UPEI celebrates second annual Diversity Week January 18 to 22

UPEI celebrates its second annual Diversity Week from January 18 to 22, and everyone is invited to take in the events. All events are open to the public and are free of charge.

Diversity Week is a commitment to recognizing and appreciating the variety of characteristics-both visible and invisible-that make individuals unique, in an atmosphere that promotes inclusion and celebrates individual and collective achievement, says Ruth Freeman, equity outreach coordinator at UPEI.

The celebration kicks off with an opening ceremony at noon on Monday, January 18, in McMillan Hall, W. A. Murphy Student Centre. The ceremony will include drumming, a blessing by a Mi'kmaq elder, welcoming remarks by UPEI's Academic VP Rosemary Herbert, and cake and hot chocolate.

At 7 p.m. in McMillan Hall, a panel, moderated by religious studies professor Peter Koritansky, will discuss the question: 'Can we ever really be equal?' Panelists are Ann Braithwaite of women's studies, Pamela Courtenay-Hall of the philosophy department, and Charles Adeyanju of the sociology and anthropology department.

On Tuesday, January 19, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., a pavilion organized by UPEI's international students will feature cultural exhibits and, at noontime, a tasty treat of 'dips from around the world.' This will be held in the W. A. Murphy Student Centre concourse.

Also on January 19, Laura Archer, a nurse with the international humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders, will be the first presenter in a new speakers' series that features inspiring alumni. Her presentation takes place at 7:30 p.m. in the Alex H. MacKinnon Auditorium of McDougall Hall. The series is organized by the UPEI Student Union.

Aboriginal drummers, crafts and food will be featured in the W. A. Murphy Student Centre on Wednesday, January 20, from noon to 4 p.m. That evening at 7 p.m., everyone is invited to try out their trivia skills at 'Diversity Trivia' at The Wave.

On Friday, January 22, UPEI students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to come to 'Sound-off' at The Wave from 4 to 6 p.m., and have their five-minute say on the same subject as Monday's panel, 'Can we ever really be equal?'

At 6 p.m., the Women's Basketball Panthers take on the UNB Varsity Reds at the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre. Half-time entertainment features the Eagle Island Singers.

Capping off Diversity Week is a performance by Moccasin Joe in the W.A. Murphy Student Centre's McMillan Hall, starting at 8 p.m. on Friday. The alter ego of Aboriginal comedian Leonard Dick of Northern Ontario, Moccasin Joe is a fictional stereotypical character who addresses issues of diversity through joy and the healing power of laughter.

Dick's performance is sponsored by the Native Council of PEI, Aboriginal Women's Association of PEI, and UPEI's Department of Student Services. Admission is free, but donations for Chief Mary Bernard Memorial Women's Shelter in Lennox Island and Grandmother's House will be gratefully accepted at the door.

Check upei.ca/do for the full schedule. For more information, please contact Freeman at (902) 628-4332 or rfreeman@upei.ca

Laurie Brinklow participates in red earth women presents reading series on January 14

Guest artist Laurie Brinklow will read her poetry at the red earth women presents reading series on Thursday, January 14, in the Main Building Faculty Lounge at UPEI. The doors open at 7 p.m. Sign-up for open mic begins at 7:30 p.m.
Laurie is a writer and editor, and publisher of Charlottetown's Acorn Press, which she started in 1993. Her poetry has won the Atlantic Poetry Prize, and was published in the chapbook, Scars (Saturday Morning Chapbooks). She was a co-founder of the Island Literary Awards in 1988, was the founding president of the PEI Writers' Guild in 1989, and received the Award for Distinguished Contribution to the Literary Arts in PEI in 2002. She currently works full-time as publications co-ordinator at UPEI.
For more information, visit red earth women presents

