AVC’s first annual Client Appreciation Reception, held earlier this month, was a resounding success! About 85 clients of the College’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) attended as well as AVC faculty, staff, and students.

The reception was jointly organized by the UPEI Department of Development and Alumni Engagement and the AVC Dean’s Office, with support from the VTH and Donna Hassard, a long-time client and vice-chair of the veterinary medicine priority in UPEI’s current INSPIRE! fundraising campaign.

The clients enjoyed “behind the scenes” tours of the VTH provided by veterinary students, meeting each other, and chatting with clinicians, staff, and students.

Donna Hassard spoke about her experiences as a client at the VTH and supporter of AVC. Donna and her husband, Richard, became clients in 2004 when they moved to PEI with their two Cavalier King Charles spaniels, Ozzie and Zoë. She thanked the VTH staff for the love, care, and compassion they gave to Ozzie and Zoë and now to their current dogs, Tully and Digby.

She stressed the important role that clients play in the education of veterinary students by allowing them to work with their animals. Donna and her dogs volunteer in the cardiology and communications sections of the students’ learning program and at AVC’s annual summer vet camp.

“I am very proud to be a small part of AVC and the Veterinary Teaching Hospital,” said Donna, thanking those present for their support of the College. “You [clients] can be very proud of all you do to help this wonderful institution maintain its excellent reputation.”

The evening also included a special presentation by Kirsten, Sophie, and Lexi Gallant, children of Chris and Dawn Gallant, of Mermaid, PEI. In lieu of birthday gifts this year, they collected over $300 in donations for AVC from their classmates at Glen Stewart Primary School and Stratford Elementary School in appreciation for the care their dogs, Molly and Macy, have received at the VTH over the past 13 years.

The event concluded with a ceremony to open the Donna and Richard Hassard Student Lounge, named in recognition of the long-standing commitment they have had to the College.

The Equine Foundation of Canada (EFC) has generously provided AVC with $127,000 for state-of-the-art equipment used to diagnose and treat lameness, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal conditions in horses.

The donation from the EFC matches funds received from the Government of Canada earlier this year for the purchase of the equipment. Susan Nelson, treasurer of the EFC, recently visited AVC to present a cheque to Dean Greg Keefe and Dr. Heather Gunn McQuillan, director of AVC’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital. During her visit, she toured the VTH and saw some of the equipment purchased with the funding.

“With this funding from the EFC and the Government of Canada, we have expanded and enhanced the services we provide to our equine patients,” says Dr. Greg Keefe, dean of AVC. “In addition, the state-of-the-art equipment we have purchased has great value for the education of our students, particularly those who plan to specialize in equine veterinary medicine. I thank the Equine Foundation of Canada for its ongoing support of AVC.”

The volunteer-based EFC has donated over $207,000 to AVC since 1987.

Among the new equipment obtained with the assistance of the EFC is a 4K arthroscopic system—the first of its kind in a veterinary school in Canada. Arthroscopy—minimally invasive joint surgery—allows horses to heal quickly and return to activity in the shortest amount of time as possible—a benefit to the horses, the trainers, and the owners. This system enhances imaging abilities with fine detail and depth perception, allowing veterinarians to treat patients with great precision.

Another innovative tool is an equine overground endoscope, with a gastroscope attachment, USB endoscope, and related tools. This equipment allows veterinarians to more accurately diagnose upper airway problems in racehorses, leading to more appropriate treatments. The tool also comes with portable video endoscope and gastroscope attachments that allow veterinarians to diagnose and monitor problems such as upper airway disorders, gastric ulcers, and other stomach issues right at the farm or in the stable. AVC has the only overground endoscope in Atlantic Canada.

Atrial fibrillation and ventricular arrhythmia are two cardiac conditions that can seriously affect a horse’s health. New cardiology equipment purchased with the funding includes, among other things, wireless EKG monitors to assess the rhythm of a horse’s heartbeat under natural conditions and identify abnormal heart rhythms before they cause problems. As well, iPhone heart monitors can be used in the field to detect a problem that would need a referral to the VTH’s cardiology service.

Lameness problems in horses can be difficult and time-consuming to detect. The acquisition of Bluetooth accelerometers and software, an equine therapeutic laser, and a portable shockwave system assist with more consistent and rapid diagnosis and treatment of lameness and injuries.

