Historian Dr. Rankin Sherling will deliver a talk at the University of Prince Edward Island on Friday, October 13, beginning at 3:00 pm in Schurman Market Square, Don and Marion McDougall Hall.

In his talk, “Irish and Scottish Gaelic in the US, Canada, Scotland, and Ireland in the Late-Nineteenth and Early-Twentieth Centuries,” Dr. Sherling will discuss a new project that Peter Ludlow, a historian in Nova Scotia, and he are working on. Ludlow uncovered a trove of letters from the early twentieth-century between members of the St. Francis Xavier University faculty and Gaelic language enthusiasts in Scotland. Among other things, they discuss the state of the language in Scotland and Canada and the difficulties in preserving it.

Placing these letters in context is revealing of the character of a larger Gaelic-speaking world, both Irish and Scottish. Aspects of the project that are particularly exciting include investigations into the migration of the Gaelic language, its survival and decline, and the existence of a larger Gaelic community in the North Atlantic world of Scotland, Ireland, Canada, and the U.S. Also of interest is the centrality of Canada's role in preserving Gaelic tradition in the early twentieth century. Often tales or folklore, considered common knowledge by the Canadian Gaelic-speaking members of St. Francis Xavier University faculty, were stunning to the Gaelic-speaking Scots.

Dr. Sherling is a tenured instructor of history at the Marion Military Institute in Alabama. In 2015 he founded a Bunrang, which is Gaelic for elementary class, where students come together weekly to learn Irish Gaelic. For three consecutive summers, the class has raised funds to sponsor its members in a six-week study abroad program at Oideas Gael, an Irish language cultural centre in Donegal, Ireland.

The lecture is sponsored by the Department of Religious Studies at UPEI. Parking and admission are free. Everyone is welcome! For further information, email Robert Dennis at rdennis@upei.ca.

The Association of Atlantic Universities (AAU) released today its 2017–18 preliminary survey of enrolments for universities in the Atlantic region. While enrolment at universities in the Atlantic provinces decreased overall in the last year (down by 0.4 per cent), UPEI’s student population went up by 2.6 per cent.

The growth at UPEI was led by a 4.5 per cent jump in full-time undergraduate students, and an increase in full-time international students of 12.8 per cent.

“This is exciting news from the AAU,” said Dr. Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, president and vice-chancellor of UPEI. “We have been stepping up our efforts in international recruitment, sending recruiters to meet with prospective students around the world. It’s very gratifying to see our investment coming back to us in the form of curious and engaged students. It also reflects the quality of the education we provide, in a location that is an attractive one to live and study.”

The total number of students at UPEI is now 4,549, up from 4,433 from last year. UPEI did see an overall drop of 6.8 per cent in the graduate student population (though with registrations after official data collection, the numbers are now closer to being on par with 2016–17). The full breakdown of enrolment figures from universities across the region is available on the AAU website.

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 is located on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People.

Professor Anne Warner La Forest, of the University of New Brunswick’s Faculty of Law, will present the 2017 Chief Justice Thane A. Campbell Lectureship in Law on Friday, October 20, at 1:30 p.m., at The Guild, 111 Queen St., Charlottetown. Her presentation is entitled “Canada and International Human Rights Law at 150: A Journey in Three Parts.”

Beginning with the period preceding the Labour Conventions Case of 1937, Professor La Forest will explore and reflect upon three progressive moments in Canada’s relationship with international human rights law and considers how that past will continue to shape the future.

Professor La Forest (LLB, UNB, 1984; LLM, Cantab, 1985) joined the Faculty of Law at Dalhousie University in 1991 after working in private practice with the firm of Fraser & Beatty in Toronto for several years.
From 1996–2004, she was dean of the University of New Brunswick’s Faculty of Law. During the 2001–2002 academic year, she was a Visiting Fellow in the Harvard Law School Human Rights Program, and during the 2004–2005 academic year, she was the Visiting Scholar-in-Residence at the Department of Justice in Ottawa.

Professor La Forest teaches in the areas of property law, international law and international human rights law, comparative law, commercial law, conflict of laws, and feminist jurisprudence. In 1995, she received the Dalhousie Law Alumni Association and Law Students' Society Teaching Award.

She has acted as a graduate supervisor primarily in the areas of human rights, health law, and international law. She has written in many different areas including property, extradition law, international law, and labour and employment law. She is the author of La Forest's Extradition to and From Canada, 3rd edition, 1991, and Anger & Honsberger's Real Property Law, a two-volume text.