A Night in Tasmania with Richard Lemm

Island author and UPEI professor Richard Lemm will give a presentation on Tuesday, January 26 (Australia Day!), at 7:30 p.m., about his recent stay in Tasmania as writer-in-residence. His talk will take place in the UPEI Faculty Lounge, Main Building. Admission is free.
Lemm's presentation will include a slideshow and poems he wrote while in Tasmania. His residency was part of the annual PEI-Tasmania writer-in-residence exchange. The writer-in-residence exchange is sponsored, on P.E.I., by the UPEI Dean of Arts and Department of English, the PEI Writers' Guild, and the Institute of Island Studies. The Tasmanian Writers' Centre is the counterpart down under, with additional support for Dr. Lemm's residency from the Lord Mayor of Hobart, the Canada Council for the Arts, and the P.E.I. Council of the Arts.

Public lecture about creating meaning in work tonight at UPEI

Recent PhD graduate, teacher and author Scott MacMillan will give a public lecture called Meaning and Work: Blue Pill or Red Pill? An Existential Approach to Work on Wednesday, January 20, at UPEI.
Dr. MacMillan's presentation will take place from 7-8:30 p.m., in the Alex H. MacKinnon Auditorium, Don and Marion McDougall Hall. All are welcome to attend this free event.
Have you ever felt that you were living the wrong life, especially when it comes to your work? Despite significant societal improvements such as increased technology, medical breakthroughs, and greater longevity, life for many people is one of continual worry and anxiety. One of the major sources of discontent can be our work life; the choices we make about work and the subsequent experiences we have in the workplace. Dr. MacMillan will explore these issues and also share his PhD thesis research on work as job, career or calling and how people make sense of their work lives.

This lecture is sponsored by the U.P.E.I. Faculty of Arts, The Centre for Christianity and Culture at U.P.E.I., and The Centre for Spirituality and the Workplace at Saint Mary's University.

AVC presents Cats 101 workshop on January 26

If you are a cat owner or thinking of getting a cat, this session is for you! Dr. Peter Foley, Assistant Professor in AVC's Department of Companion Animals, will share his knowledge of and interest in cats on Tuesday, January 26, from 7-8:30 pm in Lecture Room A, Atlantic Veterinary College.
Dr. Foley will talk about understanding our feline friends and the choices we have to make for their lives--spaying/neutering, declawing, living indoors or outdoors, and vaccinating. Common problems such as litterbox woes, hairballs, infectious diseases, parasites, and other medical issues will also be discussed.
Admission is free, and refreshments will be served. Donations to the Animal Allies of AVC will be gratefully accepted. For information, call (902) 566-0589.

Part of the AVC Community Workshop Series

First John J. Sark Memorial Scholarships awarded at UPEI

UPEI students Ashley Jadis, Emily Ferguson, and Amanda Malley are the first recipients of the new John J. Sark Memorial Scholarships. The provincial government established the scholarship program in September 2009 in honour of distinguished Mi'kmaq Islander John James Sark.
Sark received his post-secondary education at St. Dunstan's College, and was the Island's first Mi'kmaq teacher.
Three $1,000 scholarships are to be awarded every year to Aboriginal students at UPEI who have demonstrated their contribution to their First Nations, Inuit, or Métis community, a commitment to their field of study, and a strong academic performance.
Ashley Jadis of the Abegweit First Nations Band in Scotchfort, P.E.I., is a fourth-year nursing student who is president of the Aboriginal Student Association at UPEI. Emily Ferguson of the Swan River First Nations Band in Alberta is a fourth-year arts student who is majoring in psychology. She is working towards a career in social work and hopes to work with Aboriginal youth in her community. Amanda Malley of the Eel Ground First Nations Band in New Brunswick is a fourth-year science student, majoring in biology. Her career goal is to become a veterinarian.
'The Province is very pleased to support these three students as they pursue their post secondary education at the University of Prince Edward Island,' said Hon. Carolyn Bertram, Minister of Health and Wellness, responsible for Aboriginal Affairs. 'We understand the crucial role a strong education plays in helping Aboriginal youth achieve their goals in life. These students embody the values of John J. Sark through their dedication and achievements, both to their communities and their academic studies.'

