BCD Theses
Our BCD students conduct independent research in their final year. Below are some examples of their work. Where possible, we have included links to the executive summaries and final reports.
2020
Ball, Jessica. "Thinking about Children and Youth: An Evaluation of Halifax's Street Design Policies and Regulations."
Supervisor: Lisa Berglund
Blackmore, Holly. "Identifying Barriers Associated with 2SLGBTQ Seniors Housing and Opportunities Moving Forward."
Supervisor: Ren Thomas
Boutilier, Tyler. "Virtual Reality for Planning and Design: Evaluating Pedestrian Experience."
Supervisor: Ahsan Habib
Burns, Chris. "Interpretation Planning of the Cultural Heritage of Halifax's Defense Complex."
Supervisor: Lisa Berglund
Doucet, Gabrielle. "Smart City Challenge: A Systematic Review of Infrastructure Canada's Smart Cities Challenge."
Supervisor: Ahsan Habib
Fulton, Leah. "Measuring a Housing and Transportation Affordability Index."
Supervisor: Ren Thomas
Ghosn, Paul. "Retrofitting Suburbia: A Project for Windmill Road."
Supervisor: Charles Hostovsky
Hunter, Jenna. "Wayfinding Woes: Accessible Urban Navigation on Portland Street, Dartmouth."
Supervisor: Mikiko Terashima
Knickle, Jordan. "Encouraging Women's Participation in Planning Through Planning Educational Resources."
Supervisor: Ren Thomas
MacEachern, Emma. "Road to Rural Connectivity: Rural Nova Scotia Perspective on Connected, Autonomous, Shared and Electric Mobility."
Supervisor: Ahsan Habib
MacMillan, Kate. "Encouraging Vertical Greening Systems for Halifax's Colder Climate."
Supervisor: Joseli Macedo
Maxwell, Brianna. "Exploring Homelessness, Vulnerability and Climate Change."
Supervisor: Lisa Berglund
Nickerson, Isabelle. "Supporting Sustainability: Strategies to Support Local Businesses on Agricola Street."
Supervisor: Charles Hostovsky
Price, Katie. "Retrofitting Big-Box Retail for Sustainable Intensification."
Supervisor: Charles Hostovsky
Robertson, Connor. "Planning Beyond the Retail Apocalypse An Investigation of Suitable Locations for the Redevelopment of Big Box Retail Stores in Halifax, NS
Supervisor: Charles Hostovsky
Samson, D. "Pricing Preference: A Contingent Valuation Approach to the Benefits of Accessible Features in Public Spaces."
Supervisor: Mikiko Terashima
Smith, Molly. "Conflict or Cooperation: An Investigation of Accessible Design Standards and Guidelines in the Built Environment."
Supervisor: Mikiko Terashima
Swinton, Jaime. "Interpretation Planning at Duncan's Cove: Identifying Historical Significance and Developing a Foundation for an Interpretive Plan."
Supervisor: Lisa Berglund
Tait, Mikayla. "Spaces that Work for Me: Understanding Accessible Design Through PhotoVoice."
Supervisor: Mikiko Terashima
Warren, Kelci. "Evaluating Barriers and Drivers in Nova Scotian Municipal Plans to Nature-Based Coastal Climate Change Adaptation."
Supervisor: Patricia Manuel
2019
Baldwin, Meredith. "Investigating an Umbrella Organization for Non-Profit Housing Providers in Halifax Regional Municipality."
Supervisor: Ren Thomas
Broberg-Hull, Immy. "Spatial Access to Public Libraries Throughout Halifax Regional Municipality."
Dobrota, Alyson. "Developing a Framework for Evaluating Small-Scale, Community Based Events."
Supervisor: Eric Rapaport
Dottin, Samiya. "Rental Housing Policy in Canadian Cities: A Patch Job or a Breath of Fresh Air?"
Supervisor: Ren Thomas
Dunphy, Alex. "West Hants Municipality Agricultural Policy Recommendations."
Supervisor: Lisa Berglund
Elsebai, Dina. "Commute to Work Patterns by Place of Residence: An Analysis of the Physical and Social Environmental Factors that Influence Commute to Work Choices in the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM)."
Supervisor: Mikiko Terashima
Fanjoy, Sarah. "Evaluation of Argyle Shared Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia."
Supervisor: Ahsan Habib
Goldson, Jonathan. "All Ages and Abilities Bicycle Infrastructure: A Design Evaluation of the Cogswell District Bikeway and How it Caters to Cyclists with Disabilities."
Supervisor: Ahsan Habib
Kennedy, Madison. "Planning for Equality: Space, Amenities, and Services for the Halifax Homeless Population."
Supervisor: Lisa Berglund
Kitson, Alexandra. "Planning the Painful: Acknowledging Sites of the Residential School Program."
Supervisor: Lisa Berglund
Poole, Kirstin. "The Trends Between Urbanization and Green Space in Urban Parks: A HGIS Analysis of Softscapes and Hardscapes within the Remaining Parks of the 1763 Halifax Common Boundary from 1958 to 2017."
Halifax Supervisor: Eric Rapaport
Pope, Lewis. "Balancing Local History and Natural Environments: How Could Halifax Regional Municipality Manage its Cultural Landscapes?"
Supervisor: Lisa Berglund
Pothier, Emilie. "Mass Evacuation Planning: A Multiple Criteria Evaluation to Determine Shelter Locations in Halifax, Nova Scotia."
