Dr. Christopher (Chris) Lalonde passed away on May 8th, 2023, at the age of 63. Dr. Lalonde joined the Centre as a Research Fellow in 2007. Dr. Lalonde’s research centered around social-cognitive development, Indigenous health, Indigenous epistemologies and post-secondary education and identity development. He had a passion for youth empowerment, and was a strong supporter of the Centre’s mission to promote the well-being of youth through community-engaged research.
Luke Kernan is a Student Affiliate at the Centre for Youth and Society and PhD Candidate in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Victoria. He is the project lead for Unquiet Minds, a youth-centered arts programming initiative that uses creativity to foster mental health awareness and discussions. The project's first anthology book, UNQUIET MINDS: Youth Anthology of Art and Poetry, is now available for purchase. All proceeds from the book will go to youth art programming and initiatives.
Dr. Myer Horowitz, Research Fellow and founding member of the Centre for Youth & Society, passed away peacefully on October 24, 2022, at the age of 89. Myer joined the Centre for Youth & Society in 2002.
Dr. Bonnie Leadbeater is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychology, having recently retired from teaching. As the Centre for Youth & Society's founding Director, Dr. Leadbeater's career at the University of Victoria is heavily intertwined with the Centre's legacy. She continues to engage with CFYS as a Research Fellow to this day.
CFYS Research Fellow Dr Nigel Mantou Lou shares his experience and research on racism during the pandemic Dr Nigel Mantou Lou shares his experience in Canada and in his research on racism during the pandemic. As a Chinese Canadian himself and a university professor, Dr Nigel Mantou Lou shares that 60 per cent of survey respondents reported that they had changed their routines to avoid confrontations, which is shocking in today's society. “As the prejudice and discrimination against Chinese Canadians are likely to continue, there are ongoing challenges for research and the community to work together to combat racism, encourage anti-racism reporting and support Asian Canadians’ resilience and recovery from the pandemic,” Lou says. As we move through the pandemic, we must re -balance the scales and lift up all marginalized groups."
The Centre for Youth and Society would like to congratulate Research Fellow Dr. Brianna Turner, who was awarded the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) Section on Clinical Psychology Scientist-Practitioner Early Career Award (SPECA) for 2022. Dr. Turner’s research focuses on understanding of how youth develop self-damaging behaviour, ranging from self-harm in a traditional sense to risky alcohol use to disordered eating, and how they may transition between these behaviours.
Meet featured Research Fellow, Dr. Viviene Temple from the School of Exercise Science, Physical & Health Education. Her research focuses on physical activity among children and adults with varying disabilities and the development of motor skills. Since 2017, Dr. Temple has partnered with the Cowichan Therapeutic Riding Association (CTRA) to examine the health benefits of therapeutic riding in children.
Dr. Ulrich Mueller is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Victoria and joined the Centre for Youth and Society as a Research Fellow in 2011. Dr. Mueller's research primarily focuses on the development of executive functioning, the development of embodied cognition, and the effects of electronic media on children’s development.
Dr. Mandeep Kaur Mucina is an Associate Professor from the School of Child and Youth Care. Her research and social justice work focuses on family violence, gender-based violence, understanding the role of trauma in migration, and exploring second-generation immigrant youth’s stories of resistance, identity, and encounters with racism in the diaspora, all from an intersectional feminist, anti-racist, decolonial lens. She has substantial experience conducting life histories with racialized women and girls, action based research, thinking through practice implications for social service workers, and using narrative inquiry and autoethnography in her research and writing.
Meet featured Research Fellow Dr. Catherine Costigan, a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Victoria. After receiving her Ph.D. from Michigan State University in 1996, Dr. Costigan joined the department in 1998 and has been with the Centre for Youth and Society since 2017. Dr. Costigan’s research focuses on risk and protective factors within vulnerable families while investigating family relationships, parent-child dynamics, and child psychological adjustment.
Introducing featured researcher Dr. Fred Chou, an Assistant Professor of Counselling Psychology in the Department of Educational Psychology and Leadership Studies at the University of Victoria. Dr. Chou's research interests include intergenerational trauma and Chinese Canadian families, mental health promotion for the Asian diaspora in Canada, and youth mental health literacy. As a researcher, Dr. Chou specializes in qualitative research and in participatory and narrative research methodologies.
Dr. Megan Ames is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology, having joined the department in 2020. Dr. Ames became a Research Fellow with the Centre for Youth & Society in 2021. As a scientist-practitioner, Dr. Ames provides client-centered psychological services to children, adolescents, and their families presenting with a wide range of concerns in addition to her research.
Dr. Gina Harrison is an Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Victoria with a specialization in special education. Her research examines the cognitive and linguistic aspects of reading and writing in children and adults, as well as the effective assessment and identification of literacy-based learning difficulties. She has been a Research Fellow of the Centre for Youth & Society since 2008.
Meet featured Research Fellow Dr. Paweena Sukhawathanakul! Dr. Sukhawathanakul is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology, having joined the department in 2021. Her research focuses on identifying factors that enhance or complicate the social and emotional development of children and adolescents and understanding how we can best support the youth within their environment. She is involved in several projects that develop, disceminate, and evaluate prevention programs for children and youth, including bullying, violence, and injury prevention.
Meet Dr. Nigel Mantou Lou, an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Victoria. He is a new and highly engaged Research Fellow with the Centre for Youth & Society, having joined CFYS in 2021. Dr. Lou's research focuses on intercultural communication and relations, immigration, identity, and language learning. Recently, Dr. Lou's projects include studying immigrants and ethnic minorities’ experiences of racism during the COVID-19 pandemic and how their experiences may continue to impact their well-being and socio-cultural adaptation.
