title: Climate Change: Where we live, how we live, and how we plan for it

authors: White, Iain

abstract: This presentation discusses that combating climate change required long-term, intergenerational planning, and political will.

text: Climate Change: Where we live, how we live, and how we plan for it This presentation discusses that combating climate change required long-term, intergenerational planning, and political will.

year: 2019

title: The secrets of immigrant student success

authors: Volante, Louis

abstract: Canada consistently ranks among the top 10 destination countries for international migrants. Over 7.5 million foreign-born Canadians, representing more than one-fifth of the population and over one-third of school-aged students, entered the country through immigration, according to 2016 Census data. Canada was also the first country to adopt multiculturalism officially, with provisions in its Charter of Rights and Freedoms protecting minority rights.

A study published in 2015, ranking Canada first among 38 industrialized nations for anti-discrimination policies, praised its favorable education policies in key areas like access, targeted needs, new opportunities, and intercultural education. However, the study did not examine education policies at the provincial level, as Canada lacks a federal education department, and each province sets its own policies.

Research into the relationship between provincial education policies and immigrant student outcomes indicates positive trends. Provinces like Ontario provide policy guidelines on "Culturally Responsive Pedagogy" and "Antiracism and Ethnocultural Equity in School Boards," while British Columbia has a "Diversity in B.C. Schools" framework. Alberta emphasizes diversity and inclusion in its curriculum framework.

Longitudinal research using OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) data reveals that both first- and second-generation immigrants in British Columbia and Ontario outperformed their non-immigrant counterparts in science literacy. Other provinces, including Alberta, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, also showed favorable results for immigrant student groups. Despite the global trend of immigrant students facing a significant performance disadvantage, Canada's results are surprising.

The success may be attributed to Canada's immigrant selection policies, favoring those with skills, education, and language proficiency. Yet, the strong performance persists even after accounting for socio-economic factors. Immigrant student outcomes are influenced by various factors, such as age, socio-economic status, and school resources. Schools with a concentration of socioeconomically disadvantaged students tend to pose risks, and immigrants often thrive in inclusive settings.

Overall, Canadian education policies favor culturally-sensitive integration, preserving diverse cultural identities. The approach aligns with Canada's culturally pluralistic society, where minority groups maintain unique identities within the dominant culture. However, challenges remain in promoting culturally effective pedagogy and evidence-based policies, especially against the backdrop of international achievement standards.

text: The secrets of immigrant student success Canada consistently ranks among the top 10 destination countries for international migrants. Over 7.5 million foreign-born Canadians, representing more than one-fifth of the population and over one-third of school-aged students, entered the country through immigration, according to 2016 Census data. Canada was also the first country to adopt multiculturalism officially, with provisions in its Charter of Rights and Freedoms protecting minority rights.

A study published in 2015, ranking Canada first among 38 industrialized nations for anti-discrimination policies, praised its favorable education policies in key areas like access, targeted needs, new opportunities, and intercultural education. However, the study did not examine education policies at the provincial level, as Canada lacks a federal education department, and each province sets its own policies.

Research into the relationship between provincial education policies and immigrant student outcomes indicates positive trends. Provinces like Ontario provide policy guidelines on "Culturally Responsive Pedagogy" and "Antiracism and Ethnocultural Equity in School Boards," while British Columbia has a "Diversity in B.C. Schools" framework. Alberta emphasizes diversity and inclusion in its curriculum framework.

Longitudinal research using OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) data reveals that both first- and second-generation immigrants in British Columbia and Ontario outperformed their non-immigrant counterparts in science literacy. Other provinces, including Alberta, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, also showed favorable results for immigrant student groups. Despite the global trend of immigrant students facing a significant performance disadvantage, Canada's results are surprising.

The success may be attributed to Canada's immigrant selection policies, favoring those with skills, education, and language proficiency. Yet, the strong performance persists even after accounting for socio-economic factors. Immigrant student outcomes are influenced by various factors, such as age, socio-economic status, and school resources. Schools with a concentration of socioeconomically disadvantaged students tend to pose risks, and immigrants often thrive in inclusive settings.

Overall, Canadian education policies favor culturally-sensitive integration, preserving diverse cultural identities. The approach aligns with Canada's culturally pluralistic society, where minority groups maintain unique identities within the dominant culture. However, challenges remain in promoting culturally effective pedagogy and evidence-based policies, especially against the backdrop of international achievement standards.

year: 2018-05-15

title: Pōuri: Two original screenplays

authors: Kohere, Anthony

subjects: Screenplays

abstract: Pōuri, as defined on Te Aka Māori Dictionary, means “regret, mournful, gloomy, in the dark.” It is an apt description of the following stories: Unprivate Moments, and Haytham; or, The Māori Gothic. A common thematic tie between the characters is that they regret past actions, have become disheartened, and experience severe distress. As a thesis, the aim is to expand on what a “Māori story” is beyond the familiar, or dare I say, expected.

'Unprivate Moments' is about an estranged father and son reconciling their differences, disguised as a low-level spy film. I see this as an opportunity to take a well-defined genre and treat it in a realistic fashion in terms of location and character, although not necessarily in believability. Set in Whanganui it can play with many tropes and preconceptions, almost with self-awareness without falling into parody or metacommentary. The formatting does not follow industry standards but inverts the layout of the scene descriptions and dialogue. While I cannot say for certain, Stanley Kubrick is the only one I am aware of that has done this when he adapted 'A Clockwork Orange'. His rationale for this break in style was to draw the eye to the visual storytelling rather than the dialogue.

'Haytham' is centred on a young Byronic Māori man during the late 1880s. Like the archetype he is derived from, Haytham is a tall, dark, and mysterious man. As he reveals himself both to the audience and to the other characters, we come to find someone who has been  damaged and corrupted. This issue of childhood trauma is the central crux of the story and is explored through his relationships with the women in his life. And finally, despite the script’s setting and intentional use of familial names, this is not a biographical work.

text: Pōuri: Two original screenplays Pōuri, as defined on Te Aka Māori Dictionary, means “regret, mournful, gloomy, in the dark.” It is an apt description of the following stories: Unprivate Moments, and Haytham; or, The Māori Gothic. A common thematic tie between the characters is that they regret past actions, have become disheartened, and experience severe distress. As a thesis, the aim is to expand on what a “Māori story” is beyond the familiar, or dare I say, expected.

'Unprivate Moments' is about an estranged father and son reconciling their differences, disguised as a low-level spy film. I see this as an opportunity to take a well-defined genre and treat it in a realistic fashion in terms of location and character, although not necessarily in believability. Set in Whanganui it can play with many tropes and preconceptions, almost with self-awareness without falling into parody or metacommentary. The formatting does not follow industry standards but inverts the layout of the scene descriptions and dialogue. While I cannot say for certain, Stanley Kubrick is the only one I am aware of that has done this when he adapted 'A Clockwork Orange'. His rationale for this break in style was to draw the eye to the visual storytelling rather than the dialogue.

'Haytham' is centred on a young Byronic Māori man during the late 1880s. Like the archetype he is derived from, Haytham is a tall, dark, and mysterious man. As he reveals himself both to the audience and to the other characters, we come to find someone who has been  damaged and corrupted. This issue of childhood trauma is the central crux of the story and is explored through his relationships with the women in his life. And finally, despite the script’s setting and intentional use of familial names, this is not a biographical work.

year: 2022