The UPEI Health and Wellness Centre wishes to inform the campus community that Concussion Awareness Week is from September 24 to 30 this year. Concussion Awareness Week was established in January 2021 to increase concussion awareness by providing information and encouraging action across Canada. Concussion Awareness Week is for everyone with a role in healthy active living – sport and recreation participants, parents, coaches, organizers, educators and more!

Why Concussion Awareness Matters

Concussion is a serious public health issue affecting all Canadians. Early recognition of concussion, proper medical assessment, and appropriate management make a difference in recovery. But Canadians need simple, easy-to-follow steps on how to care for a concussion or where to find good information. Through efforts such as Concussion Awareness Week, we can provide this.  

For more information about concussions or if you have had a concussion, you may wish to consult the UPEI concussion study at concussionstudy@upei.ca, or the UPEI Health and Wellness Centre at healthcentre@upei.ca.

Rowan Stringer’s Story

Rowan’s Law was named for Rowan Stringer, a high school rugby player from Ottawa, who died in the spring of 2013 from a condition known as second impact syndrome (swelling of the brain caused by a subsequent injury that occurred before a previous injury healed). Rowan is believed to have experienced three concussions over six days while playing rugby. She had a concussion but didn’t know her brain needed time to heal. Neither did her parents, teachers, or coaches. Rowan’s Law and Rowan’s Law Day were established to honour her memory and bring awareness to concussions and concussion safety.

A reminder that the deadline for the 1st Semester (Fall) Award Cycle is Sunday, October 1, 2023, at 11:59 pm.

Applications are accepted electronically through the Scholarship and Award Application portal. Click the link provided or find the link listed on your MyUPEI account in the UPEI Forms section.

Be sure to submit your application to be considered for over 100 scholarships and awards!

For more information, please contact scholarships@upei.ca. Best of luck to all who apply!

The Native Council of PEI proudly presents the KAIROS Mass Blanket Exercise—the Indigenous Rights history we’ve never been taught—on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, September 30, 2023. The event will begin at 1:00 pm in the UPEI quadrangle (rain location: McMillan Hall at the W.A. Murphy Student Centre). 

After the Blanket Exercise, a feast will take place in the W.A. Murphy Student Centre concourse. Attendance is open to the public—attendees are encouraged to bring their own blankets. 

The KAIROS Blanket Exercise is a program of KAIROS Canada, an ecumenical movement for ecological justice and human rights around the globe.

The UPEI Department of Music will present an alumni recital on Sunday, October 1, at 7:00 pm in the newly renovated Dr. Steel Recital Hall.

The recital features UPEI alumni Lindsay Gillis, soprano, and Hannah O’Donnell, mezzo soprano, who will perform various selections of vocal repertoire, accompanied on piano by Dr. Magdalena von Eccher.

Admission, payable by cash at the door, is $30 for adults and $10 for students.

The Search Committee for the Associate Vice-President (Students) and Registrar announces upcoming presentations by each of the finalist candidates. Since the search began in May, the committee has undertaken a comprehensive search and selected the following finalists for a series of stakeholder meetings on campus. Presentations are scheduled on the following dates and times.

Chris McGrath is the Principal and Founder of the Koru Coaching + Education Group, an organization dedicated to cultivating leadership capacity for social change, particularly for Indigenization and EDI within organizations. He held prior roles as Vice-President, Students (George Brown College), Dean of Students (Seneca College), Associate Vice-President, Student Experience and Registrar (Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College), and Assistant Dean, Student Affairs (University of Toronto, Mississauga). Chris holds an EdD (Western University), an MEd (University of Vermont), and a BA (University of Waterloo).

• Public Presentation: Wednesday, October 4, 2023, 11:00 am to 12:00 pm, AVC, Room 201A

Frances Billingsley is the Associate Registrar and Director, Student Records and Scheduling, at York University. Previously she held registrarial and student service roles at MacEwan University (Director, Student Financial Aid; Associate Registrar, Records and Registration; and Academic Advisor) and the University of Alberta (Director, Undergraduate Student Services; Recruitment Officer; Student Advisor). Frances received her EdD in Educational Leadership from Western University (2022), and an MEd (2008), a BEd (2000), and a BA (1997) from the University of Alberta.

