BC Protected Areas Research Forum
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Just returned from Prince George and the University of Northern BC, hosts of the 2018 BC PARF. The conference was three days of engaging panels, speakers, and reconnecting with old friends. Kristina Vaudry, VIU student and Queen Elizabeth Scholar, did a great job delivering our co-authored presentation on Sustainable Livelihoods in the Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary. I also shared the story of my collaboration with the WCHS related to tourism assessment and improving visitor experiences - the hope is that other communities and protected areas managers will consider working with university profs and students.

Academics Without Boarders' Conference:
Reaching Across Boarders: Building a Better World

 Excited to be heading to Montreal in November to represent Vancouver Island University and to be reflecting on the work that I've been doing in Ghana since 2009. Taking a critical look at capacity building through international projects and questioning what capacities and whose capacities are increase, as well as who we should be targeting though such work. (Abstract). Program for Conference     Conference Presentation

Aggie's Academic Leave June 2019 - August 2020

I am extremely excited to be planning a year of academic leave that will commence immediately after I complete my field work in May and June 2019. Approved by the President and Board of Vancouver Island University, this leave will provide me an opportunity to spend extended time with my community and academic partners in the field. Starting at the end of April 2019, I will be splitting my time between the African Continent and Nanaimo. Below is a very general outline of intended activities - updates will be made as plans are finalized:
  • May 2019 - Ghana Research & Study Tour
  • June 2019 - ATLAS Africa Conference & PhD Workshop in Kampala, Uganda
  • October 2019 - Capacity building workshops at the Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary
  • November 2019 - Visiting scholar with the Ecotourism & Forest Recreation program at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana
  • January & February 2020 - Visiting scholar with the Wildlife Tourism program at the College of African Wildlife Management in Mweka, Tanzania.
  • March 2020 - Visiting scholar with the National College of Tourism in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
  • May 2020 - Canadian Congress on Leisure Research in Edmonton, Alberta.

Ghana Research & Study Tour

The Ghana Research & Study Tour began in 2011 and focuses on the Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary.

Improving Skills Training for Employment Program - Tanzania

The ISTEP 11 partnership is between Vancouver Island University and the National College of Tourism

Queen Elizabeth Scholars Program - Building Resilience in Coastal Communities.

The QE Scholars program at VIU just received a second round of funding and the College of African Wildlife Management joined the ordinal partnership with the University of Belize.