Other equipment includes a new equine surgery table, a Nova 4- CRT bicarb analyzer for testing post-race equine urine samples, and an M-turbo ultrasound with transducers for diagnosing injury in soft tissues, among other uses.

The UPEI Men’s Hockey Panthers will be looking for redemption when they take on the Acadia Axemen on Friday, December 2 at MacLauchlan Arena. The Panthers are heading into the final game of the first half of the season with a 5-9-2 record, having lost 5-2 to the Acadia Axemen (10-5-1) last Saturday night in Wolfville.

With the Thursday night game versus Saint Mary’s postponed due to weather, UPEI hopes to take advantage of the break and turnaround their losing streak by ending Acadia’s winning ways of late. The Axemen have picked up nine of their last ten possible points.

Cheering on the Panthers at the match-up will be members of Canada’s national sledge hockey team who are set to play in the 2016 World Sledge Hockey Challenge, December 4-10, also at MacLauchlan Arena. Team Canada members will participate in a ceremonial puck drop and a sledge hockey demonstration during the first intermission. There will also be extra 50-50 draws for complimentary tickets to the sledge hockey event, where Team Canada, including PEI's own Billy Bridges, will battle against teams from the United States, Korea, and Norway. 

Donations are being accepted throughout the game for the UPEI Campus Food Bank. Puck drop is 7:00 pm.

The Honourable Richard Brown, Minister of Workforce and Advanced Learning delivered a House statement in the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island on December 2, 2016 that acknowledged and paid tribute to the many recent achievements of UPEI and of its President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Alaa Abd-El-Aziz:

Mr. Speaker, I’m pleased to rise in the House today to recognize the great work and collaboration by the University of Prince Edward Island and its Faculty Association in coming together to reach a four-year collective agreement. This agreement covers faculty members, librarians, sessional instructors, and clinical nursing instructors through to June 2020. The agreement contains year-over-year salary increases, workload considerations, as well as cost-sharing on retirement benefits. By coming to a consensus for a four-year period, UPEI has taken great steps towards a sustainable future for its faculty, staff, and students.

The University also reached a pension agreement which has been ratified with all unions and approved by the Board of Governors this month. And Mr. Speaker, this is not the only good news coming out of UPEI…

In August, the University opened its School of Sustainable Design Engineering. The first class of this new school will graduate in May of 2017. The Province was pleased to attend the official opening and show its support in providing $16 million toward creation of this incredible facility.

Recently, the Association of Atlantic Universities released a report that showed UPEI’s enrolment increased by 3 per cent. This is even more remarkable considering that enrolment across the Maritimes was actually down for full-time students by 0.8 per cent. Mr. Speaker, UPEI’s enrolment growth exceeded that of every other Atlantic school—this is driven by UPEI’s international student recruitment efforts, which saw an estimated increase of 20 per cent this year.

These outstanding accomplishments occurred under the leadership of Dr. Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, who was recently honoured by the Canadian Bureau for International Education with a 2016 Excellence Award. In addition, Alaa also assumed the role of Chair of the Association of Atlantic Universities.

It’s hard to believe that with all of this recent success at UPEI, the University still managed to retain one of the lowest tuition rates in the Maritimes.

With all that being said, Mr. Speaker, I’d like to congratulate UPEI on its recent achievements and efforts, and wish them all the best as they gear up for the 2017 academic semester.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The UPEI Climate Research Lab will launch its third PEI weather trivia calendar, Some Weather We’re Having!, December 5, 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm in the Faculty Lounge of UPEI’s SDU Main Building.

Co-authored by Don Jardine and Dr. Adam Fenech, and published by the Climate Research Lab at UPEI, this third edition of the weather trivia calendar is filled with 365 new stories about real local weather events from across the Island over the past 250 years and their impact on Islanders’ everyday lives.

“There are so many stories in there; there are some sad ones and some funny ones,” said Don Jardine, climate station manager at the Climate Research Lab. “This year we have a focus on lightning and thunderstorms and on storm surges.”

“Because of the nature of the Island, the way that we live, we’re very affected by it; sometimes it keeps us at home or away from school and sometimes it drags us to the beaches because it’s so nice,” said Dr. Adam Fenech, director of the Climate Research Lab. “But the weather really controls a lot of what we do and who we are. We say in our calendar: ‘our weather is our story.’ It’s the stories around the weather that are so intriguing.”

This calendar brings stories from North Cape to East Point, West Point to Murray Head—and all points in-between over the past 250 years.

