Member of Parliament for Charlottetown Sean Casey, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), today joined the Honourable Richard Brown, Minister of Workforce and Advanced Learning, Dr. Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, President and Vice-Chancellor of UPEI, and Michael O’Grady, Vice-President, Innovation, Enterprise and Strategic Development at Holland College, to announce support that will enable the University to replace its popular turf field.

Student-athletes at UPEI will be able to enjoy their varsity season at the Panther home field now that the artificial turf will be replaced prior to the fall sport season. In addition to being home to the UPEI Panther field hockey and men’s and women’s soccer programs, the majority of the UPEI Artificial Turf Field usage is by Island community groups and residents.

ACOA, through the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program (CIP 150) will contribute $250,100, the provincial government is contributing $250,000 through the Department of Workforce and Advanced Learning, Holland College will add $100,000, and the University will contribute $250,000 to the replacement project that begins this week.

As part of the recently launched Atlantic Growth Strategy, the Government of Canada is committed to supporting infrastructure projects in communities across the region. This investment builds on this commitment. Communities prosper when people have accessible gathering spaces to enrich their quality of life.

Quotes

“I am pleased to announce funding through CIP150 for UPEI to carry out the much needed outdoor turf field upgrades. This popular facility is not only essential for many student-athletes at UPEI, it also promotes fitness and health to residents across the province. This upgrade will ensure that the UPEI turf field remains a key recreational asset in the community, for the University and to an array of athletes, for years to come.”

– Sean Casey, Member of Parliament for Charlottetown

“The UPEI artificial turf is used frequently by members of the University community and the athletic community at large. The Province is thrilled to support UPEI so that the turf can be refurbished and meet safety standards in time for the fall sport season. The improvements will expand the turf’s lifespan and provide users with an improved playing experience. The upgrades will allow the Province to continue hosting future tournaments and sporting events at the facility.”

– Richard Brown, Minister of Workforce and Advanced Learning

“We are very excited about having brand new turf installed for the fall sport season. UPEI appreciates the collaborative efforts of Holland College, the Government of Prince Edward Island, and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. Our partners recognize that the artificial turf field at UPEI is a premier community sports venue that is used by groups and individuals from across the province and throughout the region.”

– Dr. Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Prince Edward Island

“Holland College is very pleased to be among the funding partners in this important project. Our publicly-funded post-secondary institutions are committed to sharing infrastructure to the mutual benefit of each other and our broader community. Maintaining and enhancing those facilities is an essential part of that effort.”

– Michael O’Grady, Vice-President, Innovation, Enterprise and Strategic Development, Holland College

Background

With funding in place, Team Rochon Inc. / GTRturf of Montreal, Quebec was awarded the tender through a competitive process. The project includes the removal and disposal of the existing artificial turf and crumb rubber infill as well as the removal and disposal of the top 75mm of the underlying base material, and the design, supply and installation of new free draining crushed rock, base material and new artificial turf field. Construction is expected to complete by the end of September.

UPEI came to the difficult decision to close the field earlier this year when a consultant advised that the turf did not meet performance guidelines, did not have any useable life left, and immediate replacement was recommended.

The University of Prince Edward Island is pleased to announce the appointment of Kathy Hambly and James Moran as well as the re-appointments of Scott Harper and Margo Thompson to its UPEI Board of Governors.

“I am delighted that Kathy Hambly has accepted an appointment to the UPEI Board of Governors.  The Board and the University will benefit tremendously from Kathy’s business acumen, judgement and leadership experience, including her recent tenure as the Executive Director of the Charlottetown Chamber of Commerce” said Pat Sinnott, Chair of the Board of Governors. “I would also like to welcome faculty member, Dr. James Moran, to the Board and express my thanks to outgoing board members, Dr. Jim Sentence and Mr. Frank Zhou. Their service and commitment to the Board during their respective tenures was exemplary.”

