Kathleen (Keefe) Murphy, SDU's first female BSc graduate, passes away

Dr. Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, President and Vice-Chancellor of the 69传媒, extends his sincere condolences to the family and friends of Kathleen (Keefe) Murphy, who passed away on Sunday, April 8. The flags will be flown at half-mast in her memory.

As one of the first women who enrolled at Saint Dunstan鈥檚 University (SDU), Kathleen (Keefe) Murphy was a trailblazer in every sense.

For close to 90 years, SDU had accepted only men as students, who were trained as lawyers, doctors, teachers, public servants, and in religious vocations. With the advent of World War II and societal changes that were happening in the late 1930s and 40s, a small number of women applied and were eventually accepted as students at the Island鈥檚 only university.

Mrs. Murphy was one of those early women. After enrolling at SDU in 1945, she pursued a Bachelor of Science degree, and she and Lorraine MacNeilly were the first females to graduate.

To celebrate their mother, and honour the memory of all the early women who attended Saint Dunstan鈥檚 from 1945鈥1969, Mrs. Murphy鈥檚 eight children created a legacy gift in 2017 that supported renovations to the interior of UPEI鈥檚 Chaplaincy Centre and the construction of a small outdoor amphitheatre. Mrs. Murphy, her children, along with many of their children and grandchildren, gathered on the 69传媒campus last summer for a recognition event.

鈥淢rs. Murphy was truly a pioneer for SDU and UPEI. She valued the importance of post-secondary education and instilled this commitment to higher learning in all of her children. It is amazing that each of them, and many of their children, attended UPEI,鈥 adds President Abd-El-Aziz. 鈥淎ll of us at 69传媒express our deepest sympathies to the Murphy and Keefe families on the loss of this remarkable woman.鈥

Funeral mass shall take place at Saint Dunstan鈥檚 Basilica on Wednesday, April 11, at 10 am.

69传媒grad heading to Oxford (with full scholarship!)

Christian Norton, who graduated with his Honours Biology degree from 69传媒in 2016, will head this fall to Oxford University with a full scholarship. Norton will complete his MSc in Biology this spring at the Universit茅 de Montr茅al鈥檚 Institut de recherche en biologie v茅g茅tale before commencing his PhD studies in plant ecology at Oxford. He is one of 140 recipients of the Clarendon Scholarship, which covers his tuition, college fees, living costs, and research costs for four years.

Norton鈥檚 master鈥檚 research took him to Northern Labrador, where he studied how Inuit and local communities use indigenous plants for food, health, and medicine.

He studied at 69传媒under Dr. Christian Lacroix, professor of biology, who recently co-authored a paper with Norton on his honours research project. As a 69传媒student, he was awarded three consecutive NSERC undergraduate student research awards鈥攁n impressive accomplishment in securing these highly competitive awards.

鈥淚 am thrilled that Christian will be pursuing his studies at Oxford,鈥 said Dr. Lacroix. 鈥淗e is a talented researcher who is destined to make significant contributions to plant science.鈥

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and Humber College present The Insider鈥檚 Guide to Writing and Publishing for Young Readers, July 12-14

The 69传媒 is once again partnering with Humber College to present The Insider鈥檚 Guide to Writing and Publishing for Young Readers, a workshop for writers of children鈥檚 and young adult literature. No matter what stage of writing you鈥檙e at鈥攆rom concept to first draft or beyond鈥攖his workshop offers the inside scoop on the world of publishing and self-publishing. Join us July 12 through 14 in beautiful Charlottetown, PEI, on the lovely 69传媒campus, for a workshop full of practical suggestions and writing inspiration.

Created by eminent publishers and facilitators Cynthia Good and Rick Wilks, the workshop, now in its third year, is a collaboration between 69传媒and Toronto's Humber College, home to the renowned Humber School for Writers and Creative Book Publishing program. This summer鈥檚 expanded workshop will have more time devoted to writing feedback, and Sarah Sawler, children鈥檚 author and publicist, will join the facilitators to highlight what every writer needs to know about getting their books into the hands of readers.

Each workshop day is divided into writing and publishing segments. The hours dedicated to writing will provide the opportunity to get feedback on some of your writing, or to develop an outline for your book if you are in the development stage.

The publishing segments will look at the current publishing landscape, explore traditional and self-publishing models, provide business details, and help you to construct a query letter for publishers and literary agents.

