Forty-eight UPEI students were recognized for their writing skills at the fifth annual MacLauchlan Prizes for Effective Writing celebration held in Don and Marion McDougall Hall on Friday, November 18.

The MacLauchlan Prizes for Effective Writing award was established in 2011 by the MacLauchlan family to honour Premier Wade MacLauchlan for his contributions to UPEI and his years of service as president and vice-chancellor from 1999-2011. The award recognizes the importance of effective writing as a foundational skill for academic success and lifelong learning.

In congratulating the winners, UPEI President and Vice-Chancellor Alaa Abd-El-Aziz said, “I cannot stress too strongly the importance of developing strong writing skills. Writing is such an essential communication skill—for academic success and for daily life, no matter what career we choose to enter.”

He thanked the MacLauchlan family for their generosity, and Premier MacLauchlan, himself an accomplished writer and author, for his commitment to encouraging excellence in writing among students at UPEI.

The guest speaker was Deirdre Kessler, Poet Laureate for PEI, author, and English professor. Fallon Mawhinney, a third-year arts student, and Jacob McNeill, a third-year science student, read from their winning submissions.

The MacLauchlan Prizes for Effective Writing distribute up to $30,000 annually in awards. The family has made previous contributions to the Harry W. MacLauchlan Scholarships in Entrepreneurial Leadership, MacLauchlan Arena, Robertson Library, athletic scholarships, and student prizes in mathematics and entrepreneurship.

2016 MacLauchlan Prizes for Effective Writing recipients

Faculty of Arts: Kourtney Allen, Lydia Banks, Ya Chen, Elyse Cottrell, Daniel Gallant, Jay Gallant, Erin Hannah, Elizabeth Iwunwa, Charlotte Large, Jordan MacPhee, Fallon Mawhinney, Mitchell McIntosh, Karla McIntosh, Samantha Pedersen, Jean-Phylippe Provencher, Nick Scott, Khadija Adamu Usman, Rebecca Watson, Michaela Wipond

School of Business: Jillian Craig, Hannah Dawson, Damilola Emmanuel, Nathan Hood, Pam Raper, Oluwafoyinsayemi Senbanjo, Colin Trewin

School of Nursing: Jiselle Bakker, Tanya MacCallum, Robyn Soulsby

Faculty of Science: Samuel Ebong, Katie Fullerton, Lindsay MacGregor, Bethany Maynard, Jacob McNeill, Brooks Roche, Rachel Speare, Emma Taylor, Catherine Williams

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine: Anne Arsenault, Elizabeth Byers, Vanessa Gerber, Mikaela Jahncke, Kimberly MacKinnon, Twila Maloney, Dionne Paine, Ashley Powell, Mila Profit, Alexandra Soengkono

The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) have awarded an Insight Grant to Dr. Sean Weibe, Professor of Education at the University of Prince Edward Island. Dr. Wiebe’s project is titled “Reconceptualizing Teachers’ Roles for Canada’s Creative Economy,” and is the recipient of more than $275,000 from SSHRC.

Dr. Weibe’s previous research has demonstrated that education is mired in a language of skills-training that does not engage students’ creative and critical capacities. Rather than training students with obsolete skills for the boom and bust of economic shocks, Dr. Wiebe proposes that students be prepared for a new economy fuelled by creativity.

“Economists widely agree that human creativity drives innovation, and that process begins in schools,” said Dr. Sean Wiebe. “In some schools, there are teachers and students who contribute to the creative economy through blogs, YouTube channels, art installations, and so on. But these contributions are the exception.”

Dr. Wiebe’s project intends to address this problem by supporting innovation within school communities. At test schools, teachers will be trained as artist/researchers and encouraged to experiment with pedagogical practices and design thinking.

“Dr. Weibe's approach to promoting creativity in education will help to prepare students and teachers for the economy of the future, said Dr. Robert Gilmour, Vice-President Academic and Research at UPEI. “Students trained to think outside of traditional boundaries are more likely to appreciate and embrace the innovations of tomorrow and to generate innovations themselves.”

The goal of the Insight program from SSHRC is to build knowledge and understanding about people, societies, and the world by supporting research excellence in all subject areas eligible for funding from SSHRC.

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.

Every week, UPEI Athletics and Recreation recognizes two student-athletes for their hard work and dedication to their respective sports. Congratulations to Jane McLaughlin (Women’s Basketball) and Marcus Power (Men’s Hockey), the UPEI Panther Subway Athletes of the week for November 14-20!

