Two prominent Canadian aboriginal women will be the keynote and plenary speakers of the second annual UPEI Multidisciplinary Graduate Research Conference (UMGRC) held from August 11-13 at UPEI. Last year’s conference included more than 70 presentations from graduate researchers from across the country. This year’s edition, working under the theme, “Different ways of knowing,” offers graduate students a rare opportunity to share interdisciplinary research and gain valuable skills and networking opportunities.

Keynote speaker: Rebecca Thomas

“Do you see what I see? Can you? Contemporary world-view and perspective through the eyes of an indigenous poet and scholar,” by Rebecca Thomas, August 12, 9 am, Alex H. MacKinnon Auditorium, Don and Marion McDougall Hall.

Rebecca Thomas is a Mi'kmaw woman living in Dartmouth Nova Scotia. She is the daughter of a residential school survivor whose family is rooted in Lennox Island First Nation, Prince Edward Island. Rebecca is outspoken when it comes to confronting aboriginal stereotypes, as well as educating her colleagues and the general public about cultural safety and integrity. Through her work as coordinator for Aboriginal Student Services at the Nova Scotia Community College, and also as a Slam Poet, Rebecca encourages people to think before they speak. Having captained the Nova Scotia Slam poetry team for the third year in a row, she was able to bring her voice, along with three other Nova Scotians, to the national stage. Having been named HRM's most recent poet laureate, most of her work focuses on the relationships between Canada's First Peoples, their relationship with the federal government, and how First Nations' people are perceived publicly. Rebecca is on a lifelong journey to promote understanding and empathy for indigenous people and marginalized communities.

Plenary Speaker: Julie Bull

“Research is Relational: From Principles to Practice in Reconciliation,” by Julie Bull, August 12, 4 pm, Alex H. MacKinnon Auditorium, Don and Marion McDougall Hall.

Julie Bull is an award-winning researcher of mixed Inuit descent and is a member of NunatuKavut, Labrador. She teaches in the Aboriginal Studies Program at the University of Toronto, the School of Public Health and Social Policy at the University of Victoria, and is an invited lecturer and speaker at many events throughout Canada and around the world. Julie is active in both academic and grassroots indigenous initiatives and sits on national committees working in the area of indigenous health research and research ethics, such as the Secretariat on Responsible Conduct of Research. She remains connected to her home community in Labrador by sitting on the NunatuKavut Community Council Research Advisory Committee and continuing to facilitate relationships between that community and academic researchers. She is also a mentor in the Indigenous Women in Community Leadership program at the Coady International Institute at St. FX University. Julie was instrumental in bringing together the first annual Connecting Aboriginal Cultures workshops in 2008 and the opening of the Mawi’omi Aboriginal Student Centre at UPEI.

Presentations at UMGRC will be compiled into a peer-reviewed publication, available after the conference. For more information on the conference workshops and schedule, visit the UMGRC website.

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.

Relive “the good old days” at the Barn Reunion, August 6, from 9 pm—12:30 am at UPEI’s W. A. Murphy Student Centre. For one night only, generation of Panthers who spent much of their student life in the Barn will come together to recall old memories and create new ones at the Barn Reunion.

Music will be provided by special guest DJs Blake Doyle, Joel Ives, and Scott Ferris. The evening will feature a special tribute to the Class of 1991, who are celebrating 25 years since their graduation. There will be a memorabilia display, music, door prizes, and more!

“I'm looking forward to seeing lots of friends from the past and helping to create a Barn Reunion that will be reminiscent of the good old days,” said Blake Doyle, one of the evening’s guest DJs. “I am excited to assist alumni and friends of the barn to reconnect, socialize, and celebrate all the development and changes of our prized provincial university.”

