UPEI's Tourism Research Centre releases study on visitor party composition

The Tourism Research Centre (TRC) at UPEI’s School of Business today announced the release of a report profiling PEI visitors by travel party type. This is the ninth report released based on data collected during the main season (June 27 to September 30) in 2007.

“The Exit Survey was designed so results can be structured to look at our visitors in many different lights,” explains Dr. Sean Hennessey, Faculty Director of the TRC. “There are a multitude of ways of categorizing our visitors. In this case, we are focusing on the make-up of the numerous travel parties, and specifically who is in the travel group. A group of multiple adults travelling together have very different interests and spending habits than, for example, a family with young children.”

The results presented in the report are for pleasure visitors who spent at least one night on PEI during the period June 27 to September 30. As they exited PEI during this period, visitors completed a total of 3,173 surveys. In terms of statistical accuracy, a sample of this size has a very small sampling error of only 1.8 per cent at a 95 per cent confidence level. Separate surveys of business, motor coach and cruise ship visitors are also being completed by the TRC.

This report separates visitors into five distinct segments: family travellers, adult couples, three or more adult travellers, two adult travellers and single travellers. For this study, adults are considered to be at least 18 years of age, and an adult couple consists of a two-person travel party, one male and one female. The report primarily focuses on the first three segments as they make up approximately 88 per cent of travel groups visiting PEI.

“The results show major differences in length of trip and time spent on PEI. In addition, the types of accommodations the various travel parties use and the percentage of their time spent in these accommodation types are very different,” states Dr. Hennessey. “But the activities these parties engage in while visiting PEI are surprisingly similar. Obviously, families want to do family things. They are much more likely to go to the beach and visit amusement parks than the other types of travel parties. But they also take driving tours, shop and visit cultural attractions at rates similar to the other travel parties. In contrast, adult travellers are more likely to attend the theatre and go to lobster suppers than families. The challenge really arises when looking at how we market PEI to our potential visitors. How do the province and industry create marketing campaigns that strike the right balance and appeal to both adults and families? There is a danger of creating a message that falls in between the two markets and appeals to neither.”

The main highlights of this report include:

· The three main travel parties account for 88 per cent of total visiting parties. Adult couples account for 44.2 per cent, families 31.7 per cent and parties of three or more adults 12.1 per cent. Approximately 80 per cent of these segments were travelling on pleasure trips.

· Adult couples were travelling on the longest trips; they averaged 9.0 nights away from home and 5.1 nights on PEI. The Island was the main destination for only 78 per cent of these trips. Families were travelling on much shorter trips (7.2 nights, 4.9 nights on PEI), but PEI was the main destination for 87 per cent of trips. PEI was the main destination for 84 per cent of the short trips by parties of three or more adults (6.4 nights, 4.0 nights on PEI).

· Adult travel parties favoured hotel, motel, resort, and B&B/inn-type accommodation (35 to 42 per cent of these travel parties spent at least one night in these types of accommodations). Families favoured cottages (28 per cent spent at least one night) or campgrounds (25 per cent spent at least one night).

· Almost one-half of family travellers stayed in Anne’s Land. This area, and Charlottetown, were the leading destinations for adult-only parties.

· The average spending by visitors on a per person, per night, basis ranged from a low of $54.55 by family travellers to a mid-range $65.24 for parties of three or more adults and on to a high of $90.77 for adult couples. As party sizes are larger, total trip expenditures by both families and parties of three or more adults averaged $1,155, considerably more than the average total trip expenditures of adult couples ($916).

· In terms of first-time versus repeat visitors, the three travel segments are similar: between 70 and 74 per cent have been to PEI before.

· As would be expected, family travellers are younger (66 per cent of the adults in the family group are in the age bracket 35–54, which is double the non-family ratio).

· Adult couples are the oldest segment; 52 per cent are 55 or more years of age. More than one-third (36 per cent) are retired.