Research Fellow Dr. Megan Ames has recently published a paper entitled Canadian Mapping of Autism-Specific Supports for Postsecondary Students in Research on Autism Spectrum Disorders. Along with her team, Dr. Ames has conducted an environmental scan of autism-specific supports available to autistic students within Canada’s publicly-funded postsecondary institutions and examined the distribution of autism-specific supports across institutional type and geographic region. Dr. Ames received funding from the UVic Pathways to Impact: Mobilizing Knowledge Fund.
The Centre for Youth & Society is looking for applicants to the CFYS Young Adult Advisory Council (YAAC), a new initiative that will bring together passion-driven young people aged 19-25 to discuss the issues they and other young people face and brainstorm responses to inform the CFYS on youth’s emerging priorities. Please share with young people in the Victoria area!
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, hate crimes targeted at Asian Canadians have increased hundreds of times over. Assistant Professor of Psychology and CFYS Research Fellow Dr. Nigel Mantou Lou, who specializes in intercultural relations, was recently interviewed regarding his expertise on the rise of anti-Asian racism.
Research Fellows, Dr. Megan Ames and Dr. Brianna Turner, Assistant Professors of Psychology, and Dr. Sam Liu, Associate Professor of Exercise Science, along with their colleague Dr. Theone Paterson, Assistant Professor of Psychology, and other co-applicants have been awarded a CIHR Operating Grant Vaccine Confidence for their project entitled “Understanding vaccine confidence and decision-making among Canadian youth: Survey and intervention development.” The team hopes that the results will aid in the public health response to the pandemic by gathering information about the drivers of vaccine hesitancy, and informing how to best approach fostering vaccine confidence among youth.
Dr. Sandra Gibbons is a Professor of Exercise Science, Physical & Health Education who specializes in girl-friendly physical and health education and incorporating social relatedness into physical activity. Her more recent work has involved working with teachers and the school system to help girls and young women become more physically active. Dr. Gibbons is a founding member of the Centre for Youth & Society.
Meet Dr. Christopher (Chris) Lalonde, Professor of Psychology at the University of Victoria and CFYS research fellow. Prior to joining the department in 1998, Dr. Lalonde received his PhD from the University of British Columbia. He has been a research fellow with the Centre for Youth & Society since 2007. Dr. Lalonde's research focuses on cultural influences on identity formation and social-cognitive development, with a recent emphasis on research projects that examine the role of culture in the health and well-being of Indigenous youth.
Dr. Katelin Albert is an Assistant Professor from the Department of Sociology at the University of Victoria. Prior to joining the department, Dr. Albert obtained her PhD from the University of Toronto. Dr. Albert’s research focuses on genders, sexualities, sexual health, and sex education. With a foundation in medical and health sociology, her previous work includes a focus on gendered health technologies such as the HPV vaccine, along with more recent research on the COVID-19 vaccine. Her research explores sexual subjectivities across the life course, campus sexual harassment and violence, and student mental health.
Dr. Sarah Macoun is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Victoria. In addition to her work at UVic, Dr. Macoun continues to engage in consultation with families, schools, community agencies, and professionals and is heavily involved in the training and supervision of new psychologists. Dr. Macoun's background is in pediatric neuropsychology and she continues to maintain a small clinical practice, currently focused on Autism diagnostics. Recently, Dr. Macoun has been developing and spearheading the empirical validation of Dino Island, a table-based cognitive intervention for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities.
Dr. Jennifer White is a Professor in the School of Child and Youth Care. For many years, Dr. White's work has focused on reframing the ways in which we approach suicidality and youth suicide prevention. In collaboration with Indigenous scholars, leaders, elders and youth, Dr. White was one of the co-leads on Wise Practices for Life Promotion which aimed to curate a series of wise practices for promoting life based on what is already working and/or showing promise in First Nations communities across the country.
Meet our featured research fellow, Dr. Tamara Humphrey, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology. Prior to joining the department in 2018, Dr. Humphrey completed her PhD at the University of Calgary (2017) and a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Ottawa. Dr. Humphrey's research looks at the causes and consequences of aggression and violence over the life course. She has been a Research Fellow of the Centre for Youth & Society since 2019.
CFYS research fellow Dr. Sam Liu was recently awarded a Michael Smith Foundation Scholar Award for his work on childhood obesity management using innovative digital technology. Dr. Liu has created a stand-alone web-based and a blended in-person and web-based program in improving health-related outcomes in children who are overweight or obese in British Columbia amidst COVID-19.
Dr. Brianna Turner is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology. She is also the director of the Risky Behaviour Lab. Prior to joining the department in 2016, Dr. Turner obtained both her MA and PhD from Simon Fraser University, completed her clinical internship at the University of Washington, and held a CIHR Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship at Harvard University. She has been an active research fellow with the Centre for Youth & Society since 2017. Dr. Turner’s research focuses on self-harm and other types of self-damaging behaviours in youth and young adults. Recently, Dr. Turner has been involved in a Canada-wide study of the mental health impacts of the COVID-19.
CFYS founding member and current research fellow Dr. Bonnie Leadbeater from the Department of Psychology has received the 2021 David H. Turpin Gold Medal for Career Achievement in Research. Throughout her career, Dr. Leadbeater has made internationally recognized contributions to research on adolescent parenting, emerging adulthood, adolescent depression, resilience in high-risk youth, and the prevention of peer victimization in elementary school children.