Jane McLaughlin is a third-year forward on the UPEI Women’s Basketball team. She is a Bachelor of Nursing Student from Fortune, PEI. She led the Panther’s offence this weekend over two games, averaging eleven points, six rebounds, and three assists. “Jane had an outstanding weekend,” said coach Greg Gould. “She led the offence and was equally outstanding defensively shutting down much taller and bigger post players.”

Marcus Power is a third-year forward on the UPEI Men's Hockey team, and a Business student from St. John’s Newfoundland. The Panthers dropped two games over the weekend, but Power scored two goals. “Marcus battled some early injuries in the season,” said coach Forbes MacPherson. “He has been working more consistently and has been rewarded this week with a couple goals. For our team to have success, Marcus will have to have the same effort every night.”

It’s not too late to purchase your Panther Package, the best sports deal on Prince Edward Island! Your $75 season ticket gets you into every home Panther home game, in every sport (except Men’s Hockey). Find more details at gopanthersgo.ca.

It’s a busy weekend at home on the ice and the court, with loads of opportunities to cheer on your Panthers!

Friday night at 7, the UPEI Women’s Hockey team takes on Mount Allison University at MacLauchlan Arena. It’s a special evening for PEI female minor hockey teams and for the UPEI Campus Food Bank. Entrance is free for all players, coaches, managers, one parent, and for anyone who donates a non-perishable food item. Gate proceeds for the evening will go to the UPEI Food Bank.

The Women’s Hockey team also takes on Dalhousie the following afternoon at 3 pm.

“We are looking forward to hosting both Mt. A and Dal and to finish strong on their final weekend of play for the first half of the season,” said coach Bruce Donaldson. “We have told our players each and every day, ‘don't be confused over other team’s records. Both are two very good hockey teams that work exceptionally hard. If you don't come physically and mentally prepared to play, you will be disappointed in the outcome.’ Our players need to remember the goals that they established for the first term, we are within reach but have lots of work to do in getting ready for the weekend. We have worked too hard not to play our very best hockey.”

Panther Basketball will hold its Shoot for the Cure fundraiser on Saturday evening. Both the men’s and women’s teams play Memorial University. The women’s game begins at 6 pm. The men tip off at 8 pm. Join in the fight against breast cancer by purchasing a Shoot for the Cure t-shirt, make a donation, or pick up a treat at the bake sale.

“The Panthers are looking to rebound from four road losses when they host the Memorial Sea Hawks this Saturday and Sunday,” said women’s coach Greg Gould. “It should be a great weekend of basketball. We’re especially looking forward to the annual Shoot for the Cure game on Saturday, when Kiera Rigby will be getting her hair cut to donate to the local branch of the Canadian Cancer Society.”

“Memorial is coming in at 5-1 and in first place overall in our league,” said Tim Kendrick, coach of the UPEI Men’s Basketball team. “It’s no secret that we have been struggling at both ends of the court. Our players understand that we need to improve if we want to beat such a good team. We will have to certainly play well and execute more efficiently if we hope to be successful!”

Due to the Charlottetown Christmas Parade on Saturday evening, fans attending the Women's Hockey game at 3pm and Women's Basketball game at 6 pm must access campus from the Belvedere Avenue entrance. Also, fans are advised they will not be able to exit the campus between 5:00 and 5:30 pm.

Sunday, it’s Minor Basketball Day at UPEI, as both teams take on MUN again. The women play at 1 pm, while the men start at 3 pm. All minor basketball teams and coaches are admitted free and are invited to arrive by 12:15 pm for “Meet the Panthers,” face painting, sign making, and a pre-game coaches social.

It’s not too late to purchase your Panther Package, the best sports deal on Prince Edward Island! Your $75 season ticket gets you into every home Panther home game, in every sport (except Men’s Hockey). Find more details at gopanthersgo.ca.

Environmental Studies students from Dr. Carolyn Peach Brown’s Introduction to Environmental Studies class got a hands-on lesson this fall in restoring damaged ecosystems. In partnership with Parks Canada, the students planted 400 trees to help restore the Acadian forest on Robinson’s Island. The planting of native tree species—such as sugar maple, yellow birch, eastern white pine, and hemlock—is part of Parks Canada’s efforts to restore the forest of PEI National Park to a more natural state. Environmental Studies students also joined Parks Canada staff in planting plugs of marram grass at Brackley Beach. These plantings help to restore the sand dunes, as the roots and rhizomes form a living net which will help hold the dunes in place.

