Fiction writer Elizabeth Hay is deservedly blessed with devoted fans across Canada, and PEI is no exception. She will read from her new work, including the novel His Whole Life, on Friday, October 21, at 7:30 pm in the UPEI Faculty Lounge, SDU Main Building. A reception and book signing will follow.

Novelist Annabel Lyon says of His Whole Life, “This most wonderful of novels offers an unsentimental look at the sweetness and pain of boyhood against the backdrop of Quebec’s independence movement in the 1990s. Conflicts large and small between city and country, French and English, [Canadian] wife and [American] husband, mother and son play out in Elizabeth Hay’s signature tender but incisive prose.”

His Whole Life partly grows out of Hay’s experience of marrying an American and having dual-citizen children, her lasting regret for not getting her son a dog when he wanted one at age ten, and a question he asked during a camping trip: “What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done?”

Hay’s fictional worlds reflect her loving embrace of the landscapes and communities where she has lived, from her childhood years in Owen Sound and the Bruce Peninsula to a richly influential adolescent stay in England. Her adulthood and writing career have found her in Yellowknife, Winnipeg, New York City, Latin America, and now Old Ottawa South and her mother’s home region of the Ottawa Valley.

Her numerous prize and nominations include the Giller Prize for Late Nights on Air, the Ottawa Book Award for Garbo Laughs, and being a finalist twice for the Governor General’s Award for Fiction for Small Change and A Student of Weather. In 2002 she was honoured with the Marian Engel Award for a woman writer in mid-career.

Winter’s Tales is sponsored by the UPEI English Department, Faculty of Arts, and the office of the Vice-President Academic and Research, with funding from The Canada Council for the Arts.

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.

UPEI’s Robertson Library is hosting a new book event series this fall called “Open Pages,” which will feature local authors speaking about their books: what inspired them, what they learned, what they shared. The public is warmly invited to this series. Light refreshments will be served. Books will be available for sale and signing.

The first Open Pages features Time and a Place: An Environmental History of PEI, published by Island Studies Press. The event is Wednesday, October 12, 7 pm in the second floor common area of the Robertson Library.

Time and a Place is the first environmental history of Prince Edward Island and the first such history of any Canadian province. It features 12 essays and explores how the Island has evolved from the Ice Age to the Information Age. One of the book’s strengths is the diversity among its expert authors. They discuss agriculture, fisheries, and forestry with some topics in common, including climate change. They also discuss the human impact on the Island’s fields, forests, and waters, and in turn, how nature has affected Islanders.

Several of the book’s contributors plus two of its editors, Dr. Ed MacDonald and marine biologist Dr. Irene Novaczek, will be featured at Open Pages to discuss Time and a Place, and encourage questions on its content.

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.

The Island Studies Lectures Series gets under way for a new season on Tuesday, October 18, at 7 pm in the SDU Main Building Faculty Lounge on the UPEI campus. Kicking off the season is UPEI historian Dr. Edward MacDonald, who will present a public lecture, “The Romance of Prince Edward Island: A Tour Through the 1941 Visitors' Guide.”

Along with fellow Islander Dr. Alan MacEachern of the University of Western Ontario, Dr. MacDonald has been working for many years on a history of Prince Edward Island tourism. In 1941, for special reasons, Prince Edward Island dressed itself up as “The England of Canada” in a bid to attract war-wary American tourists. One visitor saved the guide, adding their own comments in the margins. Six decades later, that guide has come back to the Island. Its pictures, text, ads, and annotations provide a revealing glimpse into an industry that was still struggling to define itself.

Dr. Edward MacDonald teaches in the History Department at UPEI. His research focus is the social, cultural, and environmental history of Prince Edward Island. Along with Dr. Josh MacFadyen and Dr. Irene Novaczek, he is co-editor of Time and A Place: An Environmental History of Prince Edward Island, co-published by Island Studies Press and McGill-Queen’s University Press. The best known of his seven books is If You’re Stronghearted: Prince Edward Island in the 20th Century (October 2000).

Admission to the lecture is free, and everyone is welcome to attend.

Watch for details for another lecture about islands–near and far–November 15. For more information, please contact Laurie at iis@upei.ca or (902)894-2881.

UPEI’s vice-president academic and research spoke recently at the inaugural Cardiovascular Research Day at the Ontario Veterinary College. In addition to his many duties at UPEI, Dr. Robert Gilmour is also a prominent cardiovascular researcher. His lab focuses on the cellular mechanisms for the development and suppression of heart rhythm disorders, in particular ventricular fibrillation, which is the leading cause of death in developed nations. A collaborative multidisciplinary approach involving physiologists, physicists, computer scientists, and engineers, as well as human and veterinary cardiologists, is used to develop new and better methods of detecting and treating these life-threatening disorders. His talk was titled “Cardiac Defibrillation: It’s been a LEAP Year.”