Professor La Forest is a member of the bars of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Ontario; has extensive experience as an arbitrator; and has acted as a consultant on matters relating to human rights, employment, property, and extradition law. She has been a member of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Tribunal, the Council of the SSHRC and chair of its Fellowships Committee, the Board of Governors of the National Judicial Institute, and the Patented Medicines Pricing Review Board. She was appointed a member of the New Brunswick Securities Commission in 2004 and was the lead member until 2013. She is a Fellow of the Cambridge Commonwealth Society.

Co-sponsored by the University of Prince Edward Island and the Law Foundation of Prince Edward Island, the Chief Justice Thane A. Campbell Lectureship in Law honours Thane A. Campbell, Rhodes Scholar, former premier of Prince Edward Island, and first chancellor of the University of Prince Edward Island.

The lecture is free, but seating is limited. For information, please contact Jane McKay, Administrative Assistant, Office of the Dean of Arts, UPEI, jmckay@upei.ca, (902) 566-0307.
 

Every week, UPEI Athletics and Recreation recognizes two student-athletes for their hard work and dedication to their respective sports. Congratulations to Alysha Corrigan and Brett Strba, the UPEI Panther Subway Athletes of the week for October 8–15!

Alysha Corrigan, a Bachelor of Business Administration student from Charlottetown, is a fourth-year fullback on the UPEI Women’s Rugby team. The Panthers beat Saint Mary’s University 57-14 over the weekend. “Alysha scored 22 points in the game with SMU to earn the Panthers a berth in the AUS semi-final,” said coach John LaBoyne. “She scored two tries and made six converts, while leading the team from the standoff position rather than her usual spot at fullback. Alysha made numerous tackles on defence to stop the SMU attack.”

Brett Strba is a third-year keeper on the UPEI Men’s Soccer team and a BBA student from Windsor Junction, Nova Scotia. The Panthers beat the Dalhousie University Tigers 1–0 in a tight game Sunday afternoon. Strba made eleven saves for the shutout. “Brett was outstanding for us in a pressure-packed game,” said Lewis Page. “He made a number of game-saving saves as Dalhousie pressed hard for the tying goal.”

Don’t forget to pick up your Panther Package! For just $75, the package includes admission to every home game for UPEI Women’s and Men’s Soccer, UPEI Women’s and Men’s Rugby, UPEI Women’s and Men’s Basketball, and UPEI Women’s Hockey. Head to gopanthersgo.ca and click on ‘tickets’!

And don’t forget, UPEI students get into all Panther home games for free. Let’s fill the stands and make 2017–18 the best season ever!

U SPORTS, the national governing body of university sports in Canada, gives special recognition to student-athletes across the country with an academic standing of 80 per cent or better. UPEI is proud to announce 71 of its 179 student athletes in the 2016–17 season have been named U SPORTS Academic All-Canadians. That’s 40 per cent of the student-athlete population, and one of the top rates of Academic All-Canadians at universities in the country.

UPEI student-athletes strive for excellence in sport, academics, and in the greater community. This level of academic achievement speaks volumes about their work ethic and the quality of our coaches, faculty, staff, and varsity programs.

Congratulations to our Academic All-Canadians! Go Panthers Go!

Men’s Basketball: Lorenzo Parker, Samy Mohamed, Stefan Vujisic; Women’s Basketball: Julie Campbell, Jennifer Newman, Kiera Rigby, Leah Robinson; Cross Country: Lucas Clow, Brandon Higginbotham, Victoria McQuaid, Steve Seviour, Jeremy Thompson; Curling: Christopher Gallant, Kyle Holland, Annika Kelly, Brooks Roche; Men’s Hockey: Brent Andrews, Nelson Armstrong, Darcy Ashley, Sam Aulie, Austin Levi, Ryan MacKinnon, Craig MacLauchlan, Matthew Mahalak, Marcus Power, Derek Ryckman, Connor Wilkinson; Women’s Hockey: Madison Clarke, Rachel Colle, Caroline Daoust, Kristen MacIntyre, Emma Martin, Kiana Strand, Megan Sullivan, Emma Weatherbie; Women’s Rugby: Tara Campbell, Rebecca Chapman, Alysha Corrigan, Leah Corrigan, Sidney Corrigan, Holly Hartlen, Holly Jones, Madeline Shea, Mariah Wedge; Men’s Soccer: Jesse Cameron, Jake Deighan, Nathan Ford, Ben Keefe, Jeff Moore, Kieran Moore, Cullen Mullaly, Ignacio Sanchez, Harminder Singh; Women’s Soccer: Jade-Evelyne Bellemare, Carly Connell, Madyson Doucette, Jerika Gimpel, Kelly Green, Courtney McRorie, Olivia Murphy, Amanda Stanyer, Danielle Younker; Swimming: Kelsey Bolivar, Jakob Goettke, Rebekah Nitschmann, Pieter VanLeeuwen; Track and field: Ben Coles, Jordan MacIsaac, Angela Sande, Bailey Smith, Kylee Wallace.

