U-SPORTS, the national governing body for university sports in Canada, announced today the winner of the 2018 Sylvia Sweeney Award is UPEI’s Kiera Rigby. The Sylvia Sweeney Award recognizes the Canadian women’s university basketball player who best exemplifies the value of athletics, academics, and community involvement.

“Throughout her five years at UPEI, Kiera has been an outstanding Panther on the court, in the classroom, and in the community,” said Chris Huggan, director of Athletics and Recreation at UPEI. “I am thrilled that she is being recognized on a national level for all that she has done to better the lives of others. This recognition is very well deserved. A great way to end her university sporting career.”

From the U-SPORTS release:

Five-foot-ten forward Kiera Rigby was named an AUS first-team all-star for the first time in her five-year career with the UPEI Panthers. She led the team in scoring, averaging 18.4 points per game, ranking eighth in the nation, while shooting a respectable 43.5 per cent (36.7 from beyond the arc). She also grabbed 4.3 rebounds a night to go along with 2.0 assists.

The Charlottetown native is also a vital part of the community. Her interest in biology led her to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (physical medicine and emergency departments), where she has volunteered more than 80 hours since June. She also volunteers her time with the World University Services of Canada (WUSC), Canadian Cancer Society, and Arthritis Society. If that wasn’t enough, she’s also a three-year member of the UPEI Varsity Leadership team, a tutor with Student Services, and an active member of the UPEI Biology Society and UPEI Pre-Med Society.

Rigby’s balancing act doesn’t end there. Academically, she has an outstanding 3.9 cumulative grade-point average. The four-time Academic All-Canadian made the dean’s list four times and graduated in May with a major in biology and a minor in biomedical physics.

Rigby is currently doing her honours research in Dr. Adam Johnston’s exercise physiology lab, examining Duchenne muscular dystrophy. She intends on continuing her schooling afterwards and has applied to several programs across Canada specializing in physiotherapy, including Dalhousie, McMaster, and the University of Toronto. She’s also preparing for an interview for a four-year program at the Canadian Chiropractic College in Toronto.

“Kiera is a born leader. She cares for everyone she comes in contact with, and that caring and supportive personality makes people want to follow her,” said Panthers head coach Greg Gould. “Kiera always has time to uplift and support those around her. It’s amazing to watch how people of all ages are drawn to her magnetic personality.”

Congratulations, Kiera!

Historica Canada, the country's largest organization dedicated to enhancing awareness of Canadian history and citizenship, is launching a new Heritage Minute to coincide with 2018 International Women’s Day on March 8. The new Heritage Minute features PEI literary icon L.M. Montgomery and was created in consultation with UPEI past-president Dr. Elizabeth “Betsy” Epperly and Montgomery scholars Dr. Mary Rubio and Dr. Laura Robinson.

Dr. Epperly is an internationally respected expert in the area of L.M. Montgomery scholarship. Her first book, The Fragrance of Sweet-Grass: L.M. Montgomery’s Heroines and the Pursuit of Romance, was ground-breaking in positioning Montgomery as an author of significance in the Canadian and international spheres. Her second major work, Through Lover’s Lane: L.M. Montgomery’s Photography and Visual Imagination was pivotal in expanding the scholarly landscape of Montgomery studies.

Dr. Epperly was instrumental in advancing and institutionalizing Montgomery scholarship at UPEI by creating, with her UPEI colleagues, the L.M. Montgomery Institute. Her vision was expansive and inclusive, creating spaces for students, readers, fans, and scholars to come together to explore Montgomery’s body of work.

“The L.M. Montgomery Institute welcomes this new Heritage Minute, celebrating and, for some, introducing one of Canada's most beloved and influential authors,” said Dr. Philip Smith, chair of the L.M. Montgomery Institute, “and what a fine resource for developing the Minute in Dr. Epperly, not only an expert scholar, but also someone who appreciates the special relationship of Montgomery to her Island and to her fans.”

Congratulations, Dr. Epperly!

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 Mental Health Week Committee at the University of Prince Edward Island has unveiled its jam-packed, five-day schedule for UPEI Mental Health Week 2018. The program, that takes place March 12–16, continues with the theme, ‘relationships matter’.

“Our hope is to build a culture of care that nurtures and celebrates mental health and wellness of everyone in our UPEI community,” says MHW committee co-chair Anne Bartlett. “The events and sessions encourage students, staff and faculty to help themselves and each other by connecting and building relationships with others.”

Adds MHW committee co-chair Keith Lawlor, “We hope to instill the idea that at UPEI, no one is alone—there is always someone who can help.”

