Delaney Boehm to bring size and offensive talent to 69传媒Women鈥檚 Hockey

Bruce Donaldson, coach of 69传媒Women鈥檚 Hockey, is pleased to announce Delaney Boehm of East St. Paul, Manitoba has committed to the Panthers for 2018.

鈥淚 watched Delaney at a tourney in Stoney Creek in early September and felt strongly she would be a great addition to our team,鈥 said Donaldson. 鈥淲e are looking to add size and offensive talent to our roster and Delaney offers both.鈥

Boehm plays for Balmoral Hall School in Winnipeg. She presently leads her team in scoring with 19 goals and five assists in 26 games.

鈥淚 chose PEI because it had the big town campus feeling provided in the small-town atmosphere, it felt like home,鈥 said Boehm. 鈥淭he hockey program and academic programs both are fantastic. Having come from a small high school, the class sizes are nice and not too overwhelming. Overall, it is a great fit to further both my athletic and academic career.鈥

Balmoral Hall competes in the Junior Women鈥檚 Hockey League, which includes teams such as the Boston Shamrocks and Chicago Young Americans.

鈥淚t's a very strong league which enables players that are having success to transition to the U-Sport level,鈥 said Donaldson. 鈥淒elaney visited a number of interested schools, and 69传媒was the last stop on her visits. We were very pleased when she confirmed that 69传媒was her first choice and look forward to seeing her in our line come September.鈥

Boehm plans to pursue a Bachelor of Science majoring in biology.

Go Panthers Go!

Reminder: Be wary of fraudulent calls and emails claiming to originate from the RCMP or IRB

The 69传媒 reminds students and members of the 69传媒community to be wary of calls or emails from persons demanding money and claiming to be representatives of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) or Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB).

69传媒was made aware of a nationwide scam targeting newcomers after a 69传媒student reached out to the 69传媒Recruitment and Admissions office last week when he received a phone call from someone identifying himself as a member of the RCMP. The student was told that he was under investigation and owed money, and if he didn鈥檛 pay, would be deported.

It is important to note that the RCMP or IRB will never ask for money.

As reported by several media outlets in 2017, the IRB is working with law enforcement agencies to identify the perpetrators and bring an end to this scam. In the meantime, 69传媒is warning members of the campus community to limit the impacts of this fraud.

If anyone receives a call or email of this nature, do not comply with any of the demands and instead contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501. The advises people that they have the right to check a caller or message sender by requesting written information, a call-back number, references, and time to think. It also warns people never to trust caller ID displays or provide confidential personal information, especially banking or credit card details, over the phone or by email.

If you believe that you have fallen victim to fraud, you can contact 69传媒Security Services at (902) 566-0384 or your local police agency.  Students can also contact 69传媒Student Affairs at studentserv@upei.ca or (902) 566-0488 for further support.

 

69传媒Wind Symphony presents effervescent widgets

The 69传媒Wind Symphony will perform its final recital of the academic year on Saturday, March 24, at 7:30 pm at Park Royal United Church in Charlottetown. This has been a particularly busy and musically rewarding year for the Wind Symphony with highly successful performances throughout the fall and winter.

This recital will feature contemporary works for the modern wind band, with several emerging masterworks of the genre. The program will open with Pansori's Rhapsody, a virtuosic work by Korean composer Chang Su Koh. This work is imbued with Korean culture and, through Su Koh's masterful orchestration, creates innovative colours and effects. effervescent widgets, this recital's title work, is among the most rhythmically complex scores that the Wind Symphony has ever performed. Here, American Richard Drehoff Jr., creates, in musical terms, a narrative of a widget's journey through the modern manufacturing mechanism. To accomplish this, Drehoff Jr. uses repetitive ostinato passages which layer upon themselves to the point of collapse.

Percy Grainger, an Austrailian by birth but an American by choice, wrote his Children's March: Over The Hills and Far Away around 1919. Based on an original Grainger melody, it is a light, carefree work the utilizes the full symphonic resources and colour of the modern wind band. Grainger was among the first to use piano and mallet percussion as part of his works for wind band. Another featured work by an American composer is Julie Giroux's One Life Beautiful. It is an introspective work with some of the most lyrical lines. Additional works by Dimitri Shostakovich and Warren Benson will be performed.

This recital will be the final Wind Symphony performance for eleven of its graduating students 鈥 among the largest in the history of this ensemble. All have made significant contributions to UPEI, and the Wind Symphony in particular, throughout their undergraduate careers.

Tickets ($15 Adults; $10 Students) for this performance may be acquired in advance at the 69传媒Music Department or at the door prior to the recital. 

