Researchers find potentially deadly strain of fungus for amphibians on PEI
A team of researchers from UPEI and the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre (CCWHC) have found a potentially deadly strain of fungus for amphibians on Prince Edward Island. Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, more commonly known as chytrid fungus, is blamed for the extreme decline or extinction of more than 200 species of frogs and toads around the world.
'We started this summer asking one question: do we have this fungus on Prince Edward Island?' says Natacha Hogan, assistant professor of Biology and associate fellow of the Canadian Rivers Institute. 'The first frog we collected this summer had it. That answered our first question, but it created dozens of new ones.'
Maria Forzan, Wildlife Pathologist at AVC for CCWHC, Atlantic Region, says chytrid fungus was first discovered in the late 1990s by researchers in Central America. The fungus has since spread to Australia, South America, and North America.
'Chytrid causes a disease in the skin of frogs and toads called chytridiomycosis,' explains Forzan. 'No one knows yet how the disease kills, but we do know it thickens amphibians' skin, interfering with their ability to balance their electrolytes, and possibly even breathe. Amphibian skin is normally much more permeable than our own.'
Forzan and Hogan says it's too soon to say what chytrid fungus means to the frogs and toads of Prince Edward Island.
'Just having the fungus here doesn't mean it's causing a problem,' says Hogan. 'It may be the fungus has been here for decades and our frogs have adapted to it. But, it may also be selectively targeting one or two of our species of frogs. If that's the case, it could lead to an extreme decline, or even extirpation of one or more of our frogs or toads.'
'One problem we face is there's never been a comprehensive survey of frogs and toads on Prince Edward Island,' adds Forzan. 'So we can't say whether there's been a decline in the population, or any change at all. But we can build on the survey data we gathered this summer. This is the start of long-term research of the Island's amphibians.'
Hogan and Forzan's team, which includes UPEI biologist Kevin Teather, and CCWHC's Darlene Weeks, has created the Amphibian Health Research Network (AHRN). With funding from CCWHC, the PEI Wildlife Conservation Fund, and UPEI, they'll help better understand how chytrid fungus behaves in a northern climate and what this means for the health of amphibians on PEI.
Shinerama fund-raiser exceeds goal!
The UPEI Student Union Shinerama campaign once again exceeded expectations as students raised approximately $21,550 for Cystic Fibrosis research in a matter of hours last weekend.
'We are extremely proud of the students who chose to participate in this year's campaign,' said UPEISU President Timothy Cullen. 'We had one of the largest groups of students to ever participate in Shinerama this year, and it is great to see their hard work pay off.'
Rob Livingstone and Patrick Callbeck, co-coordinators of this year's Shinerama campaign say that this is not the end of Shinerama fundraising for the year.
'We will continue to hold BBQs and other events throughout the year for Shinerama,' said Livingstone.
UPEI students are known for their successful Shinerama campaigns. In 2007, they were awarded for having the best overall campaign in Canada.
UPEI professors to read at Pen & Inkling Festival this weekend
UPEI faculty members Brent MacLaine, Deirdre Kessler and Sean Weibe will join other Island writers this coming weekend, September 18-20, in readings and workshops at the Pen & Inkling Festival, a celebration of the Prince Edward Island Writers' Guild's 20th anniversary.
This three-day, three-county event will celebrate Island writers through the Island Literary Awards ceremony, a conversation about poetry between John Smith and David Helwig, a book launch of Brent MacLaine's new book, workshops, special guest readings, open mic events (including readings by newcomers in their first language), a songwriter's circle by young musicians, zen writing and sketching, writing games, book sales, a big, birthday party with live music (courtesy of The Count and the Cuban Cocktail and The Blueprints), and, of course, libations!
During the festival, the Writers' Guild will launch "The Figure in the Landscape" calendar, featuring poems and prose by Island writers and images of Island writers photographed by well-known photographer John Sylvester.
The festival is dedicated to poet and educator Frank Ledwell, and is supported by sponsors, individuals and the Department of Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour.