• Public Presentation: Tuesday, October 10, 2023, 10:00 to 11:00 am, Andrew Hall, 142

Shawna Garrett is the President and CEO of EduNova Cooperative Ltd, an association of education and training providers in Nova Scotia. She has held prior appointments as a Transformation and Change Leader (College of the North Atlantic, CNA), Registrar (Mount Allison University and CNA, Qatar), and Executive Director, Enrolment Services (Acadia University). From 1999 to 2001, Shawna was the International Student Recruitment and Marketing Officer at UPEI. She holds an MEd (2007) from Acadia University and a BA (1997) from the University of Prince Edward Island.

• Public Presentation: Friday, October 13, 2023, 10:00 to 11:00 am, Andrew Hall, 142

All are welcome to attend. For any who are unable to attend, the presentations will be recorded and available afterward for viewing from a secure site. Paper copies of each candidate’s CV will be available for viewing in the Office of the Vice-President, Academic and Research, Kelley 205. Following each presentation, you are invited to provide feedback on the candidate’s suitability for the role to vpar@upei.ca. All feedback will be considered by the committee in its deliberations.

UPEI is hosting a free Japanese Film Festival, presented by the Consulate General of Japan in Montreal and the Japan Foundation, in Don and Marion McDougall Hall, Room 242, on Friday, September 29, from 5:30 to 10:30 pm.

The two films that will be shown will be in the Japanese language with English subtitles. The first film, titled "Bento Harassment," is a comedy/drama starring Ryoko Shinohara as a single mother of a teenage daughter in the midst of a rebellious phase. In the hopes of improving their relationship, and maybe a little of getting revenge, she uses a most peculiar means of communication: the daily bento lunches she prepares for her daughter. The second film is a drama titled "Finding Calico." A former high school principal, who lives alone after his wife’s passing, barely tolerates the comings and goings of Mii, a stray cat that his wife used to feed. When Mii suddenly stops visiting the house one day, the old man finds himself searching high and low for the cat. His efforts bring him to connect with other townsfolk and realize that he is, in fact, not alone. 

Prior to the showing of the films, Jessica Gagnon, JET Programme Coordinator/Cultural Affairs, Consulate General of Japan in Montreal, and UPEI alumni Diana Tutty and Rachel Lewis will be on campus to promote the Japanese Exchange and Teaching program (JET). They will be at the W.A. Murphy Student Centre from 11:00 am to 3:30 pm and then in Don and Marion McDougall Hall from 4:00 to 5:30 pm to provide information to those who may be interested in the JET program.

The excitement for this Saturday's Gold Rush draw is growing as big as the pot! With no winners in the last SIX draws, the total pot has grown to more than $17,500, with half going to the winner of the draw.

Gold Rush is a virtual fundraising initiative that raises funds for UPEI’s athletic and recreation programs. You can now select a specific team, club, or program to direct your proceeds from each of your tickets. 

Play today and every week for a chance to win! Download the UPEI Panthers app from the App Store or on Google Play, or play from your computer. The weekly draw is held at 8:00 pm every Saturday.

There are some exciting developments at UPEI as PEI aims to become net zero by 2040. Dr. Marva Sweeney-Nixon, Associate Vice-President of Research and Dean of Graduate Studies, invites the UPEI campus community to an information session on September 28 in Kelley Memorial Building 211 at noon to find out more about the Province of PEI's net-zero framework, the Cleantech Academy, UPEI's proposed role, and our next steps. Representatives from the province and the Cleantech Academy will be presenting. You will also have an opportunity to ask any questions and give feedback and suggestions for the new interdisciplinary graduate program in cleantech leadership.

Registration is not required. Coffee, tea, and cookies will be provided. For questions, contact Susie Zavala at szavala@upei.ca. See you there!

UPEI Health, Safety, and Environment is pleased to host an on-campus presentation at which members of the PEI Emergency Measures Organization will deliver the most up-to-date information on personal emergency preparedness (PEP). Following the presentations, Bradley MacIsaac, UPEI’s Emergency Risk Manager, will share what the University is doing to prepare for different types of emergencies and moderate a question-and-answer feedback session.

