s'ils ont besoin de construire des indices regionaux ou si les indices existants reussissent suffisamment bien a detecter les inegalites sur leur territoire respectif. Peu d'etudes se sont attachees aux avantages de construire un indice mieux adapte a un contexte regional. METHODE : Nous avons examine, dans les modeles de regression lineaire, la part de la variance expliquee par ces modeles (critere [R.sup.2] ajuste) dans les rapports de taux d'incidence des maladies cardiovasculaires (MCV) standardises pour l'age avec un indice emulant un indice de defavorisation multiple cree au Quebec (l'INSPQI), aujourd'hui tres utilise, et un indice nouvellement cree pour la NouvelleEcosse avec des variables supplementaires du Recensement. L'ampleur des inegalites a ete comparee selon les differences entre les incidences moyennes dans les groupes les plus et les moins defavorises. RESULTATS : L'indice de defavorisation nouvellement cree n'a pas explique aussi bien que l'indice semblable a l'INSPQI la variabilite au niveau communautaire dans les incidences de MCV. L'ecart dans les incidences moyennes de MCV entre les groupes les plus et les moins defavorises etait un peu plus faible avec le nouvel indice, ce qui montre que celui-ci n'est pas necessairement plus sensible aux inegalites imputees a la defavorisation sociale des communautes. CONCLUSIONS : Compliquer les indices n'est pas necessairement un avantage quand ces indices servent a la surveillance des inegalites de sante des populations. Pour les praticiens et les decideurs de la sante publique qui doivent prendre des decisions rapides sur l'organisation des services et des programmes, un indice de defavorisation general bien etabli, comme l'INSPQI, peut tres bien faire l'affaire dans un contexte regional. MOTS CLES : indices de defavorisation; surveillance de population; analyse des variations regionales; contexte geographique, In health research, the term deprivation represents the level of disadvantage an individual or group may experience in life circumstance compared with a standard of the society to which they [...]

ABSTRACT The spatiotemporal variability of ground-level ozone (GLO) in the rural Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia was investigated between August 29, 2006, and September 28, 2007, using Ogawa nitrite-impregnated passive diffusion [...]

Accessible housing is an urgent issue for countries experiencing rapid population aging. For over 20 years the United Kingdom's (UK) building code (Part M) and Lifetime Homes Standard have been researched as leading practices to increase accessible housing stock and allow older adults to stay in their communities. This review compiles key stakeholder groups' perspectives on these regulatory tools. Five main themes and 'lessons learned' were derived to anticipate potential challenges and inform proactive response for planners and policy makers in Canada and other countries when developing their own accessible housing regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present study aimed to examine the availability and price of healthier compared with less healthy foods by geography, store category and store type for convenience stores, and by store size for grocery stores in Nova Scotia.Design: A cross-sectional study that examined differences in the overall availability and price of healthier compared to less healthy foods in grocery and convenience stores in Nova Scotia. The Nova Scotia Consumer Food Environment project was part of a larger initiative of the Nova Scotia government (Department of Health and Wellness) to assess the food and beverage environment in Nova Scotia in 2015/16.Setting: Four geographic zones (Nova Scotia Health Authority Management Zones) in Nova Scotia, Canada.Participants: A sample of forty-seven grocery stores and fifty-nine convenience stores were selected from a list of 210 grocery stores and 758 convenience stores in Nova Scotia to ensure geographic and store type representation in our sample.Results: Findings indicate that rurality had a significant effect on food availability as measured by the Nutrition Environment Measures Surveys (NEMS) score (P < 0·01); there was a higher availability of healthy foods in rural compared to urban areas for convenience stores but not grocery stores. Healthier foods were also more available in chain stores compared to independent stores (P < 0·01) and in large stores compared to small and medium stores (P < 0·001 and P < 0·01, respectively).Conclusions: The availability of and accessibility to less healthy foods in Nova Scotia food environment suggests that there is a need for government policy action to support a food environment that contributes to healthier diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on case study that presents an innovative practice of certifying accessible buildings which has been implemented by the largest non-profit disability advocacy organization in Canada using a rating system rooted in universal design principles. Topics include examines in Canada, the enactment of national accessibility legislation in 2019 signalled ongoing momentum in advancement of policy and regulations across provinces and territories.