Geography of Local Governance on Prince Edward Island The topic of local governance is the focal point of an upcoming Public Symposium, “The Geography of Governance,” to be sponsored by UPEI’s Institute of Island Studies, in conjunction with UPEI Research Services. The date is Thursday, February 25, at UPEI’s MacKinnon Auditorium (Room 242), Don and Marion McDougall Hall, beginning at 7 p.m.  (The storm date is the following evening, Friday, the 26th.) The reform of local government on the Island has been much discussed in recent years, especially since the release of the 2009 Thompson Report of the Commission on Land and Local Governance. At that time, the Island had 75 incorporated municipalities – many of them with just a few hundred people – and 70% of the province’s territory had no local government at all.  The situation remains much the same today. Judge Thompson recommended that local government be extended to cover the entire Island, and that the units be large enough to be effective and sustainable – that is, with a population of at least 4,000 each.  There’s a perception among Islanders that reform is now in the air, and some communities have initiated discussions with their neighbours about joining together to form larger governance units. If we assume that larger municipal units are on the horizon, and all of the Island would be included, then the question arises about the criteria to be used in deciding on new boundaries. Should cultural factors be paramount? Or “communities of interest”?  Or geographical factors?  Or environmental management – such as including a whole watershed within a municipality? Or some combination of these – and others? The principal speaker will be Diane Griffin, noted Island environmentalist, Stratford Town Councillor, and Vice President of the Federation of PEI Municipalities. She will be joined by a Panel of three individuals representing various points of view: Dr. Ryan Gibson, Dr. Michael van den Heuvel, and Jeanetta Bernard. Dr. Gibson, who is currently Chair of the Advisory Committee of the Institute of Island Studies, teaches in the Department of Geography, Saint Mary’s University. He has a special interest in collaborative governance in rural regions. He will address the question:  How can the Provincial Government guide and oversee change while respecting and enhancing local democracy and authority? Dr. van den Heuvel is the Director of the Canadian Rivers Institute based at UPEI.  He will discuss case studies and the advantages of defining municipal boundaries based on watersheds to enhance resources for environmental management. The third Panel member, Jeannita Bernard, of St. Philippe, is a well-known Island singer-songwriter and community leader in the areas of health, education and community development. She will explore the idea of creating a new Evangeline regional government unit, which would include the present villages of Wellington and Abram’s Village, plus 12 adjacent unincorporated communities. 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. Storm date: Friday, February 26.

Robertson Library, in conjunction with the UPEI English Society, will be holding a used book sale on Friday, March 4, noon - 6 pm and Saturday, March 5, 10 am - 3 pm in Room 302/303 (Upper Level) of the Robertson Library. (Storm date the following weekend, same time.) Proceeds from the book sale help support the UPEI English Society and the Library's collection. Tickets will be available for a chance to win signed copies of works by local UPEI authors: Deirdre Kessler Richard Lemm Brent MacLaine Shannon Murray Money raised from the draw will go to the PEI Literacy Alliance. Books beyond your imagination: Come and browse through a great collection of books - there's something for everyone.   

Robertson Library, in conjunction with the UPEI English Society, will be holding a used book sale on Friday, March 4, noon - 6 pm and Saturday, March 5, 10 am - 3 pm in Room 302/303 (Upper Level) of the Robertson Library. (Storm date the following weekend, same time.) Proceeds from the book sale help support the UPEI English Society and the Library's collection. Tickets will be available for a chance to win signed copies of works by local UPEI authors: Deirdre Kessler Richard Lemm Brent MacLaine Shannon Murray Money raised from the draw will go to the PEI Literacy Alliance. Books beyond your imagination: Come and browse through a great collection of books - there's something for everyone. 