The 69传媒Wind Symphony received the 2014 Music PEI award for Achievement in Classical Music. Under the direction of Dr. Karem J Simon, the Wind Symphony has had a progressive approach to its programming, and in reaching a wider audience. With performances throughout PEI and beyond each year, partnerships with PEI school music programs, and utilizing unique performance spaces, the Wind Symphony is among PEI's most respected large ensembles. Commissioning new compositions, featuring outstanding student and professional soloists, and showcasing masterworks of the wind band genre are all hallmarks of this ensemble. In recent years performances at Zion Presbyterian Church, St. Dunstan鈥檚 Basilica, and Park Royal United Church have attracted capacity audiences.

 

Public event at AVC to celebrate National Wildlife Week

The AVC Wildlife Service and the AVC Student Wildlife Club are celebrating National Wildlife Week with a public lecture at the Atlantic Veterinary College, Lecture Theatre A, on Wednesday, April 4, 2018, at 7 p.m.

National Wildlife Week, which takes place from April 8鈥14 this year, is a program of the Canadian Wildlife Federation to celebrate Canada鈥檚 natural heritage and the importance of its conservation.

Fiep de Bie, technician with the AVC Wildlife Service, will give a lecture called 鈥淚sland wild birds: Monitoring their health and well-being.鈥 She will reflect on the outbreak of trichomonosis in finches in the summer of 2017 and address the question of whether people should feed wild birds. Other issues related to wild birds on Prince Edward Island will also be discussed.

There will be a fundraiser for the AVC Wildlife Service, including a silent auction of art, a raffle, and the sale of cupcakes. Proceeds will go towards the care of wildlife submitted to the service. Everyone is welcome. Admission is free.

69传媒extends condolences on the passing of Professor Emeritus John W. Smith

John William Smith
August 10, 1927鈥揗arch 16, 2018

Our beloved John died peacefully on Friday evening.

First Poet Laureate of Prince Edward Island
Professor Emeritus at UPEI

Poet, father, grandfather, teacher, friend.
Woods walker, bird watcher, squirrel feeder.
Rare and ineffably kind.
Knowledge that spanned the universe.
Generosity of spirit.
Beloved.


The 69传媒 community extends sincere condolences to the family, friends, and former students and colleagues of Professor Emeritus and former Dean of Arts John W. Smith, who passed away on March 16. The flags will be flown at half-mast in his memory.

Professor Emeritus Smith taught at 69传媒for 25 years as Professor of English prior to his retirement in 1992. In 2003, he was appointed by the Prince Edward Island Legislative Assembly to a two-year term as PEI鈥檚 first Poet Laureate. Seven collections of his poetry have been published, including Maps of Invariance in 2005, and Fireflies in the Magnolia Grove in 2004, which was also shortlisted for the Atlantic Poetry Prize in 2005. In 2006, the 69传媒 produced a pair of CD/DVD sets under the series title 鈥淚sland Voices鈥. One set of disks featured readings by the then-Poet Laureate Frank Ledwell (1930-2008); the other featured Professor Emeritus Smith.

Visitation will be held Saturday, March 24, 2018 from 2鈥4 pm at the Hillsboro Funeral Home, 2 Hollis Avenue, Stratford. No flowers by request of family.

Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships program funds 69传媒community engagement, research, and development project in Kenya

The Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships (QES) program of its phase-three funding. Among them is an exciting project led by the 69传媒. The project, 鈥淚ntegrating Innovative Research & Training for Improved Sustainable Livelihoods in a Smallholder Dairy Farming Region鈥攑hase 2鈥, aims to develop Canadian and Kenyan students into global citizens through enriching courses, community engagement, research, and development projects in Canada and Kenya, and to provide training and resources to enhance sustainability and food security of the poor rural Buuri region of Kenya.

The project is co-led by Dr. John VanLeeuwen, a professor of epidemiology and ruminant health management at UPEI鈥檚 Atlantic Veterinary College, and Dr. Colleen Walton, an assistant professor in UPEI鈥檚 department of Applied Human Sciences. Other 69传媒faculty involved in writing the proposal were Dr. Jennifer Taylor and Charlene VanLeeuwen of Applied Human Sciences, and Dr. Shawn McKenna and Dr. Luke Heider of AVC鈥檚 Farm Service group.

