Christian Norton, who graduated with his Honours Biology degree from UPEI in 2016, will head this fall to Oxford University with a full scholarship. Norton will complete his MSc in Biology this spring at the Université de Montréal’s Institut de recherche en biologie végétale before commencing his PhD studies in plant ecology at Oxford. He is one of 140 recipients of the Clarendon Scholarship, which covers his tuition, college fees, living costs, and research costs for four years.

Norton’s master’s research took him to Northern Labrador, where he studied how Inuit and local communities use indigenous plants for food, health, and medicine.

He studied at UPEI under Dr. Christian Lacroix, professor of biology, who recently co-authored a paper with Norton on his honours research project. As a UPEI student, he was awarded three consecutive NSERC undergraduate student research awards—an impressive accomplishment in securing these highly competitive awards.

“I am thrilled that Christian will be pursuing his studies at Oxford,” said Dr. Lacroix. “He is a talented researcher who is destined to make significant contributions to plant science.”

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 University of Prince Edward Island is once again partnering with Humber College to present The Insider’s Guide to Writing and Publishing for Young Readers, a workshop for writers of children’s and young adult literature. No matter what stage of writing you’re at—from concept to first draft or beyond—this workshop offers the inside scoop on the world of publishing and self-publishing. Join us July 12 through 14 in beautiful Charlottetown, PEI, on the lovely UPEI campus, for a workshop full of practical suggestions and writing inspiration.

Created by eminent publishers and facilitators Cynthia Good and Rick Wilks, the workshop, now in its third year, is a collaboration between UPEI and Toronto's Humber College, home to the renowned Humber School for Writers and Creative Book Publishing program. This summer’s expanded workshop will have more time devoted to writing feedback, and Sarah Sawler, children’s author and publicist, will join the facilitators to highlight what every writer needs to know about getting their books into the hands of readers.

Each workshop day is divided into writing and publishing segments. The hours dedicated to writing will provide the opportunity to get feedback on some of your writing, or to develop an outline for your book if you are in the development stage.

The publishing segments will look at the current publishing landscape, explore traditional and self-publishing models, provide business details, and help you to construct a query letter for publishers and literary agents.

The workshop will open with a lecture and reception sponsored by Annick Press, legendary publisher of Robert Munsch, Ruth Ohi, Kathy Stinson, and Kevin Sylvester. Participants will leave the workshop with new directions for their manuscripts, enriched knowledge of publishing, and an effective query letter.

You should attend if you find yourself asking these questions:

• Where can I get feedback on my children’s/young adult manuscript?
• What’s the best way to publish my book?
• Which Canadian publishers may be interested in my work?
• How does self-publishing work and is it for me?
• What literary agents represent children’s/young adult books?
• How can I market my book and myself?
• How can I learn about the publishing process for children’s/young adult and adult books?

About the facilitators:

Cynthia Good has been a leader in the publishing industry for many years. She was appointed the first editorial director of Penguin Books Canada and went on to become president and publisher. Over her twenty years with Penguin, she established a publishing program, which grew into one of the most successful in Canada. After Penguin she joined Humber College.

At Humber, Cynthia developed the Creative Book Publishing program and mentored over 300 students. In 2014, she stepped down from that position to focus on program and community outreach until retiring in 2016. In recognition of her accomplishments at Humber, she was named director emeritus and was awarded the Humber Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Rick Wilks co-founded Annick Press in 1975 and has been its sole director since 2000. Annick has been recognized as one of the most innovative publishers of fiction, non-fiction and picture books for children and young adults, publishing, among others, Robert Munsch, Sharon McKay, Kathy Stinson, Allan Stratton, and Kevin Sylvester. Rick oversees all aspects of the publishing process, with a special emphasis on acquisitions.

His publishing philosophy stresses projects that are dynamic and developed to the highest literary standards. A joy of reading experience is essential to capture the minds and hearts of youth. Annick titles encourage critical thinking and the development of children’s inner resources so that, in addition to becoming confident, contributing members of their communities, they are also engaged with society at large and their peers around the globe. Annick was recently nominated for International Publisher of the Year.

Rick also co-founded the National Reading Campaign, where he has served as co-chair and currently sits as a board member. The Campaign’s goal of advocating for reading as a national public good addresses one of Rick’s highest priorities.

Sarah Sawler is a publicist, author, and freelance writer living in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She is the author of the regional bestseller 100 Things You Don't Know About Nova Scotia and 100 Things You Don't Know About Atlantic Canada - For Kids. For the past nine months, she's also been working closely with Cape Breton YouTuber Frankie MacDonald on Be Prepared: The Frankie MacDonald Guide to Life, the Weather, and Everything. Occasionally, she writes about children's literature for Atlantic Books Today, and has had numerous reviews published in the Quill & Quire’s "Books for Young People" section.