Supervisor: Ahsan Habib
Sieffert, Owen. "Equity in the Urban Forest: Analyzing the Relationship between the Urban Forest and Socioeconomic Status at the Neighbourhood Level."
Supervisor: Eric Rapaport
Slade, Lindsay. "Tiny Homes and Big Aspirations: Identifying Barriers and Opportunities to Living Small in Halifax Regional Municipality."
Supervisor: Ren Thomas
Taylor, Jamille. "Between the Buildings."
Supervisor: Eric Rapaport
Tusz, Claire. "Community Garden Site Selection: Common Roots Urban Farm Case Study."
Supervisor: Mikiko Terashima
Weseluck, Lauren. "The Adaptive Reuse of Heritage Buildings in the Halifax Regional Municipality."
Supervisor: Lisa Berglund
2017
Abbott, Ben. "A Study of Urban Redevelopment in Halifax, Nova Scotia."
Supervisor: Jill Grant.
Al-Sharari, Mona. "Measuring Walkability of Rural Areas: A Case Study of Musquodoboit Harbour, Nova Scotia."
Supervisor: Patricia Manuel.
Banks, Jeremy. "Where鈥檚 the woodlot? Documenting Change on the Halifax Common from 1750 to 2012."
Supervisor: Eric Rapaport.
Bernier, Guillaume. "The Effect of Streetscape Characteristics on Human Usage of Mixed-Use Space."
Supervisor: Frank Palermo.
Burris, Joanna. "Contention on Purcell鈥檚 Cove Road: A Case Study of the Boscabel on the Arm Development Process."
Supervisor: John Zuck
Collyer, Steven. "Fire Landscape Interpretation in the Williams Lake Backlands."
Supervisor: John Zuck.
de Moissac, Daniel. "Using Historical Geographic Information Systems to Observe Land Use Change in the Cogswell Neighbourhood of Halifax, NS from 1878 to 2016."
Supervisor: Eric Rapaport.
Dellapina, Sam. "Accessibility at the Hydrostone Market."
Supervisor: Mikiko Terashima.
Gosse, Justin. "Commuter Rail Site Selection for Mount Saint Vincent University Campus."
Supervisor: Ren Thomas.
Grabinsky, Cole. "Interpretation Planning of the Purcells Cove Granite Quarries."
Supervisor: John Zuck.
Full report:
Greenberg, Amy. "Siting Location Alternatives for a Rail Station to Serve Studley Campus of 黄色直播 and Saint Mary鈥檚 University in Halifax, Nova Scotia."
Supervisor: Ren Thomas.
Groat, Rachael. "Interpretation Planning of the Purcells Cove Granite Quarries."
Supervisor: John Zuck
Full report:
Martin, Kara. "Analysis of climate change adaptation trends in select Canadian municipal plans, development plans or planning strategies."
Supervisor: Patricia Manuel.
Million, Julia. "Social Interaction in Public Space for Aging Populations."
Supervisor: Mikiko Terashima
Mowbray, Brenna. "Neighbourhood change in the Hydrostone."
Supervisor: Mikiko Terashima.
Musleh, Wala. "Comparative Analysis of Bicycling Plans in Canadian Cities."
Supervisor: Patricia Manuel.
Nightingale, Peter. "Exploring Planning Legacies of the Halifax Explosion."
Supervisor: Patricia Manuel.
O鈥機onnor, Carson. "The Functions of Carmichael Street and George Street, Halifax."
Supervisor: Frank Palermo.
Rennehan, Christopher. "Documenting Land Use Change on the Halifax Waterfront."
Supervisor: Eric Rapaport.
Romaneh, Leen. "Evaluating Pedestrian, Biking and Transit Connections to University Campuses."
Supervisor: Ren Thomas.
Searls, Tyler. "Watershed Integrity: An Operational Definition and Measurement Tool."
Supervisor: Eric Rapaport.
Client: Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources.
Shareghi Boroujeni, Ardalan. "Promoting Accessible Taxis in Halifax."
Supervisor: Mikiko Terashima.
Sonier, Katie. "Background study for future geo-heritage interpretation planning of gold mines in East Hants, Nova Scotia."
Supervisor: John Zuck.
Client: Municipality of East Hants.
Taylor, AJ. "What Commercial Spaces Have Been Built in Halifax鈥檚 Downtown Since the 2009 Downtown Halifax Secondary Municipal Planning Strategy?"
Supervisor: Jill Grant.
Taylor, Megan. "Understanding Opportunities to and Barriers for Physical Activity for Youth in Rural Areas: Case Study of Musquodoboit Harbour, Nova Scotia."
Supervisor: Patricia Manuel.
Williams, Tessa. "Exploring Hydrology and Encouraging Responsible Recreation through Interpretation in the Williams Lake Backlands."
Supervisor: Patricia Manuel.
Willwerth, Nick. "Money, Politics, and Housing: Financialization of Halifax鈥檚 Residential Real Estate."
Supervisor: Jill Grant.
Zhan, Yuedi. "Examining Aging-friendliness of Downtown Halifax Through the Perspective of Walkability."
Supervisor: Mikiko Terashima.
Zhu, Qiangiao. "Who is doing all the building?"
Supervisor: Jill Grant.
2014
Reeves, Yvonne. "Interpretation Planning at Courthouse Hill, East Hants."
Full report:
2012
Maguire, Thomas. "Barrington Street: Inspiration for Halifax's Historic Streetscape."
Full report: