Island Water Symposium

The future of the Island’s water supply will be the subject of an upcoming public symposium at the University of Prince Edward Island. In light of recent concern about increased pressure on our groundwater resources by urban, industrial, and agricultural use, this event is a timely one. Island Water Futures: Assessing the Science will take place in the Alex H. MacKinnon Auditorium, Room 242 of UPEI’s McDougall Hall, beginning at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20. The symposium is sponsored by the Institute of Island Studies in conjunction with UPEI Research Services. This is a public-forum event with presentations by three speakers: Dr. Ryan O’Connor, Dr. Cathy Ryan, and Dr. Michael van den Heuvel. Dr. O’Connor, a graduate of UPEI, is an environmental historian. His PhD thesis, written at the University of Western Ontario, will be published this year by UBC Press under the title The First Green Wave. His talk will provide a general overview of research done so far relating to the Island’s groundwater resources; he will review the various scientific papers, reports, and theses produced about the Island’s water supply. Dr. Ryan is a professor cross-appointed to Geoscience and Environmental Sciences at the University of Calgary with a long interest in agricultural impacts on water quality. She leads a team of hydrogeologists working with agricultural scientists to understand groundwater in the fractured sandstone on Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia as part of the Canadian Water Network’s Secure Source Water Network. Dr. van den Heuvel is the Canada Research Chair in Watershed Ecological Integrity at UPEI. He studies the effects of agriculture and chemical use on freshwater and coastal environments. His focus is the endocrine responses, immunotoxicology, and population health of fish. He is working to develop methods and solutions to best monitor environmental problems and better protect rivers in Prince Edward Island. The symposium will be chaired by Diane Griffin, long-time councillor for the Town of Stratford and a former deputy minister of the provincial Department of the Environment. Last year, Dr. Griffin was awarded an honorary doctorate by UPEI. Members of the public are cordially invited to attend this symposium. Admission is free. Following the three presentations, there will be ample time for discussion and questions from the floor.

Launch: 2015 PEI Weather Trivia Calendar

PEI history comes to life in this first ever PEI weather trivia calendar of 365 stories about Prince Edward Island weather and its impact on Islanders’ everyday life. This calendar brings stories from North Cape to East Point, West Point to Murray Head – and all points in-between over the past 150 years. It features: 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 tornadoes on Prince Edward Island: their frequency, location and intensity Stories of memorable PEI snowstorms from the past seven decades Maritime Electric workers reminiscences about severe weather Historical PEI weather stories from Samuel Holland (1765), the War of 1812, the Yankee Gale (1851) and the Ice Boats (1855) As examples, did you know these interesting PEI weather stories? Unable to land at Charlottetown Airport due to thick fog in 1943, an RCAF bomber dropped depth charges (bombs) on Mount Edward Road to save fuel. Earl Jay’s pigs swam down the street in Mount Stewart after the Kennedy Inaugural Storm of 1961 flooded their barn. PEI was deprived of a Harvard-trained doctor who died of exhaustion and exposure when caught in a snowstorm for days taking the ice boats across the Northumberland Strait in 1855. “Stormy Michael David Kennedy” was born in Freetown in 1992 during a severe snowstorm that required a trip to the hospital behind snow plows. A tornado in the Albany area in 1935 sent a 12-year-old boy airborne while holding three chickens. The boy landed safely still holding his three chickens. The worst railway accident on PEI, which killed four men, occurred during a heavy snowstorm in 1932 when Train #33 ran into Train #211 which was stalled in a four metre snow pile at Handrahan’s Cutting near Tignish. The official release of the 2015 PEI Weather Trivia Calendar will be a public event held on May 20 from 7-9pm at the Carriage House behind Beaconsfield Historic House, 2 Kent Street, Charlottetown. A light lunch will be offered. Registration required by visiting our website at upei.ca/climate or by calling 620-5221.

Yoga

Athletics & Recreation will be providing yoga every Wednesday from 12:10 – 12:55 pm at the UPEI Chaplaincy Centre for UPEI students and staff. During the summer months, the class will move outdoors to the Quad area, weather permitting. This program provides a full body strength and flexibility workout which tones the body. Long stretches will melt away stress and create a feeling of deep relaxation. Please bring your own mat and/or towel and water. The will take place every Wednesday from May 7 until August 27.

Math Camp 2014

UPEI will host a group of 26 high school students from 10 high schools in the province from May 2-4 for it's 12th annual Math Camp. The camp offers sessions on various mathematical topics, problem-solving competitions including math relays, as well as some recreational activities in the evenings. Math Camp aims to enrich the students’ mathematical education, to encourage them to continue studying math at the post-secondary level, to consider careers in math and sciences, and provide an ideal opportunity to make new friends. The camp is organized by UPEI’s Department of Mathematics and Statistics and co-sponsored by the Canadian Mathematical Society.

Astronomy Public Viewing

Come see some of the marvels of the night sky through our 8-inch telescope at the UPEI observatory. Potential viewing objects include the Moon, planets, nebulae, and galaxies. Volunteers from the Charlottetown Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) and the UPEI Physics Department will be on hand to show you the sights and answer your astronomical questions. Our next viewing is scheduled from 9:15 pm to 10:45 pm on Saturday, May 10, 2014. Guests are asked to come to Memorial Hall Room 417. This event is weather dependent. In the event of cloudy skies requiring a cancellation, the viewing may be shifted to Sunday, May 11 at the same time (if weather permits). Updates will be provided on our website at http://physics.upei.ca/astronomy, on our voice-mail at 566-0745, or on Twitter @UPEIAstronomy. This event is free of charge and open to all members of the public. It is necessary to climb the stairs from the 4th floor up to the observatory, but an elevator can be taken up to the 4th floor.

AVC Class of 2014 White Coat Ceremony and Awards Night

AVC's White Coat Ceremony provides AVC veterinary students with the opportunity to celebrate their many successes and passage from the rank of students to Doctors of Veterinary Medicine. White Coat is a jubilant celebration where students are cloaked in a white coat, presented by family members or close friends. Many awards are presented ranging from class spirit and leadership awards, to recognition for academic performance and skill competencies. Following the White Coat presentations, the graduating class recites the Veterinary Oath with the Dean of Veterinary Medicine. This year's Ceremony will take place at the Homburg Theatre in Confederation Centre of the Arts from 4-6 pm.
Subscribe to