Christina is a geographer and social scientist specialised in northern governance, public policy, and research questions concerning housing, health and environment within Arctic and subarctic places. Her PhD. uses a mixed methods approach to investigate housing insecurity and homelessness in Inuit Nunangat (Nunavut and Nunatsiavut, the Eastern Canadian Arctic) and the welfare of women, children and families. Past projects have focused on energy security, water security, food security, and sustainable community development in the context of climate change, among other variables, in Arctic Canada and West Greenland.
Qualifications
- PhD Geography and Planning (on-going), Queen´s University, Canada
- MA Geography, Memorial University, Canada, 2011
- BA Environment and Development, McGill University, Canada, 2005
Previous positions
- Graduate Research Fellow, Department of Geography and Planning, Queen´s University, 2023-2025
- Project Coordinator, At Home in the North SSHRC-CMHC research partnership, 2019-2025
- Forskningsingenjör, Division of History of Science, Technology and Environment, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 2018-2019
- Principal, Innuja Consulting 2016-2018
- Director of Policy and Planning, Environmental Protection Analyst and Researcher, Nunatsiavut Government, 2011-2016
- Research Assistant, Department of Geography, McGill University 2008-2012
Languages
- English
- French
- Swedish (beginner)
Peer reviewed publications
- Christensen, J., Goldhar, C., and Pugsley, A. (in press) Housing Policy in the Northern Territories: Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut. In Housing Policy in Canada. University of Toronto Press.
- Christensen, J., Goldhar, C., Herskovits, J., McCartney, S., Riva, M., and Schiff, R. (2025) Reframing northern Indigenous housing policy in Canada. International Journal of Housing Policy. https://doi.org/10.1080/19491247.2024.2435093
- Riedlsperger R, Goldhar C, Sheldon T, and Bell T. (2017) Meaning and means of ‘sustainability’: An example from the Inuit Settlement Regions of Nunatsiavut, Northern Labrador. In Northern Sustainabilities: Understanding and addressing change in the circumpolar world. Eds. Fondahl G and Wilson G. Springer.
- Goldhar C, Bell T, and Wolf J. (2014) Vulnerability to freshwater changes in the Inuit Settlement Region of Nunatsiavut, Labrador: A case study from Rigolet. Arctic. 67(1): 71-83.
- Goldhar C, Bell T, and Wolf J. (2013) Rethinking existing approaches to water security in remote communities: An analysis of two drinking water systems in Nunatsiavut, Labrador, Canada. Water Alternatives. 6(3): 462-486.
- Ford J and Goldhar C. (2012) Climate change vulnerability and adaptation in resource dependent communities: A case study from West Greenland. Climate Research. 54: 181-196.
- Goldhar C, Ford J, and Berrang-Ford L. (2010) Prevalence of food insecurity in a Greenlandic community and importance of social-economic-environmental stressors. International Journal of Circumpolar Health. 69 (3) 285-303.
- Goldhar C and Ford J. (2010) Climate change vulnerability and food security in Qeqertarsuaq, Greenland. In Community adaptation and vulnerability in arctic regions. Eds. Hovelsrud G and Smit B. Springer.
- Goldhar C, Ford J, and Berrang-Ford L. (2009) Food security in Western Greenland: A case study from Qeqertarsuaq. In Sacred landscapes: Linking people, environment and world views.Eds. Oakes J, Riewe R; ten Bruggencate R and Cogswell A. Aboriginal Issues Press, University of Manitoba.
Selected other publications
- Christensen, J., Goldhar, C., Herskovits, J., McCartney, S., Riva, M., and Schiff, R. (2023) ‘Community self-determination can address the northern housing crisis’. Policy Options. April 18, 2023.
- Goldhar C, Frenette A, Fraser C and Christensen J. (2021) ‘Return to normal’ travel and research may bring hazards to northern, Indigenous communities. The Conversation. July 8, 2021.
- Goldhar C and the Nunatsiavut Government. (2017) Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism Strategic Plan 2017-2020. Nunatsiavut Government. Nain, NL, 31p.
- Goldhar, C and the Nunatsiavut Government. (2017) Understanding community perspectives and experiences of climate change in Nunatsiavut: Final Report. Nunatsiavut Government. Nain, NL, 20p.
- Goldhar, C. (2015) Developing good policy in Nunatsiavut: Policy development guidebook. Nunatsiavut Government, Nain, NL, 32p.
- Goldhar, C and Sheldon, T editors. (2014) SakKijânginnatuk Nunalik: Understanding the risks and developing best practices for sustainable communities in Nunatsiavut, Phase 2 report. Nunatsiavut Government, Nain, NL, 74p.
- Goldhar, C, Bell, T, and Sheldon, T, editors. (2013) Learning from others: Recommendations for best practices in adaptation of the built environment to changing climate and environment in Nunatsiavut. Nunatsiavut Government, Nain, NL, 308p.
- Goldhar, C, Sheldon, T and Bell T, editors. (2013) SakKijânginnatuk Nunalik: Understanding the risks and developing best practices for sustainable communities in Nunatsiavut, Phase 1 report. Nunatsiavut Government, Nain, NL, 303p. https://www.turnbackthetide.ca/files/resources/Understanding-the-Risks-Report.pdf
- Goldhar, C, Bell, T, Sheldon, T, Andersen, T, Piercy, W, Gear, D, Wolfrey, C, Jacque, H, Furgal, C, Knight, J, Kouril, D, Riedlsperger, R, Allice, I. (2012) Learning from the coast: Understanding opportunities and challenges for sustainable communities in Nunatsiavut. Nunatsiavut Government, Nain, NL. 103p. https://atlanticadaptation.ca/en/islandora/object/acasa:692/datastream/OBJ/view
- Goldhar C, Bell T, Sheldon T, and Karpik S. (2011) Assessing the vulnerability of drinking water systems in Nunatsiavut, Labrador. Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Ottawa, ON, 29p.
