Simmons, Kevanya

This thesis explores environmental justice in Peterborough/Nogojiwanong, Ontario, focusing on how marginalized communities—including Indigenous peoples, people of colour, and low-income groups—experience and respond to environmental harm. Using Participatory Action Research and Photovoice, 22 co-researchers shared their lived experiences shaped by colonialism, systemic racism, and other intersecting forms of oppression. The study reveals widespread environmental injustices, including unequal exposure to harm, exclusion from decision-making, and limited remediation. Participants highlighted how race, gender, class, and (dis)ability compound these injustices, while also framing environmental harm as deeply connected to housing instability, economic precarity, and mental health. Although participatory methods fostered community dialogue and empowerment, institutional barriers continue to hinder transformative change. The findings underscore the need for long-term, community-driven strategies that center lived experience and promote distributive, procedural, and restorative justice. This research demonstrates how participatory approaches can support marginalized voices in advocating for more equitable environmental policies and outcomes.

Author Keywords: Environmental justice, Marginalized communities, PAR, Peterborough, Photovoice