The scholarships were presented to the students on January 20 during UPEI's second annual Diversity Week. More details about the John J. Sark Memorial Scholarships are available from UPEI Student Services.

Research centre celebrates a year of remarkable success

Members and research partners of the Atlantic Veterinary College's (AVC) globally-recognized Centre for Veterinary Epidemiological Research (CVER) gathered at AVC today to celebrate a year marked with success.
The Centre for Veterinary Epidemiological Research at the Atlantic Veterinary College is one of the world's leading centres for animal health epidemiological research--the study of disease in animal populations. The centre, which has close to 50 members and 30 graduate students, focuses on advancing and safe-guarding health through expertise in production of high quality and safe food, disease surveillance, detecting emerging and zoonotic diseases, animal welfare, evaluating diagnostic tests, and determining the efficacy of new treatments.
'People sometimes ask why this field of study is so important,' says Dr. Ian Dohoo, Director of the Centre. 'The answer is simple--health and diseases in animal populations play a huge role in the availability and quality of our food, the spread of many of the diseases that we hear about in the news, the impact of these diseases on human health and the ecosystem, and the health of our society overall. If we don't look at animal population health, we're missing a very large piece of the puzzle.'
In 2009, CVER's strength and relevance in terms of animal health and the production of safe, high-quality food in an environmentally sustainable manner was reflected in:
• securing three research chairs (AVC professor Dr. Larry Hammell was named the Innovation PEI Industry Research Chair in Epidemiology for Global Aquatic Food Animal Production. Fellow AVC professor, Dr. Greg Keefe, was named the Innovation PEI Industry Research Chair in Milk-Based Diagnostics and Information Technology Applications. Dr. Javier Sanchez was appointed the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Chair in Regulatory Veterinary Epidemiology at AVC. These researchers join the centre's existing chairs--Dr. Crawford Revie, Canada Research Chair in Epi-Informatics, and Dr. Michael Cockram, Sir James Dunn Chair in Animal Welfare.);
• launching the Canadian Regulatory Veterinary Epidemiology Network in partnership with CFIA (to, among other things, monitor disease and evaluate risk associated with re-emerging diseases);
• being the only small university in Canada to make it to the final round of the prestigious Canada Excellence in Research Chair competition (worth an estimated $10 million) with final results of the competition to be announced in March 2010;
• impacting countries around the world--such as China, Sweden, South Africa, Portugal, Norway and others--through considerable outreach activities and sharing of expertise; and
• the launch of the 2nd Edition of Veterinary Epidemiologic Research--a textbook co-authored by three members of the centre which has become the standard for graduate programs in veterinary medicine epidemiology around the world.
'The considerable expertise and research strengths of our Centre for Veterinary Epidemiological Research enable the Atlantic Veterinary College at UPEI to contribute to societal health in a truly global nature,' says Dr. Donald L. Reynolds, Dean of the Atlantic Veterinary College.
'As Atlantic Canadians, we should be proud that the world's best are a part of our community and are so deeply committed to making a difference. It is quite remarkable to have a centre of this calibre, a world leader, in our own backyard.'

2010 Music Performance Competition Finals concert on January 28

The UPEI Music Department Recital Series will present the 2010 Music Performance Competition Finals Concert at the Dr. Steel Recital Hall, UPEI, on Thursday, January 28, at 7:30 p.m.

Admission is $8.00 ($5.00 for students and seniors). Tickets will be available at the door.

The concert will feature the six finalists chosen by a panel of seven Music Department faculty members at the preliminary round of the competition, held on Tuesday, January 19. This year's competition category was music composed between 1950 and the present day.

The finalists are Sara Arsenault, clarinet, a fifth-year Bachelor of Music Education major; Nathan Keoughan, bass, a fourth-year Bachelor of Music major; Echo Lau, piano, a first-year Bachelor of Music major; Kelly Leighton, mezzo-soprano, a third-year Bachelor of Music major; Troy Martin, clarinet, a fourth-year Bachelor of Music major; and Nicole Schieck, alto saxophone, a fourth-year Bachelor of Music Education major.

