A Magnificent Gift Declined, published by the Institute of Island Studies last fall, has won the prestigious Publication of the Year Award for 2009 from the PEI Museum & Heritage Foundation.

The award was shared with the book's author, Leonard Cusack, and presented at the annual Heritage Awards evening held recently in Summerside. The award recognizes an outstanding contribution to the preservation of the heritage of Prince Edward Island.

A Magnificent Gift Declined is the story of PEI's first hospital for treating tuberculosis, built in 1913 by Charles Dalton with his own money, and on his own land in Emyvale. He donated the state-of-the-art Dalton Sanatorium to the province of PEI to run but it was later expanded by the federal government to accommodate 75 beds for soldiers returning from WWI.

In 1923, only ten years after it was begun, the Dalton Sanatorium for the treatment of tuberculosis was totally demolished without a whimper despite PEI being in the midst of a severe TB epidemic. This book is the story of the provincial and federal political manoeuvrings which caused that to happen.

Described by historian Francis Bolger as "a wonderful read", and including a foreword by folklorist John Cousins, the well-crafted 168-page paperback contains many archival photos and a bibliography.

A Magnificent Gift Declined is available through Island Studies Press, the publishing arm of the Institute of Island Studies, at a cost of $29.95. Contact Joan Sinclair at (902) 566-0386 or e-mail: ispstaff@groupwise.upei.ca.

Tonight's presentation at UPEI by Monique Collette, President of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), has been postponed. Further details will be announced at a later date.

In the spring of 2009, at the request of the Clerk of the Privy Council, Ms. Collette conducted a one-person task force to explore ideas and practical approaches that were having a positive impact on the workplace environment and the effectiveness of the public service of Canada. She met with public servants from various departments and agencies in all regions of the country. It gave her an opportunity to hear employees speak with passion and commitment about the kind of public service in which they want to work and what they are doing to create that workplace.

In her presentation, Ms. Collette shares stories drawn from those consultations, and outlines insights and lessons learned that are valuable to all leaders who wish to spark passion and purpose in their workplaces.

This session is jointly sponsored by ACOA, UPEI, and the Centre for Spirituality and the Workplace at Saint Mary's University. Parking is available in the lots immediately to the north of the KCI. For more information, contact Ken DesRoches at kdesroches@upei.ca.

Darryl McDaniel, president and owner of U&Me Marketing Inc., will be the guest speaker at the UPEI Business Society's 33rd annual luncheon on Friday, March 5.

The luncheon will take place at the Delta Prince Edward Hotel, starting with a reception at 11 a.m. Tickets are $55 per person. Tables of eight or ten can also be purchased.

McDaniel will talk about understanding consumers, where they shop, and delivering what they want.

McDaniel has been on the cutting edge of category development throughout his career. Starting in an entrepreneurial family with a Pepsi franchise, he was one of the first marketers to working on launching the bottled water category in Canada. Working for Danone, he soon realized that consumers want to be connected with a brand.

His latest venture is U&Me Marketing, a system designed to extend brands into new markets where they can benefit from exposure. Some of the companies he works with are Mattel, Topps Corporation, 4kids Entertainment and Red Nose Brands.

For information or tickets, please contact the UPEI Business Society at (902) 566-0407 or upeibusinesssociety@gmail.com by March 1. People who have extra seats at their tables may donate them to business students who will join them for the luncheon.

The Tourism Research Centre in the School of Business at UPEI has released its fifteenth and final report based on the results for the 2007-2008 visitor exit survey. This report gives an overall snapshot of PEI's visitors segmented in a variety of ways and summarizes the findings of the previous reports.

'The exit survey provides a wealth of information for government and tourism operators,' stated Dr. Sean Hennessey, Faculty Director of the Tourism Research Centre. 'The survey was designed to be comprehensive enough to gather an incredible amount of information without being overwhelming to the visitor. This report was designed to present the results of the exit survey in numerous figures and tables, and allows the reader to gain a solid understanding of PEI's visitors in a relatively short time.'

Exit surveys are large projects that are generally completed only every four years or so. The 2007-2008 exit survey has created a benchmark to which future survey results can be compared. The survey provided visitors with a relatively easy means to provide feedback to Tourism PEI and the industry.

The report emphasizes the importance of the neighbouring provinces, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, and travel parties who come to visit family and friends. 'Almost 65 percent of PEI's travel parties come from New Brunswick or Nova Scotia, and half of those travel parties visit family or friends while here,' says Dr. Hennessey. 'Likewise, when segmenting our market by their primary activities, we find 37 percent of travel parties coming to PEI could be classified as a ‘visiting friends and family' segment.'

The report summarizes the findings by origin, first-time and repeat travel parties, entry-exit point (bridge, ferry, airport), party composition (e.g., families, couples, seniors), spending levels, activities, and accommodation type used.