· Parties consisting of three or more adults travelling together tend to be very much a mix. While 44 per cent are 55 years of age or older, and 25 per cent are retired, a far-above-average 31 per cent are in the young-adult (18 to 34) age group.

· About 6 per cent of the market was two adult travellers and 80 per cent visited PEI for pleasure purposes. Roughly 5.6 per cent of the market was single travellers, and 46 per cent were visiting friends or relatives. PEI was the primary destination of 87 per cent of single travellers and they stayed 8.2 nights of their total 10.6 nights away from home on PEI. Parties of two adults had the shortest stays on PEI at 3.8 nights.

· Two adult travellers were the most likely to stay at a hotel, motel, resort, B&B or inn (56 per cent stayed at least one night). Single travellers, not surprisingly, often stayed at the homes of friends or relatives (47 per cent).

· These two small segments were more likely to visit Charlottetown and points east than other party types, and were also the least likely to visit Anne’s Land.

· The majority of single travellers were repeat visitors (82 per cent). Two adult travellers were the least likely to be repeat visitors (70 per cent).

The report is part of a series of supporting reports based on comprehensive data previously released in the report “Overall Results of the 2007 Exit Survey.” The data is for the main tourism season of June 27 to September 30, 2007, and was collected as visitors departed PEI at the ConfederationBridge, CharlottetownAirport and Wood Islands Ferry (seasonally). Data presented is for pleasure visitors who spent at least one night on PEI.

For a list of all reports released by the TRC on Exit Survey results, please visit trc.upei.ca/exitsurvey. Further information about the report can be obtained from the Tourism Research Centre, School of Business, University of PEI, at (902) 566-6096 or trc@upei.ca.

UPEI hosts workshop about singing on July 30

Most people love to raise their voices in song, whether they can carry a tune or not. But few stop to think about the impact that singing has on their lives and the society they live in from a social, cultural and health perspective.

Dr. Annabel Cohen, of the Department of Psychology at the University of Prince Edward Island, is a leading researcher in the field of auditory perception and music cognition. She will chair a workshop about singing in the Dr. Steel Recital Hall on Wednesday, July 30, from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The workshop, called Advancing Interdisciplinary Research in Singing (AIRS): Development, Pedagogy and Well-being, will cover a variety of topics, including acquisition of singing, singing across the lifespan, singing versus speaking voice, singing and multicultural understanding, singing and intergenerational understanding, and singing and health outcomes.

It will include talks by Dr. Betty Bailey, Executive Director, PEI Health Sector Council; Dr. Jean Mitchell Department of Sociology, UPEI; Dr. Kati Szego, Department of Folklore, Memorial University; and music therapist Peter Mutch. There will also be a roundtable discussion; a presentation by students Marsha Lannan and Jenna Coady; and performances by Sung Ha Shin-Bouey, head of the UPEI Music Department’s vocal program, and well-known Island performer Teresa Doyle, among others. An evening concert featuring the Take Note Quartet, among others, will follow the workshop.

“Singing connects people,” says Cohen, herself a trained vocalist who recently qualified as an associate of the Royal Conservatory of Music. “It is very significant in our lives, but it is undervalued and under-researched.”

Members of the public are most welcome to register for the workshop. For information about registration, please e-mail airs@upei.ca or visit vre.upei.ca/airs.

The workshop is held in association with the Institute for Interdisciplinary Research in Culture, Multimedia, Technology and Cognition, under the auspices of the UPEI Faculty of Arts, and is supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

UPEI hosts second biennial Julian Jaynes Conference on Consciousness in August

The second biennial Julian Jaynes Conference on Consciousness, featuring world-renowned experts in the field of consciousness, will take place at the University of Prince Edward Island from August 7 to 9.

Presented by UPEI and organized by Dr. Scott Greer, of the Psychology Department, the conference will involve scholars from the Netherlands, the United States and Canada.