Dr. Anita Prest is an Associate Professor of Music Education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Prior to joining the department in 2015, Dr. Prest worked as a K-12 music educator for 20 years. Dr. Prest has been a Research Fellow of the Centre for Youth & Society since 2017. Dr. Prest's research focuses on decolonizing and Indigenizing music education throughout British Columbia.
Dr. Sam Liu is an Associate Professor from the Department of Exercise Science, Physical & Health Education. Dr. Liu joined the department in 2017 after completing a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the University of California Los Angeles and has been a research fellow with the Centre for Youth & Society ever since. Dr. Liu is the director of the Digital Health Lab. Dr. Liu also received the Emerging Scholar Award from the University of Victoria in 2020.
This spring, UVic introduced a seed fund to support research at the university. The first round of the Research Accelerator Fund (RAF) focuses on COVID-19 research aimed at creating stronger communities both locally and abroad. Included in the first round of RAF funding is research by two CFYS Research Fellows, Dr. Brianna Turner and Dr. Catherine Costigan, both of the psychology department.
Research Fellow Dr. Bernie Pauly has been awarded the Ron Draper Health Promotion Award by the Canadian Public Health Association. The award honours someone who makes a "significant contribution to health promotion by working in the community to build healthy public policy, create environments that support health, enable community action, enhance personal skills, and/or re-orient health services.” Pauly's career-long commitment to working with people who use substances or face structural disadvantages and social justice earned her the honour.
A group of several BC researchers, including CFYS Research Fellow Dr. Katelin Albert, have received funding for nine projects related to COVID-19. Dr. Albert's research focuses on British Columbian's beliefs about COVID-19 and vaccinations.
CFYS Research Fellow Dr. Fred Chou leads a talk on mental health resources for Asian Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic as part of the UVicEd COVID-19 Research Symposium.
CFYS Research Fellow Dr. Catherine McGregor was appointed to an advisory commission in SD57 which has historically low graduation rates for Indigenous students. The commission includes experts in education, like McGregor, and Indigenous trustees.
CFYS Research Fellows Dr. Fred Chou and Dr. Catherine Costigan are part of an intergenerational team tackling anti-Asian racism amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The team has created Growth and Solidarity: An Anti-Racism Zine for Asian Youth (and Adults Too!), a free resource for youth to better understand racism and how to be anti-racist.
CFYS Research Fellow and a lead researcher of the Canadian Managed Alcohol Program Study has been studying harm reduction practices, particularly Managed Alcohol Programs (MAPs), for years. MAPs implement the same principles as many other harm-reduction programs and provide premeasured doses of alcohol to those with alcohol dependence for whom traditional abstinence programs have not worked as well as other supports. MAPs have proven to be both safe and effective, according to Pauly's research.
Early results from a global survey involving UVic researchers Dr. Theone Patterson and CFYS Research Fellow Dr. Brianna Turner hint at negative mental health outcomes of COVID-19. The survey reports that the number of Canadians reporting suicidal thoughts has increased by about 50 percent and many more are experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety. Additionally, about 40 percent of Canadians needing mental health services say they are underserved by current support systems.
CFYS Research Fellow Dr. Cecilia Benoit has authored an article on how Canada's COVID relief plans, aimed to leave no one behind, exclude sex workers. With establishments such as strip clubs, massage parlours and escort agencies, forced to close, those who work in the sex industry are likely to have faced job loss but are unlikely to qualify for government relief programs such as CERB.
CFYS Research Fellow Dr. Bernie Pauly has co-authored an article on the difficulties faced by the homeless community during COVID-19, as well as the need for increased supports following COVID-19. While critiquing the use of the criminal justice approach to homelessness in Canada, Pauly's article proposes housing and a liveable income as central solutions to the homeless crisis.
CFYS Research Fellow Dr. Brianna Turner and fellow University of Victoria psychology professor Dr. Theon Patterson are involved with a global team of researchers studying the mental health effects of COVID-19. The global study includes 11 countries with varying approaches to mental health and public health and aims to measure the effects on mental health at varying points during the pandemic.
CFYS Research Fellow joins Creative Mornings to discuss her experiences as a woman of colour in academia and her research, which focuses on family and gender-based violence, the role of trauma in migration, and the life stories of second-generation immigrant women.
CFYS Director and Associate Professor of Psychology Dr. Frederick Grouzet was one of two experts interviewed for the virtual "Be Kind to Your Mind" event from the Alumni Association. The event focuses on the effects of isolation on the brain as well as how to navigate reduced social contact.
CFYS Research Fellow Dr. Sam Liu leads a project to create Draco, a virtual app aimed to be a "Tamagotchi-inspired exercise buddy" which combats childhood obesity. Draco encourages both children and caregivers to log exercise and healthy eating to take care of a virtual dragon pet in the app. Liu is encouraged by initial positive reactions from children interacting with Draco.
CFYS Research Fellow Dr. Bernie Pauly co-authored an article on where public health efforts fall short in reducing the instances of COVID-19 among B.C.'s vulnerable citizens and what can be done to increase effectiveness. Most preventative measures, such as frequent hand washing and self-isolation, are inaccessible to people without a home. Therefore, housing should be the first step in preventing the spread of COVID-19 in these communities.
In an opinion piece, CFYS Research Fellow Dr. Chris Lalonde aims to quell fears that teen vaping rates are on the rise, as well as worries about the associated risks.
Managed Alcohol Programs (MAPs) aim to support vulnerable individuals with severe alcohol dependences by providing measured doses of beer or wine, often paired with housing and other supports. CFYS Research Fellows Dr. Bernie Pauly and Dr. Tim Stockwell explain why this new program has shown success for individuals for whom traditional abstinence-based programs have not worked.
