Dr. Dan Hurnik, professor of swine health management at the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC), has been honoured by the P.E.I. Veterinary Medical Association (PEIVMA) with the 2015 Prince Edward Island Veterinary Leadership Award.

The award recognizes a veterinarian’s contributions to the veterinary profession, the P.E.I. community, and the health and welfare of animals. Hurnik was nominated by Dr. Greg Keefe, dean of AVC, and Dr. Larry Hammell, associate dean of graduate studies and research for the College.

“Dr. Hurnik has made an exemplary contribution to animal health, his profession and the industry which he serves,” say Keefe and Hammell. “He has balanced a career as a strong researcher and teacher of the next generation of veterinarians, with outstanding service to the swine industry. lndeed, his efforts have brought national and international recognition of the genetics and health status of the Prince Edward lsland pork industry.”

A member of AVC’s faculty since 1989, Hurnik has served the College in several leadership roles, including as an industry research chair, chair of the departments of Health Management and Companion Animals, and interim dean. Recently he again took on the chairship of Health Management.

Hurnik has served the swine industry at all levels—from the local to the international. He is a founder of the Atlantic Swine Research Partnership Inc., which carries out research for the Atlantic Canadian swine industry. His research has supported the establishment of two P.E.I. biotech companies, Progressive Bioactives lnc., and Chemaphor lnc., now operating as Avivagen. He is veterinary consultant to lnternational Genetics PEI Ltd. and lnternational Genetics Ltd., which together market Canadian swine genetics and expertise worldwide.

Hurnik has served as a director on the Canadian Swine Health Board and the Canadian Centre for Swine lmprovement, which manages Canada's national swine genetics program. He has advised the Canadian industry on the development of a national swine farm-level biosecurity standard and a quality assurance program, in conjunction with the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association and the Canadian Pork Council. He has been a technical advisor to the federal porcine circovirus associated diseases task team and the national swine traceability program. Internationally, he has been a technical consultant to the World Bank on management of African swine fever in regions of Eastern Europe, and he has co-authored a biosecurity guide for pig production for the World Bank, FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization—United Nations) and the OIE (World Health Organisation for Animal Health).

In recognition of his leadership in swine health, Hurnik has received numerous awards, most recently the 2014 B.W. Kennedy Memorial Award from the Canadian Centre for Swine lmprovement.

Master of Arts in Island Studies scholarship-winners were announced at the second annual Island Studies Open House on Friday, October 30.

They are (BACK ROW): Erin Rowan, Erwin and Joyce Andrew Memorial Scholarship in Island Studies International Island Award; Eric Gilbert, Dr. Peter and Mrs. Donna Meincke Graduate Scholarship in Island Studies; Mark Currie, The Bill and Denise Andrew Scholarship in Island Studies Gold Award; and Owen Jennings, UPEI Entrance Scholarship; (FRONT ROW): Izumi Nonaka, Erwin and Joyce Andrew Memorial Scholarship in Island Studies Canadian Island Award; Jennifer White, UPEI Entrance Scholarship; Stephanie Douglas, UPEI Entrance Scholarship; and Pooja Kumar, Carnegie Foundation Graduate Scholarship in Island Studies. Missing from the photo: Sara Underwood, The Bill and Denise Andrew Scholarship in Island Studies Silver Award. In addition, Katharine MacDonald won the 2015-16 Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship.

Islanders are defined by the weather. We are at the whim of Mother Nature and the weather she brings. It keeps us at home, keeps us from work, keeps our kids from school, yet it brings communities together.

There’s nothing like the weather as a conversation starter. “Some Weather We’re having!”, the 2016 Prince Edward Island weather trivia calendar, will help that banter.

Co-authored by Don Jardine and Dr. Adam Fenech and published by the Climate Research Lab at UPEI, this second edition of the weather trivia calendar is filled with 366 stories about real local weather events from across the Island over the past 400 years.

“There are so many stories,” said Jardine, the climate station manager at the Climate Research Lab. “There are some sad ones and some funny ones. Everybody has a story, we could probably fill a hundred calendars.”

Jardine and Dr. Fenech recently put their like minds together for the P.E.I. weather trivia calendar, tapping into Jardine’s stockpile of photographic images and research he’s been gathering since 2009 when he was working on a climate change project.