The keynote speaker is Dr. Stevan Harnad, Canada Research Chair in Cognitive Science at the University of Quebec in Montreal. Harnad is one of the world's leading authorities on the evolution of language and speech. Other featured speakers include cognitive neuroscience pioneer Dr. Karl Pribram of Georgetown University, Washington DC and noted historian Dr. Eelco Runia of the University of Groningen, The Netherlands.

In addition to the keynote and invited speakers, 15 other presenters will give papers on a variety of topics, including Dual Brains and Bicameral Minds: New Evidence for Jaynes’s Neurological Model, The Future of Consciousness: Instincts, Free Will and the Borg, and Hallucinations as Adaptive Behaviour. Thomy Nilsson, Professor Emeritus at UPEI, will give a presentation called The Octopus and the Dinosaur: Bottlenecks on the Road to Consciousness. And Greer will speak to the group about Presence … Jaynes’s ‘Undiscovered Country’?

From 2002 to 2005, UPEI hosted an annual one-day symposium on consciousness in honour of the late Princeton professor, author, and long-time Prince Edward Island resident Dr. Julian Jaynes. The symposia were so popular that the event became a two-day conference in 2006.

In 1977 Jaynes put forth a new theory of the origin of consciousness and a previous mentality known as the bicameral mind in his controversial but critically acclaimed book, The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind. He claimed that consciousness is a relatively recent development in human evolution, and is primarily a learned process based on language and language use. More information about Jaynes and his theories on consciousness is available on the Julian Jaynes Society website at http://www.julianjaynes.org/.

In keeping with the inter- and trans-disciplinary spirit of Jaynes, this conference is interdisciplinary. It is open to anyone interested in the topic of consciousness at an academic level. Special low rates for students are available. A complete list of papers and details about registration are available at http://www.upei.ca/~sgreer/jaynesconference08.html.

Inquiries may also be directed to the conference coordinator, Dr. Scott Greer, at sgreer@upei.ca.

Information sessions for adult learners, August 6 & 7

UPEI is offering two information sessions for adult learners on August 6 and 7. University representatives will answer questions about the new Bachelor of Integrated Studies degree. They will provide information about getting credits for prior learning, and on how to apply to UPEI as a mature student.

The first session takes place Wednesday, August 6, 7:00 to 8:30 pm, in the Holland College East Prince Centre, Summerside. The second session takes place on Thursday, August 7, 7:00 to 8:30 pm, in the Lobster Shanty Motel, Montague. Everyone is welcome to this free event. Come and meet other adult learners and hear their questions. For more information call 902 566-0336 or go to upei.ca/bis

New Live Chat service helps students entering UPEI

The First-Year Advisement Centre at UPEI has been bustling this summer with hundreds of new students taking advantage of a wide array of advisory services designed to make their transition to UPEI as smooth as possible. The centre organizes campus tours, assists with applications to UPEI, arranges meetings with deans and professors, and provides one-on-one help to students who need guidance on course selection.

A new program called Live Chat was introduced the last week of July. Every weekday afternoon, between 1 and 3 p.m., UPEI staff answer inquiries from incoming students about all aspects of campus life. There is also an option to submit questions by e-mail.

“Live Chat is proving very popular already. It is just one more of the many ways we provide the personal attention that is so important for new students who are not yet familiar with the university environment,” says Emma Rockett, High School Liaison Officer.

Recruitment Co-ordinator Chris Power says this has been the busiest year ever for the First-Year Advisement Centre. Applications to UPEI continue throughout the summer, so final enrolment numbers are not yet available. However, Power reports that there is definitely a strong trend this year towards early registration.

“One of the services we offer is registration assistance for first-year students to help them get their first choice of courses. We had 570 students take advantage of this opportunity,” he explains.

First-Year Advisement Centre staff discuss students’ areas of interest with them and identify the courses they need for specific programs. If requested, they arrange meetings with faculty members to answer specific questions about their fields of study or they may refer students for career development information. Parents interested in learning more about the registration process and the university as a whole are welcome as well.