Such experiential learning opportunities are important for students, as it helps to make connections from the classroom to real life. According to Dr. Peach Brown, “sometimes when studying the environment, we can get discouraged by some of the negatives, and so it is great to get out there and do something positive to help the environment. Students can come back in future years to see how the trees they planted have grown or how the sand dunes have been protected. The students also benefit from the knowledge of Parks Canada staff who explained the history of the Park and the ecological aspects of the restoration efforts.”

Parks Canada and UPEI became official partners in 2015. The tree- and marram grass-plantings are some of many projects UPEI students have been involved in.

Panther Basketball will hold its annual Shoot for the Cure fundraiser on Saturday evening when both the women’s and men’s teams play the Memorial University Sea-Hawks at the UPEI Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre.

The women’s game begins at 6 pm with a Shoot for the Cure ceremonial tip-off featuring breast cancer survivor Loretta Coady MacAulay.

“The UPEI Women’s Basketball team is honoured to have Loretta Coady MacAulay participate in the ceremonial tip-off,” said team captain and Shoot for the Cure organizer Kiera Rigby. “She is an inspiration to us all and embodies the meaning of ‘cancer survivor’.”

MacAulay is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatment for stage 3a breast cancer after being diagnosed and undergoing a mastectomy in September. What makes the 48-year-old Charlottetown lawyer’s story remarkable is that she only went for a mammogram after her 85-year-old mother had been diagnosed with stage 4-breast cancer in April 2016. Sadly, Mrs. Coady passed away on October 31st as her breast cancer was very aggressive and more advanced, and because of other health issues, wasn’t a candidate for treatment. 

“I really feel that my mother saved my life, because, but for her unfortunate diagnosis, I wouldn't have gone for a routine mammogram before I was 50 because I had no symptoms or genetic family history,” said MacAulay. “I decided early on that I intend to be a survivor—I'm not really giving myself any other option and have surrounded myself with a lot of positive people.”

Shoot for the Cure fundraising activities during the game include a t-shirt and bake sale. Rigby will also be having her hair cut during the men’s game at halftime to donate to the Pantene Beautiful Lengths campaign that makes wigs for women who have lost their hair as a result of cancer treatment.

Due to the Charlottetown Christmas Parade on Saturday evening, fans attending the Women's Hockey game at 3 pm and Women's Basketball game at 6 pm are reminded to access campus from the Belvedere Avenue entrance.

Various municipalities in Canada have developed legislation to address public safety concerns about dogs that bite. Speakers at this workshop will discuss problems associated with legislation that bans specific breeds and provide information on alternative approaches to the issue of dangerous dogs. The workshop will offer information on identifying dangerous dogs, risk factors for dog bites, the effectiveness of interventions, and the impact of breed–specific legislation on dogs and humane societies. 

Speakers include Dr. Alice Crook, Dr. Shauna Richards, Jenna Lane, Chelsea Tuff-Hopkie, Atlantic Veterinary College; and Marla Somersall and Donna Marie, PEI Humane Society.

When: Tuesday, November 29, 7:00–8:30 p.m.
Where: Atlantic Veterinary College, Lecture Theatre A

Admission is free, and everyone is welcome! For information, call (902) 566-0589, or visit upei.ca/avc

Dr. Hugh Whitney, retired chief veterinary officer for Newfoundland and Labrador, was recently honoured by the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) with its 2015 Atlantic Award of Excellence in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Care.

Established in 2005, the award recognizes veterinarians for significant and outstanding contributions to veterinary medicine and animal care in Atlantic Canada. Dr. Greg Keefe, dean of AVC, presented Dr. Whitney with the award on November 5 at the Newfoundland and Labrador Veterinary Medical Association’s annual meeting and gala.

Dr. Whitney was nominated by Dr. Erin Ramsay (AVC Class of 2011), regional veterinarian in the Newfoundland and Labrador Animal Health Division, and Dr. Maggie Brown-Bury, president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Veterinary Medical Association.

Dr. Whitney served as CVO and director of the Animal Health Division for Newfoundland and Labrador from 1985 until he retired in 2015. As CVO, he greatly expanded the Animal Health Division and the role it plays in the community. He spearheaded projects that promote the importance of animal health and the veterinary profession in the eyes of the community. He was twice engaged in the eradication of terrestrial rabies from the Island of Newfoundland, most recently leading the successful eradication program that lasted from 2002-04.