The Institute of Island Studies will host a public symposium to examine the idea of turning Prince Edward Island into Canada’s first carbon-neutral province. This public event will be Thursday, October 26 at 7 pm in the Alex H. MacKinnon Auditorium, room 242 of UPEI’s Don and Marion McDougall Hall.

With so much in the news about monster hurricanes and other unusually severe weather events, people are becoming more concerned about the long-term impact of climate change. And so we ask ourselves what can be done about it; and also, how can we, on our own island, provide a model of positive action for elsewhere.

The title of this symposium is “Making the Case for the Island as a Carbon-Neutral Province.” The event is sponsored by UPEI’s Institute of Island Studies, in conjunction with UPEI Research Services and the UPEI Climate Research Lab.

The principal speaker will be Dr. Catherine Potvin, a professor at McGill University and associate staff scientist at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. In the wake of the 150^th anniversary of the Charlottetown Conference on Confederation, Dr. Potvin was selected as one of 23 women visionaries for the future of Canada. She leads the group Sustainable Canada Dialogues, a voluntary initiative that mobilizes over 80 researchers from every province, with sustainability being at the heart of their research programs. The objective of Sustainable Canada Dialogues is to identify actions designed to have large, viable impacts to help Canadian governments at all levels to make thoughtful and ambitious commitments to greenhouse-gas emission reductions. Though the scale of the global challenge is enormous, more individuals, communities, industries, and governments are stepping up to the task.

Dr. Potvin will be joined by Mr. Bob Ashley, Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Summerside. The city has implemented a number of initiatives, including generating its own electricity. His talk, “Summerside’s Renewable Energy Quest,” will illustrate the critical value of a community-owned electric utility as an instrument of public energy policy. Other initiatives include storage for intermittent generation, such as wind and solar, building a fleet of electric vehicles, implementing a “living lab” program, and a “smarter homes” initiative.

Dr. Jim Randall, the Chair of the Institute of Island Studies and UNESCO Co-chair in Island Studies and Sustainability, will speak about the experiences and challenges of other small islands of the world in their quest to achieve a version of carbon-neutrality. An economic and social geographer by training, Dr. Randall is a professor in Island Studies and co-ordinator of the Master of Arts in Island Studies program.

The Symposium will be chaired by Dr. Adam Fenech, director of the UPEI Climate Research Lab.

Members of the public are cordially invited to attend. Admission is free. Following the presentations, there will be ample time for discussion and questions from the floor.

For more information, contact Laurie at the Institute of Island Studies at 902-894-2881 or brinklow@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. 

The Panthers are busy in the coming days on the ice, basketball court, and soccer pitch. Here’s your roundup of Panther home games for October 19–21.

Thursday night, UPEI Men’s Basketball plays a pre-season game with cross-town rivals Holland College. Coach Darrell Glenn said even though the game is an exhibition match, it's not one the team is taking lightly.

“Holland College is a well-coached team with loads of talent, and that’s exactly what our team needs to face right now as we continue to prepare for our upcoming season,” said Glenn.

The Hurricanes are sure to bring their own fans, so make sure you show up with your green and white on to cheer on your Panthers. Tip-off is at 8 pm the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre.

With three games scheduled for Saturday afternoon and evening, you might as well bring the family and make a day of it! UPEI Women’s Soccer starts the day with its final home-game of the regular season at 1 pm against Memorial University.

“It’s at the point now where we have to roll up our sleeves and get the job done,” said coach Graeme McDonald. “Memorial is a top team, but we have home advantage to get the result needed.”

UPEI Men’s Soccer gets its turn against MUN at 3:15 pm. Coach Lewis Page says the team feels the momentum of the late season.

“UPEI Men’s Soccer continues to improve each week,” said Page. “We are looking to build on our win last weekend against Dalhousie with another strong performance against Memorial.”

