The Atlantic Veterinary College’s 2016 Graduate Studies and Research Days (GS&R Days) concluded on Friday, May 13, with the presentation of awards to participating graduate students and post-doctoral fellows.

During the two-day event, 20 graduate students and six post-doctoral fellows presented their research findings in areas ranging from terrestrial and aquatic animal health to environmental health and biomedical sciences.

On Friday, Dr. J Trenton McClure, professor of large animal medicine at AVC, was awarded the 2016 Zoetis Research Excellence Award and gave a presentation about his research. On Thursday, May 12, Dr. Dorothee Bienzle, an internationally recognized professor of pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, gave the annual R.G. Thomson Lecture, an endowed lecture honouring AVC’s founding dean, Dr. Reginald Thomson.

The following is a list of award winners:

2016 Governor General’s Award: Maria Forzan, PhD graduate, Pathology and Microbiology (awarded at UPEI Convocation, May 7)

2016 OGS Award of Distinction: Sarah McConnachie, PhD graduate, Pathology and Microbiology (awarded at UPEI’s 2016 senior class luncheon, May 6)

2015 G. Murray and Hazel Hagerman Scholarships: Michel Arsenault, PhD student, Biomedical Sciences (awarded at AVC Fall Recognition and Awards Night, October 2015)

Zoetis Graduate Student Award: Nora Biermann, PhD student, Health Management

Dr. Ian Dohoo Award: Niorn Ratanapob, PhD Student, Health Management

John and Carol MacLeod Award for Research Communication Excellence: Kami Harris, PhD Student, Pathology and Microbiology

The George and Margaret Peake Scholarships: Christopher Hagen, Post-Graduate Diploma student, Companion Animals, and Jonathan Lichtenberger, MSc student, Companion Animals

The Dr. E. Errol Hancock Scholarship: Shauna Richards, PhD Student, Health Management

Dr. Douglass W. Ehresmann Memorial Award: Louise Roux, MSc student, Biomedical Sciences

Dr. Ray Long Travel Award: Louise Roux, MSc Student, Biomedical Sciences

Dr. Basil Ikede Award in Diagnostic Veterinary Sciences: Laura Ross, MVSc student, Pathology and Microbiology

Best Paper Presentations in each session: Session One: Louise Roux, MSc Student, Biomedical Sciences; Session Two: Alyssa Grunwald, PhD student, Biomedical Sciences; Session Three: Jordan Poley, PhD student, Pathology and Microbiology

Best Overall MSc/MVSc Graduate Student Presentation: Denise Happ, MSc student, Biomedical Sciences

Best Overall PhD Graduate Student Presentation: Kami Harris, PhD student, Pathology and Microbiology

Best Overall Postdoctoral Presentation: Laura Braden, Pathology and Microbiology

Congratulations, everyone!

AVC faculty and staff were rewarded for their achievements and dedication at two events held at UPEI recently.

On May 4, the UPEI Faculty Association and the Office of the President sponsored the annual Faculty Recognition Night, which honours faculty members for excellence in teaching and scholarly achievement. Dr. Juan Carlos Rodriguez-Lecompte received a UPEI Merit Award for Scholarly Achievement, and Dr. Cora Gilroy, a Hessian Award for Excellence in Teaching. Both are with the Department of Pathology and Microbiology.

UPEI's annual Presidential Recognition Awards of Merit and 25-Year Service awards were presented to staff and faculty at a ceremony on Wednesday, May 11. The awards, created by UPEI President and Vice-Chancellor Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, recognize outstanding performance and dedication to students and the community—on campus, provincially, and globally.

Marven MacLean, operations manager of AVC’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital, received a Presidential Recognition Award of Merit for Exemplary Service. This award is presented to a UPEI employee who has demonstrated outstanding service and/or who has made significant contributions to the university community beyond that normally expected for his/her position.

Robert Doiron, the porter at AVC, received a Presidential Recognition Award of Merit for Campus Spirit, presented to a UPEI employee who has fostered a sense of excitement on campus and promoted fellowship, goodwill, and belonging within the University community, by supporting and promoting UPEI.

Receiving 25-year Service Awards were Laurel Fisher, Companion Animals; Eleanor Irving, Health Management; Karen Roche, Office of Academic and Student Affairs; Dr. David Speare, Pathology and Microbiology; and Dorota Wadowska, Electron Microscopy Lab.

Congratulations to all award recipients!

