Okanagan School of Education’s Dr. Jessica Chan is researching how a child’s home environment can influence their early literacy development.

As students and families settle back into the routine of school, homework and extra-curricular activities, the initial excitement over new opportunities may quickly dwindle for some. A young student’s eyes might glaze over as they stare at their math textbook or English novel while their families try various encouragement methods.

With the launch of her new study, Dr. Jessica Chan hopes to support parents and caregivers as they motivate and aid their child’s learning. As the Director of UBC Okanagan’s Reading, Language and Mathematics Lab, Dr. Chan is exploring the relationship between the home environment and children’s language, literacy and math skills.

“As parents and caregivers are usually the first teachers, the home plays such a critical role in children’s development,” says Dr. Chan, Assistant Professor in the Okanagan School of Education. “When children begin attending a more formal education setting, families continue to support and enhance their child’s learning through initiating different experiences or providing encouragement to explore new interests.”

What do you hope to learn in your study?

The majority of studies that assess the impact of the home environment are focused on early learning, while this new research is focused on children in Grades 2 and 3. At this age, children are moving beyond the foundational skills of early literacy and numeracy and are developing more complex cognitive skills, including problem-solving and critical thinking. The skills and attitudes developed in these early grades can influence a student’s future academic journey.

Additionally, in education, we often talk about building the bridge between home and school and ways to support families’ integration into the community. How do we honour the diverse voices, stories and depth of knowledge that children bring into our classrooms?

By learning more about the home environment, we can further develop ways of building those bridges.

How do language skills influence reading development? What can parents do to support language growth?

The home environment is really important in those early stages of language and literacy development. For example, our youngest language learners—infants and toddlers—start to mimic the sounds they hear and try to model the language they hear around them. Children may ask what specific words mean and the examples of them. They learn the sounds in their heritage language—English, Chinese, French, etc.—and practice working with the rhythm and structure.

These language skills then form the foundation for reading development as children learn to connect oral language to written language and begin decoding words and comprehending sentences. The decoding component is particularly important in younger grades, but oral language skills are important across a child’s development and impact reading in later grades and beyond.

Similar to supporting literacy development, there are lots of different things families can do to support language, like oral storytelling, discussing current events and topics, as well as providing time and space for your child to elaborate and share their thinking as they explore more complex topics.

What are some signs that a child might be struggling with their literacy skills?

Literacy includes both oral and written language abilities, however, reading difficulties tend to be more quickly identifiable as these skills are more regularly assessed in school settings, or we tend to notice these skills in shared reading. We are more likely to raise concern if we observe a child struggling to decode words that other children their age can read across different texts and settings.

It can be more challenging to identify an oral language concern because it can present differently. For example, the child may not have trouble with decoding but has trouble with the structure of language, impacting how they communicate their thoughts, needs or interests coherently. They might also struggle to follow and remember instructions. Additionally, if a child has trouble recalling details from a story or connecting parts of a text to each other and the real world, this could indicate comprehension issues.

How can people find out more about your research or get involved?

We are currently seeking families with children in Grades 2 and 3 to participate and we’re hoping to have students with a diverse range of abilities in literacy, language and mathematics.

The study will involve three to four 45-minute sessions, where the child will work one-on-one with a UBCO team member on a series of language, reading and math measures. More information about the lab and this study can be found at: realmlab.ok.ubc.ca

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Dr. Phil Barker, UBCO’s former Vice-Principal, Research and Innovation, takes a reflective look at how research opportunities have flourished during his nine years in the role.

After nine years in the position, Dr. Philip Barker exited the role of UBC Okanagan’s Vice-Principal, Research and Innovation (VPRI), on August 31, 2024.

He leaves behind an impressive list of accomplishments.

Under his leadership, total UBCO research funding skyrocketed to $45.9 million, an increase of 299 per cent from 2015 when he took the reins. The number of Canada Research Chairs saw a three-fold increase. Six interdisciplinary research institutes were fostered, as were nearly 30 clusters of research excellence. Nearly 1,100 active research projects were underway last year alone.

He led the creation of internal research funding programs to support research and recognize excellence, and championed an interdisciplinary approach to combine research experts from across the university to understand society’s biggest problems and find creative, meaningful solutions.

As he prepares to begin life anew as a full-time researcher, Dr. Barker shares his thoughts on his time as VPRI, and how the UBCO research enterprise has changed to establish the campus as a major player in the Canadian and global research field.

What first drew you to UBCO?

I actually heard about the opportunity from my father-in-law who cut the ad out of the Globe and Mail and sent it to my wife. We were in Montreal at the time, and he lived in Vernon, so he definitely had a bit of a gentle pressure campaign going to get us to move west.

I threw my hat in the ring and was interviewed on a beautiful sunny day in March. I was immediately struck by the beauty of the campus, but the key thing was how taken I was with Dr. Deborah Buszard, the former UBCO Principal and Deputy Vice-Chancellor. The campus was only 10 years old and she had an exciting vision for UBCO and how I could contribute.

I came from an entrepreneurial background and saw this as a startup opportunity. I knew it would be fun to be on the ground floor and see what we could do in a region like this. My family had moved to Kelowna from Winnipeg when I was eight years old and I left 10 years later when I graduated from Kelowna Secondary School. The opportunity to come back and play a part in the growth of this part of the province was too good to pass up.