After the soccer games wrap up, grab a quick supper and come on back to campus for some AUS hockey. UPEI Women’s Hockey hosts St. Francis Xavier University at 7 pm in MacLauchlan Arena.

“St. FX is coming off two wins during opening weekend and sports an amazing power play,” said coach Bruce Donaldson. “Clearly we need to play five-on-five hockey with St. FX—they are one of the best skilled teams in the AUS. They are a well-balanced team with strong mobile defence, active forwards, and solid goaltending. We need to match their skill set, utilize our speed, and make sure we stay away from penalties.”

Even mid-season, the Panther Package is a deal that can’t be beat. For just $75, the Panther Package gives you admission to every home game for UPEI Women’s and Men’s Soccer, UPEI Women’s and Men’s Basketball, and UPEI Women’s Hockey. Head to gopanthersgo.ca and click on ‘tickets’!

And don’t forget season tickets for UPEI Men’s Hockey! Your $190 dollars gives you a reserved seat, 15 individual tickets, 2-for-1 golf at Fox Meadows Golf and Country Club (until May 31, 2018), a 10% discount card at Source for Sports, 2 for 1 large pizza for the year at Domino’s, and a $50 discount towards your Panther Package!

Remember, UPEI students get into all Panther home games for free. Let’s fill the stands and make 2017–18 the best season ever!

The Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) has honoured the Jewell family and Jewell Jewell Dale Farm Inc., of Meadowbank, PEI, with the 2017 Honourable Eugene F. Whelan Green Hat Award for their contributions to the College and veterinary medicine.

UPEI President and Vice-Chancellor Alaa Abd-El-Aziz and AVC Dean Greg Keefe presented Kevin Jewell, representing Jewel Dale Farm Inc., with the award during the University’s Founders Day Ceremony on September 22. Jolene Vermeulen, AVC Class of 2019, read the citation. Also present were members of the multi-generational Jewel family.

AVC established the Honourable Eugene F. Whelan Green Hat Award in 2000 to pay tribute to people who have had a significant and positive impact on the College and veterinary medicine in Atlantic Canada.

Citation:

Jewell Dale Farm is home to three generations of the Jewell family: Roy and Elaine, who started the farm in 1959; their son Kevin and his wife Cheryl; and their sons, Logan, Kyle, and Joel. The farm is managed collaboratively with each member taking on various responsibilities. Logan manages the herd of 115 Holsteins (along with a Jersey or two); Kyle looks after the crops; and Joel, who works at the local John Deere dealership, is their mechanic on call. Cheryl looks after the books for the farm; Kyle’s wife Jane, who grew up on a dairy farm in Nova Scotia, manages the young stock; and Logan’s wife Megan is a veterinarian and graduate student at AVC. It is truly a family affair!

The family’s passion and care for their animals is evident. When you walk into the barn at Jewell Dale Farm, you see a bright, airy space, where the dairy cows feed and scratch their backs on rotating brushes, walk around on rubber mats designed to reduce stress on their hooves, or rest on foam mattresses.

The Jewell’s commitment to the health and welfare of their herd has not gone unnoticed. Valacta, a regional dairy herd improvement organization, named Jewell Dale Farm the top herd in Prince Edward Island in its 2016 Herd Performance Index.
Jewell Dale Farm has been a client of the College’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital since it opened in 1988. But the Jewell family are more than clients. Their involvement with AVC runs much deeper. They have been a mainstay in the College’s teaching program, providing opportunities for thousands of veterinary students to learn about bovine medicine, herd production, and management.

They have participated in numerous dairy research projects and are strong supporters of other AVC activities such as its annual vet camp program for 200 young junior and senior high school aged youth and the student-run Bovine Club.
The family’s support of AVC extends beyond the farm. Currently, Cheryl is involved in the veterinary medicine priority of UPEI’s “Inspire Campaign.”

Dr. Shawn McKenna, Service Chief of AVC Farm Service, nominated the Jewell family for this year’s Green Hat Award.

“The Jewell family exemplifies the teamwork that is essential to a good relationship between veterinarian and producer,” he said. “They are so supportive of the work we do. It’s beneficial for both of us.”

For their contributions to the education of future veterinarians and to the Atlantic Veterinary College, we are honored to award the 2017 Honourable Eugene F. Whelan Green Hat Award to the Jewell family and Jewell Dale Farm.

 

The University of Prince Edward Island’s Department of Physics is excited to host the Innovation150 Power of Ideas Tour while it makes its stop in Charlottetown October 31 to November 1. The event is free and open to the public from 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Wednesday, November 1 at the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre on the UPEI campus, following two days of school visits.

