His Excellency, Mr. Stefan Pehringer, the Austrian Ambassador to Canada, made a return visit to the University of Prince Edward Island on June 17, meeting with representatives from the faculties of Sustainable Design Engineering and Veterinary Medicine. Ambassador Pehringer's first visit to UPEI was in September 2018 when he toured the Atlantic Veterinary College and the Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering (SDE) building.

Accompanied by Honorary Consul Peter Wunsch, Ambassador Pehringer discussed possible areas of collaboration with Dr. Greg Keefe, Dean of Veterinary Medicine; Dr. Nicholas Krouglicof, Dean of Sustainable Design Engineering; and Allan Dale, Director of Industry Partnerships for SDE.

Appointed Ambassador to Canada in 2017, Mr. Pehringer previously held diplomatic posts in Latvia, Denmark, Germany, and Luxembourg and worked as the head of the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Eastern Asia and UNESCO units. 

A book by UPEI’s Dr. Joshua MacFadyen was short-listed by the Canadian Historical Association for its annual Best Scholarly Book in Canadian History Price (formerly the Sir John A. MacDonald Prize). Dr. MacFadyen is UPEI’s Canada Research Chair in Geospatial Humanities and an associate professor in the Applied Communication, Leadership, and Culture program.

Flax Americana: A History of the Fibre and Oil that Covered a Continent examines the story of flax, a plant that went in a few decades from a specialty fibre crop in the Great Lakes region to an oilseed empire that spanned continents and helped create urban industrial capitalism. Flax Americana is published by McGill Queen’s University Press as part of the Rural, Wildland, and Resource Studies Series.

The finalists for the Best Scholarly Book in Canadian History Prize were celebrated at the recent Congress for the Humanities and Social Sciences held in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Congratulations, Dr. MacFadyen!

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 fully articulated 20-foot minke whale skeleton is now suspended from the ceiling in AVC’s McCain Foundation Learning Commons, much to the delight of Dr. Pierre-Yves Daoust, wildlife pathologist and professor emeritus of pathology.

The story of the skeleton goes back to 2010 when a dead minke whale was found washed up on the shore near Goose River in eastern PEI. Daoust and a team from the College’s wildlife group conducted a necropsy on the animal, after which the bones were brought to AVC with the idea that they would be saved for assembly in the future.

In 2018–2019, AVC undertook a successful campaign to raise funds to complete the preparation and assembly of the skeleton. Last fall, the bones were sent to Claude Bourque, an artist in Îles-de-la-Madeleine who has experience in preparing whale skeletons for display. Over the winter, he carefully degreased, cleaned, and assembled them for display. Earlier this week, he, assisted by fellow artist Yoanis Menge, hung the skeleton in the large, open atrium of the College’s learning commons.

The installation will be complemented by artwork with an Indigenous theme, paying tribute to the deep cultural and spiritual connection between Canada’s Indigenous people and the animals that live in the marine environment. Interpretative panels will also be installed to tell the story behind the skeleton and to provide information about minke whales.

Daoust and AVC Dean Greg Keefe believe that the skeleton speaks to the College’s focus on and work in aquatic animal species and the marine environment, and it will be an excellent educational tool.

Dr. Katherine Gottschall-Pass has been recognized as a Fellow of Dietitians of Canada (DC). Dr. Gotschall-Pass is a professor in the Department of Applied Human Sciences and the current interim vice-president academic and research at the University of Prince Edward Island.

Dr. Gottshcall-Pass obtained her doctorate in human nutrition from the University of Saskatchewan. She is a dietitian who previously worked in research and development for the food industry and taught at Saint Francis Xavier University prior to her tenure at UPEI. She teaches in the areas of food science, introductory nutrition, and human metabolism. Her research interests focus on food components and nutritional factors involved in the prevention of chronic disease and the mechanisms of their action. She is an active member of DC and a long-serving surveyor for accreditation of academic programs and internships. In her nomination documents, Dr. Gottschall-Pass was described as “selfless” in her attitude towards helping others and has always kept an open door policy to her colleagues and students.

Dietitians of Canada (DC) is a professional association with strong roots connecting more than 5000 unique and diverse members across all areas of food, nutrition, and health. DC represents dietitians, fostering growth and passion in the profession through advocacy, engagement, and professional development. After more than 80 years, DC remains an innovative organization with strong member leadership and common purpose: to advance the health of Canadians through food and nutrition.