What were your first impressions of the university?

The university had done a great job of developing academic programs to meet the needs of students in the BC interior, but from a research point of view, they were still in the early stages—the campus didn’t yet see itself as part of a research university. There was an issue around a lack of research infrastructure, but there also really wasn’t a culture in which research was viewed as an important, essential part of an academic’s job.

The good news was that UBCO was still young and there was a lot of potential and enthusiasm for what it could bring and become. All the signals were heading in the right direction, but there was a lot of work to do.

Can you explain more of the broad potential you saw early in your time here?

There were great researchers here, doing great things, but I still saw it as a greenfield project. It was a campus in one of the fastest-growing areas of the country, so there were obvious ways the campus could meet the needs of the region, and ways the region could help us get there. There were also really great things happening on the ground—exciting activities in the School of Engineering, the health domain work was really interesting, and there was great work going on in the humanities and social sciences. But it was largely on an individual researcher level—interdisciplinarity hadn’t yet taken hold—so there was great potential in that regard.

Describe the research enterprise when you first arrived

Although there were real luminaries on the campus, it was a challenging environment because the campus hadn’t yet committed to research and research infrastructure.

Even though researchers had needs, the campus was not well positioned to deliver on them. My job was to make sure our researchers and scholars had the tools and resources to do their job and to build a common understanding of how we’d get there, including the cost, and the value of doing it. Again, one of the attractions for me taking the role was working with Dr. Buszard, who completely understood. Together we made the case that we had to open facilities as well as establish funding programs and—with our amazing executive colleagues—we began to make investments in research to get things off the ground.

I was fortunate to arrive when there was funding available to make this happen and now UBCO has internal research funding programs like Aspire, Eminence and Critical Research Equipment and Tools. We had to work hard to get each one over the finish line and, in my opinion, they have been very successful. I’m proud to have helped make that happen for our researchers.

What has the UBCO research trajectory been during your time as VP?

Happily, the trajectory has been nothing but upward. I think one of the most important things I’m leaving behind is a community that believes research is important, is worth doing well, worth paying for and will support where we want to go as a society. The rising tide has been possible, in part, because of the internal programs we’ve funded to pull people together in interesting ways but also because our faculty have been knocking it out of the park in external funding competitions. Our Research Excellence Clusters have been one of the most successful initiatives, and have led to activity with significant influences.

We’re doing everything from working with municipalities on homelessness and developing the latest and greatest in battery and solar energy technology, to exploring what wellness looks like in the 21^st century and seeking ethical approaches to AI.

We’ve also paid attention to working closely with the Tri-councils and external partners and have seen great success as a result. Our share of Tri-council research funding has increased in a big way, which not only added to our upward trajectory but has contributed to our recognition nationally. This success is not a reflection of the VPRI, it’s a reflection of a massive team effort.

Why were internal funding programs and initiatives important to the success of UBCO’s research?

When I arrived, I was told we had a major challenge attracting young faculty because we could not offer the start-up packages that other institutions could. We responded by creating the Aspire program to contribute to start-up packages of our early career researchers, and this has been very successful. We also needed to develop programs that recognized research leadership on our campus and helped define excellence in research. To address this, we created the Principal’s Research Chairs program. This program was a critical element in defining what excellence and research leadership looks like and continues to help us recognize outstanding work on our campus.

How has UBCO’s national standing changed?

The Canada Research Chairs (CRC) program is Canada’s premier mechanism for recognizing outstanding national scholarship. It’s intended for rising stars, and for those who have already risen. When I arrived, UBC’s complement of CRCs was weighted heavily toward Vancouver, and we only had five of these prestigious awards for our campus. It took a while but we have now developed a UBC system-wide distribution of CRCs that has resulted in an appropriate number of CRCs for UBCO and enhanced our profile on the national stage. I’m happy that we got this done.

How are UBCO’s research advances adding value to the region and beyond?

Research campuses in mid-sized cities have outsized effects on economic prosperity by attracting bright people who create knowledge, offer new perspectives and develop products, services and capabilities. Our clinical psychology program is delivering psychologists throughout the province. Our Southern Medical Program is delivering general practitioners who establish practices in the region. The School of Engineering is delivering talent that serves the interior and far beyond. We’ve created a talent pipeline.

Our research partnerships are also key. Working with the City of Kelowna, we’re exploring the best way to electrify the bus fleet, and whether solar energy in the city’s buildings makes sense. We also act as an R&D partner for numerous companies and social agencies. There are literally hundreds of examples of UBCO faculty and researchers collaborating with entities in our community to try to enhance their ability to understand a problem and find solutions.

Describe the research enterprise as you see it today

We’re on fire. We’re competitive with other research campuses across the country and our share of Tri-council funding is in line with our research population. We are pursuing an exciting strategy to respond to climate change and researching the influence of interventional health treatments in rural and remote settings. Our humanities scholars are world-renowned. We’re global leaders on the battery innovation front and potential faculty members in every discipline are striving to join us. UBCO’s research journey will continue to be exciting for decades to come.

What are you most proud of during your time here?