In addition to writing (and promoting) her own books, Sarah markets other people's books as the publicist for Conundrum Press, a literary graphic novel publisher based in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. Previously, she worked as a publicist at Fierce Ink Books, an independent publisher that specialized in young adult books. She's also a former bookseller; years of experience at Woozles Children's Bookstore provided her with valuable insight into everything from cover design to merchandising.

Sarah has also worked as an online technical writing instructor for Dalhousie University's Continuing Education Department, spoken to elementary school classes, facilitated professional development courses, spoken at conferences and festivals, signed piles of books, and once, created a fictional biography for a rooster.

For more information, including details on the workshop, accommodations, and how to register, visit creativearts.humber.ca/pei.

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.

Established in 1967, Humber College is a global leader in polytechnic education. Combining in-depth theoretical learning and hands-on experience with applied research and extensive industry connections, Humber provides career-focused education to 31,000 full-time and 23,000 part-time students across three campuses. The college offers a comprehensive range of credentials including honours undergraduate degrees, postgraduate certificates, diplomas, apprenticeships and certificates. More than four out of five Humber graduates are employed within six months of completing their studies. Visit humber.ca.

April’s edition in the Island Studies Lecture Series features author Katherine Dewar speaking about “The Making of a Canadian Military Nursing Heroine.” The heroine in question is Prince Edward Island’s own Georgina Fane Pope (1862–1938) and is the subject of Katherine’s soon-to-be-released book from Island Studies Press: Called to Serve. The April Island Studies Lecture takes place on Tuesday, April 17, at 7:00 pm in the Faculty Lounge of UPEI’s SDU Main Building.

How does a young woman, born in 1862 into privileged circumstances in Prince Edward Island, rise to the top echelons of Canadian military nursing leadership? This presentation discusses Georgina Pope’s path to power through the second half of the 19^th century and into the 20^th. Among other things, it addresses the significance her privileged and powerful lineage, the influence of her parents on her world view, and the inspiration of Florence Nightingale—who invoked in Pope a “burning desire” to become an “army nurse” in a faraway land. The story takes us from Georgie’s rather sheltered life in Victorian Prince Edward Island to the “Boston States”; to the dangerous and primitive conditions she experienced as superintendent of nurses in two South African Wars; to her work in the formation of the nursing component of the Canadian Army Medical Corps (PAMC); and to the battlefields of Europe during the First World War.

Katherine Dewar is the author of the award-winning book, Those Splendid Girls: The Heroic Service of Prince Edward Island Nurses in the Great War, 1914–1918. Katherine is retired from a career as a nursing instructor at the PEI School of Nursing and is now committed to researching PEI’s colourful nursing history. Those Splendid Girls was shortlisted for an Atlantic Book Award, won Publication of the Year from the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation and the City of Summerside’s Heritage and Culture department. Katherine herself is the recipient of the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation Award of Honour for her outstanding contribution to Prince Edward Island Heritage.

Admission to the lecture is free. All are welcome.

Watch for another lecture about islands—near near and far—May 15. 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.

The University of Prince Edward Island’s School of Sustainable Design Engineering (SSDE) annual Student Design Expo will showcase the best in student, sustainable, and green engineering in Atlantic Canada on Friday, April 20. Student design teams have been working with industry or community partners since September to find innovative, sustainable solutions for their unique challenges.

Student projects will be set up for public viewing at various stations on the first floor of the School of Sustainable Design Engineering building on the UPEI campus. The Student Design Expo begins with a short ceremony at 1:00 pm. Projects are available for viewing through the afternoon, with an award ceremony beginning at 4:00 pm. A brief panel discussion about opportunities for design engineering graduates begins at 4:30 pm.

More than two-dozen student projects will be on display. The projects are diverse in scope, and range from a virtual reality tour of the renovations at Province House (in partnership with Parks Canada) to a waste-water treatment system for households in a village in remote Pakistan.

“Engineers do not become proficient at design by reading text books or attending lectures,” said Dr. Nicholas Krouglicof, dean of the SSDE. “They do so by practicing design. At the SSDE we integrate real-world design problems into every semester of the four-year program. Through these projects students are immersed in a realistic engineering environment where they are expected to interact with external clients, develop design solutions, and conform to the best practices of the profession.”

The panel discussion is entitled “The Future is Bright—for a Design Engineer”, and will be moderated by Dr. Krouglicof.

All are welcome!

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.

Fifteen ocean research projects based in Atlantic Canada have received more than $25 million in funding, an investment that’s expected to advance understanding of atmospheric and ecosystem change while also identifying ways to grow resource development in a sustainable way.

The investment in ocean research, made possible through the Canada First Research Excellence Fund and distributed by the Ocean Frontier Institute (OFI), enables teams at the University of Prince Edward Island, Memorial University of Newfoundland, and Dalhousie University to study ocean-related issues in the North Atlantic and Canadian Arctic Gateway. Projects include work to understand ocean change and help improve the potential for fisheries and aquaculture to meet global seafood demand.  

