One of the world's leading interpreters of Buddhism has made a generous gift to the University of Prince Edward Island. Two copies of each of 60 books written by Dr. Daisaku Ikeda were presented recently to the Robertson Library and the L.M. Montgomery Institute. Dr. Ikeda is president of the Soka Gakkai International (SGI), a Buddhist association of more than 12 million members in 190 countries and territories, and founder of several educational, cultural and research institutions. He is also a highly-respected writer, poet, and peace activist in his native Japan and internationally.

Some of his major books include: Choose Life: A Dialogue with Dr. Arnold J. Toynbee; Dawn After Dark with Dr. Renand#233; Hughye; Before It Is Too Late with Dr. Aurelio Peccei; Dialogue of World Citizens with Dr. Norman Cousins; and Choose Peace, with Dr. Johan Galtung. He is also the author of a series of humanistic children's books, translated into over ten languages. They include The Snow Country Prince, The Cherry Tree, The Princess and the Moon and Over the Deep Blue Sea.

The two Ikeda collections were presented to UPEI by Tony Meers, Director of SGI Canada. The presentation was followed by a speech by Hiro Mitsumura, a long-time friend of the author, who teaches Japanese in the UPEI Department of Modern Languages. He said that Ikeda often quotes from Montgomery's works, and he pointed out that her view of life and Dr. Ikeda's Buddhist teachings have much in common: both writers celebrate the power of individuals to transform life around them for good, and the strength of communities to support learning and well-being.

In thanking the Soka Gakkai International for its gifts of friendship to UPEI, Dr. Elizabeth Epperly, founding chair of the L.M. Montgomery Institute, stated,"Today's ceremony brings together two gifted writers who share a fascination with beauty and with nature. Montgomery had a long-standing interest in Japan, and her Anne has been a best-seller there for more than five decades; Dr. Ikeda's interest in Montgomery strengthens the bridge between Prince Edward Island and Japan and will offer new ways for us to celebrate imagination, creativity, and art."

The UPEI Athletic Department has teamed up with Basketball PEI in a new partnership between the University and the community to present a series of summer camps for male and female basketball players from Grades 4 to 12. They have joined forces with Basketball 101 Development Schools to provide four basketball camps, beginning in mid-August.

The staff line-up for Basketball 101 Development Schools looks like a "Who's Who?" of PEI basketball. The program director is George Morrison, director of development for Basketball PEI. The resident coaches will be Mike Connolly, head coach of UPEI men's basketball, and Reagh Vidito, head coach of UPEI women's basketball. Members of the UPEI Panthers will also be on staff at each camp session. The camp director is Scott Morrison, head coach of Lakehead University's men's basketball. Prominent high school and provincial team coaches will round out the camp staff.

Promoted as "the #1 teaching school in the East," the camps are being offered August 15 to19 at Kensington Regional High School for boys and girls in Grades 4-8; and at the UPEI Young Sports Centre, August 22-26 for girls in Grades 4 to 9 and August 29 to September 2 for boys in Grades 4 to 9. An evening camp for boys and girls in Grades 10 to 12 will be held at UPEI August 29 to September 2. Day camps will run from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm daily. The evening camp will run 6:00 to 9:00 pm.

For more information contact George Morrison at 961-2420 or the UPEI Athletic Department at 566-0432.

The high quality of teaching at the University of Prince Edward Island has been recognized for the second time in two months. The Association of Atlantic Universities (AAU) has just selected Dr. Wendy Shilton, an Associate Professor in the UPEI Department of English, as the 2005 winner of the Anne Marie MacKinnon Instructional Leadership Award. This follows the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education announcement, in May, that named Chemistry Professor Brian Wagner as a national 3-M Award winner.

Dr. Shilton holds a PhD in English from the University of Toronto. She joined the faculty at UPEI in 1996. In addition to teaching courses in writing and English literature, she has spent the last seven years as coordinator, and champion, of the University Writing Council. The council works to ensure that "learning to write" and and#145;writing to learn" are top of mind for instructors and students in every department; from computer science, to music, to organic chemistry. She has also played a pivotal role in the establishment of an interdisciplinary Minor program in University Writing at UPEI.