Dr. Ian Gardner, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Aquatic Epidemiology at UPEI, has been honoured by the University of California Davis (UC Davis) School of Veterinary Medicine with a 2016 Alumni Achievement Award for his outstanding contributions to veterinary epidemiology.

A professor of epidemiology at the Atlantic Veterinary College at UPEI, Dr. Gardner was one of four UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine alumni who received the award on Friday, May 20. He was presented with his award by Dr. Michael Lairmore, Dean, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Gardner has a Master of Preventative Veterinary Medicine (MPVM) and a PhD in comparative pathology from the school, and he was a member of its faculty for 23 years, rising to professor of epidemiology.

The highest honour bestowed by the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, the Alumni Achievement Award is presented to one or more alumni for outstanding personal and professional contributions to veterinary science or one of its branches, veterinary practice in any of its forms, or to humankind and the advancement of human welfare. The following is the citation read at the award presentation:

“Dr. Gardner is honored for his outstanding global contributions that advance the discipline of veterinary epidemiology.

“Dr. Gardner’s 40-year career began as a Veterinary Research Officer in Australian Agriculture before coming to UC Davis to pursue his MPVM and Ph.D. in Comparative Pathology. In 1988 he joined the school’s faculty where he served with distinction for 23 years, rising to Professor of Epidemiology. He went on to lead aquatic epidemiology efforts at the Atlantic Veterinary College and continues to be internationally recognized for his leadership in applied veterinary epidemiology.

“Dr. Gardner is highly regarded as both an excellent teacher and researcher who has received numerous awards and published more than 300 peer-reviewed publications. One of his strengths has been described as his ability to effectively blend theory and application of epidemiologic principles. Not only is this ability key to his teaching success, but he regularly brings this expertise to the numerous national and international committees, policy-development activities within USDA and at the World Organization for Animal Health. His continued appointment to these committees reflects the peer respect that he has earned in the global veterinary research community through his research focused on the improved evaluation of diagnostic testing standards for economically important, transboundary diseases.

“Dr. Gardner has been a key collaborator on a wide range of projects including infectious diseases of livestock and production aquaculture, African horse sickness, West Nile fever, Johne’s disease, validation of diagnostic tests and development of appropriate management/disease mitigation strategies. He has also collaborated on many other contemporary issues such as: lameness and breakdown injuries of racing horses, protozoal diseases of marine mammals and Culicoides-transmitted viral diseases.”

Congratulations, Dr. Gardner!

The Atlantic Veterinary College has honoured its founding dean, Dr. Reginald G. Thomson (1934-2002), by naming the dean’s office boardroom the Dean R.G. Thomson Boardroom.

During the spring meeting of the College’s advisory council on May 9, Dean Greg Keefe and Dr. Basil Ikede, retired professor of pathology, unveiled two plaques honouring Dr.Thomson. One plaque will hang on the boardroom door, and the other inside the room next to Dr. Thomson’s portrait. Dr. Ikede had a special relationship with Dr. Thomson, first as his graduate student and then as his faculty colleague at AVC.

“The story of Dr. Reginald G. Thomson is one of a man of exceptional intellect, motivation and drive, whose tenacity made him the most important individual involved with our establishment, but whose achievements were ultimately cut short by devastating illness,” said Dr. Keefe at the ceremony.

A native of Woodstock, Ontario, Dr. Thomson graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 1959, with his DVM degree and in 1963 with a Master of Veterinary Science degree in pathology. He became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists and obtained a PhD at Cornell in 1965. Subsequently, he received an appointment as an associate professor with OVC, and within two years, was promoted to full professor.

“Such a rise within academia was a testament to his scholarly pursuits and drive,” said Dr. Keefe.

In late 1978, Dr. Thomson took a leave of absence from OVC to explore the possibility of establishing a veterinary college in Atlantic Canada. He worked with regional universities, bureaucrats, provincial and federal politicians, veterinarians, farmers, fishers, and the general public to help develop the vision for the new College.

In 1983, it was announced that the Atlantic Veterinary College would be established at the University of Prince Edward Island with Dr. Thomson as its founding dean. Over the next few years, he led a team of architects, builders, and veterinary colleagues to develop a world-class veterinary medical facility at UPEI, recruiting highly skilled faculty and staff in the process.

Because of illness, Dr. Thomson retired in 1991 and returned to Woodstock, where he passed away in December 2002 at the age of 68. AVC was proud to posthumously award Dr. Thomson the 2010 Hon. Eugene F. Whelan Green Hat Award for his leadership and dedication in establishing the College. The Green Hat Award is the most prestigious award given by AVC.