With substance abuse and mental illness cases on the rise in Canada, CFYS Research Fellow Dr. Catherine Costigan and colleague for the Psychology Department Erica Wooden evaluate an alternative treatment method in Victoria. Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) teams are made up of law enforcement and healthcare workers and aim to treat each client as a whole person. So far, the four teams operating in Victoria have had success and serve over 300 clients.
CFYS Research Fellow Dr. Sarah Macoun is the principle investigator on a new video game project, Dino Island, which aims to improve the attention and working memory of children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Dino Island contains five "serious" video games designed to have therapeutic results for children. The project hopes to add another 55 families to early testing.
This opinion piece, co-authored by CFYS Research Fellow Dr. Bonnie Leadbeater takes on Premier John Horgan's recent comments about the role young adults aged 20 to 39 play in the recent surge of COVID-19 cases. The analysis explores the various environmental factors which put young adults at increased risk for contracting COVID-19 and how the government should engage with young people in the development of recovery plans.
CFYS Fellow, Dr. Tim Black, answered a series of questions about the new Trauma Resiliency Program (TRP) for serving members of the Canadian Forces, veterans and first responders who have been exposed to traumatic events.
A new study lead by UVic psychologist, and CFYS Fellow, Bonnie Leadbeater was just released in the journal of Paediatrics & Child Health. This study is an important voice in the discussion of legalization of marijuana as the study finds that high proportion of young adults who consume pot are also driving.
Congratulations to Drs. Cecilia Benoit (sociology), Jay Cullen (earth and ocean sciences) and Andrea Walsh (anthropology) who have been named the 2017 recipients of the Provost's Engaged Scholar Award. The award celebrates tenured faculty members who have made significant contributions to community through their integration of outstanding scholarship, inspired teaching and community engagement.
Carolyn Crippen, UVic leadership studies expert and CFYS Fellow, completes seven-year study of servant leadership in the Canucks organization, tracing its roots from Pat Quinn, Trevor Linden through Henrik and Daniel Sedin to younger players.
“Changes and Challenges: A Decade of Observations of the Health and Well-Being of Young Adults in British Columbia” is a new report which was released by Island Health and UVic. The report spans a decade (2003-2013) of repeat interviews from the Victoria Healthy Youth Survey, with 662 young people from Greater Victoria as a random-sample cohort of youth from ages 12 to 18. “This snapshot in time of people now 25 to 31 years old is applicable to any youth right now,” says UVic psychologist, lead author, and former CFYS Director Bonnie Leadbeater. This study carries important national messages about the need for better policies and changes in attitudes and actions to improve youth self-care, promote health and reduce stress in this age group.
The CFYS Youth Council Coordinators are excited to host the first Youth-Led Panel Discussions on November 28th, 2023. This event will provide a platform for youth to speak on issues that matter to them, and will serve as an opportunity for youth- and family-serving organizations to hear directly from youth.
The Centre for Youth and Society is excited to announce that the following CFYS Research Fellows (and more) will be presenting as part of Fall 2023 CFYS Speaker Series, taking place virtually (on Zoom) every Thursday, 4:30pm-5:30pm. This is a great opportunity for faculty, students, and the local community to learn from CFYS Research Fellows on their current projects, and to build collaborations and partnerships.
On Thursday, June 15th from 5:30pm-8:00pm, the Centre for Youth and Society is hosting the Dancing Through Grief Event in collaboration with Learning Through Loss, a community organization that provides services to youth going through loss and grief.
On May 11th, 2023, the Centre for Youth and Society is hosting the Second Annual Flourishing Children & Youth Program Fair. Organized in collaboration with the CRD Community Health Network, the program fair will showcase community-and-school-based programs and initiatives created to support children and youth. The program fair will also include panels, workshops, and discussions, bringing educators, community leaders, researchers and students together.
Today we acknowledge the 26th anniversary of National Indigenous Peoples Day, an opportunity to celebrate the diverse culture, heritage and contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples! The Centre for Youth & Society is grateful to work as a visitor of the Lekwungen, Songhees, Esquimalt, and the WSÁNEĆ peoples.
Please join the Office of Indigenous Academic & Community Engagement to honour the one-year anniversary of the discovery by the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation of 215 unmarked graves at the Kamloops Residential School. A four-day sacred fire will be lit on the UVic Quadrangle in honour of the children, families, communities and nations affected by this tragedy.
In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Centre for Youth & Society, the CFYS is organizing a program fair to showcase the community- and school-based programs and initiatives created to support children and youth. The multi-part event will take place on May 19th, 2022, beginning at 9:00 am.
"Everything is connected: Songs, Relationships, and Indigenous Worldviews” is a music education conference that aims to stimulate a province-wide conversation on how to embed Indigenous ways of knowing and being in music education classes. This is the first-ever music education conference in Canada led by and amplifying Indigenous voices and experiences. CFYS research fellow Dr. Anita Prest serves on the conference’s steering committee, alongside academics, representatives from community partners and school districts, music educators, and artists. There will be various speakers, artists, and workshops! The conference will take place May 9th and 10th, 2022. For additional information, please visit https://hvazquez74.wixsite.com/everythingconnected.
Celebrate Black History Month by appreciating Everyday Black Excellence with the University of Victoria on February 16th, 1:00pm - 3:00pm. Everyday Black Excellence: Being Black on Campus and Beyond acknowledges and celebrates some of the Black talent that currently exists within the students, instructors, staff, senior administrators, and members of the UVic external community. Additionally, panellists and attendees will have the opportunity to brainstorm ways to strategically address Anti-Black racism at UVic.