The workshop will open with a lecture and reception sponsored by Annick Press, legendary publisher of Robert Munsch, Ruth Ohi, Kathy Stinson, and Kevin Sylvester. Participants will leave the workshop with new directions for their manuscripts, enriched knowledge of publishing, and an effective query letter.

You should attend if you find yourself asking these questions:

  • Where can I get feedback on my children鈥檚/young adult manuscript?
  • What鈥檚 the best way to publish my book?
  • Which Canadian publishers may be interested in my work?
  • How does self-publishing work and is it for me?
  • What literary agents represent children鈥檚/young adult books?
  • How can I market my book and myself?
  • How can I learn about the publishing process for children鈥檚/young adult and adult books?

About the facilitators:

Cynthia Good has been a leader in the publishing industry for many years. She was appointed the first editorial director of Penguin Books Canada and went on to become president and publisher. Over her twenty years with Penguin, she established a publishing program, which grew into one of the most successful in Canada. After Penguin she joined Humber College.

At Humber, Cynthia developed the Creative Book Publishing program and mentored over 300 students. In 2014, she stepped down from that position to focus on program and community outreach until retiring in 2016. In recognition of her accomplishments at Humber, she was named director emeritus and was awarded the Humber Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Rick Wilks co-founded Annick Press in 1975 and has been its sole director since 2000. Annick has been recognized as one of the most innovative publishers of fiction, non-fiction and picture books for children and young adults, publishing, among others, Robert Munsch, Sharon McKay, Kathy Stinson, Allan Stratton, and Kevin Sylvester. Rick oversees all aspects of the publishing process, with a special emphasis on acquisitions.

His publishing philosophy stresses projects that are dynamic and developed to the highest literary standards. A joy of reading experience is essential to capture the minds and hearts of youth. Annick titles encourage critical thinking and the development of children鈥檚 inner resources so that, in addition to becoming confident, contributing members of their communities, they are also engaged with society at large and their peers around the globe. Annick was recently nominated for International Publisher of the Year.

Rick also co-founded the National Reading Campaign, where he has served as co-chair and currently sits as a board member. The Campaign鈥檚 goal of advocating for reading as a national public good addresses one of Rick鈥檚 highest priorities.

Sarah Sawler is a publicist, author, and freelance writer living in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She is the author of the regional bestseller 100 Things You Don't Know About Nova Scotia and 100 Things You Don't Know About Atlantic Canada - For Kids. For the past nine months, she's also been working closely with Cape Breton YouTuber Frankie MacDonald on Be Prepared: The Frankie MacDonald Guide to Life, the Weather, and Everything. Occasionally, she writes about children's literature for Atlantic Books Today, and has had numerous reviews published in the Quill & Quire鈥檚 "Books for Young People" section.

In addition to writing (and promoting) her own books, Sarah markets other people's books as the publicist for Conundrum Press, a literary graphic novel publisher based in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. Previously, she worked as a publicist at Fierce Ink Books, an independent publisher that specialized in young adult books. She's also a former bookseller; years of experience at Woozles Children's Bookstore provided her with valuable insight into everything from cover design to merchandising.

Sarah has also worked as an online technical writing instructor for Dalhousie University's Continuing Education Department, spoken to elementary school classes, facilitated professional development courses, spoken at conferences and festivals, signed piles of books, and once, created a fictional biography for a rooster.

For more information, including details on the workshop, accommodations, and how to register, visit .

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.

Established in 1967, Humber College is a global leader in polytechnic education. Combining in-depth theoretical learning and hands-on experience with applied research and extensive industry connections, Humber provides career-focused education to 31,000 full-time and 23,000 part-time students across three campuses. The college offers a comprehensive range of credentials including honours undergraduate degrees, postgraduate certificates, diplomas, apprenticeships and certificates. More than four out of five Humber graduates are employed within six months of completing their studies. Visit humber.ca.

Island Studies lecture examines the making of a Canadian military nursing heroine

April鈥檚 edition in the Island Studies Lecture Series features author Katherine Dewar speaking about 鈥淭he Making of a Canadian Military Nursing Heroine.鈥 The heroine in question is Prince Edward Island鈥檚 own Georgina Fane Pope (1862鈥1938) and is the subject of Katherine鈥檚 soon-to-be-released book from Island Studies Press: Called to Serve. The April Island Studies Lecture takes place on Tuesday, April 17, at 7:00 pm in the Faculty Lounge of UPEI鈥檚 SDU Main Building.

