69传媒

Despite a New Year's Day storm, hundreds of 69传媒faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends attended the University's annual New Year's Levee. UPEI鈥檚 version of the social event, co-hosted by the 69传媒Alumni Association, proved yet again to be a popular stop for levee-goers, and, with the inclement weather, led to participants staying a bit longer to mingle as a number of other levees were cancelled.

69传媒President and Vice-Chancellor Alaa Abd-El-Aziz and Valerie Abd-El-Aziz, Chancellor Catherine Callbeck, Board of Governors Chair Pat Sinnott and Darlene Sinnott, 69传媒Student Union President Will McGuigan, and 69传媒Alumni Association President Lisa Doyle-MacBain received over 400 guests. Several 69传媒music students, attired in Victorian dress, sang seasonal carols and helped the revellers kick off UPEI's 50th anniversary in 2019, which celebrates 50 years of the University serving as a leader in education, research, and service. (Visit to learn more!) 

About the levee tradition

The word levee (from the French noun lever, to raise) originated with King Louis XIV of France whose custom was to receive his subjects just after arising, a practice that then spread throughout Europe. In the 18th century, the levee in Great Britain and Ireland became a formal reception given by the sovereign just before noon or in the early afternoon. It was in Canada that the levee became associated with New Year's Day when fur traders began the tradition of paying their respects to their government representative on January 1. The first recorded levee in Canada was held in 1646.