The 2016 calendar includes sections about the frequency, location, and seasonality of hurricanes that struck Prince Edward Island. It also contains details of PEI’s winter of 2015, the snowiest in recorded history. The winter of 2015 set a new record for the most snowfall recorded in one year on Prince Edward Island: 551 cm, 12 cm more than the previous record set in 1972.

“Because of the nature of the Island, the way that we live, we’re very affected by weather; sometimes it keeps us at home or away from school and sometimes it drags us to the beaches because it’s so nice,” Dr. Fenech says. “The weather really controls a lot of what we do and who we are. We say in our calendar ‘Our weather is our story.’ It’s the stories around the weather that are so intriguing.”

Some examples of these stories:

• With the roads closed due to the ice storm of 1956, Joe MacDonald brought his kids to Tryon Consolidated School by skating down the road with one child under each arm.
• The Mount Stewart Fire Department waded into chest-high, ice-cold water to guide a boat to the front steps of the Birt family home on Egan Street so the family could be taken to safety after the Hillsborough River spilled over its banks and flooded the neighbourhood in 2000.
• One hundred school children had to spend the night at the Englewood High School in Crapaud due to a major snowstorm in 1964 which caused roads to be blocked.
• After a windy, stormy night in 1989, the Giddings family of White Sands awoke to find 15 herring fish on their driveway about 80 metres from the shore. It was believed to be the result of a waterspout.
• The high tide reached such a height during a particularly nasty storm in 1915 that seaweed was deposited on sidewalks throughout Charlottetown.
• In 2004, Gordon Ellis took home the largest pumpkin prize with his 913-pound pumpkin, the first time in eight years that the winning pumpkin weighed less than 1,000 pounds. The smaller pumpkins were blamed on a cold, wet spring and Hurricane Arthur.

The calendar can be bought from The Bookmark, all Murphy's Pharmacies, the UPEI Bookstore.Murphy's Pharmacies, Tangle Lane Inc, David Weale, Winsloe Irving and Convenience, Clows Red and White, Hampshire, Tignnish Coop, Sonshine Books and Gifts in O'Leary, Alberton Irving - Pat's Retail, Coopers Red and White in Eldon, Stewart and Beck Home Hardware in Montague, and the Souris Petrocan.

UPEI’s Centre for Health and Biotech Management Research (CHBMR) is piloting a new web-based addictions treatment program at sites across the province. CBT4CBT is an award-winning, cognitive behavioural therapy developed by researchers at the Yale School of Medicine. It allows 24-hour-a-day online access to cognitive behavioural therapy for addictions to complement traditional treatment, including counselling. The pilot will be run and assessed by a team from CHBMR, including Dr. Michelle Patterson.

“Addictions is a dominant struggle for many youth between the ages of 18-24. Computer-based treatment is a relatively new, but incredibly promising, option for improving access and continuity to treatment programs,” said Dr. Patterson, Research Co-ordinator with CHBMR. “CBT4CBT has demonstrated excellent results in the United States and we're fortunate to be able to implement and assess this program throughout Prince Edward Island. The computer-based nature of CBT4CBT makes it accessible and applicable to youth and it is anticipated that CBT4CBT will be a valuable addition to PEI's treatment offerings.”

Cognitive behavioural therapy strives to allow patients to recognize triggers, improve coping mechanisms, and alter the behaviour that leads to substance abuse. Patients and addictions treatment personnel accept CBT4CBT, as its efficacy, durability, and cost-savings have been proven in clinical trials. Through web-based delivery, CBT4CBT can reach people even in rural areas 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Health and Wellness Minister Doug Currie commended UPEI on its leadership role in piloting this online research that can benefit Islanders. “We are seeing a growing interest among Islanders in online resources that help them deal with addictions and mental health challenges,” said Minister Currie. “Web-based education and treatment are excellent options for some people and will only become more valuable in the future. I am very pleased to see UPEI researchers taking a leadership role in this evolving area.”

The development of this treatment program for Canada was initiated in Prince Edward Island. The Centre for Health and Biotech Management seeks to further establish CBT4CBT in Canada by first validating it in relevant rural communities before expanding it to more Canadian provinces and territories.

The pilot will initially be run as a clinical trial for students at Holland College and UPEI, in addition to the Lennox Island and Abegweit First Nations communities. Half of patients seeking addictions services will receive traditional treatment from a counsellor. The other half will be treated by a counsellor and CBT4CBT, which is available 24-hours a day.