How does a young woman, born in 1862 into privileged circumstances in Prince Edward Island, rise to the top echelons of Canadian military nursing leadership? This presentation discusses Georgina Pope鈥檚 path to power through the second half of the 19th century and into the 20th. Among other things, it addresses the significance her privileged and powerful lineage, the influence of her parents on her world view, and the inspiration of Florence Nightingale鈥攚ho invoked in Pope a 鈥渂urning desire鈥 to become an 鈥渁rmy nurse鈥 in a faraway land. The story takes us from Georgie鈥檚 rather sheltered life in Victorian Prince Edward Island to the 鈥淏oston States鈥; to the dangerous and primitive conditions she experienced as superintendent of nurses in two South African Wars; to her work in the formation of the nursing component of the Canadian Army Medical Corps (PAMC); and to the battlefields of Europe during the First World War.

Katherine Dewar is the author of the award-winning book, Those Splendid Girls: The Heroic Service of Prince Edward Island Nurses in the Great War, 1914鈥1918. Katherine is retired from a career as a nursing instructor at the PEI School of Nursing and is now committed to researching PEI鈥檚 colourful nursing history. Those Splendid Girls was shortlisted for an Atlantic Book Award, won Publication of the Year from the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation and the City of Summerside鈥檚 Heritage and Culture department. Katherine herself is the recipient of the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation Award of Honour for her outstanding contribution to Prince Edward Island Heritage.

Admission to the lecture is free. All are welcome.

Watch for another lecture about islands鈥攏ear near and far鈥擬ay 15. For more information, please contact Laurie at iis@upei.ca or (902) 894-2881.

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.

2018 Student Design Expo to showcase the best in sustainable engineering in Atlantic Canada

The 69传媒鈥檚 School of Sustainable Design Engineering (SSDE) annual Student Design Expo will showcase the best in student, sustainable, and green engineering in Atlantic Canada on Friday, April 20. Student design teams have been working with industry or community partners since September to find innovative, sustainable solutions for their unique challenges.

Student projects will be set up for public viewing at various stations on the first floor of the School of Sustainable Design Engineering building on the 69传媒campus. The Student Design Expo begins with a short ceremony at 1:00 pm. Projects are available for viewing through the afternoon, with an award ceremony beginning at 4:00 pm. A brief panel discussion about opportunities for design engineering graduates begins at 4:30 pm.

More than two-dozen student projects will be on display. The projects are diverse in scope, and range from a virtual reality tour of the renovations at Province House (in partnership with Parks Canada) to a waste-water treatment system for households in a village in remote Pakistan.

鈥淓ngineers do not become proficient at design by reading text books or attending lectures,鈥 said Dr. Nicholas Krouglicof, dean of the SSDE. 鈥淭hey do so by practicing design. At the SSDE we integrate real-world design problems into every semester of the four-year program. Through these projects students are immersed in a realistic engineering environment where they are expected to interact with external clients, develop design solutions, and conform to the best practices of the profession.鈥

The panel discussion is entitled 鈥淭he Future is Bright鈥攆or a Design Engineer鈥, and will be moderated by Dr. Krouglicof.

All are welcome!

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.

With funding in place, transformative research well under way

Fifteen ocean research projects based in Atlantic Canada have received more than $25 million in funding, an investment that鈥檚 expected to advance understanding of atmospheric and ecosystem change while also identifying ways to grow resource development in a sustainable way.

The investment in ocean research, made possible through the and distributed by the (OFI), enables teams at the 69传媒, Memorial University of Newfoundland, and Dalhousie University to study ocean-related issues in the North Atlantic and Canadian Arctic Gateway. Projects include work to understand ocean change and help improve the potential for fisheries and aquaculture to meet global seafood demand.  

Ian Gardner, a Canada Excellence Research Chair at UPEI鈥檚 Atlantic Veterinary College, leads up a research project examining . His work will identify strategies to improve the delivery of medication to large populations of fish in order to improve antimicrobial and antiparasitic treatments. It will also use novel digital sensors to observe salmon pens and control disease.  