As part of the Centre for Youth & Society's Speaker Series, Dr. Nigel Mantou Lou will be presenting on "Chinese Canadians’ experiences of the dual pandemics of COVID-19 and racism: Implications for identity, negative emotion, and anti-racism incident reporting." On Thursday, December 9th (4:30pm), we welcome faculty, students and other members of CFYS to join us in learning from CFYS Research Fellows on their current projects.
Dr. Josafá da Cunha from the School of Education at the Federal University of Parana, Brazil, will be speaking about promoting children’s civic development and social responsibility through the DIGA/MENTOR program during the COVID-19 pandemic. His presentation, "From WITS to DIGA: Navigating Schoolbased Programs in Times of Disruption in Brazil," will touch on the work Dr. da Cunha has done in collaboration with CFYS Research Fellow Dr. Paweena Sukhawathanakul. The public lecture will take place in Cornet Room 121 on December 2nd, 2021, 3:30-4:30pm, and will be available over Zoom for virtual attendees.
As part of the Centre for Youth & Society's Speaker Series, Dr. Paweena Sukhawathanakul will present on “The Impact of School Climate on Children’s Peer Victimization Experiences." On Thursday Dec. 2nd (4:30pm), we welcome faculty, students and other members of CFYS to join us in learning from CFYS Research Fellows on their current projects.
As part of the Centre for Youth & Society's Speaker Series, Dr. Anita Prest will present on "Decolonizing and Indigenizing music education." On Thursday November 25th (4:30pm), we welcome faculty, students and other members of CFYS as a whole to join us in learning from CFYS Research Fellows on their current projects, in our virtual Speaker Series.
This year, the Centre for Youth and Society joins the University of Victoria in UVic's fourth annual Five Days of Action: 365 Days of Commitment. From November 15-19th, 2021, UVic will be working with the campus community to highlight those committed to building a more diverse, inclusive, and safe campus throughout the year to put on a series of events and workshops.
In commemoration of all those who experienced the residential school system, the Centre for Youth and Society joins the University of Victoria in observation of both the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day on Thursday, September 30th, 2021. The University of Victoria, as well as several departments, will host several events from September 27th-29th to acknowledge and educate people about the history of residential schools, the role of education in truth and reconciliation, and the TRC’s calls to action.
The CFYS and the CRD-Community Health Network co-hosted the Flourishing Children and Youth Forum in December 2019. The free, one-day community research forum brought leaders from local community organizations, health authorities, school districts, non-profit organizations, and municipal and provincial governments together to discuss the health and well-being of children and youth.
The CFYS co-hosted the Healthy and Safe Communities workshop with Island Health and the CRD in September 2019. The workshop brought members from our community and Vancouver Island together to discuss working together to build healthy communities within the CRD.
The CFYS co-hosted the Families in Canada conference with the Vanier Institute of the Family in June 2019. The conference brought together a diverse group of leaders who study, serve and support families, along with those with lived experience, for a day of research, knowledge-sharing, and engaging conversation.
Youth and cannabis: Does legal mean safe?, presented by CFYS Research Fellow, Dr. Bonnie Leadbeater, Dr. Megan Ames and Dr. Paweena Sukhawathanakul, focused on the legalization of cannabis in Canada, and its impact on youth.
Growing up as a refugee youth: What does it mean in Canada? was co-hosted with Research Fellow, Dr. Catherine Costigan, and CFYS community partners, Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria, and Vancouver Island Counseling Centre for Immigrants and Refugees.
Join CFYS Fellows, the CFYS Director, and other UVic researchers for a discussion about how electronic media are changing childhood, from cyberbullying to supporting student learning. As electronic media become increasingly omnipresent, users are getting younger and younger. Apps targeting tots, smartphone use among middle schoolers and therapeutic uses of technology are just a few recent areas of study for UVic researchers.
CFYS Research Fellow Dr. Catherine Costigan spoke with the Chilliwack Progress in a recent interview about how child abuse. In Canada, British Columbia has the highest rate of child maltreatment including abuse and neglect. Dr. Costigan notes that some parents aren’t intentionally harming their children, and that they may have inadequate support, coping skills, and various stressors (including poverty) that can contribute to abusive behaviours.
CFYS Research Fellow Dr. Paweena Sukhawathanakul speaks about anxiety and mental health stigma in a recent interview with Victoria News. Dr. Sukhawathanakul explains how anxiety is on a spectrum and that it is attributed to a multitude of risk factors. In addition, anxiety, in some circumstances, can actually be beneficial.
The University of Victoria has created the Chris Lalonde Indigenous Wellbeing Award in the name of Dr. Chris Lalonde (CFYS Research Fellow and Professor of Psychology) who passed away on May 8th, 2023. This student award recognizes Dr. Lalonde's incredible research contributions, especially his efforts to promote the success and well-being of Indigenous youth.
CFYS Research Fellow, Dr. Catherine Costigan, and co-researcher, Dr. Yasmin Kandil, receives SSHRC Partnership Development Grant for their research, “Celebratory Theatre for Building Inclusion, Resilience, and Social Acceptance of Racialized Newcomer Immigrants and Refugees to Canada”.
CFYS Research Fellow Dr. Bonnie Leadbeater discusses cell phone rules at school. In a recent interview with CHEK News, Dr. Leadbeater shares that cell phones are not necessary in the classroom and that young people have the capacity to "adjust to life without a cell phone at school pretty quickly”.