“We are very pleased to have the opportunity to have access to the CBT4CBT program available for our students as an add-on program to our regular addictions counselling,” said Donna Sutton, Director of Student Services and Administration at Holland College. “We look forward to our continued collaboration with UPEI’s Centre for Health and Biotech Management Research.”

This is the first time CBT4CBT has been offered to students at post-secondary institutions in Canada. The CHMBR will seek out new communities on the Island in which to carry out this pilot program.

For more information, visit wanttoquit.ca.

With an estimated 14.5 million dogs and cats in Canada, we are having an ongoing love affair with our pets. We care greatly about meeting their needs in order to keep them healthy and happy. The benefits of having a pet are huge – loyalty, companionship, love and affection, improved health. Pet ownership is also a big investment in money, time, and commitment.

Dr. Heather Gunn-McQuillan, Director of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Atlantic Veterinary College at UPEI, will give a community workshop titled “The Dollars and Sense of Pet Ownership” on Tuesday, November 24, 2015 at 7:00 pm in AVC’s Lecture Theatre A. She will present information on the actual costs of caring for your pet including purchase or adoption costs; spay/neuter fees; vet exams and vaccinations; food and supplies (toys, treats); licensing and pet insurance costs; and the time commitment for pet owners (exercising, training, feeding, play time).

Everyone is welcome. Admission is free, and refreshments will be served. For information, call (902) 566-0589.

The UPEI Panther Subway Athletes of the Week for the week of November 9–15 are Katelynn Donahoe, Women’s Basketball and Mavric Parks, Men’s Hockey. UPEI’s Department of Athletics and Recreation recognizes the outstanding play of a talented male and female student-athlete each week, showcasing their hard work and dedication to their respective sports. UPEI Athletes of the Week are also nominated to Atlantic University Sport and Canadian Interuniversity Sport for possible recognition in the region and/or country.

Who:  Katelynn Donahoe, Women’s Basketball; and Mavric Parks, Men’s Hockey

What: UPEI Panther Subway Athletes of the Week

When: Week of November 9-15

Where: University of Prince Edward Island

Why:  Donahoe, a fifth-year Bachelor of Science Kinesiology student from Riverview, New Brunswick, played a strong game in the Panthers’ 79-64 loss to the CIS fifth-ranked Saint Mary’s Huskies on Sunday afternoon. Donahoe scored 10 points and had 12 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals while playing great defense and directing the offense.

Parks, a fifth-year Bachelor of Arts student from Eganville, Ontario, played solid in goal for the Panthers during their two overtime games on the weekend. In the Panthers’ 3-2 win over SMU, Parks made 48 saves. He recorded 40 stops in the 6-5 loss to the CIS sixth-ranked Acadia Axemen. 

About UPEI Athletics and Recreation
• Nine varsity sports and six club team programs
• Proud member of the AUS and CIS
• Athletic facilities include: Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre, UPEI Alumni Canada Games Place and UPEI Turf
• Home of Panther Sports Medicine
• Other facilities available to students and the community at large include: fitness centre, squash and racquetball courts, competition and leisure pool with hot tub, and two ice arenas

Rebounding woes are a cause for concern for the UPEI Women’s Basketball Panthers, who look to return to the win column this weekend against the Cape Breton University Capers.

After coming away empty handed against St. Mary’s on Nov. 15, the Panthers are focusing their attention on rebounding after allowing 20 offensive boards in a 79-64 loss.

The struggles on the glass resulted in 15 second-chance points, ultimately deciding their fate.

“We got beat up on the offensive boards,” said head coach Greg Gould. “We’re going to have to do a better job in our defensive rebounding.”

The next assignment won’t be any easier, with forward Alison Keough manning the middle for the Capers (2-2). Keough is sixth in the country in scoring, averaging 19.8 points per game, while hauling in eight rebounds.

“She (Keough) can attack you from the high post, and she can hurt as a low post player,” said Gould. “Everybody else on the team knows how important she is. They really do a good job of getting her the basketball.”

In order to come out on top this weekend, the Panthers (2-1) will depend heavily on their starters, Anne Kiberd, who’s second in the country in scoring (22.7 points per game) and point guard Katie Donahoe (12.7 points per game). Both players are expected to lead the way.