Project funding will be used to hire early-career scientists at UPEI. 鈥淭he research will advance the aquaculture industry but our work has other benefits as well. It will also prepare the next generation of scientists for work in industry, government, and academia,鈥 said Dr. Gardner.

Dr. Mark Fast, an Associate Professor at UPEI, is also one of the leaders of a research project entitled, . Specifically, his work is developing sustainable control measures for pathogens of cultured fish.

For a full summary of all research projects that have received funding, go to . 

AVC faculty member appointed to international scientific experts panel

Dr. Javier Sanchez, an associate professor of epidemiology at the Atlantic Veterinary College, has been selected to be part of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meetings on Microbiological Risk Assessment Roster of Experts (JEMRA) for a five-year term.

JEMRA is an international scientific expert panel that is administered jointly by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and the World Health Organization (WHO) to provide scientific advice on microbiological hazards, including expert advice on risk management options aimed at improving food safety.

Dr. Sanchez鈥檚 appointment makes AVC the only Canadian veterinary college to be represented on the panel.

Food-borne pathogens are an increasing challenge to those working in food safety, says Dr. Sanchez. JEMRA is tasked with identifying risks to consumers from food products contaminated with bacteria such as E coli, salmonella, or listeria.

The experts on the panel assess the probability of people being exposed to food products contaminated by bacteria and the likelihood that they will be harmed. They then use that data to help decision-makers develop policies to best protect consumers.

The JEMRA panel is also dealing with antimicrobial resistance鈥攖he resistance of bacteria to antibiotics鈥攁 major topic of concern in both veterinary and human medicine.

鈥淎ntimicrobial resistance is an increasingly serious threat to public health across the globe,鈥 says Sanchez. 鈥淯sing new molecular technology, we are working to identify the transmission pathways to quantify how antimicrobial resistance genes are being transferred by the consumption of food products. Being part of this panel will help in identifying the correct analytical approaches to estimate the risks to people.鈥

Dr. Greg Keefe, dean of AVC, congratulated Dr. Sanchez on his appointment.

鈥淭o address concerns regarding resistance development, the stewardship of antimicrobial use in veterinary medicine is one of the top priorities of the profession,鈥 said Dr. Keefe. 鈥淲e are pleased that Dr. Sanchez has been recognized as an international leader in this field.鈥

69传媒women鈥檚 basketball coach steps down

69传媒 Women鈥檚 Basketball head coach Greg Gould announced at a team meeting on Thursday that he will be retiring from the University. 

Coach Gould joined the Panthers in 2012, taking over a team that had a three-year, 2-58 record. He leaves the Women鈥檚 Basketball program with a 43-57 record, qualifying for the playoffs each year and leading the team to one of its most successful seasons in the last decade.

This year, the 69传媒women鈥檚 squad went 11 and 9 during the regular season, beating every team in conference, and then went on to defeat the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds in the quarterfinals and the Cape Breton University Capers in the semi-finals at the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) women's basketball championship. They came up just short against the U SPORTS third-ranked Acadia Axewomen to take home the silver medal.   

鈥淕reg Gould is an experienced, committed, and highly successful coach. We thank him for taking our program through two growth cycles, both resulting in the women鈥檚 team reaching the AUS finals,鈥 said 69传媒Director of Athletics and Recreation Chris Huggan. 鈥淚n addition to the team鈥檚 success, with Greg at the helm, many of our student-athletes achieved individual recognitions both at the AUS and U SPORTS level.鈥

Gould said he did not want word of his retirement to be released before he could tell his players, so he did so in person before team members disperse for the summer.

鈥淎fter 48 years of coaching, it is time to retire and spend more time with family and friends. I have so many great memories of my players and I have met so many wonderful people through my time coaching,鈥 said Gould. 鈥淚 would like to thank everyone who helped me during my five years here at UPEI, especially my assistant coaches who contributed so much to the success of the program. It is satisfying to know that I am leaving the Women鈥檚 Basketball team in better shape than I found it, and I believe the foundation has been laid for the program to challenge for AUS championships for years to come.鈥

Hailing originally from Moncton, New Brunswick, Gould coached the Panthers from 2012鈥14 and from 2015鈥18. Prior to that, he led girls鈥 basketball teams at Moncton, Fredericton, and Riverview high schools, taking them six times to the New Brunswick Interscholastic Athletic Association (NBIAA) AAA provincial championships. He also coached at the post-secondary level, including the St. Thomas University and New Brunswick Teachers' College women's teams, and for a variety of provincial basketball teams. Gould is a recipient of the Atlantic Colleges Athletic Association (ACAA) Coach of the Year, Basketball New Brunswick Coaches Award, and the NBIAA Women's Coach of the Year award.