Go to the festival's website for a detailed schedule or contact Pen & Inkling Festival Coordinator Laurel Smyth at islandliteraryawards@gmail.com.
UPEI students to spend fall semester studying in England
Seventeen students from the University of Prince Edward Island and seven from the Memorial University of Newfoundland will spend the fall semester exploring intersections between literature, art and religious thought at MUN's campus in Harlow, England.
Entitled Faith, Love and Lore: Literature, Art and Religion in England, this interdisciplinary program is a co-operative effort between MUN and UPEI. The program will be taught by Dr. Catherine Innes-Parker, professor of English at UPEI, and Dr. Kim Ian Parker, professor of religious studies at MUN.
'This program grew out of our experience of creating an inter-campus learning community through teaching a linked course together,' says Innes-Parker. 'In England, the students will take four tightly integrated courses organized around weekly themes and augmented by field trips. It is more than just a set of courses: it is a learning community and a learning experience.'
The four courses will focus on the themes of literature, art and religion, and the links between them. One course focuses on English literature from the medieval period, and a second explores women's devotional writing in England. A third course examines the relationship between religion and the arts, while the fourth focuses more specifically on the influence of the Bible on western culture and particularly English literature. The students will receive credits for all four courses.
To complement their course work, students will take two field trips each week to historical sites, including Sutton Hoo, the site of an Anglo-Saxon ship burial; Canterbury Cathedral, the site of Thomas Becket's shrine and the destination of Chaucer's pilgrims; Norwich Cathedral and the shrine of mystic Julian of Norwich; Ely Cathedral, famous for its octagonal tower; and Cambridge, home of King's College Chapel and Choir. They will also travel to London to visit the British Museum, the British Library, the National Gallery, and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Throughout the semester, the students will keep weekly reading logs and journals, recording their reactions to the sites visited and integrating field trips with materials covered in their courses.
Gavin Warren, a fourth-year English student, actually grew up in Bournemouth, England. He travelled around the south of England with his family on holidays. But after having explored many areas of the world, including Canada, he realized that he did not know much about his home country.
'This program will help me to connect what I have learned about English literature at UPEI to my own life.'
Fourth-year English student Alyssa Gauthier, of New Glasgow, P.E.I., and fifth-year student Jennifer Tasker, of Brackley Beach, are looking forward to putting the great works of literature and art they have studied at UPEI in the context of the landscape and history that influenced their creators.
The group leaves for Harlow on September 17 and returns to P.E.I. on December 3. Beginning on September 21, the students will post blogs about their experience at harlow09.upeiblogs.ca
Inspirational teaching focus of UPEI faculty seminar
Inspirational teaching was the topic of a day-long seminar organized recently by the UPEI Faculty Development Office to launch the new academic year. The guest speaker was TA Loeffler, Professor of Outdoor Recreation at Memorial University of Newfoundland. She spoke on the topic 'Everything I Ever Needed to Know about Teaching I Learned from Climbing Mountains.'
Professor Loeffler is the author of 'More than a Mountain: One Woman's Everest,' a deeply moving account of how one woman overcame adversity to reach out to youth and become a testament to the power of having big dreams and big goals.
'Mountains are my teachers. They exact deep lessons. I teach my students like the mountains teach me. With vision. With struggle,' says Loeffler. 'Asking them to reach up and out for an unknown sky. To learn while filled with uncertainty and sometimes with joy and mirth. For me, mountains, like education, are both journey and destination.'
Four UPEI faculty members were recognized and celebrated at the seminar for their recent local and regional awards for excellence in teaching. They were: Catherine Innes-Parker, Pedro Quijon, Etienne Cote, and Susan Dawson. The work of 12 new faculty and mentors was also acknowledged through the Teaching Partners Recognition Program.
The Faculty Development Office operates in partnership with academic departments and faculty members to provide a supportive environment to assist faculty in creating new and exciting methods of teaching and connecting with students. It is part of the UPEI Webster Centre for Teaching and Learning. More information is available at upei.ca/webstercentre.