鈥淲e are in the final year of our first four-year QES project, which has achieved all of its milestones to date, and it is a pleasure (and a relief) to secure four more years of QES funding through this new project,鈥 said Dr. VanLeeuwen. 鈥淭he new QES project builds on what the partners have accomplished together in the first phase, which appears to have been well-received by the funders. It has been a great team effort.鈥

鈥淚 am so excited that we have this opportunity through the QE Scholars program to continue and expand international community-based research and learning opportunities for our foods and nutrition students,鈥 said Dr. Walton. 鈥淪tudents return from these experiences as changed people with global awareness and capacities they only dreamed of, and we have seen significant improvements in the capacity of our partners in rural Kenya.鈥

The project team includes a Canadian partner, (FHF鈥攁 PEI-based NGO with 35 years of experience in Kenya), and three Kenyan partners, the Buuri Dairy Farmers Cooperative Society (made up of more than 1600 dairy farmer members), the University of Nairobi, and Kenyatta University.

A 69传媒vet student (Terra Macdonald) examining a cow in Kenya,  with the family watching

The project will see three graduate students from Kenya and 13 undergraduate students from 69传媒working together in Canada and Kenya to train Buuri dairy farmers to:

  • conduct research projects;
  • train Buuri smallholder dairy farmers on best management practices in dairy health management broadly, and infectious disease control, particularly bovine viral diarrhea virus  infections and S. aureus udder infections;
  • train Buuri primary school students, staff, and parents (along with the women鈥檚 groups to which mothers belong) on how to use FHF-supported enhanced gardens and school cookhouses to grow and prepare nutrient dense foods to improve nutritional quality of school and family meals; and
  • participate in community engagement and networking activities and cross-cultural, academic, and professional experiences related to nutrition and veterinary  medicine with schools and service groups in Kenya and Canada (and QES networks) to enhance their cultural awareness and improve their research, communication and leadership skills as global citizens.

The project has a number of desired positive outcomes, including the development of Canadian and Kenyan students into new global citizens and leaders with increased veterinary and nutrition knowledge and leadership skills and expanded cross-cultural networks. The team will make substantial contributions to Canadian and Kenyan rural communities in terms of training, resources, and experiences, and will help improve health management and productivity on Buuri dairy farms, and enhance school/community nutrition and food security in Buuri.

The project will be funded with $300,000 from the QES, with another $472,200 in contributions from 69传媒and its partners.

The Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships aim to activate a dynamic community of young global leaders across Canada and the world to create lasting impacts both at home and abroad through cross-cultural exchanges encompassing international education, discovery and inquiry, and professional experiences.

Established in 1986, the Atlantic Veterinary College is committed to improving the health and welfare of animals and humans through education, research, and service. The College is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, and is recognized by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in the United Kingdom. AVC is recognized globally for its innovative research and expertise in animal health and welfare, veterinary epidemiology, comparative biomedical sciences, clinical medicine, infectious disease, and public health.

The 69传媒 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鈥擯rince of Wales College and Saint Dunstan鈥檚 University鈥69传媒has a reputation for academic excellence, research innovation, and creating positive impacts locally, nationally, and internationally. 69传媒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.

Faculty of Science students recognized for research and communication abilities

Five students from UPEI鈥檚 Faculty of Science presented at the recent Science Atlantic Aquaculture & Fisheries and Biology Conference in St. John鈥檚, NL. Science Atlantic hosts annual academic student conferences in a number of disciplines. Approximately 1,000 undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty members attend these events each year.

Two 69传媒students were recognized and took home prizes for their honours鈥 research and presentations. Fourth-year honours biology student Emma McDermott won the Canadian Botanical Society Award for her research on 鈥淓ffects of PEI Berries blueberry pur茅e on renal oxidative stress鈥. The Botany Award is presented annually for the top undergraduate presentation (oral or poster) at the Annual Science Atlantic Undergraduate Biology Conference.

Fourth-year honours biology student Morgan King was awarded the Science Communication Award for his poster presentation 鈥淒efining the role of SOX4/SOX11 during nephrogenesis in vivo鈥. This prize is awarded to the student who is best able to communicate a science topic to his or her peers. 

鈥淭he recognition for their work and communication skills is a reflection of their commitment to research and is a wonderful achievement,鈥 said Dr. Kathy Gottschall-Pass, interim dean of UPEI鈥檚 Faculty of Science. 鈥淲e are proud of them and we look forward to welcoming faculty and students to our campus for the conference in 2020.鈥

69传媒will host the annual Science Atlantic conference on aquaculture, fisheries, and biology in 2020. The conference will also welcome research and presentations in the area of environmental studies.

The 69传媒 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鈥擯rince of Wales College and Saint Dunstan鈥檚 University鈥69传媒has a reputation for academic excellence, research innovation, and creating positive impacts locally, nationally, and internationally. 69传媒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.

NSERC funds 69传媒research into smarter application of agriculture resources

The National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) recently announced the recipients of its latest round of and . Among the awardees is , an assistant professor at UPEI鈥檚 School of Sustainable Design Engineering.