Featuring:

• All new 365 stories of PEI weather trivia for every day of the year
• Twelve beautiful full-colour PEI weather photographs
• Stories of Prince Edward Island as told by our weather
• Information about lightning storms on Prince Edward Island: their frequency, location and seasonality
• And much, much more!

Some examples of the stories in the calendar

• Bubba, an 18-year-old cat from St. Felix, spent more than six weeks trapped in a snow bank under the house of owners Howard Hogan and Lucina Costain during the severe winter of 2015. While digging through the snow, Howard heard something crying and out popped a paw and a head. The rescue was complete and Bubba headed for her food dish where she had warm milk and small portions of cat food.
• After getting stuck on the highway just off the Confederation Bridge after returning from a rugby tournament in Truro, Nova Scotia, Kyle LeGresley of Charlottetown spent the night sleeping at the Tim Horton’s coffee shop at Borden-Carleton during a bad snow storm in 2015.
• Tragedy struck the Lennox Island community when Raymond Peters, a boy about 11-years-old out skating on the ice, died from fatigue and exposure in 1920 after winds sent him clear across the bay landing at Beach Point. The following morning, Michael Thomas, his brother-in-law found him dead.
• At Georgetown Royalty, Mrs. Captain Hugh MacPhee was milking a cow in early August 1897 when the animal was struck by lightning and killed instantly. Newspapers reported that Mrs. MacPhee suffered  (not surprisingly) a severe shock from the lightning bolt.

The PEI Weather Trivia Calendar 2017 is now available for purchase at pharmacies and bookstores across the Island.

The December Island Studies Lecture features the research of Dr. Sharon Myers, on “The Murderous Mother and Meanings of Minnie McGee.” The lecture takes place Tuesday, December 6 at 7 pm in the Faculty Lounge of UPEI’s SDU Main Building.

In July 1912, 36-year-old Minnie McGee (nee Mary Cassidy, 1875-1953) of St. Mary’s Road, was tried and sentenced to hang for the murder of her son. While charged only in the death of 10-year-old John, evidence suggests she had killed all six of her children during the same week that spring.

At trial, McGee’s lawyer and family members, indeed McGee herself, would raise questions about her mental condition, but the defense declined to enter a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. The jury found McGee guilty and the judge sentenced McGee to hang. Over the course of the next weeks, more than 130 people in the larger Georgetown area signed a petition for clemency, requesting the federal Minister of Justice to “commute her sentence on a plea of insanity.” The commutation was awarded, and McGee would spend the rest of her life in a variety of provincial and federal institutions.

Dr. Myers’ research follows McGee’s life in and out of institutions, showing a pattern of occurrences in McGee’s “criminal” life where the state chose to discipline and punish with far lighter touch than might be expected.

Dr. Sharon Myers is a member of the Department of History and former Coordinator of the Canadian Studies Program at UPEI. She studies the relationships among the state, women, and children in the late 19^th- and early 20^th-century Maritimes, and is especially interested in histories of law and social welfare.

Watch for details for another lecture about islands—near and far—January 17! For more information, please contact Laurie at iis@upei.ca or (902) 894-2881.

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.

December 6 is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women in Canada. Established in 1991 by the Parliament of Canada, this day marks the anniversary of the murders in 1989 of 14 young women at l'École Polytechnique de Montréal. They died because they were women.

These are their names: Geneviève Bergeron, Helene Colgan, Nathalie Croteau, Barbara Daigneault, Anne-Marie Edward, Maud Haviernick, Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz, Maryse Laganière, Maryse Leclair, Anne-Marie Lemay, Sonia Pelletier, Michèle Richard, Annie St-Arneault, Annie Turcotte.

As well as commemorating the young women whose lives ended twenty-seven years ago in an act of gender-based violence, the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women represents an opportunity for Canadians to reflect on the phenomenon of violence against women in our society. It is also a time to consider the women and girls for whom violence is a daily reality, and to remember those who have died as a result of it.

While December 6 is a day is about remembering, it is also a day for communities to come together to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls and to challenge the culture that allows it to thrive. UPEI reminds everyone that we can work for change and that your #ActionsMatter.

In 1854, British travel writer Isabella Lucy Bird visited Prince Edward Island for six weeks and published an account of her stay that was both scathing and charming. Paris may be the gayest city in the world, she wrote, and London the richest, but Charlottetown was “the most gossiping.”