Gould said he’s hoping to find more balance in the team’s offence, despite some big game performances in the first three contests.

“We’ve had big games from different people, but ultimately, you would like to see a little more balance in your scoring. It’s just a matter of putting it together at the same time.”

For Gould’s squad, defensive rebounding and limiting turnovers will be key in determining the outcome of the game.

“If our team defence is solid and we take care of the defensive rebounding, we’ll be in pretty good shape.”

The two teams will square off at the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre on Friday (Subway Night) and again on Saturday at 6 pm. The final home games of the semester can be seen on AUStv and Bell TV1.

Men look to stay undefeated

Despite a 3-0 record, the UPEI Men’s Basketball Panthers have plenty to prove this weekend in their quest for an AUS title.

“You’re always looking at the next game, but you’re also always thinking big picture,” said head coach Tim Kendrick. “Our guys know that the big picture is to get to the Scotiabank Centre in March.”

Standing in their path are the 2-2 Cape Breton University Capers, who travel to UPEI this weekend, led by AUS first team all-star Meshack Lufile.

The powerful centre is averaging 15.8 points per game, while grabbing 7.5 rebounds a night and is expected to be the focal point in a Capers offence surrounded by athletic shooters.

“We’ll know where he is on the floor and we’ll know where the ball is in respect to him.”

In years past, a player like Lufile would strike fear in Kendrick and his coaching staff, but the addition of tough, gritty forwards like Dut Dut and Tevin Sutton-Stephenson help lessen the blow.

“Lufile presents some problems for us. He’s a very good player,” Kendrick said.

On the other side, the Capers will have their hands full with Panthers’ Tyler Scott, who leads the country in scoring, averaging 30.3 points per game while shooting 47 per cent.

“I think he’s the best player in the country,” Kendrick said of his young guard. “To have him with us is great.”

Scott is joined by a deep supporting cast, including Lorenzo Parker (13.7 points per game) and the high-flying Brad States, who’s getting it done on both sides of the court, averaging 18.3 points per game while grabbing 7.7 rebounds with 2.7 steals a night.

With plenty of talent featured on both sides, Kendrick said style of play will determine the outcome.

“They’re going to want to shorten the game to a half court-type game and we want to get out and make the game a 94-foot affair.”

The two teams battle it out at the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre on Friday (Subway Night) and Saturday at 8 p.m. The final home games of the semester can be seen on AUStv and Bell TV1.

Contributed  by Thomas Becker

The UPEI Panther Subway Athletes of the Week for November 16–22 are Jane McLaughlin, from Women’s Basketball, and Bradley States, from Men’s Basketball. UPEI Athletics and Recreation selects talented athletes each week to recognize their hard work and dedication to their respective sports. UPEI Athletes of the Week are then also nominated to Atlantic University Sport and Canadian Interuniversity Sport for their possible recognition in the region and country.

Who:  Jane McLaughlin, Women’s Basketball, and Bradley States, Men’s Basketball

What: UPEI Panther Subway Athletes of the Week

When: Week of November 16–22

Where: University of Prince Edward Island

Why:  McLaughlin, a second-year Bachelor of Science Nursing student from Fortune, PEI, is providing defensive strength for the Panthers while contributing offensively at the same time. In the Panthers’ two close losses to CBU on the weekend, McLaughlin averaged 12 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 blocked shot while playing excellent defence against CBU's much bigger post players.

States, a fourth-year Bachelor of Business Administration student, from Bathurst, NB, was a major-impact player for the Panthers this past weekend. In two wins over CBU, States scored 49 points with 19 rebounds, 7 steals, 5 assists, and 2 blocked shots. In Friday's game that was minus teammate Tyler Scott, the CIS leading scorer, States showed great leadership and put up 28 points with 11 rebounds.

About UPEI Athletics and Recreation

• Nine varsity sports and six club team programs
• Proud member of the AUS and CIS
• Athletic facilities include: Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre, UPEI Alumni Canada Games Place, and UPEI Turf
• Home of Panther Sports Medicine
• Other facilities available to students and the community at large include: fitness centre, squash and racquetball courts, competition and leisure pool with hot tub, and two ice arenas

Contributed by Thomas Becker

After a successful, albeit grueling five game road test, the UPEI Panthers are back home for a Friday night rematch against the St. Thomas Tommies.