Without a doubt, it’s the development of a community that recognizes the importance of research and knows that we’re not only doing great work, but delivering the best educational opportunities to our students. They are learning from experts who are cutting-edge in their fields. We’re delivering on a promise to the community to do work that is regionally relevant and globally important. On the operational side, I’m especially proud of the VPRI team. They’re an outstanding group of people devoted to the success of the research enterprise. Our path would not be possible without such a talented and dedicated group. I am grateful to have worked with each of them.

What are your hopes for the future?

I fully expect the trajectory developed over the last nine years will be maintained and the opportunity of the campus will continue to be realized. We’re a jewel in the province’s crown. I also anticipate the continued intelligent growth of campus by expanding the Innovation Precinct and West Campus lands. For me personally, I’ve been both a researcher in the trenches and a senior administrator. As I return to the professoriate, I am keen to fully re-engage with my lab and I hope I can bring perspectives that are helpful in advancing our overall research mission.

Any final thoughts?

It’s been an exciting time, and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to join UBCO and work with great people while I’ve done it. I’ve been lucky to have worked with three powerful female leaders—Dr. Buszard, Dr. Gail Murphy and Dr. Lesley Cormack. They’ve provided strong leadership and support to me that has been incredibly helpful and meaningful. I believe that organizations usually find the right leadership at the right time and I think I was the right person in 2015 when I came in as the start-up guy.

The campus is now ready for some new blood and incoming Vice-Principal, Research and Innovation Dr. Suzie Currie will bring a new mindset and vision. Our campus is at a stage where defining what UBCO is as a research entity is possible in a way it wasn’t when I joined, so I feel like I’ve done what I came here to do. I’m leaving at the right time.

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UBCO’s Dr. Hadi Mohammadi holds his latest innovation—a manufactured heart valve that combines the best of both tissue and mechanical technologies—that may eventually out-perform current valves.

When a patient needs a new heart valve, the current mechanical and tissue replacements each have strengths and weaknesses.

Now, a team of UBC Okanagan researchers believe they have found a way to harness the strengths of both technologies in a way that could be life-changing—and life-saving—for many. Dr. Hadi Mohammadi and his fellow researchers in the Heart Valve Performance Laboratory at UBC Okanagan are focused on developing the mechanical heart valves of the future.

Dr. Mohammadi, an Associate Professor with the School of Engineering, says their latest work, dubbed the iValve, is their most advanced yet and combines the best of both technologies—mechanical and tissue—when it comes to replacement heart valves.

“Tissue valves generally perform better than mechanical valves because of their shape, but last only 15 to 20 years on average, which would require another replacement. Mechanical valves can last a lifetime, but do not perform as well as tissue valves, requiring patients to take daily anticoagulants,” says Dr. Mohammadi.

“We have produced a new mechanical heart valve that combines the best of both worlds—offering the performance of tissue valves with the long-lasting durability of mechanical valves. We believe this valve could make life easier and safer for patients,” he adds.

The breakthrough valve was made possible through an international collaboration with ViVitro Labs and independent consultants Lawrence Scotten and Rolland Siegel. The research was funded by Angeleno Medical and published this month in the Journal of Biomechanics.

“This is the only valve of its kind to be designed and built in Canada,” notes Dr. Mohammadi. “We are incredibly proud of this valve as an example of the engineering innovation coming from UBC and Canada.”

Dr. Mohammadi also says while mechanical heart valve replacements have long been in use, the long-standing challenge has been to perfect the technology for the smallest hearts—tiny infants.

“What is particularly exciting about the iValve, is that it was specifically designed for high-heart-rate applications, such as in pediatric patients,” explains Dr. Mohammadi.

Now that their prototype performs well in mechanical lab tests, the researchers will bring it to animal and clinical trials. If all goes well, they hope the iValve could be ready for those trials within two years.

In the meantime, they will also be using the technology and techniques to develop new valves.

“This valve is designed to allow blood flow to the aorta, which is the body’s largest artery, and the blood vessel that carries oxygen-rich blood away from the heart throughout your body,” explains Mohammadi. “Next, we will take what we have learned and develop one for the mitral valve. That valve is responsible for making sure that blood flows from your left atrium to your left ventricle. It also ensures that blood doesn’t flow backward between those two chambers.”

Heart Valve Performance Lab Manager Dr. Dylan Goode is excited about what the future holds for the iValve—and for the benefits it could bring to patients.

Dr. Goode began working with Dr. Mohammadi in 2018 while completing his Master of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering. Recently, he successfully defended his doctoral dissertation, which documents his design work, fabrication and testing of the iValve.

“We have shown that the iValve can provide the structural benefits of a mechanical heart valve and last a patient’s lifespan while providing improved hemodynamic performance, meaning an improvement of the way in which blood flows through vessels.”

Dr. Goode notes the new iValve could also mean a major improvement in lifestyle for these patients who endure a routine of regular anticoagulant therapy—blood thinners—which can increase their risk of severe bleeding, blood clots or damage to tissues and organs if blood flow is impeded.

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UBCO researchers examine the difficulty patients might have discussing the use of psychedelics for therapeutic use with their care provider.

Feeling safe and comfortable are key when discussing your health and wellbeing with your primary care provider.

However, that feeling of comfort and safety can’t be taken for granted among many people who have turned to psychedelic substances—including psilocybin—to help control their symptoms of depression, anxiety or PTSD. Now, a team of UBC Okanagan researchers in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences has published a study looking into patient perspectives and potential issues when it comes to discussing psychedelics for therapeutic use with their physicians.

Dr. Michelle St. Pierre conducts research with Dr. Zach Walsh in UBC’s Therapeutic, Recreational, and Problematic Substance Use Lab. Their latest paper, published in Psychedelic Medicine, determined that concern about having an open discussion regarding psychedelic substances with a physician can create a roadblock to that conversation.

“A core component in the provision and receipt of appropriate medical care is trust and communication between patients and physicians,” she explains. “However, the stigmatization of psychedelic use for therapeutic purposes may complicate this process.”

In Canada, to legally obtain psychedelic substances for therapeutic use, a doctor must determine there is a genuine need for these psychedelics and then apply to Health Canada’s Special Access Program for their patient.

“The threshold for legal access to psychedelics for therapeutic purposes is high. Our team is aware that some patients with serious illnesses have been discouraged from pursuing legal avenues and have instead turned to unregulated providers, often due to difficulties in finding a physician willing to approve this emerging therapy.”

Fear of stigmatization, perceived lack of knowledge by their care provider and concern of damaging a long-term relationship with their physician can also stop the conversation.

The study analyzed data from approximately 800 adults who use psychedelics, with about 80 per cent endorsing their use for therapeutic purposes. Some 78 per cent of respondents reported facing barriers to access, while one-third said they had discussed using psychedelics with their doctor. For those who managed to have the conversation, 13 per cent said their doctor recommended psychedelics. Despite this, nearly 60 per cent of respondents felt less satisfied with the communication about psychedelics they’d had with their physician compared to previous conversations, and more than half felt discriminated against by their physician for raising the topic in the first place.

As policies evolve to improve access to psychedelic medicines, it’s crucial to also focus on fostering open and transparent communication between patients and physicians,” says Dr. St. Pierre. “In particular, there is a need for educational resources and guidelines to support health-care practitioners in understanding the therapeutic potential of psychedelics, especially for patients seeking new treatments for conditions like PTSD and depression.”

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New UBC Okanagan research is calling for better tools for health-care providers to better manage chronic neuropathic pain for athletes living with spinal cord injuries.

With the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games just around the corner, the extensive training and the sacrifices athletes make to compete at the games take centre stage.

For Paralympians and high-performance athletes with spinal cord injuries (SCI), assessing chronic pain plays a key role in their training and readiness to compete. However, the source of chronic pain is often misattributed to acute trauma or overuse injuries. While the International Olympic Committee acknowledges pain management data among Paralympians and athletes with disabilities is limited, few studies have been launched investigating this dilemma.

Now, new research from UBC Okanagan highlights the need for more comprehensive assessment tools that can help athletes with SCI recognize and communicate neuropathic pain.

Neuropathic pain, where a person might feel pain from any part of their body, is nerve pain that occurs after a breakdown, or severe damage to the nervous system. It is often characterized as a burning, tingling and shooting pain. However, it is hard to diagnose for those living with an SCI.

School of Health and Exercise Sciences alumna Dr. Kendra Todd is a Senior Policy Analyst for the Government of Canada’s Office of Public Service Accessibility and coach of British Columbia’s Wheelchair Rugby team.

Dr. Todd says results from her latest study provide the first comprehensive description of neuropathic pain experiences among athletes with SCI while also highlighting their challenges in recognizing and communicating this pain.

“Athletes often have greater bodily awareness and are better at identifying painful sensations compared with people who are comparatively inactive,” says Dr. Todd. “However, athletes with SCI in this study had difficulty describing their neuropathic pain symptoms. This often means pain can be misunderstood and can result in poor diagnosis and injury management.”

While not everyone diagnosed with neuropathic pain describes it as serious, a clear determination of the cause of the pain is essential for defining treatment approaches. Dr. Todd says participants in her study could express they were in pain, but used terms like indescribable, ambiguous, uncomfortable and dislocated, meaning they could feel pain but couldn’t accurately describe where it was coming from.

“Athletes in our study reported moderately intense neuropathic pain, but found it difficult to communicate their neuropathic pain without being prompted with a list of symptoms,” she adds. “Proper identification and management of neuropathic pain are critical, given its debilitating nature and likelihood of becoming unresponsive to treatment.”

The study, published recently in BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine stresses the need for sports medicine clinicians and trainers to expand the toolbox to include a variety of standardized assessment tools, including symptom-based questionnaires to help identify signs and symptoms of neuropathic pain. They should also become skilled in interpreting patient descriptions and examination findings.

“If we can better understand neuropathic symptoms, we can better guide early pain management decisions for athletes who are forced to limit sports participation or have a slower return to play,” says study supervisor Dr. Kathleen Martin Ginis, UBC Professor and Director of the Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management.

Dr. Martin Ginis stresses the need for sharing best practices with decision-makers to gain a deeper understanding of the language that athletes with SCI use when describing their neuropathic pain.

“Clinicians and trainers must be trained in identifying signs and symptoms of neuropathic pain and be skilled in interpreting patient descriptions and examination findings,” she adds.

Dr. Todd says while everyone expects athletes to train and compete at their full potential, it’s important to keep in mind those with an SCI often deal with hidden and undiagnosed pain.

