Students from UPEI’s Faculty of Business took second place at the Inter-Collegiate Business Competition (ICBC) held January 18–20 at Queens University in Kingston, Ontario. The ICBC is Canada’s longest-running undergraduate business case competition, celebrating its 40^th year.

The ICBC features competitions in eight different events, including accounting, business policy (strategy), ethics, debate, finance, human resources, marketing, and management of information systems. After strong showings at the preliminary round in October, two teams from UPEI earned invitations to compete in the final round in the categories of ethics and business policy.

UPEI’s ethics team competed against teams from University of Alberta, University of Calgary, Concordia University, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and Wilfrid Laurier University. The team, comprised of Quinton Gorman, a fourth-year Bachelor of Business Administration student (marketing specialization) and Zach Geldert, a fourth-year Bachelor of Sociology student with an economics minor and business certificate, placed second.

“ICBC was a great learning experience, and I am happy that we were able to achieve this result,” said Geldert. “This competition gave us the chance to put what we have learned in the classroom to use in a very practical way.”

The team had five-and-a-half hours to prepare with no access to internet, but use of textbooks. They had 15 minutes to present their solution to a judging panel of industry professionals, with an additional five minutes to answer questions and defend their recommendations.

“If you want a big return, you have to be willing take a risk,” said Gorman. “Even though preparing and presenting a case in a short amount of time may be daunting, it is undoubtedly one of the greatest experiences that a business student can have. You learn how to approach a business situation and provide a recommendation in a hands-on way. This is something that all students can learn from, and I encourage all those who are interested to get involved in this great program.”

UPEI’s business policy team was made up of Alex Dunne, a fourth-year Bachelor of Business Administration student (accounting specialization); Callum Wood, a fourth-year Bachelor of Business Administration student (accounting specialization); and, Sydney Gallant, a fourth-year Bachelor of Business Administration student (finance specialization). The team had a great showing in an extremely competitive field, but unfortunately didn’t crack the top three.

“I am so proud of the work these students did in training and in competition,” said Mary Whitrow, UPEI’s case competition program coordinator and coach. “Congratulations to both teams on their performances!”

“It is a great achievement to have two teams qualifying again for the final round of such a rigorous competition,” said Dr. Juergen Krause, dean of the Faculty of Business at UPEI. “Getting to the final shows that you have what it takes to compete against some of the world’s top students.”

Faculty of Business students will be busy with more case competitions this semester. Alex Dunne, Callum Wood, and Sydney Gallant will compete at the John Molson Undergraduate Case Competition, an international competition in Montreal in mid-February. Zach Geldert will be competing in late February at the Network of International Business Schools Case Competition, an international competition in Guatemala.

Past results at ICBC:

• 2017: first place in marketing; third place in ethics
• 2016: third place in marketing
• 2015: third place in business policy
• 2013: first place in ethics
• 2012: second place in ethics

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.

It’s a busy weekend at home for the Panthers. The UPEI Women’s Hockey team plays Friday and Saturday night. UPEI Men’s and Women’s Basketball host a two-day home stand against Memorial. And Saturday night, show your Panther pride by helping us support the Canadian Cancer Society and Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation with Pink in the Rink and Shoot for the Cure.

Friday night, UPEI Women’s Hockey takes on St. Thomas University at 7:00 pm.

“STU has had our number all season, and if we were entering the playoffs this weekend, we would be meeting them in the first round, so setting the tone early is important,” said coach Bruce Donaldson. “STU is very patient. They play great defence, so we really need to keep the pressure on them in their end if we want to have success against them.”

Friday’s game is also a Bell Let’s Talk Night in support of mental health initiatives. Let’s keep the conversation going.

Saturday’s action begins at 6:00 pm in the Chi-Wan Young Sport Centre as the women’s basketball team plays Memorial University.