Two signature events during the week include:

• MHW’s Keynote Address with Wil Gunning (Tuesday, 11:30 am–12:30 pm, McMillan Hall, W.A. Murphy Student Centre)—Wil Gunning is the captain of a fishing enterprise, a local entrepreneur of two companies, a mentor for young adults, and a keynote speaker who travels throughout Canada sharing stories of his experience in the foster care system. Wil speaks about why he went into care and the life experiences that have shaped him into the person he is today. He will share how he navigated his childhood and the importance of building relationships with others and oneself.
   
• Personal Story & Performance by Problematic (Thursday 8:00–9:00 pm, The Wave, W.A. Murphy Student Centre)—He goes by the name of Problematic, but is also known as Greg Macdonald, an alternative hip hop artist with a unique storytelling twist. Greg’s life has not been an easy one. As a child, he experienced pain and adversity as a result of abuse, and later lost his best friend tragically in a fire. Trying to work through his pain and depression, he turned to music where the creation and act of writing became his greatest outlet. Greg’s music, influenced by a wide variety of artists from Nickleback to Eminem and 2pac, is becoming increasingly popular and he is getting ready to release his debut album. Come hear his story, and listen to a few of his tracks—you don’t want to miss this one.  All ages are welcome, admission is free. Watch his YouTube video for a sneak preview!

The full schedule of events can be found at upei.ca/mentalhealthweek.

Cheer on UPEI’s Bailey Smith as she competes at the U-SPORTS Track & Field Championships today in the 60-metre sprint. Her preliminary heat is at 7:00 pm at the University of Windsor.

Smith is a second-year sprinter and a nursing student from Mount Stewart. She won the 60-metre race at the recent AUS Track & Field Championship and was named the AUS Female Track Athlete of the Year.

Catch her race live at 7:00 pm Atlantic Standard at usports.live. The finals are scheduled for 8:00 pm Atlantic.

Go Panthers Go!

Dr. Martha Mellish, of AVC’s Equine Ambulatory Service, will give a free public workshop, entitled “A pain in the gut: Managing equine digestive issues,” on Wednesday, March 21, at 7 p.m., in Lecture Theatre A, Atlantic Veterinary College, UPEI.

Horses have complex gastro-intestinal systems and can have equally complex digestive problems. The more knowledge horse owners have about these issues, the better they can understand and appropriately manage digestive conditions affecting their animals.

Using a practical model, Dr. Mellish will explain the equine gastro-intestinal tract and talk about common medical conditions that can affect it.

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

AVC is accepting applications for its 2018 Summer Academy program, which will take place from August 5–10. This academically based program helps participants understand what is involved in getting an education in veterinary medicine. Participants take part in classroom lectures, field trips, and labs.

AVC Summer Academy is open to those who are currently enrolled in, have been accepted into, or have graduated from university. Participants must have a minimum B+ (77%) average or GPA 3.3, and be 18 years of age or older. The deadline to apply is Friday, May 25. For more information, please visit upei.ca/avc/summer-programs/academy.

The 2018 Canadian Association of Physicists National Lecture tour is coming to UPEI. Dr. Caroline Boudoux, an associate professor in the department of engineering physics at École Polytechnique Montréal, will present “Light at Heart—Fiber optics from laboratory to market” on Wednesday, March 14 at 4:00 pm in room 128B in UPEI’s School of Sustainable Design Engineering building.

Dr. Boudoux will discuss recent advances in medical endoscopy that offer the potential to further increase patient comfort and increase access to remote organs. Her presentation will explore the development of thin, single fibre endoscopes that can transmit more than 85 per cent of the input light. The information will be relevant to members of the public interested in healthcare and medical technologies. 

Dr. Boudoux has a PhD in biomedical optics from the Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology program (USA) and she completed a post-doctoral fellowship at École Polytechnique (France). She is also an entrepreneur, having founded Castor Optics Inc. in a strategic partnership with Thorlabs Inc. She has won several teaching and research awards, including a Fulbright fellowship in 2015 to spend a sabbatical year at Stanford University.

The 2018 CAP National Lecture Series is brought to you by the Canadian Association of Physicists - www.cap.ca and is hosted by the UPEI Department of Physics.

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.

Every week, UPEI Athletics and Recreation recognizes student-athletes for their hard work and dedication to their respective sports. Congratulations to Bailey Smith, the UPEI Panther Subway Athlete of the Week for March 5–11.

Bailey Smith is a second-year sprinter and a nursing student from Mount Stewart, Prince Edward Island. She continued her climb up the national rankings in the 60-metre sprint at the U SPORTS Track & Field Championship, held last week at the University of Windsor. Bailey overcame a slight stumble at the start of her qualifying heat to finish fourth, tying her personal best of 7.63 seconds. This was enough to qualify her for the finals, where she finished in seventh place.