“The vast majority of athletes with SCI are dealing with chronic pain, which is food for thought as we cheer on our Paralympians competing at the games,” she adds. “And effective neuropathic pain management among athletes with SCI is essential not only for alleviating discomfort but also for facilitating sport participation and promoting their overall wellbeing.”

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UBCO researchers are raising concerns about brain damage caused by intimate partner violence in 2SLGBTQIA+ relationships.

When people think of a concussion or a traumatic brain injury caused by intimate partner violence (IPV), they might picture people in a heterosexual relationship, or a man hurting a woman.

But a UBC Okanagan researcher points out that IPV, and its repercussions, is an issue in all relationships. Doctoral student Tori Stranges recently published a paper examining the prevalence and damage done by violence in Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer (or Questioning), Intersex and Asexual (2SLGBTQIA+) relationships.

“It’s very common for people to think that violence doesn’t happen in queer relationships because the way we view violence is through a traditional heteronormative lens—where all relationships are heterosexual,” says Stranges, a researcher with UBCO’s School of Health and Exercise Sciences. “But IPV is defined as a pattern of physical, sexual, psychological and emotional violence in the context of coercive control by a former or current intimate partner. And it can happen to anyone, any gender, any sexual orientation and in any relationship.”

The study, published recently in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence, reveals 98 per cent of respondents reported some experience with IPV in their lifetime, and about 70 per cent reported symptoms consistent with a brain injury as a result. Those symptoms result from trauma and abrasions to the face, head and neck mostly from the impact from hands, fists or being thrown into walls or downstairs, or being shaken. However, victims also suffer trauma from non-fatal strangulation and suffer a hypoxic or anoxic injury if the brain is deprived of oxygen for even a short time.

“Previous research has demonstrated that head trauma and attempted strangulation sustained in the context of IPV can result in a brain injury. However, until now, no research has existed exploring IPV brain injuries for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, indicating a gap in the knowledge on the issue.”

IPV in 2SLGBTQIA+ relationships poses a distinct challenge, she notes, primarily due to the potential invisibility of the relationship. For example, in a same-sex relationship where the couple is not out, IPV may go unnoticed by friends, family or professionals, making it difficult for the survivor to seek help or leave.

“The reality for many survivors of IPV in 2SLGBTQIA+ relationships is the people they first turn to for help do not validate their experiences as legitimate abuse and may even refuse to help,” Stranges says. “This can lead to survivors doubting whether they are true victims, deserve help, should try to leave, and whether help will be there for them if they do leave.”

The struggle to legitimize IPV in 2SLGBTQIA+ relationships as a genuine public health concern may be rooted in the struggle to legitimize the human rights of those same people, she adds.

“Lack of recognition and legal protection may lead to disparities in how IPV and IPV brain injury within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community are addressed and understood. It may discourage individuals from seeking help or reporting abuse, as they may fear discrimination or judgment from authorities or service providers who may not understand their unique experiences.”

It may also result in a lack of dedicated resources and funding for research and support services tailored to the specific needs of the community. To address these issues, Stranges says it is essential to work towards not only the inclusion of the 2S/LGBTQ community in understanding IPV and IPV brain injury, but also full recognition of human rights for this population group.

She also notes the disparities in IPV brain injury exposure across different subgroups within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community further emphasize the need for tailored approaches in research, policy and practice. Particularly, the overrepresentation of Indigenous and Two-Spirit individuals in her study points to the intersectional nature of oppression and the urgent need for decolonized and inclusive research methodologies and health interventions.

Stranges works with UBCO’s Dr. Paul van Donkelaar, a Professor in the School of Health and Exercise Sciences and scientific advisor for Supporting Survivors of Abuse and Brain Injury through Research. Just last month, a team of UBC researchers, including Dr. van Donkelaar, was awarded $3.4M to address brain injuries in survivors of intimate partner violence.

“We are just scratching the surface in our understanding of IPV brain injury and this work is amongst the first in the world to examine this issue in the 2SLGBTQIA+community,” says Dr. van Donkelaar. “It’s important research and it’s vital that the findings from this work inform supports for IPV survivors.”

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A conceptional illustration of the Okanagan Valley Electric Regional Passenger Rail shows the tram running alongside Okanagan Lake. Photo credit: Andrew Halfhide.

Anyone who has ever been stuck in gridlock while driving over Kelowna’s William R. Bennett Bridge or any Okanagan community can appreciate the thought that there has to be a better alternative than Highway 97 to navigate the busy corridor.

And a UBC Okanagan professor says there is.

Dr. Gordon Lovegrove, who teaches in UBCO’s School of Engineering, has studied the feasibility of an affordable passenger train patterned after a similar concept started in Karlsruhe, Germany 40 years ago.

“Hydrail tram-trains—powered by a hydrogen fuel cell/battery—is a passenger rail that acts like a tram in cities and like a train between communities. This is a new concept to North America,” explains Dr. Lovegrove. “They are self-powered, low-floor and a zero-emission technology, which differs from typical heavy-rail, high-floor, locomotive-pulled passenger cars. This gives hydrail the advantage of being able to climb hills and more affordable than highway widening.”

