School of Planning

Faculty of Architecture and Planning

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’s 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’s 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: "Interpretation Planning of the Purcells Cove Granite Quarries."  Executive Summary also available.

Greenberg, Amy. "Siting Location Alternatives for a Rail Station to Serve Studley Campus of Dalhousie University and Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia."

Supervisor: Ren Thomas.

Groat, Rachael. "Interpretation Planning of the Purcells Cove Granite Quarries."

Supervisor: John Zuck

Full report: "Interpretation Planning of the Purcells Cove Granite Quarries." Executive Summary also available.

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’Connor, 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’s 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’s 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: "Interpretation Planning at Courthouse Hill, East Hants."

2012

Maguire, Thomas. "Barrington Street: Inspiration for Halifax's Historic Streetscape."

Full report: "Barrington Street: Inspiration for Halifax's Historic Streetscape."