“Transition to university can be overwhelming. Many of our new students take comfort in all the supports we have in place to make their introduction to UPEI as positive and rewarding as possible,” says Chris Power.

The First-Year Advisement Centre is located in the Department of Student Services, 2nd Floor North, W. A. Murphy Student Centre. More information is available at (902) 566-0488 or at upei.ca/studentservices.

Photo cutline: Emma Rockett, High School Liaison Officer, and Chris Power, UPEI Recruitment Co-ordinator, work with science student Emily MacAdam of Morell to check out the new Live Chat information service for incoming students.

Top Canadian writers give public readings in Charlottetown in August

Carol Bruneau will join Anne Simpson at a public reading from their works on August 20, at 6 p.m. in the Confederation Centre Public Library. Karen Connelly, who was previously scheduled, will be unable to participate. Ann-Marie MacDonald will read on Thursday, August 21, at 7 p.m. in the Confederation Centre Art Gallery.

The three are members of the faculty for SeaWords, which takes place August 18 to 22 at Shaw’s Hotel in Brackley Beach, P.E.I. The fourth faculty member is literary agent and former publisher Jackie Kaiser.

Supported by the LMMI and UPEI, SeaWords is being held in conjunction with the 100th anniversary celebration of the publication of L.M. Montgomery’s first and most famous novel, Anne of Green Gables. The theme of the workshop is “Canadian women writers.”

Simpson's second novel, Falling, was recently published by McClelland & Stewart. Her first novel, Canterbury Beach (2001), was a finalist for the Thomas Head Raddall Atlantic Fiction Award. Winner of the Journey Prize for short fiction, Simpson has written three books of poetry: Light Falls Through You, winner of the Gerald Lampert Memorial Award and the Atlantic Poetry Prize; Loop, winner of the Griffin Poetry Prize and a finalist for the Governor General's Award for Poetry; and, most recently, Quick.

Carol Bruneau's most recent novel, Glass Voices, was published last year to rave reviews and named one of Globe and Mail Best One Hundred Books.Her first novel, Purple for Sky won the Thomas Head Raddall Atlantic Fiction Award and the Dartmouth Book Award. She is also the author of two short fiction collections, Depth Rapture and After the Angel Mill, and the novel Berth.

A novelist, playwright and actor, MacDonald has won many awards, including the Governor General's Award, the Chalmers Award, the Commonwealth Prize, a Gemini, and several Doras. Plays include Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet) and Belle Moral: A Natural History. She is author of the internationally best-selling novels, Fall on Your Knees and The Way the Crow Flies.

The readings are hosted by UPEI and the L.M. Montgomery writers-in-residence program. The writers’ books will be on sale during the readings.


AVC’s Dr. Norma Guy Recognized Nationally for Contributions to Animal Welfare

The 2008 Canadian Veterinary Medical Association’s (CVMA) Humane Award was presented to Dr. Norma Guy, Animal Behaviourist with the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) at the University of Prince Edward Island during the CVMA annual meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia on July 29.

The national award is presented annually to an individual whose work is determined to have contributed significantly to the welfare and well-being of animals.

Dr. Guy (DVM, MSC) is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Companion Animals at AVC and runs the Animal Behaviour Service at the AVC Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Dr. Guy developed the innovative AVC humane dog training program with the PEI Humane Society, is in her third term as President of the Board of Directors of the PEI Humane Society, and is a regular contributor to CBC Radio through her popular segment, How & Why with Dr. Guy.

“Dr. Guy has contributed greatly to the welfare of both owned and unowned companion animals through teaching of veterinary students, continuing education for veterinarians, and numerous non-technical presentations for pet owners on matters of companion animal behaviour,” says Dr. Alice Crook, Coordinator of the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre and nominator of Dr. Guy’s award.