President and Vice-Chancellor Alaa Abd-El-Aziz said, “UPEI benefits greatly from the wisdom and experience that board members contribute from a variety of backgrounds. We are incredibly grateful to them for generously donating their time to advance the priorities of the University.”

“On behalf of the Government of Prince Edward Island, I’d like to extend congratulations to Kathy, James, Scott, and Margo for their appointments to the UPEI Board of Governors,” said Minister Richard Brown, Workforce and Advanced Learning. “The experience and knowledge these individuals bring to the table will not only benefit the Board but also the University and its community. It’s wonderful to see re-appointments and new appointments to bring out fresh and innovative ideas. We thank all current and past Board members for their dedication to life-long learning and their service to post secondary education in Prince Edward Island.”

About the University of Prince Edward Island Board of Governors

The UPEI Board of Governors is instituted under the terms of the University Act, a statute of the province of Prince Edward Island. The Act vests in the Board the responsibilities of conduct, management, administration and control of the property, revenue, business and affairs of the University. The Board is responsible for the stewardship of the University and delegates the daily management of the University to the President and Senior Administration. The University works within a bi-cameral structure and, therefore, the Board, as the senior governing body, shares institutional governance with the Senate.

The UPEI Board of Governors consists of 26 members, which includes the UPEI Chancellor; UPEI President; President of Holland College; nine members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council, six members elected by the UPEI Board of Governors; two members elected by and from the UPEI Alumni Association; two members elected by and from the Senate of the University; two members elected by and from the Faculty of the University; and two members elected by and from the student body of the University.

2016-17 UPEI Board of Governors

Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, President and Vice-Chancellor
Andrew Bartlett
Mary Best
Rabin Bissessur
Ryan Bradley
John Buchanan
Bertha Campbell
Gary Conboy
Shauna Sullivan-Curley, Secretary
Tracey Cutcliffe, Vice-Chair
Don Desserud
Linnell Edwards
Kathy Hambly
Scott Harper, Chair, Human Resources
Nathan Hood
Ron Keefe, Chair, Finance and Audit
Ed Lawlor
Don McDougall, Chancellor
Brian McMillan, President of Holland College
James Moran
Shawn Murphy, Chair, Governance and Appeals
Duncan Shaw, Chair, Development, Fundraising and External Relations
Pat Sinnott, Chair of the Board
Pierce Smith
Lowell Sweet
Margo Thompson, Chair, Property and Assets

After a month in the care of the Atlantic Veterinary College’s Wildlife Service, a juvenile bald eagle was released on August 5, near Bangor, PEI.

On July 9, Jason MacEachern and Luke Peters found the eagle on the ground while they were fishing in the Bangor area. The bird was not able to fly because of an injured wing. Jason and Luke took the eagle to AVC where several radiographs were taken to rule out possible fractures. The cause of the bird’s injury is not known, but it was not able to hunt and was thin. At AVC, the eagle gradually moved to the large flight cage where it practiced flying again and gained weight.

Thanks to the quick action of Jason and Luke and the expert care it received at AVC, the eagle thrived and was released close to the area where it was found. Releasing it were Jason and Luke; fourth-year veterinary student Krista Simonson who admitted the bird to AVC; and wildlife technician Fiep de Bie, AVC Wildlife Service.

Holland College, New Brunswick Community College (NBCC) and University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) are pleased to announce a new articulation agreement that allows instructors to further develop their instructional skills by transferring credits from one post-secondary institution to another.

The Instructor Development Program (IDP) offers the opportunity for instructors to enhance their knowledge, learn new skills and improve job performance. Credits received from this intensive training program are now accepted toward a Bachelor of Education with a specialization in Human Resource Development, a degree program jointly offered by Holland College and UPEI.

“The level of collaboration exemplified by this agreement certainly benefits our educators, but it can also be a unique competitive advantage for the educational institutions in our region,” said Michael O’Grady, VP of Innovation, Enterprise and Strategic Development at Holland College.

Paul Carter, Dean of Trades, Apprenticeship and Preparatory at NBCC, couldn’t agree more. “This agreement shows a unique collaboration where IDP students can take courses from three post-secondary institutions that count toward one degree. Our instructors have the opportunity to take another big leap in reaching their full potential as accomplished adult educators, something that supports not only their success, but the success of their students, as well.”

“Partnerships like this don’t frequently come together,” relates Ron MacDonald, Dean of the Faculty of Education at UPEI. “We have been working with Holland College with this joint BEd degree for many years. Joining forces with NBCC not only enhances the learning experience for College Instructors, but also provides a unique interprovincial sharing that could begin to open the door for other collaborative opportunities.”

Holland College
A wide variety of programs, small class sizes, and plenty of hands-on learning: these are some of the reasons that students from all across Canada choose to come to Prince Edward Island’s community college, Holland College. The college offers more than 70 credentials in a wide variety of areas including culinary, policing, marine training, applied sciences and engineering technology, trades and industrial technology, health and community services, communications and media studies, computer studies, business studies, sport and leisure studies, performing arts, and tourism in 13 campuses and centres across the province. Holland College has more than 140 articulation agreements and joint degrees with universities and institutes across the country and around the world.

New Brunswick Community College
With over 90 programs and six campuses across New Brunswick, New Brunswick Community College (NBCC) is a provincially-recognized, public post-secondary institution reputed for producing skilled, knowledgeable graduates who are contributing to the Province’s socio-economic prosperity. NBCC offers students one- and two-year certificate and diploma programs. Find out more by visiting: www.nbcc.ca.

University of Prince Edward Island
Located in Charlottetown, the University of Prince Edward Island is proud of its long history of academic excellence, research innovation, community engagement, and service. Consistently ranked as one of Canada’s top ten primarily undergraduate universities and home to talented educators and researchers, UPEI offers a wide range of programs in four faculties (arts, education, science, and veterinary medicine) and two schools (business and nursing) to approximately 4,400 undergraduate and graduate students from more than 60 countries. UPEI takes pride in and is focused on preparing our students to successfully contribute to a rapidly changing world.

UPEI students took their island tourism course to its logical, practical end by mingling with tourists from the cruise ship MS Veendam when it docked earlier this month in Charlottetown.

Students had previously visited the arrivals lounge in the Charlottetown Airport to examine how the airport space contours the expectations of tourists who have just arrived by plane to the Island. Students looked at how three different tourist segments—potential business investors, the food- and culture-driven, and those visiting friends and relatives—responded to different verbal and visual advertising initiatives. Visiting the cruise ship terminal in downtown Charlottetown allowed students to compare this space that is similarly yet differently welcoming to the airport terminal.

The Island Tourism course is offered jointly by the Island Studies Program and the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at UPEI. The course is taught by Dr. Godfrey Baldacchino, UNESCO co-Chair in Island Studies and Sustainability.

The University of Prince Edward Island 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—Prince of Wales College and Saint Dunstan’s University—UPEI has a reputation for academic excellence, research innovation, and creating positive impacts locally, nationally, and internationally. UPEI 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.

New Student Orientation (NSO) is an annual tradition at UPEI to help incoming students get their bearings at their new school and put them on the path to success. NSO 2016 aims to build healthy connections between students and the people and places that will impact their first-year experience. To this end, UPEI is introducing a new fundraising initiative called Panthers for Change, which will help incoming students feel more connected by exposing them to more of the Island community.

Throughout the four days of NSO, students will raise money for four local charities—the PEI Humane Society, the Alzheimer’s Society of PEI, the Canadian Mental Health Association, and PEI Family Violence Prevention Services. They will also be meeting representatives from each group and learning about the local initiatives these charitable organizations have underway. This will culminate in a full day of fundraising throughout Charlottetown on Tuesday, September 6.

“Ultimately it came down to what the purpose for new student orientation is—an opportunity for our students to build healthy connections and to develop those connections on campus and in the larger community,” said NSO co-ordinator Tayte Willows. “We wanted to provide them with the chance to connect with groups working here on PEI, and doing work that they can stay connected to throughout the rest of their time in university.”

To further the connection, each of the groups has committed to keeping students informed of volunteer opportunities throughout the year. This will encourage students to continue to share their talents and passions in ways that improve our Island community. It will by extension help to develop in our students a healthy connection to the community and the people they are serving.

Panthers for Change replaces the annual Shinerama tradition at UPEI. UPEI is proud of the more than $300,000 our students have raised over the years in support of Cystic Fibrosis Canada. UPEI encourages all Panthers, past and present, to continue their relationship with this outstanding organization.

The University of Prince Edward Island 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—Prince of Wales College and Saint Dunstan’s University—UPEI has a reputation for academic excellence, research innovation, and creating positive impacts locally, nationally, and internationally. UPEI 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.

While a number of books and articles have been written about Jewish Communist organizations and their supporters in particular countries, an academic treatment of the overall movement has yet to be published. A Vanished Ideology, a collection of essays co-edited by UPEI’s Dr. Henry Srebrnik, examines the politics of the Jewish communist movement in Australia, Canada, Great Britain, South Africa, and the United States. Dr. Srebrnik is a professor of political science at UPEI.

“On behalf of the Faculty of Arts, I wish to congratulate Dr. Srebrnik, a prominent member of the Political Science department, on the publication of this book that I am certain will have a significant scholarly impact” said Dr. Nebojsa Kujundzic, dean of the Faculty of Arts at UPEI.

Though officially part of the larger world communist movement, the Jewish movement developed its own specific ideology, which was infused as much by Jewish sources as it was inspired by the Bolshevik revolution. The Yiddish language groups, especially, were interconnected through international movements such as the World Jewish Cultural Union. Jewish communists were able to communicate, disseminate information, and debate issues such as Jewish nationality and statehood independently of other communists, and Jewish communism remained a significant force in Jewish life until the mid-1950s.

Making extensive use of Yiddish-language books, newspapers, periodicals, pamphlets, and other materials, the anthology analyzes the relative political strengths and weaknesses of this largely Yiddish-speaking, immigrant movement and its various pro-Soviet organizations in Australia, Canada, Great Britain, South Africa, and the United States.

The Yiddish language groups, especially, were interconnected through international movements such as the World Jewish Cultural Union. Jewish communists were able to communicate, disseminate information, and debate issues such as Jewish nationality and statehood independently of other communists, and Jewish communism remained a significant force in Jewish life until the mid-1950s. Written by scholars in each of the five countries, the articles in A Vanished Ideology place the movement within its historical context in the Jewish world of the twentieth century.

Along with many scholarly articles, Dr. Srebrnik has written three other books on the subject of Jewish communities and communist movements: London Jews and British Communism, 1935-1945 (1995); Jerusalem on the Amur: Birobidzhan and the Canadian Jewish Communist Movement, 1924-1951(2008); and Dreams of Nationhood: American Jewish Communists and the Soviet Birobidzhan Project, 1924-1951 (2010).

His book Creating the Chupah: The Zionist Movement and the Drive for Jewish Communal Unity in Canada, 1898-1921 was published in 2011. He also co-edited De Facto States: The Quest for Sovereignty (2004). He has written about pedagogical matters and the changes taking place in teaching and learning in higher education in Canada, Great Britain, and the United States.

A Vanishing Ideology is co-edited by Dr. Matthew B. Hoffman, associate professor of Judaic studies and history at Franklin and Marshall College.

The University of Prince Edward Island 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—Prince of Wales College and Saint Dunstan’s University—UPEI has a reputation for academic excellence, research innovation, and creating positive impacts locally, nationally, and internationally. UPEI 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.

UPEI Athletics and Recreation is excited to announce the 2016 Mulligan Cup Invitational and Soccer Festival schedule and invites the community to come out and enjoy ‘the beautiful game’, September 2–4, at the Terry Fox Sports Complex in Cornwall.

The Mulligan Cup is an invitational tournament that provides an excellent opportunity for coaches to make final roster decisions. This fifth annual cup honours Vince Mulligan, the ageless varsity UPEI soccer and hockey coach throughout the 80s and 90s. The tournament has proved to be a great way to kick off the season and showcase the UPEI men’s and women’s soccer teams to their supporters.

“I really look forward to this time of year when we get a chance to look at the new athletes in camp,” said Mulligan. “You always go in to a new year with great expectations, and you can see it in the athletes' eyes and in their actions on the field. That's what makes this tournament so great to watch.”

Teams competing in this year’s tournament include the Université de Moncton (UdeM) Blue Eagles, PEIFC, Holland College (HC) Hurricanes, and the UPEI Panthers. Admission for Friday and Sunday’s games is $5/day, while Saturday is admission by donation. A weekend pass is available for $10. Season ticket holders will be admitted free for Friday and Sunday games. Admission to the Mulligan Cup is also included with your $75 Panther Package.

The AUS league openers for UPEI will take place on September 10 in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, when the men's and women’s teams take on St. FX.

2016 Mulligan Cup Schedule
All games will be played at the Terry Fox Sports Complex in Cornwall

Friday, September 2
5 pm: Holland College women vs. UPEI women
7 pm: Holland College men vs. UPEI men

Saturday, September 3
11 am: Holland College women vs. UdeM women
1 pm: PEIFC men vs. UdeM men
3 pm: UdeM women vs. UPEI women
5 pm: UdeM men vs. UPEI men

Sunday, September 4 (Alumni Games)
3pm: UPEI women’s alumni vs. UPEI women
5 pm: PEIFC men vs. UPEI men

The University of Prince Edward Island 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—Prince of Wales College and Saint Dunstan’s University—UPEI has a reputation for academic excellence, research innovation, and creating positive impacts locally, nationally, and internationally. UPEI 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.

AVC recently received funding from the Government of Canada for new equipment for its equine and virology services. The equine equipment, like the 4-K arthroscopic system shown above, aids in the diagnosis and treatment of lameness, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal conditions in horses.  AVC is the only veterinary school in Canada to have a 4-K arthroscope.  AVC’s regional diagnostic virology unit purchased innovative diagnostic tools designed to increase animal health within the cattle and hog industry. See below for more information.

The following is a media release issued by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency at the announcement on  August 31:

The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri Food, and Sean Casey, Member of Parliament for Charlottetown, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), today joined representatives from the University of Prince Edward Island to announce over $811,000 in Government of Canada assistance for four projects at the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) in support of research and enhanced service delivery in various disciplines.

With the purchase and installation of state-of-the-art equipment resulting from these investments, UPEI and the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) at UPEI will continue to bolster their well-deserved reputation for research excellence. UPEI and AVC remain dedicated to keeping up-to-date with the latest innovative technology, supporting its mandate to provide top quality education experience and research capacity to students, faculty and industry partners.

The Government of Canada, through ACOA’s Business Development Program, is supporting two projects at AVC with a combined non-repayable contribution of $659,886. The UPEI Marine Natural Products Lab is also receiving a non-repayable contribution of $54,093, while the UPEI Chemistry Department is being provided with a non-repayable contribution of $97,500.

Quotes:

“As outlined in the Atlantic Growth Strategy, the Government of Canada and our provincial counterparts understand that innovation is a key element for growth across all industries and is essential in shaping our future. The University of Prince Edward Island has built an impressive reputation of innovation success and academic excellence. I am pleased to announce funding for these four projects that will further support UPEI research and development.”

- The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

“The Government of Canada is working hard to develop an inclusive Innovation Agenda, one that positions Canada as a global leader. Innovation is also a key element of the Atlantic Growth Strategy, which is focused on stimulating our region’s economy.”

