The Beauty Of Bradner: Envisioning an Ideal Future to Inspire Environmental Stewardship

Abbotsford’s rural agricultural Bradner – Mt. Lehman Neighbourhood (Bradner) sits on the precipice of transformation. Faced with pressures of increased industrialization, urbanization, climate change, and the gradual loss of small neighbourhood identity, some residents have expressed a desire to keep Bradner beautiful. But how can we conserve something like beauty when it is so subjective and difficult to describe? This phenomenological case study invited Bradner residents to examine the beauty of their neighbourhood using photovoice methodology and appreciative inquiry. Participants submitted photos and written description of how they found the neighbourhood beautiful. Then, in small focus group discussions, participants used photographs to investigate their perceptions of beauty in different areas and used this understanding to envision their ideal futures for the neighbourhood. My project revealed an inseparable link between the neighbourhood as a physical space, comprised of rural agricultural land with forests and streams, and the neighbourhood as a special place, held together by a strong sense of community. The land use practices and access to natural spaces go hand in hand with the experience of living in a connected, caring community. In the eyes of participants, keeping Bradner beautiful in the future meant protecting the community spirit alongside the land, which included indicators of healthy ecosystems such as mature trees, healthy streams, and vulnerable species. I suggest that inspiring environmental stewardship in the Bradner neighbourhood could start by bringing people together under the banner of appreciating the beauty of our connection to the land and our connection to each other. Keywords: Abbotsford BC, neighbourhood, agriculture, beauty, conservation, stewardship, environment, aesthetics, photovoice, appreciative inquiry

Author dc:creator

• Switzer, Aleesha

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Kool, Richard

• School of environment and sustainability

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Identifier URI

https://doi.org/10.25316/ir-19756

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:null:10613/28137