"This award is a great honour, and it offers important validation of the efforts of many, not just one, in building a culture of critical literacy across campus," says Dr. Shilton. "UPEI has a long and unique history of commitment among Canadian universities toward developing the role of writing in the learning environment. This award recognizes the vision and dedication of that institutional leadership and promises lively, continued support for future innovation."

"UPEI is proud that the AAU has honoured Wendy Shilton with the Anne Marie MacKinnon Instructional Leadership Award," says Vianne Timmons, Vice-President of Academic Development. "It recognizes her professional and personal dedication to the highest standards of university teaching and celebrates her considerable ability to inspire both colleagues and students to share her vision."

Outreach to educators outside the UPEI campus has been an important part of Dr. Shilton's work. She has given numerous writing workshops to PEI high school instructors and has collaborated with the PEI Department of Education to foster a more seamless transition in language arts from high school to post-secondary programs. She is co-author of an interactive CD-ROM in basic writing skills for McGraw Hill, and she is currently working on a composition text, Cultures and Contexts: Writing for Intercultural Understanding, under negotiation with Nelson Canada. Her achievements will be recognized by the Association of Atlantic Universities at a ceremony in Newfoundland in September.

Twelve service and research projects that will benefit companion animals, horses, and wildlife recently received a total of $240,000 in funding through the Atlantic Veterinary College's (AVC) Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre (SJDAWC) at the University of Prince Edward Island. Since the Animal Welfare Centre was established in 1994, more than a hundred projects have together received more than $2 million.

"We are very grateful to the Friends of the Christofor Foundation for their ongoing support which has allowed us to reach this significant milestone," says Dr. Alice Crook, Coordinator of the SJDAWC. "This year the Centre has approved support for ten new exciting projects, and renewed funding for two highly successful service projectsand#151; the neutering of feral cats on PEI in cooperation with the PEI Cat Action Team and the AVC humane dog training programme with the PEI Humane Society."

This year's projects were deemed successful for funding through the SJDAWC's 2005 funding competition and will be carried out by AVC faculty and students. To date, approximately 85 faculty, 12 graduate students and hundreds of veterinary students have been involved in these projects.

The breakdown of projects funded through this year's competition is as follows:

and#149; Improving testing for platelet function in dogs (Dr. Shelley Burton)

and#149; Pedometer-based physical activity in dogs (Dr. Cathy Chan)

and#149; Fecal survey of parasites infecting humane society animals (Dr. Gary Conboy)

and#149; Stress reduction by environmental enrichment in shelter cats (Dr. Susan Dohoo)

and#149; Neutering feral cats on PEI (Dr. Peter Foley)

and#149; Chlamydial status of genital tracts of cats on Prince Edward Island (Dr. Les Gabor)

and#149; Comparing two treatments for epilepsy in dogs: graduate student funding (Dr. Cynthia Gaskill)

and#149; AVC humane dog training programme (Dr. Norma Guy)

and#149; Litterbox size preference of domestic cats (Dr. Norma Guy)

and#149; Improved pain control for surgery on the front leg of dogs (Dr. Kip Lemke)

and#149; A diagnostic test for French heartworm (Drs. Fred Markham and Gary Conboy)

and#149; Improved diagnosis in equine diarrhea (Dr. J McClure)

A backgrounder is attached with information on each project.