UPEI honours distinguished alumni on September 24
As part of UPEI's Homecoming Weekend, the UPEI Alumni Association will honour four distinguished alumni at its annual awards luncheon on Thursday, September 24, at noon in the Main Building Faculty Lounge.
Receiving awards this year are Dr. Doris M. Anderson (PWC '42), George A. MacDonald (SDU '64 and UPEI '69), Major-General Matthew G. Macdonald (UPEI '76) and Dr. Lynne O'Sullivan (UPEI '88-Atlantic Veterinary College).
A native of St. Peter's Bay, Doris Anderson studied science at Prince of Wales College from 1940 to 1942 and graduated in 1944 from Acadia University with a Bachelor of Science in home economics. She earned a Master of Science (Nutrition) degree, with a minor in Education, from Cornell University in 1951. She taught home economics at Prince of Wales College and the University of Prince Edward Island from 1966 to 1988.
Her many awards include a 1967 Centennial Medal and an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Acadia University in 1997. She was named a Member of the Order of Canada in 1985 and professor emeritus at UPEI in 1994. She served in the Senate of Canada from 1995 to 1997.
George MacDonald received his Bachelor of Arts from St. Dunstan's University in 1964, Bachelor of Education from UPEI in 1969, and Master's degree from St. Francis Xavier University in 1978. He was a dedicated and influential educator and administrator in education on P.E.I. for 33 years, retiring in 1994.
MacDonald served for 18 years as a councillor and six years as mayor of the City of Charlottetown. He chaired the Atlantic caucus of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and served on its national executive committee. He received the 2004 Bruce H. Yeo Memorial Award from the Federation of Prince Edward Island Municipalities for outstanding contribution to municipal government in P.E.I. and in 2005, the Canadian Municipalities Roll of Honour.
A 1998 graduate of the Atlantic Veterinary College at UPEI, Dr. Lynne O'Sullivan has consistently demonstrated success and commitment to furthering veterinary medicine through education, research and service. Following graduation, she pursued an internship with a residency and DSVc program in cardiology at the University of Guelph.
She is one of only several board-certified veterinary cardiologists in Canada and is a highly regarded associate professor at the Ontario Veterinary College. A proud alumnus of the AVC at UPEI, she will return to her alma mater in the near future to provide blocks of training for third-year veterinary students while AVC's cardiologist Dr. Etienne Cote is on sabbatical.
Major-General Matthew G. Macdonald, OMM, CD, MBE, joined the Canadian Armed Forces after completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science at the University of Prince Edward Island in 1976. He has commanded at the troop, squadron and regimental levels with the Royal Canadian Dragoons. From July 2000 to June 2002, he was the Canadian Officer appointed Deputy Commanding General of III (US) Corps and Fort Hood-only the second time Canada had filled the position. He has been Chief of Defence Intelligence since January of 2007.
Macdonald was appointed a member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 1991 and an Officer of the Order of Military Merit in 1997. He received the United States Legion of Merit in 2002 and the NATO Meritorious Service Medal in 2006.
Everyone is welcome. Tickets for the luncheon are $15 and can be purchased from Sarah MacInnis, Alumni Outreach Co-ordinator, at (902) 566-0687 or alumni@upei.ca by September 22.
Homecoming Weekend takes place from Thursday, September 24, to Sunday, September 27. For information about Homecoming Weekend, visit www.upei.ca/alumni/homecoming
Founders’ Day celebration in McDougall Hall
As the busy academic year gets underway, the University of Prince Edward Island will take time to celebrate its extensive history and look forward to a bright future at its tenth annual Founders' Day ceremony on Friday, September 25, beginning at 2:00 p.m.
On Founders' Day, UPEI honours its rich heritage and traditions, acknowledges people who have contributed to it in an exceptional way, and instills a sense of heritage and community in incoming and returning students. Members of the public are invited to share in the excitement at a ceremony in the Alex H. MacKinnon auditorium, Don and Marion McDougall Hall. (Please note this is a new location.)
"Founders' Day is a special tradition at UPEI," said University President Wade MacLauchlan. "We welcome the entire community to come to campus and join in a meaningful celebration, as we recognize the many contributions that have enabled us to build and sustain a fine university."