“Dr. Guy is passionate about improving the lives of animals, both through the use of humane training methods, and by addressing behaviour problems to improve owner satisfaction with their pets, thereby decreasing relinquishment of pets.”

Dr. Guy initiated the AVC humane dog training program at the PEI Humane Society in 2001. It has been highly successful, with hundreds of dogs passing through the program over the past seven years. The objectives of the program include improving the quality of life for dogs being held for adoption, and increasing the basic level of dog behaviour knowledge and training skills of AVC students and the humane society staff.

“Dr. Guy has made a significant and far-reaching impact on animal welfare through her untiring commitment to teaching, establishing programs to benefit companion animals, volunteering with the PEI Humane Society, and research into animal behaviour,” says Dr. Tim Ogilvie, AVC Dean. “We are very proud of Norma’s many achievements and congratulate her on this well deserved honour.”

The AtlanticVeterinaryCollege at UPEI is committed to excellence and innovation in education, research, and professional services. The college is known around the world for its outstanding educational programs, aggressive research agenda, and being home to more than a dozen specialized research centres that range from veterinary epidemiological research to aquatic health. The AtlanticVeterinaryCollege's Veterinary Teaching Hospital is the only full service referral hospital in Atlantic Canada.

Dr. Guy’s Award Citation

Dr. Norma Guy graduated from the OntarioVeterinaryCollege in 1988. Following many years in companion animals practice, Dr. Guy completed her MSc degree with distinction at the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) in 1999, specializing in animal behaviour. She is currently Assistant Professor at AVC and since 1998, has run the Animal Behaviour Service at the AVC Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

In 2001, Dr. Guy developed the innovative AVC Humane Dog Training Program, which operates at the PEI Humane Society (PEIHS) and has enriched the lives of hundreds of dogs since its inception. This program gives AVC students hands-on knowledge of shelter issues and experience working with shelter dogs and their new owners. Dr. Guy has been a member of the Board of Directors of the PEIHS since 2003 and is currently in her third term as President of the Society. In 2007, she led an inspection team on behalf of the PEIHS for the traveling exotic animal circus. Dr. Guy was the lead author of the resulting report, which included recommendations for changes to provincial legislation. The province is currently drafting changes to the regulations for traveling circuses as a result of this report. She has a regular spot on the local CBC Radio station called “How & Why with Dr. Guy” which provides pet owners with information so they can deal with behaviour issues more humanely and effectively. Dr. Guy is in high demand as a speaker with a wide range of audiences including veterinary students, veterinarians, humane organizations and various community groups. In addition to her many academic articles, she has written many non-technical articles for pet owners to help them understand and better manage common problems in their pets. Dr. Guy continues to make a direct impact on the welfare of owned and unowned animals through her innovative dog training program, behaviour consultations with pet owners, CE for veterinarians, and extensive teaching of veterinary students.


For further information, please contact:

Charlotte McCardle or Trina Paquet
cmccardle@upei.ca; tpaquet@upei.ca

Presentations to highlight UPEI students’ math and science research

The fifth annual Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, and Physics Undergraduate Research Symposium (CEMPURS) will take place at the University of Prince Edward Island on August 13. Members of the public are welcome to attend. This student-run symposium showcases undergraduates’ summer research work. It also provides an opportunity for students who are interested in majoring in computer science, engineering, math, or physics to learn more about the types of research experiences that may be available to them if they decide to study at UPEI.

This year, for the first time, several CEMPURS projects will focus on biomedical fields such as biophysics and biomathematics. The audience can also look forward to presentations about the local community, such as "Land use and its effects on the Montague Estuary" and the "Feasibility of biogas production on small PEI farms." Students from Ryerson University in Toronto are joining the event by teleconference.

CEMPURS 2008 runs from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm on August 13 in Lecture Theatre C of the Atlantic Veterinary College, UPEI. Admission is free. More details about the presentations are available at upei.ca/cempurs or by contacting Ali Fatehi, CEMPURS Chair, at 620-5057 or afatehihassa@upei.ca.