“Today the Atlantic Veterinary College is a justifiably proud institution, universally recognized for the quality of its graduates, the discoveries of its researchers, and the care and support of regional animal populations and veterinary practitioners,” said Dr. Keefe, quoting from the citation written for Dr. Thomson’s Green Hat Award. “This relatively small College has made a difference in veterinary medicine that belies its stature, but that faithfully reflects the culture of hard work and determination established at the very outset by Dr. Thomson.

Noting that the College’s 27th DVM class graduated on Saturday, May 7, Dr. Keefe went on to say: “It is fitting that we celebrate the legacy that Dr. Thomson began by naming our premier meeting space the Dean R.G. Thomson Boardroom.”
 

The UPEI Climate Research Lab, in association with the Department of Communities, Land and Environment, is inviting members of the public to a series of workshops across the Island. We are asking for input on the development of the province's Climate Change Adaptation Strategy. Dr. Adam Fenech, director of the Climate Research Lab, will give a short presentation on current climate change projections, expected impacts, and discussing priority areas of concern. The goal is to identify ideas, techniques, and technologies that will better position our province to adapt to the changing climate while minimizing our contributions to climate change. Interested parties are encouraged to attend and engage in discussion on how best to adapt to current and anticipated challenges related to climate change as well as potential benefits and opportunities that may arise. 

Alberton Community Centre, Alberton, Monday, June 20, 7 pm

Tignish Community Office, Tignish, Tuesday, June 21, 7 pm

Silver Fox Curling Club, Summerside, Wednesday, June 22, 7 pm

West Royalty Community Centre, Charlottetown, Monday, June 27, 7 pm

Montague Town Hall, Montague, Tuesday, June 28, 7 pm

Souris Striders Ski Lodge, Souris, Wednesday, June 29, 7 pm

For more information, contact climate@upei.ca.

Dr. Jason Pearson, associate professor of chemistry at UPEI, has been recognized with one of five 2016 Brightspace Innovation Awards in Teaching and Learning from the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE).

Dr. Pearson is a passionate scientist and educator. He has a keen interest in rethinking how science is taught at all levels and inspiring students by enabling them to make self-driven discoveries through research. His innovations include an original, customized digital textbook that “comes alive” for students with fully interactive diagrams, figures, and content. Students are able to explore complex mathematical relationships and perform chemical “experiments” directly in their textbook, which is provided as an open-source education resource, free of charge. Dr. Pearson constantly seeks to empower students to take ownership in their learning by providing ample opportunity to explore concepts independently and innovate within the laboratory environment.

“I'm honoured to be recognized by STLHE for my work with chemistry students at UPEI,” said Dr. Pearson. “Everyone here at UPEI is focussed on bringing the best possible educational experiences to our students, so it's fantastic news that we are competing nationally.”

“The Brightspace Award is an excellent indication of how Dr. Pearson's innovation in research, which is abundant, transfers to the physical and virtual classroom. His creative use of technology is a wonderful example of how research informs teaching and vice versa,” said Dr. Robert Gilmour, vice-president academic and research at UPEI.

Dr. Pearson and the rest of the 2016 cohort of Brightspace Innovation Award winners will be recognized at the 2016 STLHE Annual Conference this June in London, Ontario, and at the Brightspace Global Conference later this summer in Orlando, Florida.

STLHE strives to be the pre-eminent national voice and a world leader for enhancing teaching and learning in higher education. STLHE supports research, its dissemination, increased awareness and application of research through scholarly teaching and learning. Visit www.stlhe.ca for more information.

The University of Prince Edward Island prides itself on people, excellence, and impact and is committed to assisting students reach their full potential in both the classroom and community. With roots stemming from two founding institutions—Prince of Wales College and St. Dunstan’s University—UPEI has a reputation for academic excellence, research innovation, and creating positive impacts locally, nationally, and internationally. UPEI is the only degree granting institution in the province and is proud to be a key contributor to the growth and prosperity of Prince Edward Island.

Echo Lau is back home for a few weeks, having returned from the University of Ottawa where she has just completed her Master of Music in Piano Performance. She will play a piano recital at the Dr. Steel Recital Hall on the UPEI campus on Sunday, June 5 at 4:30 pm. The program includes the Mozart Sonata in D Major, K.311, the first movement of the Rachmaninoff Concerto No. 3 (accompanied by Frances Gray), and the Ravel “Gaspard de la nuit.” Admission is by donation.