Details about the Barn:

• home of the student union from 1972—2002
• venue for some of Canada's biggest bands through the 80s and 90s
• destroyed by fire in 1982 and rebuilt
• home to CIMN campus radio
• housed the campus pub (Panther Lounge) and hosted memorable annual events such as end-of-semester pub nights, Hallowe’en pubs, Friday night movies, Pig and Whistles, Main Events, pool tournaments, and more
• demolished in 2002, replaced by the W. A. Murphy Student Centre

Tickets are $15 dollars, and can be purchased by visiting upei.ca/barnreunion.

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.

Singing impacts lives in positive ways from birth until senior years. It also impacts communities. A workshop entitled “Singing, Song, and Community” will take place Friday, July 22, from 1 pm—4:15 pm in UPEI’s SDU Main Building Faculty Lounge. It begins with a keynote presentation from Rachel Heydon of the University of Western Ontario’s Faculty of Education and coordinator of the Early Childhood Education master’s program. She is also a longstanding research leader within the UPEI-led Advancing Interdisciplinary Research in Singing (AIRS) project and a former faculty member of the UPEI  Faculty of Education. She will speak on “Singing-Infused Multimodal Intergenerational Curricula: (Re) Conceptualizing why Multimodal Literacy Matters,” based on a book co-authored with Susan O’Neill of Simon Fraser University.

The remaining program will include short presentations from leaders of local community organizations who will describe their mandates and suggest how singing connects directly or indirectly with them. The speakers are Jane Arbing (Chances Family Centre PEI), Corrine Hendricken-Eldershaw (Alzheimer Society of PEI), Mark Sandiford (Culture PEI), Pamela Campbell (voice teacher, performer, conductor), and Nathan Hood (president, UPEI Student Union).

After refreshments, the following psychology students, who are conducting research on singing at UPEI, will make brief presentations on their work:  Hailey Arsenault, Quincy Beck (visiting from Brown University), Eric Da Silva, Kyle Dutton, and Julienne Lecky.

The AIRS UPEI Multicultural Choir and Song Circle will close the workshop. Throughout the afternoon, there will opportunity for audience discussion and participation.
The event is under the auspices of the  UPEI-led AIRS project (supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council), the UPEI Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, and the UPEI Faculty of Education.

Anyone with an interest in community, music and well-being is encouraged to attend. This event is free.

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.
 

Dr. Robert Gilmour, Vice-President Academic and Research at the University of Prince Edward Island, today announced a new UNESCO Chair in Island Studies and Sustainability. The chair will be co-held by Dr. James Randall, a geographer and coordinator of UPEI’s Master of Arts in Island Studies (MAIS) program, and Dr. Godfrey Baldacchino, a professor of sociology at the University of Malta and an Island Studies teaching fellow at the University of Prince Edward Island.

“The UNESCO Chair is a singular achievement for the university, particularly for the program in Island Studies,” said Dr. Robert Gilmour. “The chair formalizes and reinforces the combined efforts of our former Canada Research Chair, Dr. Baldacchino, and the current coordinator of UPEI's MAIS program, Dr. Randall, and, as such, significantly enhances the international impact of one of the university's signature initiatives.”

The UNESCO Chair in Island Studies will work to establish and expand academic and research programmes on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Sub-National Island Jurisdictions (SNIJs). It will operate from the premise that SIDS and SNIJs are innovative, entrepreneurial, and connected, not vulnerable, lacking, and isolated. The chair is one of 700 UNESCO chairs around the world and is the first in Atlantic Canada.

“The relevance of islands to our world at the moment is unparalleled. From political turmoil in the South China Sea, to the impacts of climate change, to refugee movements through Europe, to the role of offshore financial centres, stories about islands and islanders seem to be in the news every day,” said Dr. James Randall. “This Chair brings together the people and the organizations doing island studies research and learning in order to help us solve some of the great challenges facing our world.”

The principal long-term mission of the Chair of Island Studies and Sustainability is to contribute to the sustainable development of SIDS—a UNESCO priority since the articulation of the Millennium Development Goals in 2000—and to extend this priority to SNIJs. The chair proposes to harness the insights and experience of island studies scholars, students, governments, and organizations worldwide, many of which the co-chair-holders, the Institute of Island Studies, and partners and supporters have already established.