Ian Gardner, a Canada Excellence Research Chair at UPEI’s Atlantic Veterinary College, leads up a research project examining new models for salmon health management. His work will identify strategies to improve the delivery of medication to large populations of fish in order to improve antimicrobial and antiparasitic treatments. It will also use novel digital sensors to observe salmon pens and control disease.  

Project funding will be used to hire early-career scientists at UPEI. “The research will advance the aquaculture industry but our work has other benefits as well. It will also prepare the next generation of scientists for work in industry, government, and academia,” said Dr. Gardner.

Dr. Mark Fast, an Associate Professor at UPEI, is also one of the leaders of a research project entitled, Improving Sustainability & Mitigating the Challenges of Aquaculture. Specifically, his work is developing sustainable control measures for pathogens of cultured fish.

For a full summary of all research projects that have received funding, go to oceanfrontierinstitute.com/research. 

Dr. Javier Sanchez, an associate professor of epidemiology at the Atlantic Veterinary College, has been selected to be part of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meetings on Microbiological Risk Assessment Roster of Experts (JEMRA) for a five-year term.

JEMRA is an international scientific expert panel that is administered jointly by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and the World Health Organization (WHO) to provide scientific advice on microbiological hazards, including expert advice on risk management options aimed at improving food safety.

Dr. Sanchez’s appointment makes AVC the only Canadian veterinary college to be represented on the panel.

Food-borne pathogens are an increasing challenge to those working in food safety, says Dr. Sanchez. JEMRA is tasked with identifying risks to consumers from food products contaminated with bacteria such as E coli, salmonella, or listeria.

The experts on the panel assess the probability of people being exposed to food products contaminated by bacteria and the likelihood that they will be harmed. They then use that data to help decision-makers develop policies to best protect consumers.

The JEMRA panel is also dealing with antimicrobial resistance—the resistance of bacteria to antibiotics—a major topic of concern in both veterinary and human medicine.

“Antimicrobial resistance is an increasingly serious threat to public health across the globe,” says Sanchez. “Using new molecular technology, we are working to identify the transmission pathways to quantify how antimicrobial resistance genes are being transferred by the consumption of food products. Being part of this panel will help in identifying the correct analytical approaches to estimate the risks to people.”

Dr. Greg Keefe, dean of AVC, congratulated Dr. Sanchez on his appointment.

“To address concerns regarding resistance development, the stewardship of antimicrobial use in veterinary medicine is one of the top priorities of the profession,” said Dr. Keefe. “We are pleased that Dr. Sanchez has been recognized as an international leader in this field.”

University of Prince Edward Island Women’s Basketball head coach Greg Gould announced at a team meeting on Thursday that he will be retiring from the University. 

Coach Gould joined the Panthers in 2012, taking over a team that had a three-year, 2-58 record. He leaves the Women’s Basketball program with a 43-57 record, qualifying for the playoffs each year and leading the team to one of its most successful seasons in the last decade.

This year, the UPEI women’s squad went 11 and 9 during the regular season, beating every team in conference, and then went on to defeat the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds in the quarterfinals and the Cape Breton University Capers in the semi-finals at the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) women's basketball championship. They came up just short against the U SPORTS third-ranked Acadia Axewomen to take home the silver medal.   

“Greg Gould is an experienced, committed, and highly successful coach. We thank him for taking our program through two growth cycles, both resulting in the women’s team reaching the AUS finals,” said UPEI Director of Athletics and Recreation Chris Huggan. “In addition to the team’s success, with Greg at the helm, many of our student-athletes achieved individual recognitions both at the AUS and U SPORTS level.”

Gould said he did not want word of his retirement to be released before he could tell his players, so he did so in person before team members disperse for the summer.

“After 48 years of coaching, it is time to retire and spend more time with family and friends. I have so many great memories of my players and I have met so many wonderful people through my time coaching,” said Gould. “I would like to thank everyone who helped me during my five years here at UPEI, especially my assistant coaches who contributed so much to the success of the program. It is satisfying to know that I am leaving the Women’s Basketball team in better shape than I found it, and I believe the foundation has been laid for the program to challenge for AUS championships for years to come.”

Hailing originally from Moncton, New Brunswick, Gould coached the Panthers from 2012–14 and from 2015–18. Prior to that, he led girls’ basketball teams at Moncton, Fredericton, and Riverview high schools, taking them six times to the New Brunswick Interscholastic Athletic Association (NBIAA) AAA provincial championships. He also coached at the post-secondary level, including the St. Thomas University and New Brunswick Teachers' College women's teams, and for a variety of provincial basketball teams. Gould is a recipient of the Atlantic Colleges Athletic Association (ACAA) Coach of the Year, Basketball New Brunswick Coaches Award, and the NBIAA Women's Coach of the Year award.