Echo Lau was a student of Dr. Frances Gray at the University of Prince Edward Island where she graduated with the Bachelor of Music degree in 2013. During her high school years, she was a student of Frances McBurnie. At the University of Ottawa, she studied piano with Andrew Tunis and accompanied the Opera Company and the Calixa-Lavallée Choir. She has represented PEI at the CFMTA National Piano Competition and the National Kiwanis Music Festival, and performed a concerto with the PEI Symphony Orchestra as the winner of the Suzanne Brenton Award. She accompanies other musicians quite often, and has played for the UPEI choirs and the Kings Playhouse. In addition to playing the piano, she has also been a violinist with the PEI Symphony, the Singing Strings, and the Strathgartney Chamber Orchestra. Echo was born in Hong Kong and she immigrated to Canada in 2004.

The University of Prince Edward Island prides itself on people, excellence, and impact and is committed to assisting students reach their full potential in both the classroom and community. With roots stemming from two founding institutions—Prince of Wales College and Saint Dunstan’s University—UPEI has a reputation for academic excellence, research innovation, and creating positive impacts locally, nationally, and internationally. UPEI is the only degree granting institution in the province and is proud to be a key contributor to the growth and prosperity of Prince Edward Island.

University of Prince Edward Island Men’s Soccer Coach Lewis Page is pleased to announce that three friends from Nova Scotia have committed to the Panthers for 2016–17. The trio includes Mohammed Jaber, Cohen Reddick-Stevens, and Josh MacKillop.

Coach Page says, “We are really excited to have landed three of the top prospects in Nova Scotia. Mohammed Jabar, Cohen Reddick-Stevens, and Josh MacKillop are great attacking players that will add firepower to our lineup. The three all played together on the Nova Scotia provincial team which means they will know each other well both on and off the field.”

Jaber is from Bedford and attends Charles P. Allen High School. Jaber was captain of his school team for the past two seasons, and assistant captain of the Suburban FC team for the past two years. In his senior year, Jaber scored 28 goals in ten games and was named MVP. A member of the Nova Scotia provincial team from U14 to U18, Jaber has been key to the team’s success in the final third of the field, scoring goals. Jaber is involved with youth development and has coached Scotia Soccer Club youth teams for the past two years, and coached at the U12 Provincial ID Camp last summer.

Jaber says, “I was very fortunate to have interest from many different universities but I am very happy with my decision to choose UPEI. I chose UPEI for its great academic offering and strong soccer program. I also get to train with Coach Page, one of the best coaches in Canada. I am very excited to play with some of the country’s best soccer players and to represent the Panthers this coming fall.”

Reddick-Stevens attends Auburn High School in Cole Harbour. An honours student, Reddick-Stevens was team captain, one of the Metro League’s top scorers, and was selected as an all-star. Currently a member of the Halifax-Dunbrack Senior Men’s team in the Nova Scotia Soccer League, Cohen came up through the Dartmouth United youth system and has been a member of Soccer Nova Scotia’s provincial program since the age of 12. Reddick-Stevens has represented Nova Scotia at numerous Atlantic Canada championships and has been on four championship teams.

Reddick-Stevens is eager about the opportunity of joining the UPEI family. “I am excited about having the opportunity to come to a great school and to play for Coach Page. I look forward to becoming a Panther and contributing to a successful season next year.”

MacKillop is a Cape Bretoner who attends Riverview High School in Coxheath. MacKillop was also captain of his school team and was selected as a first-team all-star in 2013 and 2014. MacKillop was a member of the provincial team from U15 to U18, and won gold at the Atlantics for two consecutive years (2013 and 2014). In May 2015, he was awarded the U17 assistant captain role for Nova Scotia at Atlantic Showcase. MacKillop was a member of the Cape Breton United in the Senior Men’s League and since 2012, MacKillop has spent many hours volunteering as a coach (U4-U12) and refereeing with the Albert Bridge Youth Soccer Club. He also served as assistant coach with Soccer NS’ Cape Breton Regional Training Centre.

MacKillop comments, “It was tough choosing a university, but at the end of the day, I chose UPEI because academically I feel that it is a better fit for me—offering small classes and a close knit community—just like home. I’ve been playing soccer since I was four years old; I have a passion for the sport and I know I can only improve my game with Coach Lewis Page and his staff.”

All three recruits will be entering the Faculty of Science and majoring in Kinesiology.