Dr. Lovegrove says the Okanagan’s booming tourism and population growth affect the more than 500,000 residents in communities connected mainly by Highway 97. The majority of travel is by cars, which increases the highway’s gridlock and risk of collisions. He cites recent surveys of residents, First Nations communities and businesses, coupled with joint municipal and provincial government studies that reveal the Okanagan Valley needs more than traditional auto-oriented solutions such as road widening and bypasses—options he calls ineffective and costly.

That opened the door for the researchers to study the technical and economic feasibility of an Okanagan Valley Electric Regional Passenger Rail (OVER PR) service. The study, published recently in the journal Sustainability, is the first of its kind in North America and one of the first published worldwide.

“To address growing inter-city transportation, safety, congestion and climate resilience challenges in the Okanagan Valley, we found that even in our Canadian climate and hilly terrain, hydrail tram-trains are technically feasible. And they would be more affordable than widening our highways and promoting more pollution and congestion. However, it is up to communities to decide if and where it would run.”

Dr. Lovegrove notes he deliberately analyzed the undulating Highway 97 route with its steep hills, as opposed to conventional near-flat freight routes, as the toughest test of its feasibility.

Assuming Highway 97 was chosen, OVER PR would connect cities and airports throughout the valley with a one-way trip from Osoyoos to Kamloops taking about four hours, comparable to driving a car. The tram-train could travel at higher speeds, about 90 k/h between cities, but at lower tram-specific speeds in cities, with modern transit priority signals designed to bypass delays at intersections.

“Using embedded rails, sharing existing and HOV lanes as well as highway rights-of-way, or medians, between cities, would drastically reduce the need for land acquisition without taking away capacity. The route would also be designed to integrate with regional bus services to construct an optimal arrival and departure schedule,” he says.

With OVER PR ridership expected to be more than 13,000 passengers per day, there is something in it for even those who could not make the jump from driving to using the tram-train, as it would mean less traffic congestion and travel delays.

“Hydrail combined with tram-train technology has never been tried in Canada, yet hydrogen trains present advantages compared with electrification by eliminating the requirement for expensive infrastructure such as catenaries (above ground wires) and substations. It also grants the flexibility to operate in remote rural areas or difficult terrain where electrification might pose challenges, which improves its overall effectiveness and adaptability. When hydrogen production is coupled with other forms of renewable energy generation, the environmental benefits are favourable.”

The study states the system, similar to ones that operate in California’s Napa Valley or the Karlsruhe region in Germany, can have economic, social and ecological benefits for tourists and residents.

Dr. Lovegrove’s research suggests that over 30 years, and using the same cost-benefit analysis template used by provincial policy analysts, OVER PR benefits total more than $45 billion, and outweigh its capital and operating costs by nine to one, with many more benefits than widening Highway 97.

“The Okanagan Valley is expected to continue with significant population growth, tourism and traffic congestion which leads to increased greenhouse gas emissions, as well as more vehicles and highway fatalities,” Dr. Lovegrove says. “If communities agree to proceed with OVER PR planning this valley-long zero-emission, passenger rail service could significantly enhance transport equity, safety and congestion while also providing a more affordable, resilient and environmentally friendly choice for valley residents, businesses and tourists.”

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A UBCO professor is asking Canadians how they feel about their country and what it means to be a Canadian.

Canada Day is often portrayed as a time to celebrate Canada through picnics, red and white flags, and community celebrations.

UBC Okanagan’s Dr. Catherine Broom is curious what Canadians will be celebrating this year.

Dr. Broom, an Associate Professor with the Okanagan School of Education, is studying how Canadians understand what Canada is—what it means to be a Canadian and how to educate for this. Along with her graduate assistant Dr. Camille Rousseau, she is gathering data from an online survey that invites Canadians to share their views on citizenship, identity and citizenship education.

Since the survey’s launch two years ago, more than 500 people have participated—predominately females between the ages of 19 and 25, and those living in Western Canada. Early findings suggest that this year’s Canada Day celebrations may be somewhat quiet, particularly among younger Canadians.

“Respondents generally report feeling a sense of belonging and pride in Canada at 58 per cent and 44 per cent respectively,” says Dr. Broom. “However, many have been reflecting on whether being proud of Canada is appropriate given the country’s historical wrongs and contemporary issues. Respondents have echoed similar sentiments stating that while some might be proud, others have a good reason not to be.”

Housing concerns, economic instability, addressing Canada’s historical wrongs, climate change and social inequality top the list of reasons why some Canadians may not feel proud this Canada Day.

Participants feel that Canadians should be bonded in their values and their diversity. When speaking specifically about the values Canadians should share, participants reported more than 390 unique responses. Across these responses, key values include kindness, respect and diversity.

“On a positive note, participants’ hope for the future of Canada is that it be a welcoming nation of inclusivity, tolerance and acceptance,” says Dr. Broom.

And she notes many agree the maple leaf is the most commonly associated symbol of Canada.

By the end of this research, Dr. Broom hopes to develop recommendations for school citizenship education programs that address participants’ feedback and bring Canadians together.

People can learn more about the study, find resources on citizenship education or fill out the survey at citizenshipeducation.ok.ubc.ca.

The survey is open to adults across Canada, and is available in English and French.

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A new UBCO School of Nursing study examines how nurses and nurse practitioners deal with the ethical issue of medically assisted death.