Originally established as the Animal Welfare Unit in 1994, the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre at the Atlantic Veterinary College, UPEI funds projects that will benefit companion animals, horses, and wildlife. For information on the Centre, visit the website at: www.upei.ca/awc

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Contacts:

Dr. Alice Crook, Coordinator, Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre (902) 628-4360

Lauranne MacNeill, External Relations, AVC (902) 566-0533

Backgrounder

Atlantic Veterinary College and#149; University of Prince Edward Island and#149; 550 University Avenue and#149; Charlottetown, PEI

Phone: (902) 566-0533 and#149; Fax: (902) 566-0958

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Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centreand#151;2005-funded Projects

Improving testing for platelet function in dogs (Dr Shelley Burton)

Dogs experience a variety of potentially fatal bleeding disorders. Some, such as von Willebrand's disease or disseminated intravascular coagulation, are due to alterations in platelets which are essential to normal blood clotting. Existing tests of platelet function are crude in nature and somewhat uncomfortable for patients, or require shipment to specialized laboratories, which is expensive and time-consuming. The situation has improved recently in human medicine with the development of a simple machine, the Platelet Function Analyzer (PFA)-100, that assesses the function of platelets through a measurement called closure time. The machine has been validated for use in dogs, and the AVC Diagnostic Services Laboratory has acquired a PFA-100. An objective of this project is to establish normal values for closure time in healthy dogs, prior to using it to assess platelet function in dogs with bleeding disorders. A second objective arises from a report that low red blood cell counts in anemic animals may interfere with the analyzer results. This project will also assess the red blood cell level below which a patient sample can no longer be reliably evaluated.

Pedometer-based physical activity in dogs (Dr. Cathy Chan)

Nearly half of pet dogs are overweight, but there has been little research done, outside of diet studies, to determine the best means of helping dogs to reach and then maintain a healthy weight. In people, an increase in physical activity is a crucial component of weight management. Dr. Chan's previous research has shown the use of pedometers, small devices that count steps taken, can help motivate people to increase their physical activity. The objective of this project is to determine if pedometer-based physical activity programmes can also motivate people to increase their dog's physical activity levels. Owners enrolled in the study will receive pedometers for themselves and their dogs.

Fecal survey of parasites infecting humane society animals (Dr. Gary Conboy)

Dogs and cats are susceptible to infection with a range of intestinal parasites, including worms and Giardia, a protozoan parasite. These can seriously affect the health of dogs and cats, and some, such as the roundworm Toxacara canis, and some strains of Giardia, can also infect people. This project will provide for fecal examination of all dogs coming to the PEI Humane Society to determine if the current parasite control programme is appropriate. It will also provide fecal examinations for all cats available for adoption. Another benefit of the project will be to furnish information about the parasites of greatest regional importance in PEI. Such information is necessary in order to design efficient and effective parasite control programmes and to determine whether drug manufacturers' recommendations for frequent dewormings are warranted or excessive. No survey of this type has ever been carried out on PEI and none in Atlantic Canada since 1986.

Stress reduction by environmental enrichment in shelter cats (Dr. Susan Dohoo)

Thousands of cats enter shelters in Canada each year. Initially, they are brought to a receiving and assessment area where they are vaccinated and held for several days. Some are claimed by their owners, some are euthanized, and as many as possible are moved into the adoption area of the shelter. Regardless of the fate of the cats, each is under stress in the strange new environment. It may be their first time in a cage; there are strange sights, sounds and smells of other animals; and unfamiliar humans caring for them. Stressed cats are at increased risk of disease and may be difficult to handle which lessons their chances of adoption. Cats offered places to hide within their cages generally have reduced anxiety and fear. The BC SPCA has developed "hide and perch" boxes which give cats a place to hide or an elevated spot for resting, within their cage. These boxes are becoming more widely used by humane societies. However, the boxes are generally too big for the cages in the initial receiving area.

Working with the PEI Humane Society, Dr. Dohoo will assess a simple method to provide cats in these smaller cages a place to hide by placing a curtain over half of the door. This allows anxious cats the choice of hiding behind the curtain. Using various objective observations, the stress levels will be compared between cats in the modified cages, and those in unmodified cages. If the curtain reduces stress, this will provide a simple, cheap and effective way to improve emotional well-being and reduce the risk of infectious disease for large numbers of shelter cats.