“We play two important four-point games against Memorial this weekend,” said coach Greg Gould. “If we hope to have any chance of finishing in a first-round bye position at the AUS playoffs, we will need to sweep both games from a tough high-scoring MUN team.”

The game is also part of a special Shoot for the Cure/Pink in the Rink night with UPEI Women’s Hockey. The hockey team plays across the hall in MacLauchlan Arena at 7:00 pm where they host Mount Allison University.

“While Mount A will not be making the playoffs this year, they work very hard and have had a number of very close games,” said coach Donaldson. “Their goaltending is very solid. We need to match their intensity and work well as a team in order to have success. Saturday evening we will be paying tribute to our four graduating players: Megan Sullivan, Lindsay Johnston, Madison Clarke, and team captain Emma Martin.”

Back in the gym, UPEI Men’s Basketball hosts MUN at 8:00 pm.

“There are many areas of the game that we are hoping to improve upon in preparation for this weekend’s match-up against the Seahawks,” said coach Darrell Glenn. “Specifically we want to focus on our perimetre defence and keeping people out of the key. Offensively, we will need to continue to focus on ball movement and player movement to ensure that we are getting a good shot each time down the floor.”

Sunday, UPEI Men’s and Women’s Basketball see rematches against Memorial. The women’s game starts at 1:00 pm. The men tip off at 3:00 pm. Between games, Basketball PEI will hold a ceremony to celebrate the recipients of the 2016–2017 PEI Basketball Awards.

Go Panthers Go! 

Every week, UPEI Athletics and Recreation recognizes two student-athletes for their hard work and dedication to their respective sports. Congratulations to Jenna Mae Ellsworth and Milorad Sedlarevic, the UPEI Panther Subway Athletes of the Week for January 22–28!

Jenna Mae Ellsworth is a second-year guard on the UPEI Women's Basketball team and a Bachelor of Science student from Charlottetown. The Panthers split a pair of games over the weekend against Cape Breton University, winning the first 76–65, losing the second 88–78. In Saturday’s game, she scored 16 points, shooting 46% from the field and 100% from the free-throw line. She had five rebounds, three assists, one steal, and a blocked shot. On Sunday, she was back with an incredible 21 points, shooting 62% from the field, five-for-five from the free-throw line, and collecting three rebounds, an assist, two steals and a blocked shot. “Jenna Mae had an outstanding weekend on both ends of the court,” said coach Greg Gould. “Her offence was outstanding, but her defensive presence was even better.”

Milorad Sedlarevic is a fourth-year forward on the UPEI Men’s Basketball team and a Bachelor of Business Administration student from Jesenice, Slovenia. The Panthers picked up their first wins of the weekend with a two-game home stand against Cape Breton University, beating them 71–63 and 77–71. “Milorad Sedlarevic is maturing into a complete player offensive player,” said coach Darrell Glenn. “On Saturday night, however, he was given the task of guarding the second leading scorer in the conference and did a fantastic job of holding him to just seven points. Milorad also managed to score 21 points shooting six for eight from the field and eight for nine from the free-throw line.”

And don’t forget! UPEI students get into all Panther home games for free. Let’s fill the stands and make this the best season ever!

Join the UPEI Women’s Hockey and Basketball teams this Saturday night, February 3, for a very special evening in support of breast cancer research. In the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre, UPEI Women’s Basketball is hosting its annual Shoot for the Cure game at 6:00 pm. In MacLauchlan Arena, UPEI Women’s Hockey is hosting Pink in the Rink at 7:00 pm. The games are in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and Canadian Cancer Society.

The Shoot for the Cure campaign has proven to be overwhelming success since it was launched in the fall of 2007, with over $1.1 million in donations to date. All 47 U SPORTS women’s basketball schools will once again participate in the program for the seventh year in a row.

“As an Island, we have the power to combat breast cancer through increasing awareness, educating our children, and raising funds for researchers seeking a cure, therapy resources, and foundations supporting those affected,” said Kiera Rigby of the UPEI Women’s Basketball team.

