About Us
PEACH Research Unit is part of Dalhousie University’s School of Planning in Halifax, NS. We are a team of dedicated faculty members, students, and partners who lead and support projects exploring how planning can better achieve more equitable, accessible, and healthy communities. Our work aims to inform urban design and planning practices that shape the places in which we live, work, and play.
We believe in learning through collaboration and first-hand experience. A big part of our research is learning from those who have personal knowledge of the barriers that exist in the built environment. We are very thankful to those who volunteer with us to engage with community members and conduct research activities.
Our Team Members
Mikiko Terashima, PhD
Lead Researcher
Mikiko is an Associate Professor at the Dalhousie School of Planning, cross-appointed with the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology. Mikiko’s research interests centre around methods of measuring various social and built environmental forces that create systematic inequalities in health and well-being among different groups of people across different places. One of her current areas of research involves investigations of spatial accessibility to services necessary for the population to maintain health and well-being such as food outlets and primary health services. Another area of interest for Mikiko deals with a different kind of accessibility — the built environment that enables or hinders the use of space by individuals with different types and levels of abilities (primarily individuals with different sensory impairments and older persons).
Katherine Deturbide, MPlan
Doctoral Student/Research Analyst
Katherine has been a research analyst at the PEACH Research Unit since graduating with a Masters in Planning in 2020. Her work at PEACH largely consists of spatial mapping, quantitative analysis in accessible design and community planning, workshop/focus group facilitation, and walkability/rollability research. She is currently enrolled in a Ph.D. program in interdisciplinary studies at Dalhousie, where she will investigate how the various roles in the planning and development process contribute to the provision of accessible housing in Nova Scotia.
Benjamin Kinsey
Project Coordinator
Ben is a current Master of Divinity student at the Atlantic School of Theology. Prior to his theological studies, Ben obtained a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in History from Laurentian University. Through his theological background, Ben has developed a lifelong passion for growing healthy, inclusive, and accessible communities for all. He is very interested in fusing his theological studies with his work at PEACH, and has a particular interest in accessible and inclusive third spaces such as churches and spiritual gathering places.
Malsha Jayalath
Research Assistant
Malsha is currently pursuing a Master of Planning at Dalhousie University, following the completion of an Honours Bachelor of Science in Town & Country Planning. She has a strong passion for sustainable urban development, with particular interests in creating comprehensive neighbourhoods, urban design, and community planning.
Mo Li
Research Assistant
Mo is a Master of Planning student at Dalhousie University. She holds a Bachelor of Science in GIS. before pursuing planning, worked at a consulting firm where she recognized gaps in accessibility for people with disabilities. Mo is now joining PEACH to apply her GIS expertise to accessibility projects and promote inclusive design.
Mona Sadeghian
Research Assistant
Mona began her Master of Planning Studies (MPS) at Dalhousie University in September 2024. Before that, she earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Architecture. Her interests focus on accessible design, disability-friendly and age-friendly design, as well as design strategies that promote equitable and healthy communities
Kate Clark, MPlan
PEACH Affiliate Member
Kate has been performing research with Dalhousie’s School of Planning since graduating with her Master of Planning and becoming a founding member of the PEACH Research Unit in 2018. Her current research interests explore community-level indicators of accessibility (e.g., availability of accessible housing, walk-and-rollability) and best practices for shaping environments that are inclusive of community members with disabilities and older adults. Kate coordinates and contributes to all PEACH products by performing primary research and analysis, conducting community outreach, and collaborating closely with community partners. Kate has recently contributed to research projects looking at methods of valuation for accessible developments, and the operationalization of sense of place for planning communities.
Partners and Collaborators
As part of our research, we have formed several valuable partnerships with decision-makers, educators, and experts in the fields of planning and accessibility. These partnerships build shared knowledge and understanding of the barriers to, and solutions for, inclusion and accessibility in the built environment.
Some of our partners include:
- Nova Scotia Accessibility Directorate;
- The Rick Hansen Foundation;
- Community Links Nova Scotia;
- reachAbility;
- Halifax Regional Municipality, Planning and Development Department; and,
- Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness.