“We will have big shoes to fill,” added Huggan. “On behalf of UPEI Athletics and Recreation, I wish Greg the very best as he enters retirement. He will always be a member of our Panther family, and we hope to carry on his legacy.”

A search for a new coach will begin immediately.

UPEI’s School of Mathematical and Computational Sciences is hosting a second year of the IgniteCS@UPEI camp aimed at young students interested in computer science. The free weekly camp begins the week of May 14 and runs through July 4.

After the success of last year’s inaugural IgniteCS@UPEI, organizers have broken the camp into two streams. Beginners will meet Monday evenings from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Intermediate campers will meet Wednesday evenings, 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

Students will participate in “unplugged” activities to learn important computer science concepts away from the computer. Students will also have the opportunity to do some real coding and develop their own Java programs—some which are similar to first-year computer science assignments at UPEI. The camp will also have an Oculus Day, where students will have the opportunity to try out virtual reality through Oculus Rift.

IgniteCS@UPEI is primarily targeted at junior high students, but is open to all young students interested in computer science.

Registration closes on May 11, 2018; students can sign up by clicking here.

The L.M. Montgomery Institute (LMMI) at the University of Prince Edward Island is marking a major milestone today—April 26.

On this date 25 years ago, the LMMI was launched with the goal of promoting research into, and celebrating, the life, works, culture, and influence of Prince Edward Island-born L.M. Montgomery, one of Canada’s most famous authors. During her lifetime (1874–1942), Montgomery wrote over 20 novels, numerous poems and short stories, and 10 volumes of personal journals. She is most famous for her first novel, Anne of Green Gables, with its iconic character, Anne Shirley, whose life in fictional Avonlea continues to delight millions of readers around the world. While Montgomery moved to Ontario after her marriage to the Rev. Ewan MacDonald in 1911, she set all but one of her novels in her beloved Island.

“A 25th anniversary is a time for celebrating all that has been accomplished over these years,” says Dr. Philip Smith, chair of the LMMI. “But even more important is the opportunity to look ahead, to advance new ways of learning about and shaping Montgomery's influence at home on the Island, across Canada, and around the world.”

A long-held dream of Montgomery scholar Dr. Elizabeth Epperly, the LMMI has developed a strong scholarship base over the past 25 years through conferences, publications, and academic courses. The Institute brings together Montgomery scholars and enthusiasts from countries around the globe for biennial conferences on various themes related to or found in Montgomery’s work. The next conference, “L.M. Montgomery and Reading,” will be held at UPEI from June 21–24 of this year.

Housed in the University’s Robertson Library, the Institute has developed its own collection of Montgomery-related artefacts, sponsored courses on Canadian culture, published essay collections based on the conferences, and developed multi-media products to further scholarly discussion of the author’s work.

With 25 years behind it, the LMMI is not resting on its laurels. Last year, UPEI announced the appointment of Dr. Kate Scarth as the inaugural Chair in L.M. Montgomery Studies and Applied Communication, Leadership and Culture. She will create public engagement activities to advance the Institute’s scholarly mission and develop even stronger links with scholars and enthusiasts in PEI, Canada, and internationally.

This fall, the LMMI will embark on a new venture with the creation of the first-ever journal dedicated to Montgomery. A refereed, open digital space, the Journal of L.M. Montgomery Studies will use new technology to bring together interdisciplinary and international authors and readers, including Montgomery scholars and the broad community of enthusiasts. Papers will be accepted starting September 1, 2018.

For a more detailed look at the LMMI’s history and its future, please read LMMI at 25: Looking Back. Looking Forward by Melanie Fishbane, the Institute’s web coordinator.

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.

On Thursday, April 26, Mi’kmaq Elder Junior Peter-Paul released an eagle that had been recovering from injury at AVC for about a month. Before he released the eagle, Elder Peter-Paul, joined by members of the Abegweit First Nations community and others, conducted a smudging and drumming ceremony. It was a very moving experience!

The eagle was found in a field in Bedford, PEI, on March 31. Unable to fly because of severe injury to its left wing, it hopped across the highway in front of a car driven by Melissa Peter-Paul, Elder Peter-Paul’s daughter. Melissa stopped and stayed close to the eagle until it was captured by her father and Chief Conservation Officer Wade MacKinnon. The bird was brought to the AVC Wildlife Service, where a physical examination revealed that its wing was badly bruised and swollen, with a hairline fracture in one of its digits. During its stay at AVC, it received wound care, fluids, antibiotics, and pain medication. After recovering, it was released near Donaldston, PEI. It was a beautiful sight to see the eagle take flight!

Read more about the release in The Guardian and on CBC. Click here to watch a video of the event.