This session will take place on September 27, from 1:00–3:00 pm at the Performing Arts Centre and Residence building (PAC 121 South).  This will be held for all members of the campus community including employees and students. All attendees will be entered into a draw for a 72-hour pre-made emergency preparedness kit.

We look forward to seeing you there for an informative and educational PEP talk!

For more information, email bnmacisaac@upei.ca 

Applications and nominations are being accepted for the 2023 MacLauchlan Prizes for Effective Writing!

Returning undergraduate students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to apply for a MacLauchlan Prize for Effective Writing by the October 6, 2023 deadline. Criteria and application forms for the four prize categories can be found through the links below. Note that there are numerous awards available per category, and the prize value has been generously increased to $750 this year. Submissions should be made electronically to scholarships@upei.ca.

MacLauchlan Prize for Effective Writing (Community)
MacLauchlan Prize for Effective Writing (Course Work)
MacLauchlan Prize for Effective Writing (Faculty and Staff)
MacLauchlan Prize for Effective Writing (Webster Centre)

The family of Harry and Marjorie MacLauchlan of Stanhope PEI made another leadership gift to UPEI in July 2011 to create a substantial program of awards that encourages and recognizes student writing achievement. The gift honours H. Wade MacLauchlan’s twelve years of service as UPEI president and vice-chancellor and recognizes the importance of effective writing as a foundational skill for academic success and lifelong learning.

On Wednesday, September 27, ITSS will conduct routine maintenance on the myUPEI portal and related services from 8:00 to 9:00 pm. During this time, there may be intermittent access to and performance issues with MyUPEI, Self-Service, and Colleague.

We encourage students, faculty, and staff who may need documents or links located on myUPEI to plan ahead and bookmark or download the resources they may need during this period.

As a reminder, you can access Moodle directly using https://moodle.upei.ca and Outlook email directly using https://outlook.office.com.

If you have any questions, please contact the ITSS Help Desk at 902-566-0465.

All members of the UPEI community are invited to gather at 12 noon in front of SDU Main Building—rain or shine—to reflect, offer prayer, and listen about the importance of Truth and Reconciliation and watch a brief drum and dance presentation by Big Drum (NCPEI Language and Drumming Group) and dancers Sophia and Ellie Bourge-Youth. Elder Dr. Judy Clark, UPEI's Elder in Residence, will say a prayer and speak about Truth and Reconciliation. Native Council of PEI President and Chief Lisa Cooper will also speak. People will be encouraged to tie orange fabric strips to the fence near the University Avenue entrance. The event will conclude at 1:00 pm.

The Mawi’omi Indigenous Student Centre at UPEI welcomes anyone to ask questions, drop in, or participate.

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, originally and still colloquially known as Orange Shirt Day, is a Canadian statutory holiday to recognize the legacy of the Canadian Indian residential school system.

Every post-secondary institution in the Atlantic region (also known as the Wabanaki Confederacy) with an Indigenous centre will screen the film, "Bones of Crows." At UPEI, the film screening will take place on September 27 at 6:00 pm in Don and Marion McDougall Hall, Room 242 and will conclude at 8:00 pm followed by some open audience reflection and refreshments. Viewers will have the opportunity to ask questions or reflect on the film collectively. All are welcome. 

This session will cover building online tests, quizzes, and exams in Moodle. This will be an online session, and the recording will be available following the session. The session will be held on September 28 from 10 am to 11:30 am. Register here.

With the release of the UPEI Review Report, the University has coordinated two confidential processes to support faculty and staff who have experienced harm from harassment, sexual violence, or discrimination at UPEI. 

Confidential third-party personal counselling:

The UPEI Health and Wellness Centre has engaged a psychologist to meet individually with faculty and staff, by appointment. Employees may email Caylin Jenkins at cbjenkins@upei.ca, indicating “Appointment required” in the subject line. Caylin will coordinate with the psychologist and confirm the time and location of the appointment with the employee. 