Neutering feral cats on PEI ( Dr. Peter Foley)

Most communities have populations of feral cats in their midst, that are a source of concern to community members, veterinarians, and animal control agencies. These semi-wild cats are the offspring of stray or abandoned animals. These cats are often unhealthy, with a significantly reduced lifespan due to illness and injury, mostly related to uncontrolled reproduction. An alternative to euthanasia of these cats is a "trap, neuter and release" programme. These programmes are being carried out in many areas of North America, and result in cat populations that are more stable (zero to low birth rate) and healthier (tested, vaccinated, and with reduced fighting associated with mating behaviour).

Such a programme was established through the SJDAWC at AVC in 2001, in cooperation with the PEI Cat Action Team (CAT) and the Town Council of North Rustico. Bi-monthly neuter Saturdays are held at the AVC, wherein cats are trapped and brought in by CAT; anesthetized, tested for two common serious infectious diseases, vaccinated, neutered, and tattooed for identification; and, after recovery from anesthesia and surgery, released by CAT members back to the original area. The veterinary services are provided voluntarily by AVC students, staff, and faculty. Since 2001, over 1400 feral cats have been neutered through the efforts of CAT, over 600 of them though this project. The most recent renewal of funding will continue to support bi-monthly neuter days over the next two years, to neuter approximately 30 cats on each occasion.

In a separate project funded though the SJDAWC by the Pegasus Family Foundation, a further 300 feral cats were neutered at AVC during 2004. Additional feral cats are neutered at participating Island veterinary clinics with funds privately raised by CAT. Continuing this neuter programme is beneficial to the individual cats by decreasing fighting and preventing the spread of disease. The programme is also decreasing the proportion of reproducing feral cats on PEI, with the ultimate goal of achieving negative population growth.

Chlamydial status of genital tracts of cats on Prince Edward Island (Dr. Les Gabor)

Chlamydia is a common cause of upper respiratory disease and eye infections in cats, and can progress to pneumonia. It has been speculated that persistent infection in the genital tract is one of the main routes of infection for the general cat population, particularly for kittens, and may be a major cause of infertility in breeding catteries as well as wild populations. In humans and in koalas with chlamydiosis, genital persistence occurs, and may be both a major route of infection and a reservoir for infection.

Through this project, in cooperation with the feral cat neutering project, the genital tracts removed during neutering of female cats will be examined and tested for Chlamydia using a new diagnostic procedure (polymerase chain reaction testing). This study will determine whether Chlamydia is present in PEI's cat population, by determining if genital persistence occurs. Dr. Gabor will also catalogue the general genital health of feral cats at the time of neutering and correlate that with the presence or absence of Chlamydia.

Comparing two treatments for epilepsy in dogs (Dr. Cynthia Gaskill)

Epilepsy is a fairly common condition in dogs. Most dogs can not be cured, but with appropriate therapy, seizures can be satisfactorily controlled in 70 to 80 per cent of epileptic dogs. Phenobarbital and potassium bromide are the anticonvulsant drugs most commonly used, either alone or in combination. Until recently, phenobarbital was considered the drug of choice. However, the use of this drug sometimes causes serious liver damage. To avoid this, potassium bromide is being recommended more and more as the first line treatment for epilepsy. This increased usage of potassium bromide is occurring despite a lack of studies to determine its safety and effectiveness.

In this study, originally funded in 2003, Dr. Gaskill monitors epileptic dogs treated with phenobarbital or potassium bromide, to compare the safety and effectiveness of these two drugs to develop more appropriate recommendations for treatment. The additional funding in 2005 will provide support for a graduate student to carry out various aspects of the project, completion of which is expected in spring 2007.

