Exploring Ethnocultural Diversity in Canadian Parks: Perceptions and Experiences of New Canadians
Creators: Blye, Clara-Jane Elizabeth
Publisher: name: University of Alberta Library
Year: 2024

<p>The overall purpose of this dissertation was to gain a better understanding of how Canadian parks are experienced by New Immigrants. To achieve this goal three studies, each focusing on a different aspect of Canadian parks, were conducted. The first study examined how public policy and programs within Canadian parks address and support ethnocultural diversity and how park staff operationalize these policies and programs to better support Racialized people and New Canadians. Interviews were conducted with 11 park staff (from provincial and national park organizations), and 14 national and provincial policies, frameworks, and mandate directives were reviewed. Results revealed that few policies exist and those that do are either vague in their definition of diversity or incredibly detailed and prescriptive. None of the documents provided details in terms of measurement or success metrics related to increasing visitor diversity. However, park managers and all levels of staff related to visitor experiences felt passionate about supporting diverse visitors and welcoming all Canadians to parks (especially those who have never visited before or would traditionally face barriers). Interviews with staff further revealed that while policy can be helpful the mandate from the federal government and provincial level strategic planning documents allowed for creativity and flexibility that prescriptive policy cannot. Programing and partnerships appeared more relevant than formal policy, and yet local direction such as park management plans were integral. The final theme of staffing needs related both to the lack of policy and failures of current policy and the lack of diversity within parks staff but also to the overwhelming need for more clear policy to support diversity. <br>
The second study focused on better understanding the motivations, constraints, and negotiations to park visitation experienced by New Canadians. Results revealed that constraints, including intrapersonal, interpersonal, and structural factors negatively influence New Canadians&#39; ability to visit National Parks. These constraints were partially mediated by various negotiation strategies and positively influenced by motivations. Motivations did have a positive effect on negotiation strategies but did not have a direct effect on park visitation. The overall influence of nature relatedness was positive and significant on both motivations and negotiations, but, similar to motivations, did not have a direct effect on park visitation. Overall, the model was a good fit to the data (χ2/df =1.469, RMSEA = .05, CFI = .93, TLI = .91, SRMR = .06.) and accounted for 39% of the variance in nature-based recreation (visiting national parks) behaviours of New Canadians. <br>
The third study examined the lived experiences of New Canadians visiting National and Provincial Parks. The purpose of understanding Newcomer&#39;s experiences in parks was to gain a better understanding of how their experiences in parks may or may not have contributed to a sense of belonging and sense of place in Canada, as well as their overall connection and relationship with nature (i.e., nature relatedness). Interviews were conducted with 14 New Canadians from seven different countries, who had visited a national or provincial park in the past 12 months. The main themes included (1) parks as places for New Canadians to connect with their own identity (or multiple identities) and (2) provide spaces to build community with other Newcomers as well as Canadian born networks. Parks provided an opportunity to (3) learn how to be “Canadian” and (4) develop a sense of belonging while also evoking strong emotions of loss and grief, but also joy and memories of being back home (5). Finally, the opportunity to spend time in nature was incredibly healing and acted almost like medicine (6); however, not all parks and park experiences provide the same “dose”. The narrative of Newcomers predominantly seeking urban park experiences was strongly challenged by participants describing the need for and benefit of immersive nature. The overall findings, theoretical and practical implications, limitations of these studies, and future research opportunities are summarized in the final chapter of this dissertation.</p>