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
• 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
   

UPEI’s 2016 Presidential Recognition Awards of Merit and 25-Year Service Awards were presented to faculty and staff at a ceremony on Wednesday, May 11. The awards, created by UPEI President and Vice-Chancellor Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, recognize outstanding performance and dedication to students and our community on campus, provincially, and globally.

Winners of Presidential Recognition Awards of Merit for Faculty, Librarians and Clinical Veterinary Professionals were Dr. Sharon Myers, Arts, for service; Dr. Richard Lemm, Arts, and Dr. Qiang Ye, Science, for scholarly endeavours; and Dr. Brian Wagner, Science, for combined achievement.

UPEI staff members were also recognized through the Presidential Recognition Awards of Merit for Staff. Faye Murphy-Gallant, Applied Human Sciences, and Treena Smith, Student Services, each received a Presidential Recognition Award of Merit for Support of Student Success, which is presented to a UPEI employee who has made significant contributions to higher education via supporting student success.

Recipients of Presidential Recognition Awards of Merit for Exemplary Service were Michelle Gauthier, Marketing and Communications; Linda Smith, Applied Human Sciences; Bruce Ferguson, Facilities Management; and Marven MacLean, Atlantic Veterinary College. This award is presented to a UPEI employee who has demonstrated outstanding service and/or who has made significant contributions to the university community beyond that normally expected for his/her position.

Robert Doiron, Atlantic Veterinary College, and Sondra Gantner, Registrar’s Office, each received a Presidential Recognition Award of Merit for Campus Spirit. This award is presented to a UPEI employee who has fostered a sense of excitement on campus and promoted fellowship, goodwill and belonging within the University community by supporting and promoting UPEI.

Recognized with 25-Year Service Awards were Dr. Maxim Burke, Gilbert Blatch, Laurel Fisher, Dr. Gregory Irvine, Eleanor Irving, Dr. Christian Lacroix, Cathy LeClair, Dr. Geoffrey Lindsay, Dr. Deborah MacLellan, Robert “Rocky” Paquet, Heather Parry, Dr. David Speare, and Dorota Wadowska.

On Wednesday, May 4, the UPEI Faculty Association and the Office of the President sponsored the 2016 Faculty Recognition Night, which honours recipients for teaching and scholarly achievement. During the event, Hessian Merit Awards for Excellence in Teaching were awarded to Dr. Cora Gilroy, Pathology and Microbiology, and Dr. James Moran, History. Hessian Awards for Excellence in Teaching by a sessional instructor were presented to Dr. Bonnie Stewart, Education, and Christopher Vessey, Mathematical and Computational Sciences.

Presented with Merit Awards for Scholarly Achievement were Dr. Catherine Innes-Parker, English; Dr. Jason Pearson, Chemistry; and Dr. Juan Carlos Rodriguez-Lecompte, Pathology and Microbiology. This award honours faculty members who have achieved significant and continuing productivity in scholarly research and/or artistic creation, and in so doing, inspire others to aspire to such achievement. The UPEIFA Merit Award for Outstanding Service went to Dr. Wayne Peters, School of Sustainable Design Engineering.

Congratulations to all award winners!

Erin Rowan, a Master of Arts in Island Studies (MAIS) student at UPEI, has been awarded a prestigious James M. Flaherty Research Scholarship from the Ireland Canada University Foundation. The scholarship honours the memory of Canada’s former finance minister who identified strongly and publicly with his Irish heritage. The award allowed Rowan to travel to Ireland to pursue her research into Irish identity and how it is linked to the memory of the Great Famine.

“Prince Edward Island has strong cultural roots with Ireland,” said Dr. Jim Randall, coordinator of the MAIS program at UPEI. “This scholarship has allowed Erin to immerse herself in Irish and island identity in order to gain a much richer understanding of an important island culture, past and present.”

Rowan is working with Dr. Brendan O’Keeffe of Mary Immaculate College at the University of Limerick. Her research will dig into the Great Famine, the resulting outmigration, and its impact on island identity and Ireland’s “islandness”.

“I am very grateful for the opportunity to travel to Ireland for my research,” said Rowan. “The chance to meet with locals face to face as well as visit important historical sites has allowed me to measure the ways in which the folk memories of the Great Famine are present in modern Ireland.”

Rowan’s scholarship allowed her to conduct first-person interviews in County Kerry to add greater description and personal colour to her research data. Collective identity, though applied to a larger group, is a deeply personal concept with strong connection to personal experience, thus making interviews essential.

The Ireland Canada University Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation established in 1993 for the purpose of encouraging and facilitating academic links between institutions and scholars in both Ireland and Canada.