Of the 1.2 million visitors, 1.05 million were overnight pleasure travellers. July and August alone accounted for 51 percent of all visitors to PEI. The total direct expenditures by overnight pleasure travel parties for the full survey period was $314.6 million. Almost 80 percent of the 366,300 overnight pleasure travel parties had been to PEI before. Unlike repeat travel parties, first-time travel parties tended to stay for a shorter period; spend more; stay in hotels, motels or resorts, or inns, B&Bs or tourist homes; and overnight in Charlottetown.

Those visiting can be divided into four types of travel parties. At 30 percent each, families and seniors groups accounted for the largest percentage of travel parties. Two adults (excluding senior couples) made up 25 percent of travel parties, and other travel parties, such as single travellers, groups of three or more adults, and children only, made up 15 percent.

Average spending per party per night was segmented into four levels of spending on a per party per night basis: very low (21 percent spent less than $100 per party per night);below average (41 percent spent between $100-$250); average (27 percent spent between $250-$450); and high (11 percent spent $450 or more). Very-low and below-average spending travel parties tended to be older couples from the two other Maritime provinces who made frequent visits to PEI. High expenditure travel parties consisted of people taking a quick tour of PEI. Their stays were short, and they spent fewer of their travel nights in PEI. They were the most likely to visit in the main season (54.2 percent) and the fall shoulder season (20.9 percent).

Of the total nights stayed in PEI, 26 percent were spent in a cottage or cabin, and 24 percent were spent with friends or relatives. Although many were open year round, only 17 percent of the nights visitors spent in PEI were at hotels, motels or resorts. About 16 percent of nights were spent at camping or trailer parks, and seven percent at inns, B&Bs or tourist homes. Travel parties staying at two or more types of accommodations accounted for eight percent of the nights spent in PEI. The average length of stays in cottages or cabins, camping or trailer parks, and at the homes of friends or relatives were longer than stays in hotels, motels or resorts, or inns or B&Bs or tourist homes.

Charlottetown and Anne's Land were the two most popular regions for overnight stays. About 36 percent of travel parties stayed at least one night in Charlottetown. Twenty-seven percent stayed at least one night in Anne's Land, and 10 percent stayed at least one night in the Points East Coastal region. Stays in some regions were longer than in others, so Anne's Land accounted for 33 percent of all nights spent in PEI while Charlottetown accounted for 27 percent of total nights.

This report is based on exit survey data collected from July 1, 2007, through June 30, 2008. It is available on the exit survey section of the TRC's website. More information about the report can be obtained from the Tourism Research Centre, School of Business, University of PEI, at (902) 566-6096 or trc@upei.ca.

At March's Research on Tap, join a UPEI chemist who will defend both the honour of his profession, and the much-maligned so-called enemy of the environment: plastic. The discussion starts at 7 p.m., March 9, in the bar at Mavor's in the Confederation Centre of the Arts.

Dr. Michael Shaver is an assistant professor of chemistry with a focus on 'green' chemistry. His lab is developing biodegradable, plant-based polymers to replace conventional plastic.

'There are bad plastics out there,' argues Shaver. 'But the benefits of using plastic-the right plastics-can't be ignored.'

Shaver will also help dispel misconceptions people have about his chosen profession.

'Chemists take their name from ‘alchemy,' so we're partially to blame,' says Shaver. 'People consider chemistry to be a mysterious black art. But we're working to change that image.'

Research on Tap is a series of public discussions with UPEI's researchers in a comfortable environment. Every month of the winter we bring a UPEI researcher to a local pub-in this case, Mavor's-to discuss his or her area of expertise.

For more information, call (902) 620-5117, or e-mail datkinson@upei.ca.

Research on Tap is presented by UPEI's Office of Research Development.

The UPEI Career Showcase and Job Fair will take place on March 10, 2010, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the W.A. Murphy Student Centre on the campus.

'This is an excellent opportunity for students and graduates seeking employment to meet with varying industry and company representatives looking to recruit employees,' says Kylah Hennessey, a career counsellor with UPEI's department of student services.

New this year, with sponsorship from PEI Works, is a showcase that will feature people from a wide variety of professions who will talk to participants about their careers. Professions represented will range from accounting and broadcast journalism to the RCMP and nursing.

As well, 18 private companies and public organizations will be recruiting during the event. These include Veterans Affairs Canada, PEI Department of Tourism and Culture, Cogsdale Corporation, Skills PEI and more.

During the fair, there will be a chance for attendees to win some great prizes, including an iPod Touch and a netbook with case. People attending the fair can park without charge in the MacLauchlan/Cari parking lot, and free snacks will be provided.

The job fair is just one of the services offered to students by UPEI's Career Services Centre to help them relate their skills, and interests to career options. Other services include individual career counselling, assessments, presentations, mock interviews and access to resources.