AVC humane dog training programme (Dr. Norma Guy)

Funding has been renewed for two years for this programme, initially funded by the SJDAWC in 2001. Through this project, a well-established component of the daily activities at the PEI Humane Society (PEIHS), veterinary students with an interest in shelter issues and dog training are employed to work at the PEIHS on a full-time basis during the summer months and a part-time basis during the school year. The students' responsibilities are primarily for the social enrichment and training of the dogs on the adoption floor using only positive reinforcement (clicker training). This contact helps reduce anxiety in the dogs, while they learn behaviours that can make them more appealing to potential adopters. The students' secondary responsibilities include interacting with, and educating, potential adopters and other visitors, and assisting the shelter manager in the management and evaluation of some of the dogs that are brought to the shelter. The students themselves gain hands-on knowledge of shelter issues, as well as experience working with shelter dogs and their new owners, which will serve them well as veterinarians advising clients on pet behaviour.

Litterbox size preference of domestic cats (Dr. Norma Guy)

Inappropriate elimination, or failure to use a litterbox, is one of the most commonly reported behaviour problems in cats. It is a frequent reason for relinquishment of cats to shelters, abandonment of cats, and euthanasia. Owners and veterinarians alike express frustration in the management of this problem. Most cats with inappropriate elimination are apparently normal on physical examination and diagnostic testing. Many treatments are used, sometimes including anti-anxiety medication.

It is believed that the most common reason for a cat to fail to use a litterbox is that it is in some way considered to be inadequate by the cat. The significance of the level of litterbox cleanliness, for example, is well-recognized. Yet the normal preferences for cats for an elimination area remain poorly described. Experience with cases referred to the AVC has indicated that markedly increasing litterbox size can have a dramatic and immediate positive effect on litterbox use. This project is a trial to determine whether indoor cats show a significant preference for a larger litterbox, as compared to the area provided by commercially available litterboxes. Given the high frequency of this behaviour problem, and the significant outcome for the cats and their owners, this project has the potential to identify a simple and effective component of the successful treatment and prevention of inappropriate elimination in cats.

Improved pain control for surgery on the front leg of dogs (Dr. Kip Lemke)

Regional nerve blocks are used to reduce requirements for general anesthetics and improve heart and lung function during surgery and to reduce postoperative pain and stress after surgery. Injection of local anesthetics blocks sensation to the part of the body that will be operated upon, which reduces the need for other anesthetic and analgesic (pain-relieving) drugs.

In veterinary medicine, effective regional anesthetic techniques are used for surgical procedures of the head, chest, abdomen, and hind limb, but a reliable technique for procedures of the front limb has not been developed. A new paravertebral regional technique has been developed at the AVC that addresses the deficiencies of previous techniques. This study will compare traditional therapy (general anesthetics with opioids) to a combined anesthetic technique (general anesthetics with opioids and paravertebral blockade) in dogs undergoing surgery of the front limb. The objectives are to look at the effects of the paravertebral blockade on intraoperative anesthetic requirements and cardiopulmonary function, postoperative pain, stress responses, and platelet function. The ultimate goal is to improve pain management and reduce perioperative complications in dogs undergoing front limb surgeries.

A diagnostic test for French heartworm (Drs. Fred Markham and Gary Conboy )

French heartworm (Angiostrongylus vasorum) is a parasite, a roundworm, which infects the blood vessels in the lungs and heart of dogs and red foxes. It causes serious disease and death, through damage to the heart and lungs and potentially other organs. The main sign of infection is a chronic cough, for which there are also many other causes, and eventually, heart failure. The parasite was first diagnosed in Newfoundland in 1996 and has not yet been found in other regions of Atlantic Canada, but given the frequency and speed of travel between Newfoundland and other areas, and the abundance of red foxes and slugs, the intermediate host, in the rest of Atlantic Canada, it seems likely the parasite will spread.

Standard stool tests for parasites do not always detect French heartworm larvae, leaving some dogs undiagnosed. In a previous SJDAWC-funded project, Drs. Markham, Conboy, Miller, and Vezburger developed a blood test to detect Angiostrongylus worm antigensand#151;proteins excreted by the wormsand#151;in the blood of infected dogs. This test shows great promise in detecting infection sooner and in dogs not shedding larvae, before damage has already occurred to the heart and lungs, which would greatly improve the chances for a complete recovery.