CFYS Research Fellow Dr. Anita Prest was part of the steering committee for a recent conference, "Everything is Connected: Songs, Relationships and Indigenous Worldviews", which focused on including Indigenous Knowledge and content to BC Music Education. "This shift in approach was at the core of the groundbreaking inter-faculty collaboration led by Anita Prest in the Faculty of Education and Steven Capaldo and Con in the Faculty of Fine Arts, with grateful contributions of Indigenous partners. The Indigenizing Music Education conference held in May at UVic was attended by more than 200 people and was an essential next step after research revealed the need to include First Peoples Principles of Learning in the curriculum."
CFYS Research Fellow Dr Paweena Sukhawathanakul was interviewed in regards to the recent shootings in Saanch attempted bank robbery. She mentioned that there are multiple factors to youths childhoods and their subsequent actions which requires different perspective to come to any conclusions. "She says as children grow into young adulthood they begin to question societal views and rules, seeking out answers elsewhere. Authority is one area that young adults start to challenge.
CFYS Research Fellow Dr. Bonnie Leadbeater discusses how group dynamics, status, loyalty, and dominance, as well as potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, may be related to the recent rise in swarming attacks reported to police and posted filmed online.
CFYS Research Fellow Dr. Bonnie Leadbeater discusses how to talk to children about tragedy in the wake of the Uvalde shooting. “It’s really a matter of helping kids understand that this is horrendous but very, very rare, fortunately, and to make them feel like we do everything we can to keep them safe,” says Dr. Leadbeater.
Dr. Bonnie Leadbeater discusses recent teen violence in the Victoria area and the death of Reena Virk over 20 years ago, which led to the creation of the Centre for Youth & Society. Dr. Leadbeater points to the pandemic as a window of time in which youth at risk for aggression were not identified.
CFYS Director Dr. Frederick Grouzet comments on how the recent onslaught of bad news, which is often shared over social media, may be related to an increase in demand for counselling.
CFYS Research Fellow Dr. Nigel Mantou Lou was recently interviewed about his research exploring Asian Canadian's experiences of racism during the COVID-19 pandemic and his own experiences as an Asian Canadian. Dr. Lou and his co-authors have published several recent papers documenting the increase in racism and hate crimes directed at Chinese Canadians and Asian Canadians (see Publications).
CFYS Research Fellow Dr. Mandeep Kaur Mucina's research project "Bordering Practices: Systemic Racism, Child Welfare and Immigration" was recently featured in an article by the University of Toronto where her collaborator works. The initiative involves community partners in both Ontario and British Columbia who are working together to better understand the roles that immigration status and systemic racism play in child welfare policies and practices.
CFYS Research Fellow Mandeep Kaur Mucina's project entitled Bordering Practices: Systemic Racism, Child Welfare and Immigration, on which she works with Rupaleem Bhuyan from the University of Toronto, was recently featured in an article. The project tackles the impacts of immigration status and racism on child welfare system within both BC and Ontario.
CFYS Director Frederick Grouzet joined Radio-Canada's "Phare Ouest" to discuss why people may feel low and lacking in energy during the third Monday of January, also known as Blue Monday.
CFYS Director Frederick Grouzet was recently interviewed on the mental health benefits of 'forest bathing.' Thanks to a recent collaboration with Parks Canada, physicians registered to the BC Parks Foundation's Nature's Prescription Program can now prescribe spending time in nature at one of the country's many parks and historic sites to patients experiencing anxiety and depression.
A recent survey from Research Fellow Dr. Nigel Mantou Lou has shed light onto the experience of Chinese Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Lou discusses the results of his survey with Global News.
Research Fellow Dr. Nigel Mantou Lou was recently interviewed on All Points West by Robyn Burns to discuss his recent research which shows an increase in hate crimes targeting Chinese Canadians since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 has motivated many to seize new opportunities and make positive changes in their lives, careers and the world around them. CFYS Director Dr. Frederick Grouzet explains the psychology of human resilience and adaptability.
Beginning August 25th, BC residents will be once again required to wear masks in indoor settings, however, many never stopped. CFYS Director Dr. Frederick Grouzet was interviewed by the Times Columnist, saying that masks serve as a visible sign of solidarity, caring, and mutual respect.
CFYS Director Dr. Frederick Grouzet talks about the anxieties people may experience as COVID restrictions ease. According to Dr. Grouzet, moving to a less visible protection measure, vaccines, may increase anxiety. Compounding this is a wariness of others from spending a year behind a screen.
CFYS Research Fellow Dr. Bonnie Leadbeater, who recently published a paper on the ageism experienced by youth throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, was interviewed in regard to a new study by the BCCDC which shows the negative impacts of the pandemic on those under 30. Dr. Leadbeater specifically targets the stereotype that youth were only affected socially and highlights the resilience she has witnessed.
CFYS Research Fellow Dr. Ryan Rhodes was recently interviewed in regards to the benefits and challenges of home exercise programs arising amidst COVID-19 restrictions.
CFYS Director Dr. Frederick Grouzet spoke with the UVic Alumni Association about the hope that vaccines bring, pandemic restriction fatigue, and the transition back to "normal" life.
Psychologist and CFYS Research Fellow Dr. Bonnie Leadbeater explains that some people may feel overwhelmed with the return to "normal." Leadbeater's advice is to take it slow and not to push oneself into partaking in optional activities.