A leading authority on animal health and related public health issues in Newfoundland and Labrador, he played an integral role in the development of progressive provincial legislation banning cosmetic surgeries, and regulation of non-veterinary antimicrobial sales, under the recently revised Animal Health and Protection Act for the province. And he spearheaded the creation of the province’s new Animal Hero Award, with colleague Lynn Cadigan, which recognizes the positive aspects, and importance, of the relationship between people and animals.

Dr. Whitney’s contributions go beyond his role as CVO. Over the years, he has been involved in the education of veterinary students, graduate students, and veterinarians in Atlantic Canada. An adjunct professor at MUN, he is well respected by his graduate students and faculty, as well as by people in government, his fellow veterinarians, and the community at large.

He has developed a special relationship with the people of Labrador, working with band leaders and town councils on many projects, and visiting schools to talk to children about rabies. He is contributing to a series of books, The Adventures of Uapikun, written for Labrador’s Innu school system. Uapikun Learns About Rabies has been published in English, French, and the Innu-aimun dialects of Sheshatshiu and Mushuau. It has also been adapted for the Inuit population of Labrador. He is currently working on a book about dog safety, Uapikun Has A Question, which will be published in English, French, and the two Innu-aimun dialects, and distributed across Canada.

He is dedicated to the advancement of the veterinary profession, serving on provincial Atlantic, and federal committees and task forces, and on professional organizations at the provincial and national levels.
 

Every week, UPEI Athletics and Recreation recognizes two student-athletes for their hard work and dedication to their respective sports. Congratulations to Emma Martin (Women’s Hockey) and Milorad Sedlarevic (Men’s Basketball), the UPEI Panther Subway Athletes of the week for November 21-27!

Emma Martin is a fourth-year Kinesiology student from Winsloe, PEI. Martin plays defence on the UPEI Women’s Hockey team and recorded three assists in two games over the weekend. The Panthers beat Mount Allison 4-1, and trumped Dalhousie 2-1. “Emma made a strong return from a heel injury, assisting on three of our six goals,” said coach Bruce Donaldson. “Even though she wasn’t 100%, she managed to cope with the pain and did a great job of controlling the play.”

Milorad Sedlarevic is a third-year forward on the Men’s Basketball team and a Business student from Jesenice, Slovenia. The Panthers split a pair of games with Memorial University over the weekend. Over two games, Sedlarevic racked up 37 points, 17 rebounds, five blocks, and four assists. “Milorad played up to his potential this weekend, especially in Sunday's win,” said coach Tim Kendrick. “We feel that he is only going to get better and better as he moves forward in his career here at UPEI.”

It’s not too late to purchase your Panther Package, the best sports deal on Prince Edward Island! Your $75 season ticket gets you into every home Panther home game, in every sport (except Men’s Hockey). Find more details at gopanthersgo.ca.

It’s bound to happen at least once every winter, and this year it’s already happened once this week, PEI gets walloped with a storm, leaving students, faculty, and staff wondering if they need to come to campus or not.

Given UPEI’s size and scope, the decision to close is not made lightly. However, in weather situations where the potential risk to UPEI’s students and employees, as well as property, are high, the University may “close*,” meaning classes and exams are cancelled and services are reduced.

How will I know if UPEI is closed?

The University has a number of different channels to communicate storm closures. These include:

• A message on the home page of upei.ca
• An email to all students, faculty and staff to their upei.ca email account
• Updates from the University’s Twitter account, @UPEI
• Media outlets (radio, TV, news websites) are informed and encouraged to share our status
• A message is placed on the UPEI Campus Closure and Alert Phone Line (902-894-2882)
• A message is placed on the UPEI Campus Screen network (there are screens in several buildings across campus).

For more information, email communications@upei.ca.

Winter Parking Restrictions

Also, please note that from November 1 to April 30, winter restrictions on overnight campus parking will be enforced. Parking Lot "A" is the only lot where overnight parking is permitted for the winter season. Residents of Andrew Hall and Bernardine Hall may park overnight in the Andrew Hall lot provided that their vehicles are moved to Lot "A" during storm conditions and until the lots have been plowed after a storm.

If vehicles are left in any parking lot other than Lot "A" during snow storms or before snow removal is complete, the vehicle will be towed at the owner's expense. Facilities Management appreciates your co-operation to ensure parking lots are cleared safely. If you have any questions or concerns regarding winter parking please contact Mark Pharand, Manager, Security Services, at mpharand@upei.ca.

*Technically, UPEI is only truly closed in extreme circumstances, as there are essential personnel that need to work on campus and we have students living in residence. However, the University will use the word “closed” to communicate to the campus community that classes and most services are suspended.