To mark the tenth anniversary of Founders' Day, an alumnus from UPEI and from each of its founding institutions, St. Dunstan's University and Prince of Wales College, will be recognized as Founders. They are: UPEI chaplain and retired faculty member Father Charlie Cheverie (SDU '53); adult educator and literacy advocate Barb Macnutt (PWC '66); and educator and sports figure Bob Gray (UPEI '73 and '74).
Bob Gray will give the Founders' Day address. And the UPEI Brass Quintet will play the processional music and three fanfares written by retired UPEI music professor Bert Tersteeg for last year's Founders' Day ceremony.
As well, the 2009 Honourable Eugene F. Whelan Green Hat Award will be presented to Dr. Bob Curtis, a retired Atlantic Veterinary College faculty member who was instrumental in establishing the College's Department of Health Management in the mid-1980s. This prestigious award was established in 2000 to pay tribute to individuals who have had a significant and positive impact on the Atlantic Veterinary College and veterinary medicine in Atlantic Canada.
Prior to the ceremony, there will be a barbecue at the Meincke Plaza in front of the W.A. Murphy Centre. This event is free, but donations to the Passion for Life Award will be gratefully accepted. And everyone is invited to a reception in the VIP Lounge at the UPEI Alumni Canada Games Place after the ceremony.
Founders' Day is part of UPEI's annual Homecoming Weekend, which takes place from Thursday, September 24, to Sunday, September 27. For information about Founders' Day and Homecoming Weekend, please contact Sarah MacInnis, Alumni Outreach Co-ordinator, at (902) 566-0687 or alumni@upei.ca, or visit www.upei.ca/alumni/homecoming
Investment expert gives talk at UPEI's Homecoming on September 24
Investment expert Sydney Tremayne will give a free public presentation on Thursday, September 24, at 2 p.m. in the W.A. Murphy Student Centre's McMillan Hall.
Tremayne's presentation, made possible in part by the UPEI Student Business Society and the UPEI Alumni Association, is part of the university's third annual Homecoming Weekend, which takes place from September 24 to 27.
Involved with investments for 55 years, Tremayne has written two bestsellers, Take the Guessing out of Investing (Prentice-Hall Canada, 1987), and Wealth Secrets Revealed: Lunch with Gaffer (Morgan James, New York, 2007). Born and educated in England, he lived in Canada for 46 years and now lives in a mountain village in Panama.
He spent 20 years as a journalist in England, Canada and East Africa, including stints as African correspondent for a Canadian chain of daily newspapers and editorial page writer for Canada's leading national newspaper.
After what he calls a less than auspicious start to his own investment efforts, he wants to see that young people have good savings and investment knowledge they can use for the rest of their lives.
The public is invited and seating is limited.
Other Homecoming events on Thursday include the distinguished alumni luncheon, the Alumni Association's annual general meeting and an Academic All-Canadian Dinner.
Friday's events include an exhibition of UPEI's collection of A. L. Morrison's paintings; a barbecue with donations accepted for the Passion for Life Award; Visionary Society reception; the tenth annual Founders' Day ceremony; and reunions for the classes of 1979 and 1989. A locker-room social for the 1989 AUS Championship Panther teams takes place between two basketball games.
Starting at 9:30 p.m. at The Wave is an All Years' Reunion pub night, featuring Sunday Punch and Big City.
Saturday features a 5K Fun Run, a family activity day, a residence competition and the Atlantic Veterinary College's ever-popular open house. The UPEI Panther men's and women's hockey teams take to the ice against Université de Moncton and St. Mary's respectively, and the soccer teams play against Acadia and St. Mary's. The day wraps up with a dance party at The Wave.
Homecoming Weekend wraps up on Sunday with a rugby game between UPEI and St. Francis Xavier, and Mass at 6 p.m.