Shoot for the Cure t-Shirts will be available for sale before the game at the UPEI Bookstore. There will also be a bake sale, raffle, and, for a twist, a “Puck Toss” during half-time at the men’s basketball game.

Just across the hall in MacLauchlan Arena, the Panther women’s hockey team will be holding special events for Pink in the Rink, which will include a “Pink Ball Roll to Win”, raffle, and ceremonial puck drop by cancer survivor Anne MacArthur.

“I’m celebrating 15 years as a breast cancer survivor,” said MacArthur, “and when I say celebrating, I mean celebrating every day, because I’m so happy to be here. I celebrate by being active, staying strong, and doing all the things that I love.”

“I am so lucky to have been a part of this fundraising campaign,” said Emily March of the women’s hockey team. “Breast cancer has affected so many around the world, and I know I speak for my team when I say we have been inspired by the stories and want to help out in any way. Pink in the Rink will be a very special night not only for UPEI sports, but for raising awareness of this horrible disease.”

Tickets are available at Panther Central. Go Panthers Go!

AVC students Hanna Hone, Colleen Griffin, and Melanie Stuart participated in the 17th annual Intercollegiate Animal Welfare Judging/Assessment Contest at Iowa State University in November 2017.

As a team, the students assessed a group of finisher pigs on the university’s teaching farm, and as individuals, they evaluated the welfare of contrasting scenarios for each of farmed fish, meat rabbits, and racing greyhounds.

“The contest was an incredible opportunity to engage and develop our analytical skills in regards to animal welfare assessments,” said the students.

The competition challenged their critical thinking, communication, and public-speaking proficiencies and gave them a chance to interact with other students from across North America who share the same passion for animals and their welfare.

“It was a challenge for sure and has identified areas where we can improve, but we are proud of the work we accomplished. We walked away with a vastly improved knowledge of animal welfare and current developments in the field as well as amazing experience in developing in-depth opinions on welfare.”

They thanked their supervisor Dr. Michael Cockram, Chair of Animal Welfare at AVC; their student mentor Jolene Vermeulen; and specialist coaches Drs. Jonathan Spears and Larry Hammell, of AVC, and Dr. Jennifer Brown, Prairie Swine Centre, for their guidance and assistance in preparing for the contest. Funding for their trip to Iowa State came from the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre at AVC, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare.

The following media release was issued by the PEI BioAlliance:

Organizers of the 8th International Symposium on Aquatic Animal Health have opened the conference registration and put out a call seeking abstract submissions for oral and poster presentations. The 2018 symposium marks the thirtieth anniversary of the ISAAH, which will be held September 2 – 6, 2018 in Prince Edward Island, Canada.  The ISAAH meets every four years and typically attracts 300–400 fish health professionals from around the world. This will be only the second time the Conference has been hosted in Canada; the inaugural conference took place in Vancouver in 1988.

Aquaculture is the world’s fastest-growing sector for animal food production. And Atlantic Canadian companies  are  a prime resource in the evolution, growth and research into innovative solutions to challenges facing the global aquaculture industry. There are more than 30 organizations involved in aquaculture research and development throughout Atlantic Canada and several companies and the Atlantic Veterinary College in Prince Edward Island are helping to lead the way.

Delegates attending ISAAH 2018 will be have the opportunity to join other aquatic health professionals from around the world for scientific workshops, business meetings, keynote and research  presentations. The theme of this year’s  symposium is “Integrating Biotechnology in the Advancement of Aquatic Animal Health”.

Early Bird registration rates are available now, and, as there are limited spaces for registered delegates to attend the pre-conference scientific workshops, organizers encourage participants to sign up as soon as possible.

ISAAH 2018 is being hosted by the Fish Health Section of the American Fisheries Society, the Atlantic Veterinary College, and the Prince Edward Island BioAlliance.