“We are looking forward to welcoming about 1,100 Island students in grades 10–12, and youth and their families, to this world-class science experience on the UPEI campus,” says Dr. Bill Whelan, Chair of UPEI’s Department of Physics. “We are pleased to partner with the Innovation150 Secretariat and the UPEI School of Sustainable Design Engineering to offer this experiential learning opportunity that inspires curiosity and the exploration of ideas that will shape our future.”

The event includes an innovation talk and exhibition, presented by the Perimeter Institute, which features hands-on, mind-expanding activities. Participants will explore the cosmic speed limit, the mysteries of dark matter, black holes and even more importantly, the power of ideas, big and small. From delving into two of the world’s largest science experiments to exploring changing ideas about our universe, this immersive experience fosters new curiosities and a better understanding of how the world is understood.

The experience also features Actua’s Maker Mobile, a maker-space that includes exciting, cutting-edge technology that encourages youth to experiment and build with hands-on learning. Youth have a unique opportunity to learn how to create and prototype using design software, and watch their inventions come to life with laser cutters.

The Power of Ideas Tour will travel to approximately 100 communities across Canada throughout 2017, stopping in every province and territory, including the Far North. The Tour’s progress can be followed online at innovation150.ca. Innovation150 is a Canada 150 Signature Initiative, funded in part by the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage.

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 is located on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People.

More on the Power of Ideas Exhibition:

Designed and developed by Perimeter Institute in collaboration with the Ontario Science Centre, this hands-on exhibition introduces youth and their families to the powerful ideas and the cutting-edge experiments helping us understand the natural world. Travelling to schools and science centres across the country, this inspiring exhibition enables youth and their families to take a hands-on approach to learning the process of science. From delving into two of the world’s largest science experiments to exploring changing ideas about our universe, this immersive experience fosters curiosity and a better understanding of how we investigate our world.

•Wall of Ideas—Discover the real story behind some of our greatest scientific thinkers by immersing yourself in this interactive wall of ideas. 

•WhatsInTheTube—Guess what’s happening inside this massive mystery tube by teaming up to pull on large ropes. You might be surprised to discover there’s more than one way to skin Schrödinger’s cat.

•Colliding Particles—Step in and explore the most complex machine on Earth, the Large Hadron Collider. 

•Peer into the Past—How does the cosmic speed limit help us see back to the beginning of the universe? 

•A Planet-Sized Telescope—If there was a supermassive black hole at the centre of our galaxy, wouldn’t you want to see it? Bonus: you can stand at the edge of a black hole and watch your legs turn to spaghetti!

•Spin to Infin’—With the flick of your wrist, travel from the vastness of the universe all the way down to the subatomic scale. On the way, you’ll learn just how many questions scientists still have from the quantum to the cosmos.

•Demonstration Table—Get hands-on with science demos facilitated by the Power of Ideas tour staff.
 

Journalist and broadcaster Bruce Rainnie will talk about his career during a public presentation in the Alex H. MacKinnon Auditorium (Room 242), Don and Marion McDougall Hall, UPEI, on Wednesday, November 1, from 1:30–2:45 p.m.

Rainnie will give a TED Talk-style presentation as part of UPEI Career Services’ celebration of Atlantic Canada Career Week, which takes place from October 30–November 3. He will focus on his career in communications, and experiences and opportunities that helped shape it.

Rainnie is the inaugural Journalist-in-Residence for UPEI’s new Applied Communication, Leadership, and Culture (ACLC) program. He gives guest lectures and workshops associated with ACLC courses; he works with students who wish to have one-on-one and small group mentoring in public speaking; and he presents the end-of-year ACLC public lecture. He brings to this position many years of experience as a reporter and broadcaster for CBC and as host of CBC PEI’s evening news program, Compass. He has been a CBC Sports announcer for numerous sporting events, including seven Olympics Games. He is currently president and CEO of the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame.

During Atlantic Canada Career Week, undergraduate and graduate students can get a head start on career planning by attending workshops, information sessions, and guest presentations. Topics covered will include writing resumes and cover letters, sales as a potential career path, starting their own businesses, involvement in student government, working for the Government of Canada, applying for graduate school, and preparing scholarship and bursary applications. They can also have professional head shots taken for a small fee. 

Sponsored by the Council of Atlantic Ministers of Education and Training, Atlantic Canada Career Week is part of Canada Career Month, which takes place in November.