SPEAKER: Logan MacIntyre, Biomedical Sciences TITLE: Inducing production of cryptic natural products through co-culture of coral-derived microbes SPEAKER: Denise Happ, Biomedical Sciences TITLE: Effects of co-activation of α7 nicotinic receptors and NMDA receptors on neurotoxicity in hippocampal cultures

A first of its kind ‘foodie’ event is taking place in Charlottetown!. UPEI's Dr. Bill Whelan and wife Michelle Cottreau are hosting a roving feast with a twist. Under the guidance of Chef Andrew Nicholson, culinary students have been given the challenge to create unique and tasty dishes from a list of cancer fighting foods such as cabbage, chocolate and onions. Guests will dine on their choice of any or all of the 18 small plates prepared by the culinary students all while mingling with UPEI students and faculty who will explain the science behind the cancer fighting foods. The evening will also include a silent auction and green tea tasting. What inspired this innovative event? The desire of Canadian Cancer Society Dream Team member and UPEI cancer researcher, Dr. Whelan, to see fewer people diagnosed with cancer. Today, 2 in 5 Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer and of those, 1 in 4 will die from it. Thanks to research, the number of people surviving a cancer diagnosis has improved from 26% in 1940 to 63% today, yet cancer is now the leading cause of premature death in PEI, taking more Islanders each year than heart disease, stroke and diabetes combined. Tickets for the event are $75 per guest. Charitable donation receipts of $30 ticket will be issued. These proceeds will go to the fight against cancer through the work of the PEI Division of the Canadian Cancer Society. Event details: Culinary Institute of Canada 4 Sydney St, Charlottetown, PEI February 19th (storm date Feb 20) 6:30 – 9:00 pm (doors open at 6:30, food service begins at 6:45)  

Four goals in the opening nine minutes of the second period gave the visiting UPEI Panthers an insurmountable 5-1 lead and eventual 6-3 win over the CIS No. 5 ranked Acadia Axemen in the opening game of the AUS quarterfinal best of three series on Wednesday, February 18. (To read the full recap from Game 1, click here.) Acadia will now head to UPEI this Friday night as the Panthers host game two of a best of three quarterfinal series at MacLauchlan Arena. Game three, if required, will return to Wolfville on Sunday evening. Quarterfinal schedule: Game 1: UPEI @ Acadia – Feb. 17, 7 pm Game 2: Acadia @ UPEI – Feb. 19, 7 pm Game 3 (if necessary): UPEI @ Acadia – Feb. 21, 7 pm  

English students are invited to come to help choosing courses and to talk about careers, international study, honours, scholarships, academic supports, and societies. Free book table and pizza! 

PhD student Ebtehal El-Ghezlani will present a seminar on Wednesday, February 24, 2016 at 12:30 pm entitled "Neutral and Cationic Cyclopentadienyl Iron Based Chromene Complexes Tuning the Properties". The seminar will be held in the Regis and Joan Duffy Research Centre, Lecture Theatre, Room 212. All are welcome!

Due to the expiration of the current contract, the opportunity to provide food services on campus was advertised to the public. There were two responses received as a result of the Request for Proposals; one from Chartwells and a second from Aramark. The Campus-Wide Food Services Evaluation Committee invites faculty, staff, and students to attend the following presentations by the two bidders: Aramark Wednesday, February 24, 2016 9:00 - 10:15 am Main Building Room 117 Chartwells* Friday, February 26, 2016 9:00 - 10:15 am Don and Marion McDougall Hall Room 329 *This date has been added as Chartwells' original presentation time was scheduled during Reading Week.

Due to the expiration of the current contract, the opportunity to provide food services on campus was advertised to the public. There were two responses received as a result of the Request for Proposals. The Campus-Wide Food Services Evaluation Committee invites faculty, staff, and students to attend the following presentation by bidder: Chartwells* Friday, February 26, 2016, 9:00 - 10:15 am, Bill and Denise Andrew Hall Room 142 The other bidder, Aramark, will present to the campus community on February 24. *This date has been added as Chartwells' original presentation time was scheduled during Reading Week.