Hello! My name is Diandra and I’m a community-based researcher, writer and economic developer.
I live on unceded Wet’suwet’en territories in Northern British Columbia. My work focuses on equity-informed innovation, policy and practice change, and thriving local economies.
Expertise
Research
I am a proficient and thorough researcher with interests in decolonial and anti-racist methodologies. I am interested in diverse ways of gathering data and understanding lived experiences in rural and northern communities
Economic Development
I am motivated by complicated fundraising and entrepreneurial projects and am dedicated to creating opportunities for business growth in northern communities.
Theory
I’m always interested in how local, community-based experiences and opinions can influence how and why we think about the world. My research advocacy focuses on impacting and shifting dominant theories in economics and the social sciences.
Community Organizing
I have a deep skill base in grant writing, fundraising, developmental governance, strategic planning, event coordination, staff hiring, group training and facilitation.
Selected Projects
Check out my professional profile on LinkedIn here.
Fat Mountaineering
2019-Present
Organizes typically inaccessible events for fat and plus-size identified folks in the outdoor industry. 2020 partners include Women Who Hike and the Alpine Club of Canada.
SFU Geography
2016 – Present
I am a PhD Candidate in Geography working on research and writing that examines young people’s experiences and opinions of capitalism in British Columbia. This research is funded by SSHRC.
Sprout Kitchen Regional Food Hub + Business Incubator
2019-2020
Developed implementation plan and business case for regional food hub in Quesnel, BC.
Home Sweet Home Economic Project
2012-2016
Based in Prince George, BC HSH modelled economic opportunities in the region’s agricultural community. This included a downtown storefront grocery, cafe, the region’s first online grocery ordering platform and a traveling field school funded by SFU and the Ministry of Agriculture.
Selected Media
Explore Magazine
LINK – 2020
Plus-size gear guide of must-haves for fat backpackers.
Alpine Club of Canada
LINK – 2020
Essay for ACC dispatch: “Plus-size mountaineering answers call for body inclusive backcountry camps.”
Glamour Magazine
LINK – 2019
Interviewed for article about The Curvy Kili Crew who climbed Mount Kilimanjaro for International Women’s Day 2019.
Selected Writing
We’re Number Fat: Reflections on Fast-Pitch with the Heavy Hitters
with Layla Cameron
Forthcoming, Fat Studies Journal, 2020
Acadammit Podcast
with The Place + Space Collective
Co-produced and edited a 5 episode podcast series. LINK. Society & Space, 2020
Comedy’s Double Killjoy: The Social Reproduction of Workplace Safety in Comedy
with Madison Trusolino
Forthcoming, Spectre, 2020
Can you hear what I hear? Sounds of Gatekeeping in Outdoor Culture
Conference Presentation
North American Association for the Society of Sport Conference, 2018
Let’s make something together.
Diandra Oliver - Writer, Researcher, Economic Developer 