Go Panthers Go!

Sydney Gallant, a fourth-year business administration student from UPEI, is one of eight students across Atlantic Canada awarded the 2018 Frank H. Sobey Award for Excellence in Business Studies.

Over her four years of undergraduate studies in UPEI’s Faculty of Business, Sydney has been involved in a number of societies. She is past president of Enactus UPEI, where she started an initiative called Financially Fit, presenting to more than 600 PEI high school students about making financial plans for their post-secondary education. She is a representative on the UPEI Business Society and a founder of the UPEI chapter of the PEI Business Women’s Association.

Sydney competed with her team in a number of case competitions, finishing third at the Atlantic Schools of Business Case Competition in 2016, second at the Alberta Not-for-Profit International Case Competition in 2017, and first place at the Atlantic Schools of Business Case Competition in 2017. She has also appeared on the dean’s list every year of her studies at UPEI.

“We are delighted and very proud that Sydney is a recipient of the Frank H. Sobey Award for Excellence in Business Studies. Besides being an excellent student, she spearheaded the implementation of new initiatives and activities at UPEI and beyond, and tirelessly served students and her peers,” said Dr. Juergen Krause, dean of the Faculty of Business at UPEI. “She is a wonderful ambassador for the faculty and university and we congratulate her wholeheartedly for this prestigious achievement. ”

The Frank H. Sobey Awards for Excellence in Business Studies began in 1989 to support the development of future business leaders and business programs in Atlantic Canadian universities. Eight awards of $25,000 are offered each academic year to full-time undergraduate students of business studies in universities in the Atlantic Provinces.

The Frank H. Sobey Awards are awarded based on criteria that include entrepreneurial experience, university and community leadership, career aspirations, and overall academic achievement.

“We are delighted to welcome eight new future leaders to our alumni who exemplify remarkable entrepreneurial spirit and leadership within their Universities and communities,” said Paul D. Sobey, Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Frank H. Sobey Awards for Excellence in Business Studies. “With an increased emphasis on entrepreneurialism, we are honoured to continue to reward young business talent within Atlantic Canadian universities who will build a brighter economic future for Atlantic Canada, and indeed, our country, over the years to come.”

Additional information about this year’s award winners and the qualification and nomination process can be found at http://www.frankhsobeyawards.com.

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.

A pair of researchers at UPEI’s School of Sustainable Design Engineering have been awarded funding from Mitacs to develop a detailed technical framework for PEI’s electrical system to increase renewable energy integration and decrease our reliance on fossil fuels. With $150,000 from Mitacs Accelerate and the PEI Energy Corporation, Dr. Matthew Hall and Dr. Andrew Swingler will hire three graduate students and begin building a “roadmap” towards making PEI’s energy system 100 per cent carbon free.

“Prince Edward Island has a significant amount of renewable energy generation in the form of wind energy,” said Dr. Hall, an assistant professor at UPEI’s School of Sustainable Design Engineering (SSDE). “But we are also heavily dependent on less clean electricity coming across the Northumberland Strait from New Brunswick.”

Moving toward a carbon-free system isn’t just about adding more wind and solar capacity, explains Dr. Hall. Further growth in renewable energy is constrained by intermittency of the power generation and storage costs.

“At the same time, we have new technologies coming online that will increase our power usage,” said Dr. Swingler, an associate professor of sustainable energy systems at the SSDE. “Electric vehicles and new heating technologies mean we’ll be using more electricity, not less. And the idea is that ultimately all our electricity comes from carbon-free sources.”

The team will work with the PEI Energy Corporation, which will provide essential data, knowledge of the market, and networks of industry expertise.

“Prince Edward Island is a leader in wind energy and well positioned for leadership in emerging renewable energies,” said Heather MacLeod, Energy Assets Manager at the PEI Energy Corporation. “We are pleased to partner with the University of Prince Edward Island’s School of Sustainable Design Engineering on this important research.” 

The project will build a simulation-modelling tool for the PEI electrical system to explore a range of renewable energy integration solutions. It will assess the demand response and energy storage potential in PEI, and how they can be best leveraged. The team will also analyse the rising role of electrical vehicles in the PEI system, including impact on electricity load. The final goal is to lay out pathways toward 100 per cent  renewable electricity supply for the Island.

“It’s going to happen,” said Dr. Swingler. “We’ve got our eyes on the prize. We’re looking towards a carbon-free energy system. ”

Mitacs is a national, not-for-profit organization that has designed and delivered research and training programs in Canada for 18 years. Working with 60 universities, thousands of companies, and both federal and provincial governments, Mitacs builds partnerships that support industrial and social innovation in Canada.

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.