For more information about Homecoming events, please contact Sarah MacInnis, Alumni Outreach Co-ordinator, at (902) 566-0687 or alumni@upei.ca, or visit www.upei.ca/alumni/homecoming
Winter's Tales series opens with reading October 6
Two of Canada's outstanding poets, John Donlan and Sue Sinclair, will read at the Confederation Centre Library, on Tuesday, October 6, at 7:30 p.m.
Donlan was raised in Ontario's Muskoka lakes district. His father worked with teams of horses hauling logs in the bush; neighbours raised skunks, crows, and porcupines as domestic pets (a neighbour's crow, named for his father, stole clothespins from the wash to tease his mother). Surrounded by some of Canada's most beautiful wilderness celebrated in the paintings of Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven, Donlan developed a deep sense of belonging in the natural world. Far from Muskoka, he now works as a reference librarian at the Vancouver Public Library in downtown Vancouver, and is a poetry editor with Brick Books. His most recent collection is Spirit Engine.
Sue Sinclair was raised in St. John's, Newfoundland, and received an M.A. in Creative Writing and English from the University of New Brunswick. She now lives in Toronto. Her poetry books include Secrets of Weather and Hope, Mortal Arguments, The Drunken Lovely Bird, and, most recently, Breaker.
Her poetry possesses intense lyrical vision, steeped in wonder at the existence of the world, and grief at our inability to lose ourselves in it completely. Her perception is acutely focused and rigorously self-aware. She is not afraid of words like "beauty" or "being," and the intensity of her vision and gift for metaphor give those words a fresh, vital reality.
This event is sponsored by the UPEI Department of English, with the generous support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Confederation Centre Library.
Supreme Court of Canada Justice to speak at UPEI October 5
The Honourable Thomas Cromwell, of the Supreme Court of Canada, will be the guest lecturer at the Chief Justice Thane A. Campbell Lectureship in Law at the University of Prince Edward Island on Monday, October 5.
Cromwell will give a lecture entitled 'Atlantic Canada's Contributions to the Supreme Court of Canada' in the Alex H. MacKinnon Auditorium (Room 242), Don and Marion McDougall Hall, at 7:30 p.m.
'Since the Supreme Court of Canada was created in 1875, 12 judges of the Court have been appointed from the Atlantic region, including Sir Louis Henry Davies, an Islander who served as the Chief Justice of Canada,' says Cromwell. 'From markedly different backgrounds, they have made significant contributions to the institution and to Canadian jurisprudence. This illustrated lecture will trace the development of the Court from its early days as an intermediate court of appeal to its present role as the court of last resort with special attention to the contributions of these judges.'
Cromwell was appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada on December 22, 2008. He had previously been appointed to the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal on August 27, 1997. He holds a B. Mus. (1973) and an LL.B. (1976) from Queen's University. He also obtained an A.R.C.T. diploma from the Royal Conservatory of Music in 1974 and attended Oxford University, where he earned a B.C.L. in 1977.
He practised law in Toronto and taught in the Faculty of Law of Dalhousie University. He worked as Executive Legal Officer to Chief Justice Antonio Lamer from 1992-95 and has held many other offices. He has served on the Canadian Judicial Council's working committee that prepared the publication entitled Ethical Principles for Judges, as well as its working committee on jury charges and education. He was also a faculty member for programs for new federally and provincially appointed judges, the National Judicial Institute's intensive evidence program, and other national and provincial continuing education programs. He has written or contributed to six books and numerous articles, and served on the editorial boards for CRIMJI and the Canadian Journal of Administrative Law and Practice.
His awards include the C.B.A.'s Louis J. St. Laurent Award of Excellence, 1992; Her Majesty's Jubilee Medal, 2002; the Dalhousie Law Students Society and Dalhousie Law Alumni Association Award of Teaching Excellence, 1992; and the Dalhousie Law Students' Society Class of 1986 Class Ring.
The Chief Justice Thane A. Campbell Lectureship in Law is co-sponsored by UPEI and the Law Foundation of Prince Edward Island. In 1991, the Foundation created an endowment at UPEI to provide a stimulating series of lectures in honour of Chief Justice Thane A. Campbell, former premier of PEI and first chancellor of UPEI.