One goal of this project is to further refine the test by purifying the antigen and obtaining a continued supply of specific test reagents. The second purpose is to screen dogs at a Newfoundland clinic including apparently healthy dogs, those with signs suggestive of Angiostrongylus infection, and hunting dogs to confirm the accuracy of the test, compare it to newer versions of the test, and to determine the general prevalence of infection in this area.

Improved diagnosis in equine diarrhea (Dr. J McClure)

Acute diarrhea is a life-threatening and costly disease in horses. The three most common infectious causes are bacteriaand#151;Salmonella, Neorickettsia risticii, and Clostridium difficile. Clinically speaking, these three bacteria cause similar illnesses, but the appropriate antibiotic therapy differs amongst them. To reduce mortality and the duration of illness, it is important to start appropriate antibiotics early, and yet current diagnostic tests for these diseases require three to five days, or longer, before the results are available.

Real-Time PCR has promise as a diagnostic test because it can give rapid and reliable same-day results at an affordable cost. Real-Time PCR tests have been developed for Salmonella and Neorickettsia risticii in horses, but not for Clostridium difficile. This project is a pilot study to determine if, as anticipated, a Real-Time PCR assay developed for the identification of Clostridium difficile in people will work in horses affected with the same bacterium. If the project is successful, the next step will be to develop a Real-Time PCR test that can detect all three bacteria, if present, from one fecal sample. Having a reliable rapid test for these common pathogens will greatly improve the ability to diagnose and treat horses with acute diarrhea in a timely manner, thereby reducing the duration and severity of their illness.

Charlottetown - The Board of Governors of St. Dunstan's University (SDU), one of the University of Prince Edward Island's two founding institutions, has strengthened its longstanding commitment to enable PEI students to explore catholic beliefs and teachings within a rigorous academic environment. The SDU Board will contribute approximately $1.37 million over the next five years to the new Centre for Christianity and Culture recently established at UPEI, and to assist more Island students to pursue their post-secondary education.

The announcement was made recently by George Morrison, Chair of the SDU Board, as St. Dunstan's alumni prepared to attend their 21st annual homecoming celebrations at UPEI.

"The mandate of the SDU Board is to support and promote Roman Catholic Higher Education in its various forms. We are extremely pleased to be able to bring this mandate to a new level through the cooperation that we have received from UPEI , in particular Dr. Velaidum and the Centre for Christianity and Culture," said Morrison

The Centre for Christianity and Culture is a research and study centre focusing on Christianity's impact and perspective on the intellectual and cultural life of Western civilization. The Centre coordinates various academic and community initiatives including: a new minor degree in Catholic Studies beginning at UPEI in September; a Christianity and Culture minor proposed for 2006; lectures, public discussions, and conferences on science and religion, ethics, politics, and current events.

"The Centre for Christianity and Culture is a significant event for both UPEI and the wider PEI community. Christianity continues to shape not only world politics and economics, but also the intellectual and cultural life of our society, and the personal lives of over 2 billion people," said Joe Velaidum, Founding Director of the Centre. "UPEI is now poised to be a significant international centre for the study of this global religion on world events, intellectual thought and the way people actually live."

For many years the SDU Board has supported bursaries for deserving Catholic students to attend any post-secondary institution in Canada. Beginning this year, it will fund up to three new $5000 scholarships for full-time students entering UPEI. They will be renewable for up to three years. The Board will also introduce up to three additional $5000 scholarships annually, to a maximum of 12 across four years of study. The new scholarships will be made available to PEI high school graduates, with a grade average of over 85%, who are active in their church and who are participating in the new Catholic Studies minor program.

"This donation from the St. Dunstan's University Board constitutes a most significant investment in post-secondary education in Prince Edward Island. In building a legacy of education and cultural identity for our province today, every dollar counts, and support of this magnitude counts for a lot," said UPEI Dean of Arts, Richard Kurial.