With many BC residents feeling underserved by mental health crisis services, CFYS Fellow Dr. Catherine Costigan was interviewed about the role and effectiveness of the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) program. According to Costigan, these teams of nurses, mental health professionals, peer support workers, and police officers provide effective crisis intervention and de-escalation. Costigan also discusses budget concerns that have removed all but one police officers from the program, potentially undermining its effectiveness.
CFYS Research Fellow Dr. Fred Chou, who studies intergenerational trauma, was interviewed in regard to the impacts of increasing anti-Asian racism. According to Chou, recent events have created an environment where Asian individuals are inspired to share their experiences of racism. Chou hopes these conversations can lead to more unity with other racialized communities.
CFYS Director Dr. Frederick Grouzet spoke with Radio-Canada's "Boulevard du Pacifique" about managing anxiety surrounding the return to pre-pandemic life. According to Grouzet, the more information given to the public the better to qualm anxiety.
Despite no real increase in crime rates over the last decade, many Victoria residents report, primarily over social media, feeling less safe in their communities over the last year. As an expert in criminology, CFYS Research Fellow Dr. Tamara Humphrey weighs in on the roles various groups, including the police and the unhoused community, may play in creating this perception.
According to CFYS Director Dr. Frederick Grouzet, targeting a specific group is not an effective way to change behaviour. A more effective strategy is to use an empathetic approach and show understanding, says Grouzet.
Nearly 6,000 Quebec residents of Asian heritage have joined "Groupe d’Entraide contre le racisme envers les asiatiques au Québec," a Facebook group created as a safe space to share experiences of racism. Dr. Fred Chou, CFYS Research Fellow, says that virtual support groups like this are a great effort and can provide a gateway to accepting formal mental health assistance for those who require it.
According to CFYS Research Fellow and registered psychologist Dr. Catherine Costigan, getting outside and connecting with others is extremely valuable in maintaining mental health. This is precisely why hiking is a great pandemic activity.
CFYS Director Dr. Frederick Grouzet says that "do more" messaging in regard to COVID-19 restrictions may not be the best approach. Grouzet believes that to be effective, such messaging must also be combined with examples of how people who have already been following guidelines can improve.
A new hotline, based in the Victoria area, offers callers calming sounds or music and aims to combat pandemic sadness or stress. CFYS Director Dr. Frederick Grouzet believes that listening to music or getting outside is effective alongside treatment in reducing anxiety levels.
Pandemic restrictions may be beneficial for some, according to CFYS Director Dr. Frederick Grouzet. For people who led extremely busy lives prior to COVID-19, the restrictions may provide a chance to slow down, allowing them to re-prioritize.
CFYS Research Fellow and sociologist, Dr. Cecilia Benoit discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic will be more difficult for poorer people. Not only do people from lower socioeconomic classes have fewer resources, but they are more likely to have health problems, face employment barriers, and be ineligible for COVID relief measures like CERB.
According to CFYS Research Fellow Dr. Bernie Pauly, an expert on harm reduction practices, the pandemic has been harder for Canada's homeless population than most realize. With usual sources of income, such as recycling at bottle depots, impacted and fewer services available, individuals with alcohol dependences may resort to dangerous methods of consumption or face withdrawal. Managed Alcohol Programs, which Pauly has studied extensively, offer pre-measured daily doses of alcohol and other supports to individuals who have not had success with abstinence-based programs.
As a second-generation immigrant, woman of colour, academic, and parent, CFYS Research Fellow Dr. Mandeep Kaur Mucina reflects on the joy experienced by herself and her daughter when Kamala Harris was announced as the next vice-president of the U.S and why this sort of representation matters.
A record number of Canadians are stressed about the 2020 U.S. election. According to CFYS Director Dr. Frederick Grouzet, humans tend to stress about things outside of their control.
According to research by CFYS Research Fellow Dr. Ryan Rhodes, 20 percent of Canadians have become inactive since the start of the pandemic. As an exercise psychologist, Rhodes suggests pairing physical activity with already established daily routines, such as a morning cup of coffee.
Dr. Ryan Rhodes, CFYS Research Fellow and exercise psychologist, was interviewed on the importance of maintaining physical activity during COVID-19. This Q&A session covers why physical activity is important, how to build exercise into daily habits, and how to best maintain both physical and mental health during the pandemic.
CFYS Research Fellow Dr. Sam Liu has been researching the relationship between stress, personality type, and adherence to pandemic restrictions during COVID-19. Liu says that individuals higher in extraversion are more likely to lean on others when stressed and therefore may be more affected by pandemic restrictions.
Dr. Sam Liu, CFYS Fellow and expert in physical activity and health promotion, eHealth, and chronic disease prevention and management, completed a Q&A session on his research on the COVID-19 pandemic. Liu's research has found a relationship between perceptions of stress, personality factors such as extroversion, sociability and neuroticism, and adherence to government guidelines for preventing the spread of COVID-19.
According to CFYS Research Fellow Dr. Bernie Pauly, increasing low-income and supportive housing opportunities for Victoria's houseless population is an appropriate step in supporting the community during COVID-19, this alone will not solve Victoria's homeless crisis. Pauly also cautions that removing people from the places they have come to call home can be a difficult situation and must be approached with care.
CFYS Research Fellow Dr. Bernie Pauly from the University of Victoria School of Nursing was interviewed in regards to the city of Victoria's plans to house homeless residents amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Pauly also discusses fears that Victoria's homeless population will increase once federal COVID-19 relief ends, despite efforts to decrease the numbers of homeless individuals through increased temporary housing efforts.
CFYS Research Fellow Dr. Celilia Benoit was awarded the 2020 Killam Prize in Social Sciences from the Canada Council for the Arts. She completed a Q&A session about her life, her career as a professor, and her Indigenous ancestry.
