Browsing by Author "Blue, Gwendolyn Gail"

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    A Critical Exploration of Natural Playgrounds in Calgary, Alberta
    (2023-07) Lowan-Trudeau, Kathleen Miho; Monteyne, David Patrick; Keough, Noel Gerard; Adams, Jennifer Dawn; Fox, Mikus Kristoffer; Blue, Gwendolyn Gail; Dyment, Janet
    Growing concerns surrounding children’s changing socioenvironmental contexts, such as the increasing impacts of urbanization and decreases in unstructured outdoor play, have led to the emergence of an intentional movement to increase natural play spaces. Among the variety of natural play space initiatives are natural playgrounds: play spaces that encompass a wide variety of interpretations, but generally involve the intentional incorporation of natural features and materials into the playground. Research on natural playgrounds has increased; however, several areas of inquiry remain, including a need for increased understanding of children’s perspectives on natural playground sites and more critical considerations of the complexities surrounding these spaces. In this qualitative study, I explore several areas of inquiry in relation to natural playgrounds in Calgary, Alberta. These areas of inquiry include play affordances, issues of accessibility and inclusivity, concepts of nature and sustainability, and settler colonialism in relation to natural playground development and usage in Calgary, Alberta. This study focuses on the development and usage of five natural playground sites. Primary research methods include online and mobile/walking interviews with 44 natural playgrounds users (e.g., children and caregivers) and seven playground developers (e.g., designers). This study is theoretically informed by political ecology, concepts of nature, and play affordances. Findings from this study are presented in a manuscript-based dissertation, which comprises four manuscripts along with two introductory chapters and a conclusion.
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    Evaluating the Conceptions of Public Participation in Environmental Assessments in Alberta: How Proponents and Regulators Understand the Practice
    (2017) Higuerey, Mariel Beatriz; Miller, Byron Andrew; Blue, Gwendolyn Gail; Jacobson, Rupert Daniel; Keough, Noel Gerard
    The use and encouragement of public participation in policy and decision-making, and in environmental and risk assessment, has increased considerably over the past couple of decades. However, there is a lack of consistency in the justification of public participation exercises to stakeholders and sponsors. This research explores the range of variations that exist in the understanding and implementation of public participation in environmental legislation in Alberta, and how those variations affect the evaluation of success. Proponents and regulators were surveyed and interviewed to examine their understanding and perceptions when dealing with public participation under two dimensions – intentionality and geographic framing. It was found that the success of public participation is constructed from both, but the understanding of how each dimension can guide the results is not fully grasped. Public participation is in danger of becoming a tokenistic practice if the tensions arising between these two dimensions are not addressed. The language and practice that surrounds public participation in environmental assessment needs to be redefined before lack of trust and public confidence become further barriers to development.
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    The Ontology of Violence: United Nations Peacekeeping Response to Mass Atrocity Violence in Sudan and South Sudan
    (2023-11-24) Winger, Sara Marie; Heibert, Maureen Sharon; Cameron, Gavin Ian; Huebert, Robert Neil; Blue, Gwendolyn Gail; Alvarez, Alexander
    This research identifies significant shortcomings related to the United Nations (UN) conceptualizations of violence. It is based on the starting hypothesis that the UN’s ineffectiveness in stabilizing conflicts is partly due to an inadequate consideration of specific forms of violence. The primary research question that this dissertation answers is: What approach has the UN taken to ensure that responding to violence is a strategic priority in peacekeeping missions? A secondary question is: Are there opportunities for the UN to better incorporate understandings of violence into peacekeeping to potentially improve the efficacy of the missions? The three cases this research explores are the three separate peacekeeping missions within the greater Sudan: the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) to address the violence between Sudan and southern Sudan, the UN and African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) to address conflict in the west of Sudan, and the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to assist in solidifying peace after South Sudan declared independence. I analyze how the UN considers violence in peacekeeping missions through my cases. This research demonstrates that forms of violence are significant enough that the UN should actively consider them in the makeup of its mission. The forms examined in this dissertation are communal violence, conflict-related sexual violence, and the recruitment and use of child soldiers. The research demonstrated that throughout history, these forms of violence have been widespread and have continued throughout the conflict. The commission of these forms of violence destabilizes the region, thus making the work of the UN more challenging. The findings of this dissertation offer insights into how missions could improve.