The new SDU scholarships are adjudicated by a special committee of the SDU Board. They will begin in September. More information is available by contacting the Board office at 629-1599. Information about the Centre for Christianity and Culture is available at 566-0444 or jvelaidum@upei.ca.

The Atlantic Canada Network on Bioactive Compounds (ACNBC), a regional coalition based within the Faculty of Science at UPEI, hosted an information workshop on the health benefits of natural products on August 22 in the W.A. Murphy Student Centre, UPEI campus. It was sponsored by the Natural Health Products Directorate, a division of Health Canada.

The purpose of this one-day event was to create an opportunity for health practitioners to discuss natural health products, their uses, and the scope of the research being carried out in our region. The morning focussed on presentations from manufacturers and researchers who are currently involved in projects aimed at discovering and commercializing the health benefits of these products.

One of the participants was Dr. Carolanne Nelson from the Department of Family and Nutritional Sciences at UPEI, who is one of the key collaborators in ACNBC research projects. ACNBC specifically investigates wild blueberries and rosehips, both of which grow throughout Atlantic Canada.

There is increasing recognition that natural health products may play a role in disease prevention and treatment. More and more people are choosing to use these products as part of their daily health regime. Current research is investigating why and how natural remedies appear to be helpful. For example, one of the projects that ACNBC researchers have targeted is the effect of blueberries in improving cardio-vascular disease.

Other visiting speakers included Dr. Jeffrey Zidichouski from the NRC Institute of Nutrisciences and Health, and Connie Kehler, Executive Director of the Canadian Herb, Spice, and Natural Products Coalition based in Saskatchewan. Annette Daley, Director of the Health Products and Food Branch of Health Canada spoke about the regulations in Canada pertaining to natural health products.

The afternoon consisted of informal discussions about the continuing need for information on natural health products and how that information can be accessed. Dr. Roger Gordon, Chair of ACNBC, welcomed the opportunity to establish a dialogue among the key members of the natural products field. "Consumers and health practitioners are demanding more information that has scientific rigour to substantiate health claims. The objective of this workshop was to further the discussion in our region"

More information about ACBNC can be found on their website at www.upei.ca/acnbc.

Wayne MacKinnon, a political studies lecturer at UPEI, has just released a book about the legacy of PEI's longest serving Premier. It was 40 years ago this fall that Alex B. Campbell, a young political rookie from Summerside, announced his intention to seek the leadership of the Liberal Party of Prince Edward Island. He was just 31 years old, and had been elected to the Legislature in a by-election six months earlier. Despite his young age and lack of political experience, he won the leadership and went on, the following year, to lead the party to victory in a general election.

Campbell led the province through major social and economic changes. Under his leadership, the 1960s and 70s became one of the liveliest political eras in the province's history. The book's title, Between Two Cultures, refers to the tumultuous changes taking place during that time. As stated in the prologue, it was both the end of an era and the beginning of an era. The last vestiges of the old order were being eroded, and the province faced a new and uncertain future with the inception of the Comprehensive Development Plan. Debates over the future of the family farm, industrial development, school consolidation, land use and public participation dominated the political agenda.

MacKinnon is the author of numerous publications, including The Life of the Party, a history of the Liberal Party of Prince Edward Island. Between Two Cultures was published by Tea Hill Press and is being distributed by Tangle Lane.

Dr. Vianne Timmons, Vice-President of Academic Development, is pleased to announce that Barb Campbell is the new Director of the Webster Centre for Teaching and Learning and the Faculty Development Office. Barb is an Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing. She was a nurse for 25 years before coming to UPEI in 1999. She has served as chair of the National Registered Nurses Exam, as a member of the Children's Health and Applied Research Team (CHART), and a member of the UPEI Honorary Degree and Hessian Award committees. Her areas of research are in knowledge translation, participatory action research, children's health, and immigrant health.