鈥淲e will have big shoes to fill,鈥 added Huggan. 鈥淥n behalf of 69传媒Athletics and Recreation, I wish Greg the very best as he enters retirement. He will always be a member of our Panther family, and we hope to carry on his legacy.鈥

A search for a new coach will begin immediately.

 

 

Kids get up close and personal with computer science at IgniteCS@UPEI

UPEI鈥檚 School of Mathematical and Computational Sciences is hosting a second year of the IgniteCS@69传媒camp aimed at young students interested in computer science. The free weekly camp begins the week of May 14 and runs through July 4.

After the success of last year鈥檚 inaugural IgniteCS@UPEI, organizers have broken the camp into two streams. Beginners will meet Monday evenings from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Intermediate campers will meet Wednesday evenings, 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

Students will participate in 鈥渦nplugged鈥 activities to learn important computer science concepts away from the computer. Students will also have the opportunity to do some real coding and develop their own Java programs鈥攕ome which are similar to first-year computer science assignments at UPEI. The camp will also have an Oculus Day, where students will have the opportunity to try out virtual reality through Oculus Rift.

IgniteCS@69传媒is primarily targeted at junior high students, but is open to all young students interested in computer science.

Registration closes on May 11, 2018; students can sign up by .

UPEI鈥檚 L.M. Montgomery Institute turns 25 today!

The (LMMI) at the 69传媒 is marking a major milestone today鈥擜pril 26.

On this date 25 years ago, the LMMI was launched with the goal of promoting research into, and celebrating, the life, works, culture, and influence of Prince Edward Island-born L.M. Montgomery, one of Canada鈥檚 most famous authors. During her lifetime (1874鈥1942), Montgomery wrote over 20 novels, numerous poems and short stories, and 10 volumes of personal journals. She is most famous for her first novel, Anne of Green Gables, with its iconic character, Anne Shirley, whose life in fictional Avonlea continues to delight millions of readers around the world. While Montgomery moved to Ontario after her marriage to the Rev. Ewan MacDonald in 1911, she set all but one of her novels in her beloved Island.

鈥淎 25th anniversary is a time for celebrating all that has been accomplished over these years,鈥 says Dr. Philip Smith, chair of the LMMI. 鈥淏ut even more important is the opportunity to look ahead, to advance new ways of learning about and shaping Montgomery's influence at home on the Island, across Canada, and around the world.鈥

A long-held dream of Montgomery scholar Dr. Elizabeth Epperly, the LMMI has developed a strong scholarship base over the past 25 years through conferences, publications, and academic courses. The Institute brings together Montgomery scholars and enthusiasts from countries around the globe for biennial conferences on various themes related to or found in Montgomery鈥檚 work. The next conference, 鈥淟.M. Montgomery and Reading,鈥 will be held at 69传媒from June 21鈥24 of this year.

Housed in the University鈥檚 Robertson Library, the Institute has developed its own collection of Montgomery-related artefacts, sponsored courses on Canadian culture, published essay collections based on the conferences, and developed multi-media products to further scholarly discussion of the author鈥檚 work.

With 25 years behind it, the LMMI is not resting on its laurels. Last year, 69传媒announced the appointment of Dr. Kate Scarth as the inaugural Chair in L.M. Montgomery Studies and Applied Communication, Leadership and Culture. She will create public engagement activities to advance the Institute鈥檚 scholarly mission and develop even stronger links with scholars and enthusiasts in PEI, Canada, and internationally.

This fall, the LMMI will embark on a new venture with the creation of the first-ever journal dedicated to Montgomery. A refereed, open digital space, the will use new technology to bring together interdisciplinary and international authors and readers, including Montgomery scholars and the broad community of enthusiasts. Papers will be accepted starting September 1, 2018.

For a more detailed look at the LMMI鈥檚 history and its future, please read by Melanie Fishbane, the Institute鈥檚 web coordinator.

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.