Every week, UPEI Athletics and Recreation recognizes two student-athletes for their hard work and dedication to their respective sports. Congratulations to Rachel Colle and Darcy Ashley, the UPEI Panther Subway Athletes of the Week for January 29–February 4!

Rachel Colle is a third-year forward on the UPEI Women’s Hockey team and a Bachelor of Business Administration student from Toronto, Ontario. The Panthers won back-to-back games over the weekend, defeating St. Thomas University 2–1 and Mount Allison 4–1. “Rachel had a very strong weekend for us. She scored the shootout winner against STU on Friday night and a goal and assist in our victory over Mount A,” said coach Bruce Donaldson. “Rachel logged a ton of time in both games, especially during the STU game, playing a regular shift and on both the power play and penalty kill.”

Darcy Ashley is a fourth-year forward on the UPEI Men’s Hockey team and a Bachelor of Business Administration student from Brooklyn, PEI. The Panthers split a pair of games over the weekend, beating Acadia University 6–3 and losing to Saint Mary’s University 9–1. “Darcy’s playing strong hockey for us,” said coach Forbes MacPherson. “He scored two goals in our Acadia win Friday night. He wears his heart on his sleeve and competes every night. Even in Saturday’s loss to Saint Mary’s, he was competing every shift.”

And don’t forget! UPEI students get into all Panther home games for free. Let’s fill the stands and make this the best season ever!

The International Society for Applied Ethology’s (ISAE) 2018 International Congress will take place at the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC), University of Prince Edward Island, from July 30 to August 3.

The 700-member ISAE is the leading scientific society for the study of the behaviour and welfare of confined or domesticated animals, including companion, farm, zoo, and managed wild animals. This will be only the second time that the congress will be held in Canada and only the fifth time in North America. Registration is now open at isae2018.com/registration/

Since the conference is being held at AVC, it will bring together ethological and veterinary research under the theme, “Ethology for health and welfare,” with a specific session on veterinary aspects of ethology and welfare.

“Both disciplines conduct research to improve animal welfare and have much to gain by increased communication and discussion,” says Dr. Michael Cockram, Chair of Animal Welfare at AVC and chair of the local organizing committee.

The ISAE was formed in 1966 as the Society for Veterinary Ethology when questions were raised about whether the increased productivity of some farming systems restricted the ability of the animals to express their normal behaviour.

Over the last 50 plus years, the ISAE has facilitated a major expansion of diverse research on applied ethology and has contributed to an increased understanding of animal welfare. This research has had a major impact by influencing important changes in livestock production systems and practices to better meet the behavioural and welfare requirements of the animals.

Research on behavioural motivation has increased understanding of the causation of normal and “abnormal” behaviour. Studies on the cognitive abilities and on the feelings and emotions in farm, laboratory, and companion animals have been central in achieving an increased understanding of animal welfare. Studies can show what animals prefer, what they will work to obtain, what they will avoid, and what behavioural and physiological signs are associated with different situations considered to be negative or positive. A current research topic is how to recognise positive emotional states in animals; this will be addressed at the conference under the theme, “play behaviour.”

The conference will also explore a key issue, the boundary between science and ethics that has to be crossed when ethology is applied to animal welfare. It is in the interpretation of the behavioural responses, studied using rigorous scientific methods, where the knowledge of species-specific biology, human analogy on how humans respond in similar situations, and empathy towards animals has to be integrated to reach ethical judgments on animal welfare.

“Applied ethology has affected change in many areas of animal welfare,” says Dr. Cockram. “Examples include designing housing for chickens that provides more space and meets behavioural needs (nest box for egg laying, dust bath, and perch); increased use of environmental enrichment for confined livestock, laboratory, and zoo animals that has reduced repetitive abnormal behaviours; and changes in veal calf and swine production to provide more space, group housing, and improved diet.”