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the way people mark the passing on of loved ones, with attendance limits for funerals and travel restrictions. CFYS Research Fellow and registered psychologist Dr. Catherine Costigan says that it's important to honour the person, even without a traditional ceremony, and to connect with loved ones to avoid "isolation on top of isolation" during the pandemic.
With COVID-19 cases low, Vancouver Island is looking at welcoming tourists for the summer. CFYS Director Dr. Frederick Grouzet talks about the natural feelings of safety that come with living on an island and why residents may want that feeling of protection to continue.
Trust in health authorities is important when combating the pandemic, says CFYS Director Dr. Frederick Grouzet. What contributes to this trust? Independence from partisan government, clear explanations of what to do and why it is important and strong evidence to back up messages.
Expert on pediatric mental health and CFYS Research Fellow Dr. Bonnie Leadbeater talks about the challenges and benefits of sending children back to school. According to Leadbeater, the transition will affect all children differently, so it is important for parents to check in with their children during the process.
CFYS Director Dr. Frederick Grouzet believes that B.C. is correct to steer clear of rigid rules and consequences in its response to COVID-19. Grouzet, an expert on how people react to threats and fear, says that such measures often lead to immediate compliance. However, most people don't respond well to fear and this compliance quickly dissipates as people adapt.
CFYS Research Fellow Dr. Catherine Costigan was interviewed on the challenges of returning to everyday life post-COVID-19. According to Costigan, the transition will be gradual, with all aspects of society moving at the same rate. Costigan warns that this transition may be difficult for some and that it may be particularly hard for teens to balance socialization with pandemic restrictions.
CFYS Fellow Dr. Bonnie Leadbeater, an expert on child and youth mental health, advises a slow and cautious approach to reintegrating interactions with people outside of the household for children. While many children may be yearning for missed socialization with peers, others may be quite anxious.
Pay attention to guidelines and think carefully about when, how, and with whom you interact: two actions CFYS Director Dr. Frederick Grouzet recommends this summer as pandemic restrictions ease. Grouzet also urges health officials to provide concrete examples of what is acceptable interaction with others.
CFYS Director Dr. Frederick Grouzet studies how people react to threats and fears and how risks are perceived. He was recently interviewed in regard to easing COVID-19 restrictions. Grouzet emphasizes that the right balance is crucial when communicating with the public in order to maximize adherence to restrictions without causing panic.
CFYS Director Dr. Frederick Grouzet was interviewed regarding productivity bragging on social media. In the absence of traditional external markers of success, people are turning to virtual platforms to display as a way to connect and share achievements.
The coronavirus pandemic coincides with an increase in online and telephone scams, including phishing scams and the sale of fake products, such as COVID-19 tests. CFYS Research Fellow Dr. Tamara Humphrey says strong leadership from the government is key to preventing scams.
As a second-generation Canadian herself, CFYS Research Fellow Dr. Mandeep Kaur Mucina speaks about the racism faced by immigrants in Canada and their families. She claims that Canadian society is often portrayed as multicultural, loving, and free, but the racism runs deep into Canada's colonial roots.
Dr. Bonnie Leadbeater, an expert on child and youth mental health and the role of peer victimization in the development of psychosocial problems, was interviewed for Pink Shirt Day. Leadbeater has been the lead investigator for the "WITS” (Walk away-Ignore-Talk it out-Seek help) program which aims to prevent peer victimization and bullying for 20 years. In the Q&A session, she covers how bullying has evolved during this time and which prevention strategies are most effective.
CFYS Research Fellow Dr. Bonnie Leadbeater highlights two research studies that show negative outcomes of frequent marijuana use in adolescence, compared to moderate to no consumption. Drawing from her own research with the Victoria Healthy Youth Survey, Leadbeater calls for better education and comprehensive warning labels on the risks of early cannabis consumption.
CFYS Research Fellow Dr. Brianna Turner was recently interviewed following the death by suicide of a Langford teen. Turner specializes in suicide and non-suicidal self-injury as well as other risky behaviours taken by adolescents. In terms of suicide prevention, she says a couple of hours or days can make the difference, making a strong case for barriers in popular areas, as well as increased mental health support for adolescents.
CFYS Research Fellow Dr. Bernie Pauly was recently interviewed in regard to the overdose crisis in British Columbia. The overdose crisis has been officially declared a public health emergency for over five years, and Pauly's proposed solution is quite simple: safer supply of substances will effectively end the war on drugs.
CFYS Director Frederick Grouzet was recently interviewed by the Times Columnist about how people are coping with the COVID-19 pandemic and its lasting effects. While this sort of disruption to everyday life is unprecedented and therefore it is difficult to predict the long-term consequences, Grouzet predicts that some people will struggle in the aftermath of the pandemic, whereas others will use it as a catalyst for positive change.
Remembering Reena: A Community’s Commitment to Non-Violence took place on November 14th, marking the 20th anniversary of Reena Virk’s death. This tragedy sparked the formation of the Youth & Society research group at UVic, focused on the prevention of youth violence, which would evolve into the Centre for Youth and Society. In this video, CFYS Research Fellow and former Director, Dr. Bonnie Leadbeater and Dr. Mandeep Mucina, discuss the impacts of Reena Virk’s death and the ongoing fight against youth violence.
CFYS Fellow, Dr. Donna McGhie-Richmond, and a team of researchers across Canada involved in the Beginning Teacher Study were featured on CBC’s The Current with Anna Maria Tremonti.
