VIU welcomes first cohort of Belizean QEII Scholars
Celebrating cross-cultural learning with QEII scholars from VIU and Belize. From left: Aaron Wong, Stacey Cayetano, Teunesha Evertse, Shirley Humes, Darren Lucas, Stephanie Govier, Kala Mackintosh, Kenny Williams, Eric Sanchez, Alfred Cal, Devan Cronshaw. Shirley Humes is keen to help communities...
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Seeing ourselves in the resiliency of others: VIU student reflects on lessons learned from Belizean field research
PHOTO: Downtown Vancouver looking from Kits Beach Park. Photographed by the author while reflecting on how the residents in our own communities may individually or collectively respond to an extreme event. Since returning to Canada I have become more confident in my own limitations as well as my...
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VIU student learns that opportunities and issues with community engagement are universal
“Community engagement requires a lot of passion, dedication, commitment, and working well beyond the call of the clock.” -Dr. Joseph Francis, Director of the Institute of Rural Development, University of Venda My research into community engagement in land use issues in Belize has taught me a lot...
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VIU student uses place-based learning to help Belizean youth understand resiliency issues
TIDE summer camp participants walk towards a sustainable farm visit in San Miguel, Toledo District, Belize. My main role during my Education and Outreach Internship at TIDE has been the planning and implementation of TIDE’s annual environmental summer camp. This was also the aspect of the...
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Living through Hurricane Earl puts research experience in perspective for VIU student
Having just experienced Hurricane Earl, I consider myself very fortunate to be writing this blog post today. During the storm, I was lucky enough to be in San Ignacio, which was relatively unaffected by the initial force of the hurricane, although there was and continues to be (as the above photo...
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Tourism development poses similar challenges in Belize and Vancouver Island, VIU student finds
It has been some time since my last blog. However, I am happy to say that my time has been preoccupied with data collection for my QES research project. As my first real attempt at field research, and also my first experience doing groundwork with a non-profit organization, conducting these tasks...
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VIU student builds knowledge and endurance through Belizean field research experience
During the month of July I have learned much more about my own mental and physical endurance. I have begun to envision these characteristics as “muscles” – they seem to improve as I engage them, extending my limitations over time. This means I have become increasingly aware of my own confinements,...
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VIU student not only studying resilience, but living and practicing it!
This blog post is strictly about me. After almost three months in Belize I have a few thoughts on conducting research and what I’ve learned about myself along the way. The above picture is post-colour party on Caye Caulker Lobster Festival. I’m covered in dirt, sweat and colour and couldn’t be...
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Conservation and resource extraction in parks and protected areas: Comparing Canada and Belize
One of the things I was most excited to learn about during my time abroad is how Belize was successful in establishing such a high percentage of parks and protected areas. I found it surprising that such a small developing country was able to safeguard more than a quarter of its terrestrial and...
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Coastal development and community bonds create lasting impression on VIU student
It has been almost two months since my last blog post, and much has changed since then. I have spent six weeks in the village of Hopkins, the first case study of my research project, where I was blown away by the hospitality and the intrigue that the community offered. My research involved...
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