Members of the ISAE provide scientific expertise on committees and working groups that make recommendations on legislation, codes of practice, and guidelines designed to improve animal welfare. For example, they contribute to the National Farm Animal Care Council’s Codes of Practice by participating in the review of the scientific literature on key animal welfare issues.
 

The Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre at the Atlantic Veterinary College invites veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and veterinary and AHT students to participate in its 2018 AVC Winter Webinars  with Karen L. Overall, MA, VMD, PhD, DACVB. All veterinarians and veterinary technicians will earn one hour of continuing education (CE) per webinar.

Dr. Overall, author of the texts Clinical Behavioral Medicine for Small Animals and Manual of Clinical Behavioral Medicine for Dogs and Cats, and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Veterinary Behaviour: Clinical Applications and Research, will provide key practical information about preventing behaviour problems, which will benefit veterinary professionals, clients, and, above all, patients.

• Tuesday, February 27, 4:30–5:30 pm Atlantic Time (AT): Behavioural and neurodevelopment in kittens: What you have to know to give them the best start and minimize risk.
• Tuesday, March 6, 4:30–5:30 pm AT: Behavioural and neurodevelopment in puppies: What you have to know to give them the best start and minimize risk.
• Tuesday, March13, 4:30–5:30 pm AT: Emergent data in behavioural medicine: 20 findings that will change the way you think and practice.

Registration: $30 each or $75 for 3. There is no charge for veterinary or AHT students.

Registration information is at awc.upei.ca/. Please note the webinars will be live at 4:30–5:30 p.m. AT, but registrants may also view the webinars at their convenience via a link they will receive by email after the event has taken place.

The following is released by the University of Prince Edward Island and Holland College.

The University of Prince Edward Island and Holland College have formalized a degree pathway for graduates of the Holland College Sport and Leisure Management program. Students will study two years at Holland College and two years at UPEI, earning a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology.

“This is an exciting new way for the province’s post-secondary schools to provide a unique learning experience,” said Dr. Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, president and vice-chancellor of UPEI. “Providing a Kinesiology degree pathway for Sport and Leisure Management graduates allows them to expand their career options in exciting directions, including teaching and research. It’s a perfect partnership with limitless opportunities for students.”

“We are very pleased to strengthen the relationship between our two institutions with the formalization of this pathway,” said Michael O’Grady, vice president of innovation, enterprise and strategic development at Holland College. “It gives our graduates another option to complete their education in Prince Edward Island.”

UPEI’s Department of Applied Human Sciences will accept the Sport and Leisure Management diploma courses as transfer credits of up to 60 credit hours to enter the Bachelor of Science (Kinesiology) in the third year. Diploma graduates will be required to have a minimum of 70 per cent average to be admitted, and must complete at least 20 courses (60 credit hours) at UPEI to earn their degree.

“A graduate who demonstrates excellent practical skills and solid academic grounding will be very successful in the workplace,” said Wyatt Inman, instructor of Sport and Leisure Management at Holland College.

“Agreements such as this give Island students more options to complete their post-secondary education,” said Dr. Kathy Gottschall-Pass, interim dean of Science at UPEI.

“This agreement with UPEI is ideal for me. It allows me to stay on the Island to further my education and to maintain relationships and connections I’ve already made in the industry,” said Christopher Williams, who graduated from the Sport and Leisure Management program in the spring of 2017 and entered the Bachelor of Science (Kinesiology) program at UPEI the following fall. “The agreement provides Island students, and all students who come to the Island, with an opportunity to stay on PEI for the remainder of their schooling, which will hopefully encourage them to stay here beyond graduation.”

UPEI and Holland College have partnered on a number of transfer and articulation agreements to provide degree pathways to graduates of specific college programs. For more information, see the complete list at UPEI’s Programs and Courses site.

The Sport and Leisure Management program at Holland College has three areas of specialization in the sport, leisure, and recreation industry. For more information about the program, visit hollandcollege.com, email info@hollandcollege.com, or call 1-800-446-5265.

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.