For detailed information about this event, please visit the UPEI Career Showcase and Job Fair website or contact the Career Services Centre at (902) 566-0488.

Graduation is almost here! In just 58 short days, the Class of 2010 will graduate and join the ranks of over 19,000 UPEI Alumni!

The UPEI Alumni Association invites the Class of 2010 to a Countdown to Convocation event on Thursday, March 11, at the W.A. Murphy Student Centre, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Find out what you need to know about graduation and after graduation! Order your degree frame. Participate in draws for great prizes, including a Wii. And enjoy free pizza.

For more information, contact the UPEI Alumni Office at 566-0687 or visit us in Main Building 212.

On March 16, the University of Prince Edward Island's Institute of Island Studies and MP Shawn Murphy will co-host Challenges and Opportunities: the next 25 years, a public event to engage Islanders to join the process of planning for the Island's future.

This event will take place at 6:30 p.m. at the Carrefour de l'Isle-Saint-Jean (5 Acadian Drive, Charlottetown).

A panel of local and regional speakers will identify current strengths and future opportunities for building a more vibrant, progressive and sustainable Island society.

'To get there from here involves coming to grips with some serious challenges,' warns Dr. Irene Novaczek, the director of the Institute of Island Studies, 'But we also have enviable human, cultural and natural resources that will help us redefine the future and its challenges, while still capitalizing on emerging opportunities.'

Discussions will focus on the economy, the environment, health, education, arts and culture. Taking into consideration some of the unique challenges we face on P.E.I., including fiscal constraints, an ageing population, and climate change.

Speakers include:

• Blake Doyle, economy
• Joanne MacDonald, life long learning
• Dr. Noni MacDonald, e-health
• Wendy MacDonald, demographic challenges
• Todd Maclean, culture and community
• Christina Macleod, climate change
• Shawn Murphy MP, fiscal challenges
• Dr. Irene Novaczek, environmental challenges

Forum participants will have an opportunity to work in small groups, discuss these themes and report back with key ideas that will help to move the Island forward.

'This is a first step, a call to action, where we can all participate in the conversation about where we want to be in the future,' notes Charlottetown MP Shawn Murphy. ' I believe there are a number of issues that do require a public discussion.'

For more information, please contact: Dianne Porter at (902) 892-4923 or porter@pei.sympatico.ca.

The Robertson Library at UPEI will be the site of a unique musical 'informance' on Tuesday, March 16. Cellist Julia MacLaine, violinist Jennifer Curtis, and violist Margaret Dyer will perform a lunchtime concert and chat with the audience in the library foyer from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

This event is free, and everyone is welcome to attend.

MacLaine, daughter of Dr. Brent MacLaine, chair of the UPEI English department, is one of today's prominent cellists. Critics have consistently singled her out for her rich tone, sweet, throbbing vibrato, and superb playing. She has performed at Carnegie Hall as a member of Ensemble ACJW and as a soloist and chamber musician throughout Europe, North and South America, and Iceland. She is a member of The Knights Chamber Orchestra, The Beauséjour Trio, Troika, Tres Americas Project, and Pangea. With her duo partner, Ilya Kazantsev, she won a first prize in the Chamber Music Foundation of New England's 2008 International Chamber Music Ensemble Competition. She studied with Antonio Lysy at McGill University, and with Timothy Eddy at The Juilliard School and the Mannes College of Music.

A winner of Astral's 2006 National Auditions, Curtis is also the recipient of the inaugural Milka/Astral violin prize, designated for a violinist invited to join the Astral Artists roster. Noted for her dynamic performances, she appears regularly as a featured soloist and collaborative chamber musician across the U.S. and abroad. She is also an accomplished composer; her works have been performed in New York City, Italy's Spoleto Festival, and the Verbier Festival de Musique in Switzerland, among others. She is the founder and director of the Tres Americas Project, a non-profit, community-focused exploration of the musical traditions of the Americas. Curtis holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Mills College in California and a Master of Music degree from The Juilliard School.

Dyer has charmed audiences worldwide as a chamber musician and soloist in New York City's Merkin Hall, Carnegie Hall, Jordan Hall in Boston, numerous venues in Europe, Mexico, and along the Amazon River in Peru. She is a founding member of the self-conducted string orchestra, A Far Cry, acclaimed by the Boston Globe as 'one of Boston's most promising classical music groups.' She has performed with musical personalities such as Roger Tapping, Markus Schirmer and Gil Kalish, and recorded with several non-classical artists, including Humanwine, Grizzly Bear, the Monolith and David Saw. An award-winning musician, she holds a bachelor's degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and a master's degree with academic distinction and graduate diploma from the New England Conservatory.

For information, contact Suzanne Jones, Robertson Library, at (902) 566-0393 or sjones@upei.ca