The inaugural research day for the Centre for Cardiovascular Investigations (CCVI) at the University of Guelph brought together more than 100 researchers, students, and research collaborators. 

The UPEI Graduate Student Association (GSA), along with UPEI’s Vice-President Administration and Finance Jackie Podger and Vice-President Academic and Research Dr. Robert Gilmour, are pleased to announce that the GSA now has a student lounge. The lounge is located in room 403 of the Duffy Science Centre and is available for use by any student currently enrolled in a graduate program at UPEI. This is a great space to drop in, take a breather, and meet other graduate students on campus. Stay tuned for announcements from the GSA about upcoming events in our new lounge.

To celebrate the inaugural basketball season in the new stadium-style seats, UPEI Athletics and Recreation is offering reserved, personalized seats to all Panther Package holders for an additional $25.00. The best deal in sports on the Island just got better!

Your Panther Package gets you into every Panther home game of the 2016/2017 season (except men’s hockey). It costs $75.00 and includes a Panther coin and key chain, poster and pocket schedules, a piece of Panther swag (T-shirt or hat). These can be purchased on-line at gopanthersgo.ca, or at Panther Central (front desk of Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre).

Children are not charged admission to the games, but you can purchase a reserved seat for each child in your family, without the purchase of a Panther Package. Reserved seating will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Sales will commence on Thursday October 13 at 9:00 am.

Stop by Panther Central. Your seat is waiting!

Enrolment at the University of Prince Edward Island is reflecting an upward trend once again this year; in fact, UPEI tops the region.

The Atlantic Association of Universities (AAU) recently posted its annual survey of preliminary enrolments on its website, with data from universities around the region as of October 1, 2016.  UPEI has grown the most in terms of total full-time undergraduate and graduate enrolment with an increase over last year of 2.8 per cent. The regional average shows a decline of 0.5 per cent.

“We are working extremely hard in every way we can to highlight the excellent quality of our programs, our faculty, and our unique learning environment at UPEI,” said Dr. Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, UPEI President and Vice-Chancellor.

“We take pride in our collective efforts to provide experiential learning opportunities to our students, to allow them to reach their full potential. This work is paying off in attracting new students, vitally important at a time when demographics are changing.”

One way that UPEI is overcoming declining high school numbers in the region is by being extremely successful in drawing students from around the world. This year UPEI saw a substantial increase of international applications, resulting in 894 international student enrolments, an increase of 19.5 per cent. Of UPEI’s total student body, 21 per cent is made up of international students.

“We warmly welcome this important diversity to our campus,” adds President Abd-El-Aziz.

As of October 1, a total of 4,433 students, both full-time and part-time, were enrolled at UPEI.

The University of Prince Edward Island prides itself on people, excellence, and impact and is committed to assisting students to 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.

Assocation of Atlantic Universities news release

The University of Prince Edward Island extends its condolences on the passing of Michael S. Schurman, LLD after learning of his sudden death over the weekend.

The 79-year-old retired business icon was a long-time friend of and donor to UPEI. He was past vice-chair of the UPEI Board of Governors, chair of the Building a Legacy capital campaign, and most recently served on the Advisory Council for the UPEI School of Sustainable Design Engineering. He was recognized by UPEI for his contributions to and leadership in the construction, business, education, charitable, and non-profit sectors with an honorary doctor of laws degree in 2009.

“The University has lost a great friend and tremendous supporter in Michael Schurman. Mike was passionate and steadfast in his commitment to post-secondary education and, in particular, to UPEI,” said Dr. Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, President and Vice-Chancellor. “On behalf of the entire UPEI community, I extend my most sincere sympathies to Mike’s wife, Pat and his daughters, Margo Thompson, Kim Horrelt, Pam Montgomery, and Jody Hollis, and their families.”

In 2008, Dr. Schurman and his family were recognized for their contribution to UPEI’s Building a Legacy campaign when the dramatic, two-level entrance and main feature in Don and Marion McDougall Hall was named “Schurman Market Square.” 

At that time Dr. Schurman said, “UPEI is such an important element of the cultural, economic, social, and educational life on Prince Edward Island. To support the University is the same as supporting the development and growth of the province. It is so easy to support UPEI because it benefits all Islanders.”

He also noted that UPEI's reputation for excellence in education and research had grown immensely, and would continue to grow. His prediction came true—he shared the vision of President Abd-El-Aziz for the new UPEI School of Sustainable Design Engineering.