- Sean Casey, Member of Parliament for Charlottetown

“Exploration, discovery, and innovation are key elements of UPEI’s success. With this generous support from the Government of Canada, we will expand our research capacity, and, in doing so, enhance the education of our students. I thank the Government of Canada for its ongoing support of UPEI.”

- Dr. Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, President and Vice-Chancellor, UPEI

“With this new state-of-the-art equine and virology equipment, the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) is enhancing its support of the equine, bovine, and porcine industries in Atlantic Canada, all of which are important economic sectors. The equine equipment allows us to enhance our ability to diagnose and treat medical conditions affecting equine athletes such as standardbred race horses and equestrian competition horses. And the virology equipment builds on our ability to maintain and protect the health of cattle and swine.”

- Dr. Greg Keefe, Dean, Atlantic Veterinary College, UPEI

“We are excited to receive the new fermentation equipment in the Marine Natural Products laboratory. This will accelerate development of new microbial natural products discovered by our researchers and will strengthen industrial collaborations. The new infrastructure will also be invaluable in providing valuable opportunities for student training.”

- Dr. Russell Kerr, Canada Research Chair in Marine Natural Products, UPEI

“We are grateful for this support toward the purchase of an Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectrometer, a highly specialized equipment used to characterize nanocomposite materials synthesized by UPEI researchers. The researchers will collaborate with industry to find potential applications of these materials in lithium ion batteries, as coatings, and solid lubricants.”

- Dr. Rabin Bissessur, Chair, UPEI Department of Chemistry

Background:

Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) at UPEI – This project supports the expansion of the clinical services AVC provides to the equine industry in Atlantic Canada. The new equipment aids in the diagnosis and treatment of lameness, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal conditions in horses. The second project supports AVC’s regional diagnostic virology unit through the purchase of innovative diagnostic tools designed to increase animal health within the cattle and hog industries.

UPEI Marine Natural Products Lab – This project supports the purchase of new fermentation equipment to complement existing equipment in the natural products chemistry lab and allow for more in-depth investigations within the lab and increase collaboration opportunities with industry partners in the bioscience sector.

UPEI Chemistry Department – This project supports the purchase of specialized equipment that can assist in chemistry analysis. University researchers will collaborate with industry to find potential industrial applications such as coating materials, lubricants and batteries.
 

Researchers at UPEI's Atlantic Veterinary College will receive a $2.5 million grant to support scientific research aimed at preventing and treating illness in Atlantic salmon. The grant is part of a new partnership between Dalhousie University in Halifax, UPEI, and Memorial University in Newfoundland called the Ocean Frontier Institute.

The following is a media release issued at the announcement of the creation of the Ocean Frontier Institute at Dalhousie University, Halifax, on September 6, 2016:

The Ocean Frontier Institute (OFI), led by Dalhousie University, represents an historic partnership with Memorial University of Newfoundland and the University of Prince Edward Island. It will be one of the world’s most significant international ocean science collaborations. OFI will focus on the globally significant Northwest Atlantic and Canadian Arctic gateway. With this investment, Canada is now a world leader in ocean science.

OFI is built on world-class Canadian university expertise of Dalhousie, Memorial University of Newfoundland and University of Prince Edward Island, together with eight international partners including four of the top five ocean institutes in the world as well as partners in the Government of Canada’s federal laboratories, the Royal Canadian Navy, the National Film Board of Canada and national and international industry.

Today, Minister Scott Brison, President of the Treasury Board, announced $94 million in funding through the Government of Canada’s Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) to support the Ocean Frontier Institute, the largest grant in the history of the three Canadian partner universities. OFI has also attracted an additional $125 million in support from provincial governments and partners, including a gift of $25 million from Mr. John Risley, prominent business leader, entrepreneur and philanthropist. This massive total investment of $220 million dollars is unprecedented in Canada’s ocean science sector.

