Assessing the Safety of Smart Meter Installations in British Columbia: Analysis of Residential Structure Fires in BC between July 2010 and June 2017

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In June 2011, BC Hydro commenced implementation of its Smart Metering Program, which involved converting every residential property in British Columbia (BC) from legacy metering to wireless technology smart meters. This Smart Metering Program involves replacing existing electrical meters that are now becoming obsolete, with a comprehensive wireless smart metering system. In total, BC Hydro … Read more

Measuring What Matters: Performance Measurement in Local Government Operations

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Analyzing and acting on operational data can lead to major strides in the area of business improvement. Operational data is information that is tracked and provided from dispatch centres, mobile terminals, and databases – just to name a few. These real-time data streams coupled with the ability to properly ingest, process, and analyze the data, … Read more

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Hospitalizations and Deaths in Canada

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Given the success in increasing fire safety across Canada as a result of legislative and community-based initiatives and policies related to smoke detectors, there are clear benefits to expanding the scope of the Smoke Alarm Movement to incorporate carbon monoxide (CO) alarms. Previous research has demonstrated that accidental CO poisoning can be reduced through a … Read more

BCLC’S Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program from the Perspectives and Experiences of Program Participants

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Gambling is a common pastime for British Columbians, with 73% of adults in 2014 reporting past year gambling (R.A. Malatest & Associates Ltd, 2014). Unfortunately, for approximately 3% of this population, gambling becomes more than just a pastime and problem symptoms can begin to emerge, such as difficulties in limiting the amount or time spent … Read more

A Cursory Review of Selected Crime Prevention Coordination Mechanisms

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Crime prevention coordination mechanisms are internationally recognized as a key feature of any successful national crime prevention strategy. Such mechanisms have been historically developed to effectively and efficiently facilitate priority areas, mobilize communities and stakeholders, and increase regional capacity to ultimately reduce crime and improve the quality of life for all.

Enhancing Surrey RCMP Detachment’s Domestic Violence Unit

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Violence against women is a global concern, so much so that in 1993 the United Nations issued a Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women in which they defined violence against women as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including … Read more

The Legalization and Regulation of Marijuana and Implications for Local Government

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The purpose of this study is to provide the City of Surrey with a literature review of journal articles and technical reports relating to the pending legalization and regulation of marijuana in Canada. The literature review is centred around five main themes: (1) marijuana harms to infants, children, and youth: (2) marijuana use and burn … Read more

Occupational Exposure to Asbestos among Civic Workers: A Risk Assessment of Low-dose Exposure

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Asbestos is a human carcinogen and has been prohibited in many countries around the world. Long-term exposure to asbestos can lead to negative health outcomes including mesothelioma, asbestosis, pleural thickening, and lung cancer. The incidence of asbestos-related disease has been increasing in industrialized countries over the past decade. Exposure to asbestos and the risk for … Read more

A Response to Illicit Drug Overdoses: Naloxone Administration in Surrey and Vancouver, British Columbia

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The administration of naloxone by fire first responders was initiated in Vancouver and Surrey in response to increasing opioid related overdose incidents along with the inability of first responders’ to administer an antidote treatment. The naloxone administration protocol was implemented in February 2016 and this study discusses the experiences to date in both cities. Overall, … Read more