Thomasina Pidgeon

Geography master's student in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Tell us a little about yourself, including what inspires you to learn and continue in your chosen field

I am in school for personal reasons. I've called a vehicle home for over 25 years. In 2019, Squamish, where I live, tried to pass a bylaw that forbids people from sleeping in a vehicle on public land. I returned to school as a mature student, finishing a degree in Political Science with the objection to learn how to overturn the bylaw. The methods I learned and tried did not work. We stalled it for two years but eventually they passed it despite the opposition. So, I have decided to do my masters on vehicle residency with the same objective. This degree will not make a difference to the politicians in power, but having more tools for the struggle is worth the try.

Why did you choose to come to SFU?

Solely for the supervisor, Dr. Nick Blomley who is very aligned with my research interests.

How would you describe your research or your program to a family member?

I aim to better understand the experiences and perspectives of people who live in vehicles and how they experience policies that attempt to regulate their behaviour and presence in public spaces. I am also interested in how these vehicle residents push back against dominant perspectives of property and home, and in doing so, create alternative ways of living in an otherwise capitalist focused world.

What three (3) keywords would you use to describe your research?

critical, hopeful, liberatory

How have your courses, RA-ships, TA-ships, or non-academic school experiences contributed to your academic and/or professional development?

The increasing criminalization of vehicle residents in Squamish and elsewhere motivates me to keep going. The coursework has introduced me to the incredible work of various anti-colonial, anti-capitalist, Indigenous and critical home and property scholars whose work is deeply connected to mine.

Have you been the recipient of any major or donor-funded awards? If so, please tell us which ones and a little about how the awards have impacted your studies and/or research

Special Graduate Entrance Scholarship Three Minute Thesis Prize SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarship Masters Its great to get these awards and it reaffirms that the work that I'm doing is important and that the lives and wellbeing of vehicle residents matter!

What have been the most valuable lessons you've learned along your graduate student journey (or in becoming a graduate student)?

Sometimes the workload seems like too much and impossible but the person next to you likely feels the same way. Lean on those around you. The system isn't always great, but the people are.

How do you approach networking and building connections in and outside of your academic community?

I'm rather shy but it has been great being part of the bi-weekly salon meetings with Nick's other students. Here, we talk about our work, share ideas, learn from each other and give and receive feedback to help make our projects more successful. Hearing from others with more experience is really helpful, as one can sometimes feel quite lost in the beginning.

What are some tips for balancing your academic and personal life?

Even though time is tight, putting time aside for physical activity, like climbing, makes me more productive in the end. Less ants in the pants kinda thing.

If you could dedicate your research to anyone (past, present and/or future), who would that be and why?

My daughter Cedar and all the other people who fight for justice and liberation.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

None of us are free until we are all free. Free Palestine, free us all.

Contact Thomasina:thomasina_pidgeon@sfu.ca

Additional Links

• My Personal Website
• Facebook