“It is a great privilege to be the co-holder of the UNESCO Chair Program at UPEI along with my colleague Dr. Jim Randall,” said Dr. Godfrey Baldacchino. “UPEI has made huge investments in island studies over almost four decades and has developed a world class and world renowned reputation and expertise as a result. Most island studies roads lead to, or pass through, Charlottetown; the UNESCO Chair is a natural transition which now allows us to take the game to the next level, whether in public engagement, cutting edge scholarship, or research funding.”

“It is most edifying to see the strong relationship between the University of Prince Edward Island and the University of Malta cemented with this prestigious UNESCO Chair appointment—a first for both our institutions,” said Professor Alfred J. Vella, Rector of the University of Malta, in Malta. “In this way, our respective expertise in the study of islands and small jurisdictions is better recognized. I look forward to an even stronger island studies program, driven by the competitive advantage that our two institutions enjoy in this field.”

This chair is created through the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme, which has promoted international inter-university cooperation and networking since 1992 to enhance institutional capacities through knowledge sharing and collaborative work. The programme supports the establishment of UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Networks in key priority areas related to UNESCO’s fields of competence–i.e. in education, the natural and social sciences, culture, and communication.

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 Athletics and Recreation is proud to introduce the Panther Academy After-School Program, coming this fall in the Chi-Wan Young Sport Centre. The Panther Academy is dedicated to providing all of our participants with opportunities to learn in a safe and fun environment.

UPEI offers a large selection of age-appropriate games, activities, and sports to help develop the social, physical, intellectual, creative and emotional needs of children. We have a large, spacious gymnasium with play-centered equipment for younger children and more game-oriented play for older children. A quiet classroom space for learning and homework and a smaller activity area for one-on-one learning and activities are also available.

“We are very excited to expand our Panther Academy to include after school programming,” said Chris Huggan, director of Athletics and Recreation at UPEI. “We have excellent facilities, staff and programs in place, and we are eager to further engage children in the community in an active, educational manner.”

The Panther Academy’s philosophy is entrenched in the belief that individual and group play through physical activity enhances a child’s ability to learn and improve intellectually as well as develop their ability to cooperate, learn individual responsibility, and foster caring partnerships. The psychological and physical well-being of each of our participating children is the utmost priority, and their safety and enjoyment in our programs is our number one concern. We encourage participation in all activities to better enhance the children’s overall experience.

The Panther Academy After-School Program is run by certified staff and qualified university students. Student staff are chosen for their maturity, ability to relate to children, and leadership skills. All staff receive High-Five training along with CPR/First Aid/AED training and a mandatory extensive learning week led by our Programming Coordinator.

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.

Students at the new School of Sustainable Design Engineering recently competed in an international, intercollegiate racing competition held in Rochester, New York. Each year, the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), holds three competitions in North America, which are open for universities around the world to participate. The final competition this year saw nearly 100 teams compete from countries such as the United States, Canada, Mexico, India, Brazil, and Venezuela. This was UPEI’s first time competing in such an event.

The competition challenges students to design and build a mini Baja-style dune buggy to simulate a real-world engineering design team. Students develop a business and marketing plan, aiming to mass-produce these vehicles as a start-up company. The vehicle design and Dragon's Den-style business proposal are then presented to judges in sales and design presentations. The Baja vehicle then raced against other teams in multiple dynamic events, such as a 100-foot hill climb, acceleration, manoeuvrability, and suspension, as well as a final 4-hour endurance race to complete the competition.

“We would like to thank all of our sponsors who made travelling to and competing at this competition possible,” said Andrew Simmons on behalf of the UPEI Baja Team. “We were fortunate to receive overwhelming support from the entire community, including sponsors such as Princess Auto, City of Summerside, University of Prince Edward Island, and many other local businesses and individuals. We were pleased with our performance in our inaugural year, placing 84th overall, and we look forward to improving next year. As the University expands through the new School of Sustainable Design Engineering, competing at these international events provides us with opportunities to gain practical skills and valuable experience. We hope that through ongoing support from the community, we can grow Prince Edward Island's international reputation and promote its innovative and competitive engineering program.”