Over the past six years she has taught nursing courses in Ethics, Issues, Leadership, Population Health, and Advanced Practice. "Barb Campbell's teaching style, based on the Freirean principle of partnership, affirms the mutual and collaborative roles of teachers and learners. I am confident that she will be a great asset to the University in her new role," says Dr. Timmons.

Campbell aims to raise the profile of the Webster Centre by assisting faculty to become better teachers and students to become better learners. "Considering the costs involved for one to attend university, it is critical that we, as faculty, not only deliver a high standard of curriculum but that we do it with passion and commitment," she says.

Premier Pat Binns was on campus today for his annual participation in the kick-off of Shinerama. The Premier was joined by a large contingent of UPEI students in support of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

At the event, Binns praised the students who have committed time and effort to shining shoes for a donation for CF research. "Your participation demonstrates the commitment of each and every one of you to volunteer and help build a better future for those who are living with cystic fibrosis," said the Premier.

UPEI will join another 60 universities across Canada to support researchers who are targeting a cure for CF. The Premier noted that the UPEI community has always been a strong participant in the Shinerama campaign.

"The fight against cystic fibrosis depends upon public support to carry out its life-saving programs. The generosity of donors has enabled scientists to identify the gene that causes CF, to correct defective CF cells in laboratory dishes, and much more," said Premier Binns.

Shinerama makes a significant contribution to advancing the research agenda. However, as important is the campaign's ability to promote and increase awareness about cystic fibrosis is the opportunity it affords students to kick-off the school year with some fun and comradery.

In recognition the Premier mandated September 6, 2005 as Shinerama Day with a declaration.

The University of Prince Edward Island is rolling out the welcome mat for students who have been displaced by the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. "At this time of need we all have to help out in whatever ways we can," says UPEI President Wade MacLauchlan. "These students have had their lives disrupted enough in the past week; we want to ensure that they don't lose their academic year too."

UPEI has made available an unlimited number of openings in its undergraduate and graduate programs for students who may wish to transfer. And while international student fees will still apply, the University is providing the Katrina-displaced students with access to a special bursary which can offset the cost of tuition. Students would also be eligible to apply for any of UPEI's existing scholarships and bursaries.

In order to accommodate students from the storm area, UPEI is holding open its late registration option to ensure that they are able to get into the classes they need. The University is also opening up its residences to students and families who have been displaced by the storm.

"We can re-configure our residence halls to accommodate additional students, and we also have access to several of townhouses at Brown's Court which would be suitable for families," says Director of Residence Services, Marc Braithwaite.

"We would be very pleased to have students from the New Orleans area join us here at UPEI," President MacLauchlan says. "It would be an excellent opportunity for us to show our legendary Island hospitality and to welcome students who would make a valuable contribution to the intellectual and cultural life of our campus."

President MacLauchlan added that UPEI would be pleased to consider partnering with interested community organizations who wish to assist hurricane-affected students to attend UPEI.

The students, faculty and staff at AVC have established a Hurricane Katrina Relief donations table in the lobby of AVC. To aid the humanitarian effort, donations are being accepted on behalf of the Red Cross. The School of Veterinary Medicine at Louisiana State University (LSU) has asked AVC to assist it in its efforts to provide relief and care to the many animals that are ill, injured or stranded. AVC Dean Dr. Tim Ogilvie has responded positively and AVC is accepting financial donations that will be sent to LSU. "Assisting with this worthy and pressing cause is well within the mandate for outreach in the interest of animal welfare that is the mission of the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre," said Dr. Ogilvie.

Anyone can make a donation to either or both relief efforts by visiting AVC or by calling UPEI Advancement Services at (902) 566-0615 (Visa or Mastercard accepted.) UPEI will issue tax deductible receipts for all donations over $10 to support the animal relief effort. Humanitarian contributions will be payable to and processed by the Red Cross.

Anyone interested in more information on UPEI's efforts to assist students from the New Orleans area, or any organization interested in working in cooperation with UPEI, should contact the university communications office at 566-0760.