Category: News

Very excited to share the latest publication from the Population and Place Research Lab!

The ‘Double Risk’ of Aging: Examining Vulnerability and (Un)Supportive Built Environments in Canadian Cities in the Canadian Journal on Aging.

Led by Pop Place Affiliated Researcher Samantha Biligeri and co-authored by Pop Place Director Maxwell Hartt, this study examines whether our cities support the health and well-being of aging populations by exploring the “double risk” that many older adults live with – the potential of being disadvantaged by socio-demographic risk factors (being older, living alone, low income) and by living in an unsupportive built environment. They found that most older adults with socio-demographic risk factors are living in unsupportive built environments in Canada; however, the distribution between built environments along the spectrum and between municipalities reveals a variegated landscape of double risk. The spatial distribution of vulnerability varies greatly within the 33 Canadian cities analyzed, which highlights the need for this kind of inquiry to target age-friendly policy interventions.

Congratulations to Pop Place member Jianing Sun, who recently published a paper in Science of the Total Environment with colleagues from Chongqing University and Southwest University in China.

The paper, entitled “Effects of urbanisation on PM_2.5 concentrations: A systematic review and meta-analysis”, includes a meta-analysis to investigate previous research on urbanisation and its effects on PM_2.5 concentrations.

The article can be found here.

We are so thrilled to welcome Janine Dodge to the Population and Place Research Lab! Janine is a PhD student in the Department of Geography and Planning at Queen’s University. Her background includes extensive work in the play field, as well as degrees in International Relations, Business, and Aging and Health. She is passionate about play across the lifespan and between generations. Her research focuses on the geographies of play and aging in São Paulo, Brazil. Welcome Janine!!

“Aging in place, stranded in space: An analysis of health care access via public transportation in Elliot Lake” is a new publication published in Applied Geography and written by Pop Place member Rachel Barber.

The article evaluates older adult health care access via public transportation in Elliot Lake, ON, Canada’s most severely shrinking city and home to the nation’s third oldest population. The Older Persons Walking and Transit Audit (OPWATA) was developed and used to assess the presence of age-friendly features during transit commutes to health care facilities, including walking routes to and from bus stops. Furthermore, a spatial analysis determined that Elliot Lake provides transit service to most of its residents at nearly half distance recommended in transportation literature (400 m).

The article can be read without a subscription using this link until September 30, 2023.

“Excessive rightsizing? The interdependence of public school closures and population shrinkage” is a brand new publication authored by Pop Place members Rachel Barber and Maxwell Hartt, along with their Queen’s University colleague Patricia Collins.

The article examines public school closures in Ontario, Canada, from 2011 to 2016 to determine the relationship between municipal population trajectories and size and public school closures, and to explore the prevalence of school closures and the community context in shrinking Ontario municipalities. We find that public school closures occurred disproportionately in shrinking and smaller municipalities. Furthermore, public school closure prevalence is associated with low income, low ethnoracial diversity, and low educational attainment.

The article is OPEN ACCESS and can be found here.

This morning Pop Place member Mary Smida successfully passed her Qualifying Examination! Mary’s research is entitled “Whose Economy? Whose Development? Exploring the Possibilities for Social and Economic Transformation through Education and Training in Yukon Communities”.

As of today, Mary is no longer a PhD student but a PhD candidate! Congratulations Mary!

Pop Place Member Rachel Barber’s research was recently featured in an article published by the Journal Le Voyageur, a Franco-Ontarian newspaper that covers news stories across Northern Ontario. The article can be read here.

Population and Place Research Lab Director Maxwell Hartt presented ongoing research examining the interrelated geographies of aging and shrinking cities in the Global North at the École des hautes études en sciences sociales (Paris, France). It was a great chance to discuss two of Dr. Hartt’s favourite subjects (shrinking, aging) and also a wonderful chance to meet with Population and Place Research Lab affiliated researcher Dr. Beatriz Fernandez (and her students).

Dr. Hartt’s presentation was one of several during this Journée d’étude focused on aging, shrinking, and territorial/demographic transformations. A pleasure to hear about work in France and Germany, and the many similarities (and differences) between the different contexts.

Rachel Barber presented her MPL work at the Canadian Association of Geographers (CAG) 73rd Annual Meeting & Conference in Montréal, Rachel’s presentation was entitled “Améliorer l’accès dans les régions délaissées : une analyse spatiale des routes piétonnières et de transport en commun à Elliot Lake”

Population and Place Research Lab Director Maxwell Hartt presented results of the Aging Playfully project to the CMHC Granville Island team. The event was especially nice as one of the CMHC team members is former Queen’s University School of Urban and Regional Planning student (and Maxwell’s former research assistant) Claire Lee!

Claire presented the findings from their co-authored paper “Planning for Play? A Systematic Literature Review” that was recently published in the Journal of Planning Literature, followed by Maxwell’s presentation focused on the conceptual framework underpinning the Aging Playfully project and results from studies in Victoria, BC and Florida.

This prompted a wonderful discussion about shifting demographics in and around Granville Island and a number of fascinating ongoing and future projects in the area. Lots of enthusiasm and opportunity for play, for people of all ages!