Congratulations, Dr. Gottschall-Pass!

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 Faculty of Nursing at the University of Prince Edward Island is partnering with The Salvation Army for a unique learning and service experience at Bedford MacDonald House in Charlottetown. Students will gain valuable experience providing health care and proactive health education to address basic needs of guests at the men’s shelter.

In the fall semester, two fourth-year nursing students in the Nursing and Population Health course will complete their clinical placements at Bedford MacDonald House three days a week. This course provides theoretical and clinical opportunities to examine and apply concepts and skills related to population health.

During the winter rotation, two third-year nursing students in the Developing Partnerships with Clients in the Community course will complete their clinical placements at Bedford MacDonald House twice a week. This course focuses on promoting and maintaining health and providing support and assistance to individuals, families, and groups in the home and community.

“The nursing students will provide vital health care and proactive education to address our guest’s basic needs; together, this will enable us to offer much more than putting a temporary roof over their heads,” said Major Daniel Roode of The Salvation Army. “The clinical work of the students will add a valuable component to the services offered at Bedford MacDonald House; they will essentially teach our guests how to take better care of themselves, which will play a role in helping them to potentially escape homelessness.”

“Our nursing students’ practice is guided by primary health care and focuses on involving clients as partners in their care,” said interim dean of the Faculty of Nursing, Dr. Jo-Ann MacDonald. “Students will also experience interprofessional collaboration and sectors working together to improve the lives and circumstances of the guests affected by poverty and homelessness.”

The Salvation Army has proudly operated the BMH, providing shelter, support and compassion to men experiencing homelessness in Charlottetown for seven years. We are empathic about the fact that homelessness has an impact on any community. We know through experience, that community-based programming such as this helps to prevent and reduce homelessness, preparing individuals to embark on practical resources to help them secure their basic needs of health, food, clothing and shelter. 

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.

International graduates from post-secondary institutions on PEI who wish to settle in the province are invited to a celebration and information meeting on Thursday, June 13, 5:30–7:30 pm, in the Florence Simmons Performance Hall, Holland College, 140 Weymouth St., Charlottetown.

At an event on May 28, the University of Prince Edward Island and Janssen Inc. officially announced their partnership that aims to understand and improve the PEI health system and patient outcomes.

The announcement featured several representatives from Janssen Inc., including President Chris Halyk, and from the University, Dr. Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, President and Vice-Chancellor, and Dr. William Montelpare, Professor and Margaret and Wallace McCain Chair in Human Development and Health. Dr. Montelpare’s Health-Centered Research Clinic on the UPEI campus will be the home base for the research collaboration.

“The Janssen–Prince Edward Island Health Innovation Partnership (JPEI–HIP) will focus on real-world-evidence projects that involve data generation,” said Dr. Montelpare. “JPEI–HIP presents an exciting opportunity to help shape heath-care research in PEI to support the development of new health systems and the improvement of current systems.”

In December of 2018, UPEI established a collaboration agreement with Janssen Inc., marking the start of the partnership and leading to today’s announcement. After the event, the University hosted a project kick-off meeting for the core research team that comprises members from UPEI, Health PEI, and Janssen Inc.

“We are so grateful to Janssen Inc. for their generous support and for Dr. Montelpare’s leadership on this exciting project that will deliver research outcomes in the area of precision health,” said President Abd-El-Aziz. “JPEI–HIP will combine the expertise of patients, researchers, clinicians, and policy makers to support system transformation. This will have incredible value for the Province, the research community, and Islanders.”

The University of Prince Edward Island’s Men’s Hockey team has recruited Jesse Sutton to play for the Panthers in the 2019–2020 season.

Sutton is a 21-year-old forward from Mount Pearl, Newfoundland and Labrador. Sutton played four seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, initially drafted by the Quebec Remparts, finishing his career in Chicoutimi and Acadie-Bathurst.

In a story in the Charlottetown Guardian, Sutton cited UPEI’s kinesiology program as a big attraction, as well as the opportunity to play with friends and former team members who will be Panthers this season.

“Everyone, when being recruited, is trying to find the best situation for themselves individually,” said coach Forbes MacPherson. “But if they can make that happen with buddies or familiar faces, it just increases that level of excitement and comfort.”

Go Panthers Go!

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.