Whatever your perspective on Canada’s evolving legislation on medical assistance in dying (MAID), actually putting the law into practice is often where ethical dilemmas arise.

This is especially true for the health-care professionals who provide it. Registered nurses and nurse practitioners, in particular, play a large role in medically assisted death. Until recently, their experiences have not been well documented.

Dr. Barb Pesut, Professor in UBC Okanagan’s School of Nursing, recently led a study that describes how nurses are wrestling with the moral complexities of implementing current and future MAID legislation.

“Changes in legislation require changes in practice on the ground,” says Dr. Pesut. “It is important that those affected by those changes have a voice.”

Dr. Pesut’s research, recently published in the Global Qualitative Nursing Research journal, points to how nurses have changed their approach to talking to patients about MAID. When legislation was first passed in 2016, nurses were not permitted to introduce the idea of assisted death unless patients brought it up themselves. Even then, nurses were to respond cautiously so as not to risk being seen to coerce patients, Dr. Pesut explains.

The nurses interviewed in the study say they now take a more person-centred approach rather than a risk-centred one.

“Nurse practitioners felt that the potential for coercion is far more likely if MAID is introduced during times of transition or crisis, such as entry into long-term care or significant health decline,” says Dr. Pesut. “In their view, it’s better to have the conversation on MAID alongside other options during times of stability. Patients can then identify what best meets their needs and aligns with their values.”

Nevertheless, nurses say they are challenged to make the time for these conversations in a busy health-care environment and to communicate patients’ wishes with other health-care providers.

The study also asked nurses about how they are making moral sense of legislation that has expanded MAID eligibility to people for whom death is not reasonably foreseeable—and the potential expansion to people whose sole underlying medical condition is mental illness. The nurses struggled not so much with individual rights and freedoms but rather with issues of health-care equity.

“Patients facing stigma such as those using substances and frequent users of the system might be more likely to believe that MAID is their only viable option,” says Dr. Pesut. “Nurses also expressed concern about the system’s failure to effectively serve those living with chronic medical conditions and disabilities. The legal debate of MAID as a treatment option should deeply consider these realities.”

In fact, in February 2024, the Government of Canada legislated a three-year delay of MAID for those whose sole underlying medical condition is mental illness based on feedback stating the health-care system was not yet ready.

Dr. Pesut’s study found that one of the most important safeguards, particularly for a person whose natural death is not reasonably foreseeable, might be a robust primary care relationship that provides sufficient time and holistic care.

“Despite Canada’s health-care challenges, there are innovative ways to ensure those applying for MAID have access to care providers, including nurses, who can work alongside them to ensure their choice is for the right person, at the right time and for the right reasons.”

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UBCO honoured more than 2,400 graduates last week along with top academic achievers Jordan Bird, Liam Krebbers, Oluwaseun Akinloye, Jacob Sol and Joanna Fear.

Inspired by previous UBCO top students as he began his master’s degree a few years ago, Jordan Bird—this year’s winner of UBC Okanagan’s Governor General Gold medal—has now reached their heights.

While completing his master’s degree, Bird worked under the supervision of Dr. Glen Foster and was also exposed to the work of previous UBCO graduates Drs. Mike Tymko and Ryan Hoiland—both won the Governor General Gold medal in 2019 and 2020 respectively.

The Governor General Gold Medal is awarded annually to the student with the highest academic standing who is graduating from a UBCO master’s or doctoral program. This year, Bird, who received the university’s top award as he graduated from the School of Health and Exercise Sciences with a Master of Science degree, admits he had excellent role models and support throughout his studies.

“My undergrad mentor Dr. Trevor Day would always tell me that science is about people. You look at the School of Health and Exercise Sciences and realize it is a really special place because of both the quality of people you work with and the quality of research conducted. When you look at former students like Drs. Tymko and Hoiland—who are phenomenal people and academics—it’s no secret that you get to work and learn from really great people at UBCO,” says Bird. “If you work with genuine people who care about facilitating each other’s success while also working hard, good things happen.”

Bird didn’t plan on continuing his studies, but met Drs. Hoiland and Mypinder Sekhon while they were conducting research at the Okanagan campus. He admired their academic work and decided to move to UBC Vancouver to continue his studies under their direction.

“While it has been a transition to a new field of study, the most important thing to me is doing good work with good people,” he says. “The people at UBC and UBCO are ambitious, supportive, humble and enthusiastic. I’m just incredibly lucky to be able to work with such amazing people throughout grad school.”

Bird, who plans to pursue either medicine or critical care research, was presented with his Governor General Gold medal when he graduated Friday morning.

Also graduating Friday, was Liam Krebbers, who is heading straight into his doctoral program. Along with receiving the School of Engineering Medal of Excellence, he was also presented with the Governor General’s Silver Medal for his high academic accomplishments.

The Governor General’s Silver Medal recognizes undergraduate students who have achieved the top academic record throughout their university careers, while the UBCO Engineering medal goes to the campus’ top graduating engineering student.

Krebbers also won an Ivy League entrance scholarship and will begin his doctoral studies in mechanical and aerospace engineering at Princeton University.

“I’m incredibly grateful for all the awards, encouragement and opportunities I received at UBC and am so excited to continue my journey this fall,” says Krebbers.