'We were all very impressed with the high calibre of performance and the initiative that these students showed in tackling repertoire often challenging both interpretively and technically,' says faculty member Dr. Frances Gray. 'We are very proud of their achievements and look forward to an interesting and rewarding Finals evening.'

The judges for the Finals competition have been selected from the musical community of Charlottetown. They include soprano Sylvia Abi-Khattar-Mutch, trombonist Doug Millington, organist Alan Reesor, clarinetist Melanie Walsh-Fraser and cellist Natalie Williams Calhoun. Works by Pierre Max Dubois, Kalmen Opperman, Paul Harvey, Samuel Barber, Alexina Louie, Alasdair MacLean, and Bela Kovacs will be featured during the concert.

Support UPEI grad students’ Haiti relief challenge

The UPEI Graduate Students' Association (GSA) is seeking the help of the entire campus community to raise $10,000 for Haiti relief by Friday, January 29. To make a pledge or donation, please contact Ben Perry, GSA VP Finance.

The GSA began their fundraising on January 16, and with ten dozen cookies donated by Buns n' Things Bakery and the support of the UPEI Athletic Department, they kicked off the 'Ten Dozen Cookies to $10,000 Haiti Relief Effort' at the Panthers' basketball games. With the assistance of Haitian-born Prince Edward Islander Ephetas Norman, and Panther basketball fans, they raised $764 on that day alone.

The grad students added $525 of their own funds and challenged the rest of the campus to support this very important effort. By placing donation tins around campus and getting other groups involved, from student societies and administration, the GSA collected an additional $1,811 last week, bringing the total, as of January 22, to $3,082!

They are grateful to all UPEI students, staff, faculty, alumni and retirees who have been donating funds towards the relief effort and are still urging everyone to help them reach their goal of $10,000. All funds raised will be donated through the Canadian Red Cross Haiti Earthquake Relief.

Three UPEI research projects win funding through the Atlantic Innovation Fund (AIF)

The Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of National Revenue, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, announced funding on January 26 for seven research and development projects on Prince Edward Island - three of which are innovative projects of UPEI researchers.

'This is an exciting day for UPEI,' said Dr. Katherine Schultz, UPEI's Vice President of Research and Development. 'This funding affirms ACOA's commitment for fostering R&D in Atlantic Canada. It also builds on UPEI's growing reputation for research excellence - excellence that nurtures ideas into action.'

One of those projects, Discovery Space, created by University Librarian Mark Leggott, works to advance Canada's cyber infrastructure and to transform the way innovative research is conducted. The Discovery Space will continue to build on UPEI's Virtual Research Environments (VREs), transforming the way R&D data are managed and used. VREs create a collaborative environment to provide public and corporate groups with a platform to support the creation and management of data storage, transformation, discovery, and distribution.

Veterinary Laboratory Quality Assurance Program Expansion (VLA-QAP) is a project of the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) led by C. Ann Muckle, AVC's Lab Director of Diagnostic Services. AVC will develop software and systems for web-based delivery of impartial, objective, verification program for veterinary labs to verify and assure diagnosis. This project assures quality assurance standards, and eliminates issues surrounding shipping biological materials across the border.

Biomedical Infrared Technologies is another project of the AVC, led by Dr. Christopher Riley, to create a series of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), which is a software-based infrared test to detect immunoglobulin (antibodies) in animals. This is a highly cost-effective technology, able to generate in minutes extremely sensitive, specific and accurate test results, where current technologies take hours.

This is the seventh round of AIF-funding announced by ACOA since the program began in 2001. This announcement brings UPEI's total number of funded project through AIF to 15.

UPEI has had a more than 600 per cent increase in external research funding over the last decade, ranking it number one in research income growth for the years 2002-2007 by Research Info$ource. Maclean's magazine ranked UPEI number two in research funding in 2009 for undergraduate universities in Canada.

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