“I never saw a community,” she continued,” in which people appear to hate each other so cordially.”

Contemporary Island poet Jane Ledwell was both fascinated and exasperated by Bird’s haughty, privileged judgement and decided to “write back”—160 years later. The result is Bird Calls, the latest title published by Island Studies Press at UPEI.

Bird Calls weaves the travel prose of Isabella Lucy Bird with Ledwell’s poems written in response, and delivers an intriguing conversation for the reader, which contrasts PEI then and now, and showcases the talents of two accomplished writers, from very different generations.

Bird Calls is being launched Wednesday evening, December 14 at Upstreet Craft Brewery on Allen St., Charlottetown, at 7 pm.

The book will also be available in local bookstores and the UPEI bookstore. For more information contact Joan Sinclair at Island Studies Press: ispstaff@upei.ca.

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.

Former UPEI Director of Athletics Barb Mullaly, 70, passed away Saturday in Charlottetown after a brief illness.

Her four-decade career as a classroom instructor, coach, and nationally decorated athletic administrator began in 1967 at Prince of Wales College. When UPEI was formed in 1969, she moved on to begin a long career at the University, initially as the first women's basketball and field hockey coach, eventually serving 13 years as Director of Athletics, and then retiring as the first Director of Wellness and Fair Treatment Advocate in 2006.

Dr. Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, UPEI’s President and Vice-Chancellor said, “The entire University community is saddened by the passing of UPEI Founder Barb Mullaly. I remember meeting her shortly after arriving at UPEI and it was easy to see her passion for the University and its people. That dedication extended to many other community organizations as well.”

“And while respected among her peers in sport, she was equally admired by her UPEI family. Our University has lost a great friend who continued to support UPEI in retirement,” added Abd-El-Aziz.  “On behalf of UPEI faculty, staff, students, alumni, and retirees, I pass on my most sincere sympathies to Mary Lou, and her family, friends, and colleagues across the country.”

Mullaly served as President of Atlantic University Sport (AUS), and chaired numerous committees and sports. Upon retirement, she was awarded an honorary lifetime membership in the AUS.

She was the long-time chair of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) finance committee and a member of the CIS executive committee. She was awarded the CIS Austin-Matthews Award in 2007 for outstanding service to university sport in Canada over her career.

Mullaly was named a Founder of UPEI in 2010.

She was also the 2013 winner of the Rotary Club of Charlottetown Royalty’s Mentor Award which salutes a Prince Edward Islander for mentorship and leadership on the local, regional, and national level.

At the time of her death, Mullaly was president of Seniors College PEI, past-president of Recreation PEI, secretary of the UPEI Retirees’ Association, and a member of the Go PEI advisory committee.

Mullaly is survived by her partner Mary Lou Turner, brothers Sean (Susan) of Halifax and Gregory (Anita) of North Vancouver, and a number of nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements will be announced later this week. Flags at UPEI will be lowered to half mast in Mullaly’s memory.
 

The Government of Canada recently announced more than 200 new and renewed Canada Research Chairs at 48 postsecondary institutions across the country. Among the honourees was Dr. Sophie St-Hilaire, who begins her second, five-year term as UPEI’s Canada Research Chair in Integrated Health Research for Sustainable Aquaculture.

Dr. St-Hilaire is a professor in the Department of Health Management at UPEI’s Atlantic Veterinary College. Her research aims to improve the sustainability of aquaculture to provide healthier fish for human consumption and reduce the environmental impact of fish farming.

Infectious disease outbreaks in aquaculture settings create a risk to the industry and the environment. Dr. St-Hilaire is trying to minimize the impacts of these outbreaks on wild and farmed fish populations through innovative prevention and control strategies. Her research is answering critical questions concerning pathogen transmission on fish farms. She is also addressing infectious disease treatment efficacy in fish and shellfish aquaculture.

“We are delighted that Dr. St-Hilaire's outstanding research has been recognized by a renewal of her Canada Research Chair, and we look forward to her future contributions to the prevention and control of diseases in fish,” said Dr. Robert Gilmour, Vice-President Research and Academic at the University of Prince Edward Island.

“I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the new and renewed Canada Research Chairs,” said the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science. “The Government of Canada is proud to support talented researchers whose hard work will improve our scientific understanding and strengthen Canada's reputation for research excellence. The Chairs’ efforts will also provide us with the evidence needed to inform decisions that help us build a vibrant society and a strong middle class.”

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.