OPUS: Open Ulethbridge Scholarship
Open ULeth Scholarship (OPUS) is the University of Lethbridge's open access research repository. It contains a collection of materials related to research and teaching produced by the academic community.
Self-archiving your research in OPUS is one way to meet Open Access policies of granting agencies. It is important to retain your final, post-peer-reviewed drafts for submission to OPUS, as this is often the only version publishers will allow to be archived. Click here for information on the U of L Open Access Policy.
Check here for more information about OPUS.
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Parables of the lovers: the hermeneutics of divine love in medieval Islamic mysticism
(Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of History and Religion, 2025) Ascione, Cassidy M.; University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science; Khalil, Atif
Through a hermeneutic analysis of medieval Islamic texts, the thesis examines the development of ideas about Divine love––its ontological origin, nature, and telos––in Sufism, with a focus on the teachings of four luminaries within the mystical tradition: Abu Hamid al-Ghazali (d. 505/1111), Ahmad al-Ghazali (d. 520/1126), Ibn ‘Arabi (d. 638/1240), and Jalal al-Din Rumi (d. 672/1273). It begins with a brief study of the development in the philosophy of love in Sufi thought up to the classical period in which these four figures lived. Love is shown to be central to the mystical path, even though its precise nature, as evidenced in the writings of these mystics, was interpreted with some differences. The thesis explores some of these varying nuances through a microanalytic, comparative study of their writings. It is shown that Rumi and Ahmad al-Ghazali inclined towards a more intoxicated approach, evidenced in the language of love, as found in their poetry, while Abu Hamid’s inclination was towards a more sober practice. Ibn ‘Arabi adopted a middle ground between the other writers, advocating an approach which lay in between the extremes of sobriety and intoxication. In the end, however, common motifs, ideas, and themes, outweighed the differences in their philosophies of love.
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New growth and the fossilized economy: sustainable development, discourse, and the case of recommodification
(University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Political Science, 2025) Whiting, Sydney; Hallstrom, Lars
Starting in the 1960s, there was increased public awareness of environmentalism and, later, anthropogenic climate change. Public and private interests began to focus on the ‘issue’ of the environment, and in 1987, the UN Our Common Future Report (later known as the Brundtland Report) introduced the concept of sustainable development (SD). Using this concept as my guide, my research question is: Is the model of SD, as presented in the 1987 Brundtland Report, effective? I argue that SD, with an inherent emphasis on development and (economic) growth, is not a useful tool to advance effective climate action. Through participant observation at a Canadian corporate/climate conference and interviews with young sustainability professionals with experience in the public and private sectors (n=8), I argue that the concepts of sustainability and SD have been co-opted (through discourse and action) by corporations looking to profit. As such, I observe a corporate culture which embraces and adheres to the model of SD, but which uses SD to justify business- and growth-first approaches to environmentalism. I then outline a model of ‘recommodified SD,’ informed by the need to ‘sell’ the idea of SD (in its corporate and commodified form) to and from staff and their organizations. Ultimately, I present an argument on the discursive functionality of SD in perpetuating the idea that There Is No Alternative (TINA) from status-quo approaches to climate action.
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Exploring health, well-being, and community support in cooperative housing models in Canada
(Community Housing Canada, 2025) Alday, Carolina; Schiff, Rebecca; Wilkinson, Ashley
This study examines the impact of cooperative housing models on health, well-being, and community support among Canadian residents. Cooperative housing, characterized by collective ownership and governance, presents a sustainable alternative to traditional housing structures by fostering social equity and inclusion. Through a cross-sectional survey of 128 cooperative housing members, the research highlights key findings related to demographics, sense of belonging, social networks, financial security, and environmental concerns. Results reveal high levels of community trust, robust social support networks, and a strong sense of belonging among residents, showcasing the transformative potential of cooperative housing for promoting stability and social cohesion. However, challenges such as financial strain, food insecurity, discrimination, and environmental issues underscore the need for systemic interventions and targeted policies. These findings contribute to the broader discourse on equitable housing and public health, offering actionable insights for policymakers, housing cooperatives, and researchers. The study reinforces cooperative housing as a critical component of sustainable living strategies, advocating for its expansion to address current and future housing crises.
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TikTok made me do it: the risks of self-diagnosing using social media
(Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Education, 2025) Yum, Catherine J.; University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Education; Gunn, Thelma
In an age where accessing information and personal insights is instantaneous, this project examines the rise of self-diagnosis of mental disorders among social media users. This refers to the idea that information encountered on social media informs an individual’s decision to self-diagnose. Properties of social media such as the ability to rapidly share personal stories, algorithms, and peer interaction may be perpetuating this phenomenon. Additionally, there is growing concern regarding inaccurate information and problematic understandings of mental health concepts. Adolescents appear to be particularly susceptible to this trend based on internal and external factors. Literature on this topic has emerged in recent years, however there is a gap in practice that addresses the risks involved in self-diagnosis using social media. To address this gap, this project suggests recommendations for learning as well as a presentation proposal and slideshow aimed at adolescents based on a comprehensive literature review. Additionally, a presentation proposal for teachers and parents is included. By doing so, social media users may be better equipped to engage in and interact with mental health discourse.
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The impact of trauma-informed care on patients in the emergency department
(University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Health Sciences, 2025) Lewis, Annabelle; University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Health Sciences; Lokanc-Diluzio, Wendi
Trauma is highly prevalent within the Emergency Department (ED). The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health ([CAMH], n.d.) defines trauma as the emotional response and physical reaction to a distressing event. Since 2019, ED’s have experienced increased incidence and severity of clinical presentations (Finkelstein et al., 2021; Powers et al., 2024). An increase in clinical presentations to the ED, increases incidence of trauma-exposure and prevalence of trauma. Despite a high incidence of trauma exposure and increasing prevalence of trauma in the ED, healthcare providers lack appropriate knowledge surrounding psychosocial care (Afzal et al., 2022). Patients who have experienced traumatization in health settings, are at risk of decreased future engagement with health services and an increase in high-risk behaviours (Reid et al., 2022; Whetten et al., 2012; Vallieres et al., 2025). Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) is a new emerging framework adopted by health practitioners to recognize and reduce impacts of trauma on patients (Brown et al., 2022). This quality improvement project aimed to pilot an education session to increase emergency nurses (EN) awareness surrounding TIC and its implementation in practice via an educational session. The project’s findings suggest ENs affirm the need for TIC education in clinical practice, within the ED.