UPEI Physics Student Rising Star of Research

UPEI physics student Mostafa Fatehi Hassanabad has been selected to take part in a prestigious national competition for Canada’s top undergraduate science and technology students at the University of British Columbia (UBC). The competition is called Rising Stars of Research.

“The Rising Stars of Research conference is a great opportunity for the next generation of researchers from across Canada to showcase their accomplishments and explore their passion for innovation,” says UPEI physics professor James Polson, Mostafa’s research supervisor.

Top research students from across the country will give poster presentations and compete for awards in six broad disciplinary areas: health sciences, biochemistry and cellular biology, natural resources and the environment, life sciences and psychology, computational sciences and technology, and physical and earth sciences.

Mostafa will present in the computational sciences field. His work involves using computer simulation methods to study polymer translocation through nanopores. This research may ultimately help in the development of a novel experimental technique to sequence DNA. The project has already been recognized with a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Undergraduate Student Research Award.

The 2008 Rising Stars of Research event runs from August 21 to 23 at UBC. The event includes a workshop on writing winning scholarship applications for graduate school, an awards banquet in the Green College Great Hall, and an opportunity to visit a wide range of research laboratories and projects in BC.

Rising Stars of Research aims to boost participants’ expertise, skills and enthusiasm for research, to excite them about continuing on into graduate study, and to encourage their ongoing development as scientists. It is co-sponsored by numerous research and innovation organization and institutions, including UBC and NSERC Pacific.

Long-time seasonal resident makes $250,000 donation to UPEI School of Business

American businessman Ralph Hostetter, a long-time seasonal resident on Prince Edward Island, has made a $250,000 donation to the School of Business at the University of Prince Edward Island. Ralph Hostetter's gift has been used to support the Business School's capital campaign and to establish an annual scholarship in memory of his friend and business colleague, George Howatt of French River (1912-1988).

George Howatt and his wife Jean operated a mixed farm, growing potatoes, grain, cole crops and cucumbers, as well as raising dairy and beef cattle, hogs, turkeys, ducks and chickens, and honey bees. Howatt was a strong promoter of the Island's agricultural industry, particularly the potato and dairy sectors. He was a founding member and president of the P.E.I. Potato Marketing Board and an active member of other organizations, including the Canadian Horticultural Council.

The George E. Howatt Memorial Scholarship will be given out annually to a student entering the Master of Business Administration program at UPEI. The winner must have a strong academic record, professional accomplishments, entrepreneurial initiative, and demonstrated community involvement and leadership ability.

"We are deeply grateful to Ralph Hostetter for this wonderful and far-sighted contribution," says Dean of Business Roberta MacDonald. "Ralph has forged deep and enduring ties to P.E.I. This generous gift not only honours his long-time friend and neighbour George Howatt, but is also a tremendous vote of confidence in our young people and the future of this Island."

A businessman from Elkton, Maryland, Hostetter is a seasonal resident in French River and has land holdings that include Camelot East Farms. He describes himself as a "conservative newspaper publisher" and is, at present, a columnist for several U.S. internet sites. He writes extensively in the areas of education and agriculture. Many of his columns were published in 1999 in a collection called Publisher's Notebook.

He is chair and publisher of American Farm Publications Inc. in Easton, Maryland, and former president and owner of TriState Publishing Company in Elkton, a chain of 13 community newspapers. He was elected to the Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Press Association Newspaper Hall of Fame in 1990. The New Jersey Agricultural Society awarded Hostetter its highest award, the Gold Medallion, in 2003.

The first $5,000 scholarship was awarded on August 12 to incoming MBA student Scott McEwen during the official launch of UPEI's new Master of Business Administration program, which begins in September.   He is pictured on the front page of the UPEI website with Dean Roberta MacDonald.
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