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.

Alison Reindel, a fourth-year student at UPEI’s Atlantic Veterinary College, has been selected to present a research poster at the American Public Health Association’s (APHA) annual conference in Denver, Colorado, on November 2, 2016.

Reindel’s poster will describe the research project she conducted at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia. Last summer Reindel was accepted into the prestigious Dr. James A. Ferguson Emerging Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program, a nine-week summer program funded by the CDC. The program provides educational and professional development opportunities for Fellows interested in research into infectious diseases and health disparities.

During her time at the CDC, Reindel worked on a research project exploring the development of an in vitro model to study respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which is a major cause of severe lower respiratory tract illness in infant, elderly and immunocompromised patients. Clinical manifestations of RSV range from symptoms associated with a mild common cold to severe respiratory distress and failure. By the age of two, the vast majority of children will have already had an RSV infection that often goes unnoticed; however in infants born premature, the immunocompromised, or the elderly, an RSV infection is much more severe, causing bronchiolitis or pneumonia which often requires hospitalization.

RSV poses significant health and financial burdens on a global scale. Currently, there are only two US Food and Drug Administration-approved treatments available for RSV, and both come with significant drawbacks. With the vast burden of disease, raising health care costs, and concerns regarding the effectiveness and risks associated with the current RSV antiviral therapies, additional research in the development of alternative treatment methods is a priority. Reindel’s research project aids in providing a mechanism to study RSV infection to further advance potential treatment options.

Reindel, who hails from Rochester, New York,  hopes to incorporate her interest in public health into her career as a veterinarian. Her experiences in teaching, veterinary medicine, and infectious disease studies will be used to advance the education, detection, prevention, and treatment of infectious and zoonotic diseases and thus positively advance both animal and human health.

“The intersection of animal, human, and environmental health is exciting. Through the “One Health” concept, I plan to use what I learn in veterinary medicine to help people and their animals to be safe and healthy.”

Following graduation in 2017, Reindel plans on completing a Master of Public Health degree, while gaining experience in mixed-animal clinical practice.
 

Dr. Larry Hammell, Professor and Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Research at the Atlantic Veterinary College, has been honoured with the 2016 Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) Merck Veterinary Award for his contributions to aquatic animal health and aquaculture industry. Dr. Hammell received the award on July 7 during the CVMA’s 2016 annual conference in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Congratulations, Dr. Hammell!

The following is a media release issued by the CVMA:

PEI Veterinarian Recognized Nationally for Outstanding Aquatic Animal Medicine

OTTAWA, Ont. – Dr. Larry Hammell was awarded the 2016 Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) Merck Veterinary Award for his monumental commitment to the enhancement of a sustainable aquaculture industry through logical evidence-based decision-making and for his contributions which have directly influenced aquatic animal health policy worldwide.

Dr. Hammell is recognized nationally and internationally for his contributions in aquatic epidemiology, aquatic animal health research and aquatic food animal production medicine. He is founder and co-director of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Collaborating Center for Epidemiology and Risk Assessment for Aquatic Animal Diseases along with the National Veterinary Institute of Norway. Dr. Hammell plays an integral role on the research team that was awarded the UPEI Canada Excellence Research Chair in Aquatic Epidemiology. He has led extensive consultative and training collaborations with Norway, New Zealand, Central and South America, Southeast Asia, and across Canada. As frontrunner on the global stage, he led the development of the Disease Technical Working Group for Salmon Aquaculture Dialogue with the World Wildlife Fund and more recently has been involved in several OIE aquatic Professional Veterinary Services assessments.