“I’ve personally lost a great friend and mentor,” added President Abd-El-Aziz. “Mike provided wonderful guidance and support from the first day I arrived at UPEI. I can’t say enough about how much he helped UPEI achieve our dream of having the School of Sustainable Design Engineering and how he was continuing to contribute by serving on the engineering advisory council. I will greatly miss him.”

After completing his education at Acadia University (Commerce) and UNB (Civil Engineering), Dr. Schurman became involved in his family's construction, building supplies, and concrete business, M.F. Schurman Company, Limited, becoming president and general manager. His business acumen and ability for being at the forefront of technology was known across the country, and his wisdom was well sought. Dr. Schurman served on the boards of the Canadian Construction Association, Atlantic Business Development, Atlantic Provinces Economic Council, Atlantic Opportunities Agency, Island Telecom, and Slemon Park Corporation. He was inducted as a laureate of the Junior Achievement of PEI Business Hall of Fame in 2000. The family business, which had expanded under Dr. Schurman’s leadership to include a dozen companies under the M.F. Schurman name, was sold to J.D. Irving Ltd. in 2004.

Among his many volunteer pursuits, he was a long time board member for The Fathers of Confederation Building Trust, most recently serving as treasurer. He also had served as an executive member of the Board of Governors at Acadia University and as vice-chair of the Holland College Foundation. The Michael S. Schurman Family Foundation also funded the Heart and Stroke Foundation of PEI's Change of Heart program.

Funeral arrangements for Michael S. Schurman, LLD have been entrusted to Belvedere Funeral Home. The University will lower its flags to half-mast position in his memory.

Every week, UPEI Athletics and Recreation recognizes two student-athletes for their hard work and dedication to their respective sports. Congratulations to Corneila Geib (women’s hockey) and Mohammad Jaber (men’s soccer), the UPEI Panther Subway Athletes of the Week for October 10-16! View the video.

Mohammad Jaber is a first-year Science student and a striker from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Jaber scored both goals on five shots during the Men’s Soccer Panthers’ 2-0 win over Université de Moncton on Saturday.  During Sunday's 1-0 loss to the University of New Brunswick, Jaber pushed hard offensively, recording three goal chances.

“Mohammed was our number one scoring threat in both games this weekend,” said head coach Lewis Page. “He created numerous opportunities for us and he scored on two of them.”

Corneila Geib is a fourth-year Business student and a forward from Calgary, Alberta.  Geib scored two goals in the Women’s Hockey Panthers’ 5-1 win over Mount Allison University on Friday, and then, on Saturday, scored the overtime winner in the team’s 3-2 win over Dalhousie.

“Corneila's work ethic was extremely strong on the weekend,” said head coach Bruce Donaldson. "She took advantage of her veteran experience in the league.”

Congratulations Corneila and Mohammad!

It’s not too late to purchase your Panther Package, the best sports deal on Prince Edward Island! Your $75 season ticket gets you into every Panthers home game, in every sport (except men’s hockey). Find more details at gopanthersgo.ca.

The University of Prince Edward Island signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in Germany on Monday, October 17, 2016.

UPEI President and Vice-Chancellor Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, accompanied by industry experts from the PEI Bioalliance, Vector Aerospace, BioFuelNet Canada, and BBSI Canada Ltd., met with TUM in Germany for three days of joint-research-cooperation meetings. These meetings have resulted in an MOU between UPEI and TUM, which will facilitate an exchange program for students from UPEI’s Department of Chemistry and TUM’s Department of Mechanical Engineering.

President Abd-El-Aziz said he is encouraged by the signing of the MOU, that this was the priority of his visit and that the accompaniment of industry experts reinforced the importance of joint collaborations in the field of bioprocess engineering, aviation system engineering, and energy systems engineering.

“Our overall goal during these joint research cooperation meetings was to explore the possibility of a student exchange program,” said President Abd-El-Aziz. “The Technical University of Munich is a formidable institution and this new relationship will foster joint-research opportunities for our students while simultaneously exposing them to new approaches, another culture, and global networking opportunities.” 

President Abd-El-Aziz added that this new partnership will have positive impacts for both universities as well as the province of Prince Edward Island and will strengthen UPEI’s efforts to be a leader in research and discovery.

About UPEI’s Partner

The Technical University of Munich is a research university with campuses in Munich, Garching, and Freising-Weihenstephan. It is a member of TU9, an incorporated society of the largest and most notable German institutes of technology. The university has roughly 39,000 students and 9,800 academic staff. TUM's alumni include 13 Nobel laureates, 18 Leibniz Prizewinners and 10 IEEE Fellow Members.