During the two-week road stretch, the Panthers captured seven points while posting a 3-1-1 record, including a 5-4 win over the Tommies Wednesday night.

It wasn’t an easy seven points as the team lost top forward Darcy Ashley to an upper body injury, lost Cole MacMillan to suspension, and fell back on players playing out of position to get an edge.

Head coach Forbes MacPherson said he’s been pleased with the team’s fight and determination despite having their backs against the wall.

“There’s nothing wrong with a little bit of adversity early in the year to test your group and see what kind of character the group has.”

Opposite to them are the 1-12-1 Tommies, who have high-end forwards that are dangerous and can strike quickly. Led by forwards Shane McColgan (5 goals, 4 assists) and Colin Martin (2 goals, 4 assists), St. Thomas will use their quick pace to make UPEI uncomfortable, while the Panthers will focus on a controlled game plan centered on puck possession and cycling.

“It’s real tough to play on the road in this league. We have to make sure we have a lot of energy, get off to a good start and control the game from the initial puck drop,” said MacPherson.

Despite losing Ashley for the final game of the semester, the Panthers look toward Marcus Power (16 points)—third game back from injury—and Brent Andrews (14 points) to lead them.

“Any time a top forward goes down, it gives other guys an opportunity to play minutes they normally wouldn’t,” added MacPherson.

With several injuries to the frontline, UPEI has been forced to use their roster in creative ways to generate points, including playing defenseman Spencer Metcalfe at forward.

“It’s something you don’t want to do too often. But it’s important to have one or two guys in your lineup that can make that transition if need be.”

Through it all, the Panthers (7-6-1) still hold the final playoff spot as they look to take care of business against the Tommies before regrouping in the new year for the stretch run.

Friday will be Campus Food Bank Night with both teams asking fans to bring non-perishable food items to help stock the cupboard at the Chaplaincy Centre. The campus food bank is donation driven, open and available for UPEI students. Ticket holders for the Men's Hockey game will have free access to the Women's game, as a special ticket incentive. Men's Hockey season ticket, All Access and Panther Package holders will have free access to both games.

Puck drops November 27 at 7 pm at MacLauchlan Arena A while the Women's Panthers host St. F.X. at 6:45 pm in Arena B.
 

UPEI’s Business Case Competition Team took second place at the international Scotiabank Ethics in Actions Case Competition at Dalhousie University in Halifax earlier this month.

This year, teams from Concordia University, University of Waterloo, University of Alberta, Western University, Dalhousie University, Saint Mary’s University, Acadia University, University of New Brunswick, and Elon University, North Carolina, participated in the contest, with first and third place going to Dalhousie and Alberta respectively. UPEI placed first in 2013 and 2014.

The Scotiabank Ethics in Action Case Competition and Conference centers on equipping tomorrow's business leaders with the tools necessary to make strategic business decisions, while adhering to ethical principles. In this two-day competition, students are challenged with ethical dilemmas that they must attempt to solve. Students have three hours to read and analyze a case, then strategize and create a solution that they present to a panel of industry professionals directly after. In this tight time frame, students must work quickly and efficiently to create clear and logical solution that not only satisfies ethical concerns, but strategic aspects as well.

This year’s UPEI team consisted of returning case competition veteran Erin Devine (fourth-year BBA), Hannah Dawson (fourth-year BBA with marketing specialization), Kate Kinsman (third-year BBA), and John Donaldson (fourth-year BBA with accounting specialization).

The team is overjoyed to have represented their school and to have had such a strong showing at this competition for the third year in a row. “Having the opportunity to once again compete against some of the best business schools across Canada was a great experience. I'm so proud of our team's performance,” said Erin Devine.

Juergen Krause, Dean of Business, appreciates the great news for UPEI. “Congratulations to the students and their coach for another great performance at Ethics in Action competition. This repeated success confirms that we have a strong Business program and excellent mentors and students at UPEI.”

Case Competition Program Coordinator and coach Mary Whitrow agrees.  “I couldn’t be happier for the students and for our school. The drive and team work these students have shown in preparation for this competition has been inspiring.”
Kate Kinsman believes the preparation and competition helped their team become more aware of their specific strengths and weaknesses, “and, personally, I feel as though we've learned and grown a lot as a team and individuals because of it.”