His expertise and involvement is widely recognized amongst his colleagues: “Larry’s knowledge, leadership skills, and most importantly, his enthusiasm/dedication has pushed me and other veterinarians to commit to research participation and furthered continued education,” says Dr. Michael J. Beattie, Chief Veterinarian Aquaculture of the New Brunswick Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries. “It is important to recognize individuals such as Dr. Hammell, whom by their unselfish deeds, have improved the sector of animal production on a regional, national and international level.”

Dr. Hammell was one of a core group of industry and provincial veterinarians who lobbied tirelessly for two decades for the legitimization of the veterinary profession in aquatic animal health. In 2003, he was instrumental in consolidating the role of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) as lead federal agency for the National Aquatic Animal Health Program (NAAHP), which is co-delivered by the CFIA and Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

As an aquatic veterinary epidemiologist, Dr. Hammell has been the lead proponent on many large, clinical research projects and partnerships with industry and government agencies. He is currently Professor and Associate Dean (Graduate Studies and Research) at the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC), University of Prince Edward Island. He recently completed the directorship of the AVC Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences, and Innovation PEI Research Chair in Epidemiology for Aquatic Food Production.

“Dr. Hammell has been a pillar in support of the growth of a sustainable aquaculture industry in Newfoundland and Labrador that is directly responsible for improving the socio-economic circumstances for the province’s citizenry,” says Dr. Daryl Whelan, Chief Aquaculture Veterinarian, Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

The Merck Veterinary Award, sponsored by Merck Animal Health, is presented to a veterinarian whose work in large animal practice, clinical research, or basic sciences is judged to have contributed significantly to the advancement of large animal medicine and surgery, including herd health management.

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The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) is the national and international voice for Canada’s veterinarians, providing leadership and advocacy for veterinary medicine. Each year, CVMA proudly recognizes individuals and groups for their outstanding contribution to veterinary medicine. Visit canadianveterinarians.net to learn more about CVMA.

Contact:    Tanya Frye, Acting Manager of Communications & Public Relations,  Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA),  613-236-1162 ext. 128 or tfrye@cvma-acmv.org

University of Prince Edward Island Men’s Basketball Head Coach Tim Kendrick is pleased to announce that Nathan Anderson from Nassau, Bahamas, has committed to the Panthers for the upcoming 2016-17 season. The 6 foot, 6 ½ inch, 215-pound forward is a graduate of C.C. Sweeting High School.

“I am really ecstatic and excited to be attending a great school like UPEI,” said Anderson. “I really appreciate the opportunity that Coach Kendrick has given me. I will put my best foot forward and give my greatest effort, both in the classroom and on the court!”

“We are very pleased to add Nathan to our roster for the next five years,” said Kendrick. “He has good size and, from everything we have seen and heard, a willingness to work hard on the court and off. He is athletic, strong, and runs the court well. He will most definitely add to our front court depth, and we expect him to improve steadily throughout his career here at UPEI!”

Coach Kendrick said former Panther Basketball athlete Curtis Robinson played an important role in bringing Anderson to UPEI, adding that it is a pleasure for him to work with Panther alumni both currently on and off Island.

“I have certainly called on our UPEI alumni at times for recruiting help over my five years. A few that immediately come to mind are Peter Gordon, Curtis Robinson, and Kenny Duncan. Curtis has been instrumental in this case with bringing Nathan here. He even worked him out for us, and had it videoed and sent to me immediately. I talk to Peter several times a year, and Kenny has been great as well.”

Anderson has been accepted into the UPEI Faculty of Arts program.

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

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.

Calling all UPEI, SDU, and PWC alumni! Join your classmates and come home to PEI for Reunion Weekend 2016 on the beautiful and vibrant UPEI campus, August 4-6.

A variety of receptions, award ceremonies, and class milestone reunion gatherings are sure to be special and memorable events. A significant highlight will include the official opening of the new School of Sustainable Design Engineering and the 50th milestone reunion celebration for the SDU Class of 1966. The Barn Reunion will bring together those to remember the building where generations of students spent their time out of class.

For a full schedule of events, see upei.ca/reunionweekend.

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.