Dr. Farooque鈥檚 research aims to develop technologies and systems for the application of inputs used in potato farming, including pesticide, nutrients, and irrigation. Under current crop-management practices, these inputs are applied uniformly across a field, without taking into consideration variations in soil, crop, potential yield, climate, and topographical features. This not only increases the cost of production, but also poses a serious threat to the environment in the form of nutrient run-off to water bodies, sub-surface groundwater contamination, and greenhouse gas emissions.

鈥淒evelopment of innovative smart technologies, capable of applying agrochemicals based on soil and crop needs, is a future of modern agriculture to ensure economic and environmental sustainability,鈥 said Dr. Farooque.

Dr. Farooque鈥檚 research program will develop and integrate technologies and systems to identify variations within a field. It will use sensing and control systems to create intelligent machines to ensure better management practices.

Over the five years of the project, Dr. Farooque鈥檚 research program will train three master鈥檚 degree students, two PhD students, five undergraduates, and a research technician.

Dr. Farooque is an award-winning teacher and researcher. He has been developing precision agriculture technologies for agriculture industry in Eastern Canada for several years. He has expertise and skills in engineering design, development and management, bio-systems modeling, instrumentation testing, evaluation of sensors and controllers, hardware and software for automation of machines, sensing and control systems, and mechanical modification.

鈥淐ongratulations to Dr. Farooque for being one of the very few investigators in Canada to have received both an NSERC Discovery grant and a Discovery Accelerator Supplement,鈥 said Dr. Robert Gilmour, vice-president academic and research at UPEI. 鈥69传媒is delighted that his scientifically groundbreaking work will likely have immediate and significant impact on one of PEI's most important economies.鈥

Dr. Farooque鈥檚 NSERC Discovery Grant is one of nine successful applicants from 69传媒in this round of funding. The other researchers include Dr. Ali Ahmadi (Engineering), Dr. Matthew Hall (Engineering), Dr. Shafiqul Islam (Mathematical and Computational Sciences), Dr. Collins Kamunde (Biomedical Sciences), Trung Dung Ngo (Engineering), Dr. Peter Ross (Biology), Dr. Michael van den Heuvel (Biology), and Dr. Qiang Ye (Mathematical and Computational Sciences.

The 69传媒 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鈥擯rince of Wales College and Saint Dunstan鈥檚 University鈥69传媒has a reputation for academic excellence, research innovation, and creating positive impacts locally, nationally, and internationally. 69传媒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.

69传媒applauds 2018-19 provincial budget

The 69传媒 applauds the Government of Prince Edward Island鈥檚 vision and support for post-secondary education, says 69传媒President and Vice-Chancellor Alaa Abd-El-Aziz.

Prince Edward Island鈥檚 Minister of Finance, the Honourable Heath MacDonald, tabled the provincial operating budget for the 2018鈥19 fiscal year this morning in the Legislative Assembly.

鈥淭oday鈥檚 budget shows the Government鈥檚 strong commitment to 69传媒and its students,鈥 adds President Abd-El-Aziz, who had the opportunity to attend the budget briefing. 鈥淲e are delighted to receive a two per cent increase in UPEI鈥檚 operating grant. This will provide much needed support to the University鈥檚 increased costs that include inflationary pressures.鈥

The PEI budget document confirms that the core operating grant for 2018鈥19 will include $32,047,600 for 69传媒and $8,956,100 for the Atlantic Veterinary College.

The Government has aligned several of its priorities with UPEI鈥檚 initiatives, announcing additional support in several areas over-and-above the operating grant. These include:

  • supporting a new doctorate of psychology program at UPEI, which will support educating and retaining psychologists in the province;
  • committing $210,000 over three years to 69传媒to support a Concussion Awareness Program, which will feature classroom education for school-aged children, concussion recognition training for Island coaches and officials, and important research on return-to-play protocols;
  • providing $25 of funding per 69传媒student for mental health supports;
  • providing an additional $3,600 for a four-year program towards the cost of tuition; and, 
  • providing up to $3,500 in debt reduction grants per year of study if 69传媒graduates reside in PEI within three years post-graduation.

69传媒has been working closely with the provincial government over the past several months to develop a sustainable budget for the University. With today鈥檚 confirmation of UPEI鈥檚 core operating grant from the Government of Prince Edward Island, the University will now move forward with its own budget process.