Making a confidential disclosure:

People have asked about the process for making disclosures of incidents of harassment or discrimination by senior executive members of the University. The University has established an independent third-party process to address any such issues with Resonance Inc., a multidisciplinary human resources firm, based in Saint John, NB, that specializes in workplace assessments. The contact person at Resonance is Trisha Perry, who may be reached at tperry@resonanceinc.ca or (506)799-0412. 

For more information, go to https://www.upei.ca/response-to-independent-review/community-support

UPEI is hosting a free Japanese Film Festival, presented by the Consulate General of Japan in Montreal and the Japan Foundation, in Don and Marion McDougall Hall, Room 242, on Friday, September 29, from 5:30 to 10:30 pm.

The two films that will be shown will be in the Japanese language with English subtitles. The first film, titled "Bento Harassment," is a comedy/drama starring Ryoko Shinohara as a single mother of a teenage daughter in the midst of a rebellious phase. In the hopes of improving their relationship, and maybe a little of getting revenge, she uses a most peculiar means of communication: the daily bento lunches she prepares for her daughter. The second film is a drama titled "Finding Calico." A former high school principal, who lives alone after his wife’s passing, barely tolerates the comings and goings of Mii, a stray cat that his wife used to feed. When Mii suddenly stops visiting the house one day, the old man finds himself searching high and low for the cat. His efforts bring him to connect with other townsfolk and realize that he is, in fact, not alone. 

Prior to the showing of the films, Jessica Gagnon, JET Programme Coordinator/Cultural Affairs, Consulate General of Japan in Montreal, and UPEI alumni Diana Tutty and Rachel Lewis will be on campus to promote the Japanese Exchange and Teaching program (JET). They will be at the W.A. Murphy Student Centre from 11:00 am to 3:30 pm and then in Don and Marion McDougall Hall from 4:00 to 5:30 pm to provide information to those who may be interested in the JET program.

The excitement for this Saturday's Gold Rush draw is growing as big as the pot! With no winners in the last SIX draws, the total pot has grown to more than $17,500, with half going to the winner of the draw.

Gold Rush is a virtual fundraising initiative that raises funds for UPEI’s athletic and recreation programs. You can now select a specific team, club, or program to direct your proceeds from each of your tickets. 

Play today and every week for a chance to win! Download the UPEI Panthers app from the App Store or on Google Play, or play from your computer. The weekly draw is held at 8:00 pm every Saturday.

Our tip this week comes from a member of campus so thank you, Melissa. If you have a tech tip that you'd like to share or think a member of UPEI community would benefit from, let amfitzgerald@upei.ca know.

If you find the Delete button at the top of your inbox is dangerously close to Archive, you can move it further away. 

At the end of that row you'll see three dots ... with more options, click on them; and at the bottom is Customize. Within that, you can rearrange your Button Ribbon as you like simply by dragging them around using the six gray dots at the left edge of each button.

There are some exciting developments at UPEI as PEI aims to become net zero by 2040. Dr. Marva Sweeney-Nixon, Associate Vice-President of Research and Dean of Graduate Studies, invites the UPEI campus community to an information session on September 28 in Kelley Memorial Building 211 at noon to find out more about the Province of PEI's net-zero framework, the Cleantech Academy, UPEI's proposed role, and our next steps. Representatives from the province and the Cleantech Academy will be presenting. You will also have an opportunity to ask any questions and give feedback and suggestions for the new interdisciplinary graduate program in cleantech leadership.

Registration is not required. Coffee, tea, and cookies will be provided. For questions, contact Susie Zavala at szavala@upei.ca. See you there!

UPEI Health, Safety, and Environment is pleased to host an on-campus presentation at which members of the PEI Emergency Measures Organization will deliver the most up-to-date information on personal emergency preparedness (PEP). Following the presentations, Bradley MacIsaac, UPEI’s Emergency Risk Manager, will share what the University is doing to prepare for different types of emergencies and moderate a question-and-answer feedback session.

This session will take place on September 27, from 1:00–3:00 pm at the Performing Arts Centre and Residence building (PAC 121 South).  This will be held for all members of the campus community including employees and students. All attendees will be entered into a draw for a 72-hour pre-made emergency preparedness kit.

We look forward to seeing you there for an informative and educational PEP talk!

For more information, email bnmacisaac@upei.ca