OFI’s innovative research program is focused on understanding key aspects of ocean and ecosystem change; delivering ocean data science and technology tools to policy-makers, scientists and industry; and developing safe and sustainable solutions for ocean development. The Northwest Atlantic is one of the few places on earth where ocean changes are happening first and happening fastest, making it an epicenter of international scientific interest.

The OFI will provide the scientific, technological and human capacity to advance Canada’s ocean research leadership. OFI research will foster innovations related to sustainable fisheries and aquaculture to support transformation of those industries, as well as the development of

disruptive ocean technologies (innovations creating new markets and value markets) and data solutions to support Canada’s growing ocean tech industry. OFI’s innovative research program is focused on understanding key aspects of ocean and ecosystem change and developing strategic and effective solutions that can apply both locally and globally.

Through linkages with organizations like the National Research Council of Canada’s Ocean Technology Enterprise Centre and Memorial University’s Marine Institute in St. John’s, and the Centre for Ocean Ventures & Entrepreneurship (COVE) in Halifax, OFI will help develop a nexus of high quality marine industries.

The institute will attract and retain world-leading research talent to Canada, and advance the region’s position as a center of ocean-related teaching and learning. The research developed through OFI will allow Canada to optimize opportunities and minimize the economic and environmental risks in the expanding ocean economy.

The OFI’s headquarters will be located at Dalhousie University, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with an additional centre located at Memorial University in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. Find more on the Ocean Frontier Institute here.

Quotes:

“Today’s investment ensures Canadian institutions, experts and researchers are able to compete and excel globally. The projects funded by the Canada First Research Excellence Fund, including the  Safe and Sustainable Development of the Ocean Frontier, will transform the post-secondary research conducted on several of our Atlantic campuses and pave the way for exciting new discoveries.”
The Honourable Scott Brison, President of the Treasury Board     

“Through the Ocean Frontier Institute (OFI), Dalhousie is bringing together the best in Atlantic Canada and the world to understand and sustain an ocean that is changing at an unprecedented rate. Led by Dal, OFI will be one of the world’s most significant international ocean science collaborations, creating opportunities for our students, scholars and partners to advance knowledge on a topic of regional and global importance.”
Dr. Richard Florizone, President, Dalhousie University

“Today marks a truly unprecedented era in research innovation at Memorial as our university moves from world class to world leader, engaging with global partners on solutions for safe and sustainable ocean development. This shared federal investment with Dalhousie and the University of Prince Edward Island will boost our partnership’s unmatched research strengths relating to oceans, including offshore fisheries, aquaculture and sustainable coastal communities.”
Dr. Gary Kachanoski, President and Vice-Chancellor, Memorial University.

“This research comes at a critical time for our planet and its oceans. We’re proud that UPEI and the Atlantic Veterinary College can bring our unique expertise in aquaculture and marine disease control and prevention to this unprecedented partnership. Together, we can help ensure healthy fish in a healthy environment, and nurture a sustainable source of quality protein for future generations.”
Dr. Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, President of the University of Prince Edward Island

“Nova Scotia is home to groundbreaking oceans research and some of the world's best ocean technology companies. The Ocean Frontier Institute is a key example of the kind of collaboration we need, and it will elevate Nova Scotia’s ocean science presence to the world stage and help us capitalize on our ocean advantage.”
Minister Kelly Regan, Nova Scotia Department of Labour and Advanced Education

“I am simply thrilled to be a part of this initiative. I have nothing but praise for Martha Crago, Vice-President of Research at Dalhousie and the whole Dal team, they are heroes for getting us this far. We also owe huge thanks to Minister Brison for convincing his cabinet colleagues this project was worthy of such generous Federal support. It is enormously important the community appreciate the extent to which the Institute has and will bring together so many partners across the Atlantic Canadian scene. I have every confidence the OFI can become an engine for regional economic growth and firmly establish us as global leaders in ocean science.”
Mr. John Risley, Business leader, entrepreneur and philanthropist