鈥淲e thank the Government of PEI for the increase in our core operating grant, and especially for confirming that a multi-year funding agreement will be signed to allow the University to better plan for future operations,鈥 says President Abd-El-Aziz. 鈥淚t is a tremendous day for 69传媒to see such extensive investment and commitment in areas such as health and mental health, access to post-secondary education, and retention of graduates.鈥

About the 69传媒
The 69传媒 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鈥擯rince of Wales College and Saint Dunstan鈥檚 University鈥69传媒has a reputation for academic excellence, research innovation, and creating positive impacts locally, nationally, and internationally. 69传媒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.

Ryan MacKinnon, Alysha Corrigan, and Bailey Smith named 69传媒Athletes of the Year

UPEI鈥檚 Department of Athletics and Recreation celebrated the 2017鈥18 season at the 49th annual 69传媒Athletic Awards Gala on Friday, April 6, recognizing outstanding student athletes who have excelled in sport, the classroom, and serving the community. This year, the 69传媒Alumni Association鈥檚 Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year award will be shared by Alysha Corrigan, of the 69传媒Women鈥檚 Rugby team, and Bailey Smith, a sprinter on the 69传媒Track and Field Team. The Male Athlete of the Year is Ryan MacKinnon of the 69传媒Men鈥檚 Hockey team.

The event, held at the Rodd Charlottetown Hotel, included student-athletes, coaches, staff, along with members of the university community, alumni, donors, sponsors, and booster club supporters.

In addition to the Athlete of the Year awards, club and varsity team awards were presented. The Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Rookie of the Year award winners from each team include (note that the MVP is listed first followed by Rookie of the Year):

Men鈥檚 Soccer: Sam Smiley, Neil Harte
Women鈥檚 Soccer: Jen Balderson, Kami Chaisson
Women鈥檚 Rugby: Alysha Corrigan, Sophie Carragher
Women鈥檚 Field Hockey: Hannah Gormley, Abby MacDonald
Men鈥檚 Hockey: Ryan MacKinnon, Kam Kielly
Women鈥檚 Hockey: Rachel Colle, Leah Byrne
Men鈥檚 Basketball: Milorad Sedlarevic, Moshe Wadley
Women鈥檚 Basketball: Kiera Rigby, Reese Baxendale
Swimming (women): Kelsey Bolivar, Julianna Doitte
Swimming (men): Kris Smith, Kris Smith
Cross Country (women): Emma Moore
Cross Country (men): Lee Wesselius, Ryan Merrett
Women鈥檚 Volleyball: Laura Ready
Men鈥檚 Rugby: Mark Lloyd, Ben Whalen
Track and Field (women): Bailey Smith, Danika Atchia
Track and Field (men): Damon MacDonald

Atlantic University Sport executive director Phil Currie and special guest Marg Bayer were also on hand to present the 32nd AUS James Bayer Memorial Scholarship Award to Kiera Rigby of the 69传媒Women鈥檚 Basketball team. Rigby is UPEI鈥檚 fourth recipient of the award, and the first Panther to receive it in 21 years.

The award was established in 1985 and is awarded annually to an outstanding student-athlete in Atlantic University Sport for excellence in academics, athletics, leadership, sportsmanship and citizenship. Each of the eleven AUS-member schools nominates one student-athlete for this prestigious award. This year鈥檚 recipient receives a $1,000 scholarship.

James Bayer taught education and physical education at both high school and university levels. He served as supervisor and consultant for the Nova Scotia Department of Culture, Recreation and Fitness. At Acadia University, he served as dean of recreation and physical education and as director of athletics from 1978鈥85. As an administrator in the AUAA and the CIAU, he was a key player in the establishment of intercollegiate athletic policy.

Kiera Rigby was also the recipient of the W.A. Ledwell Award, presented to the student who has demonstrated outstanding athletic ability in the intercollegiate program, academic excellence, and also demonstrates the qualities of leadership, sportsmanship, and citizenship.

The Gordon and Muriel Bennett Award goes to the male or female student-athlete who, over four years, best combines athletic achievement and academic excellence. This year鈥檚 award went to Emma Martin of the 69传媒Women鈥檚 Hockey team.

About the 69传媒Athletes of the Year

Ryan MacKinnon, a defenceman on the 69传媒Men鈥檚 Hockey team, is a graduating business student from Summerside, PEI. He was named an AUS first-team All-Star and is currently playing in the AHL with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

Alysha Corrigan, a fullback on the 69传媒Women鈥檚 Rugby team, is a fourth-year business student from Charlottetown, PEI. She was named an AUS All-Star at the wing position and was a runner-up for the AUS MVP of the Year. She was also voted to the U SPORTS All-Canadian second team.

Bailey Smith, a sprinter on the 69传媒Track and Field team, is a second-year nursing student from Mount Stewart, PEI. She was named the AUS Female Track Athlete of the year for 2017鈥18.