Over the past two years, through his undergraduate research work with Dr. Sina Kheirkhah, an Associate Professor with the School of Engineering, Krebbers seized every opportunity to learn about combustion, laser-based diagnostics, fuel flexible technologies and published several research and conference papers along the way.

He has his sights set on becoming a researcher and professor.

Like Krebbers and many who graduated from UBCO last week, Oluwaseun Akinloye didn’t have a high school graduation ceremony due to the COVID-19 pandemic and her first year of studies was virtual. When she did eventually arrive from Calgary, she immediately got involved participating in ski outings, and joining organizations like the African Caribbean Student Club (ACSC).

However, even though she was working as a residence advisor and peer mentor, Akinloye felt isolated. While the ACSC helped her feel heard and understood, and validated her need for connection, she also saw a void and felt there was something she could offer in return.

In her third year, Akinloye spearheaded various Black History Month events, including one that attracted more than 250 participants. This was a foundational step in the establishment of the Black Student Association (BSA).

“As co-founder and inaugural president of the BSA, I confronted the isolation that many Black students felt in the Okanagan. We recognized a gap that needed bridging—the ACSC was thriving, yes, but its presence did not negate the need for the BSA, which addresses a broader spectrum of Black identity than the ACSC, recognizing that not all people of African or Caribbean descent identify as Black and not all Black individuals are African or Caribbean.”

She also established the first BSA student art exhibit on campus to feature works solely by Black students. But she didn’t stop with art and academics, introducing monthly “Let’s Agree to Disagree” forums which offered a platform for all students to voice their thoughts on a wide range of topics, from everyday pop culture to critical global issues.

As she graduated from the School of Health and Exercises Friday, Akinloye was presented with UBCO’s Lieutenant Governor’s Medal for Inclusion, Democracy and Reconciliation. The medal is offered annually to a graduating student who demonstrates academic merit and contribution to the life of the university and their community.

Akinloye notes she is proud of her accomplishments, the BSA has bloomed with growing membership and she feels she has made a significant difference to life at UBCO. Later this year she will take her Medical College Admission Test with the goal of becoming a doctor.

While medals and accolades were handed out during the two days of ceremonies last week, many students were also presented the scholarships and recognition for their work in and out of the classroom.

Jacob Sol, who crossed the stage to pick up his Bachelor of Applied Science in Civil Engineering Friday afternoon not only picked up his parchment, but also received the 2024 Gordon Springate Sr. Award.

The Dr. Gordon Springate Sr. Award in Engineering is presented annually to an engineering graduate who has demonstrated a material contribution to their community outside of their program. The $15,000 award—the single largest donor-funded award for an undergraduate student at UBC Okanagan—is named for Dr. Gordon Springate Sr., an electrical engineering and educator committed to giving back to his field and his community.

True to the intentions of the award, Sol’s time at UBC has been spent making an impact.

During his first semester at UBCO in fall 2020—a time when the world was grappling with COVID-19—Sol was laser-focused on another threat to the globe.

“It dawned on me early in my studies that stormwater contamination is a hugely significant environmental issue, both in our local communities and worldwide. With our water systems being so precious in the Okanagan, and all over the world, I saw there was a need and a way for me to make a positive impact,” explains Sol, who credits his father for inspiring him to take an interest in the ocean and aquatic environments from a young age.

Along with two other students he met in first year, Sol created a company which developed a smart integrated stormwater decontamination and flood monitoring device which allows for real-time data collection and informed decision making. The team would go on to work with a number of community partners, including the Okanagan Basin Water Board and the City of Kelowna. In June 2020, Jacob’s team presented its idea in the final AquaHacking pitch competition and was awarded second place in Western Canada.

Along the way, Sol balanced keeping the research project afloat while maintaining outstanding grades and being a member of the UBCO Heat men’s soccer team.

“It’s not always easy juggling everything, but my time at UBCO has been rewarding because I’ve had these opportunities to get involved outside the classroom,” says Sol. “I’m very proud I’ve been able to make a difference and I hope through my graduate studies I’ll be able to continue to build on the idea.”

Sol will be using the award as he enters graduate studies at the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) in the Netherlands.

“The opportunity to study at TU Delft is life-changing. I’m incredibly grateful to the Springate family for this support, which is helping to make my dream possible.”

On Thursday, another Heat athlete—one who is used to being a top winner—was also recognized for her academic achievements. Joanna Fear earned her Bachelor of Science degree and was also named winner of the Pushor Mitchell LLP Gold Medal Leadership Prize—one of the highest awards available for a student in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Sciences.

For more than 15 years, the $10,000 prize has recognized a top graduating student who has excelled academically and shown leadership while earning their degree. Fear has done that and a bit more—she is also one of Canada’s top female triathletes and competed for Canada at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 before retiring from the sport.

“I want to thank the people who helped to get me to UBCO after the Tokyo Olympics. Coach Malindi Elmore was an incredible mentor as I navigated retirement from a sport that I had done full-time for over a decade,” says Fear.

Fear, who has been accepted to the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster University, was surprised when she heard she had won the award. The support provided by this award will allow her to move begin her medical training this September.

“I am truly honoured at having been selected, and I will continue to be a leader both on and off the field of play,” she adds. “I feel deeply privileged to have won this award and I hope to make the UBCO community proud.”

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