Public-and-private sector leaders from across the country will gather at UPEI this week for a discussion about policy and practice with regards to immigration in Canada. The third annual Palmer Conference on Public Sector Leadership meets August 15 and 16.

The Palmer Conference is named in honour of public-policy advocate James S. Palmer, a prominent Calgary-based lawyer of the firm Burnet, Duckworth, and Palmer, and native Prince Edward Islander. The Palmer Conference gathers the finest minds in the country to discuss issues of high priority to the public sector and to Canada. This year's theme is 'Canada as a Leader in Immigration Policy and Practice.'

The conference's keynote speaker, Naheed Nenshi, mayor of Calgary, will address the conference on Wednesday evening. His talk, designed to engage conference participants and inspire the two-day dialogue, is entitled 'The Promise of Diversity in Canada' and will reflect his experience as both a child of immigrants and the mayor of an increasingly diverse city. He will discuss the value of smart immigration that considers the people our cities need, the programs that will help, and the policy that will reflect the best interest of all Canadians.

The conference continues on Thursday with three high-level panel discussions on different issues of immigration policy. Jane Taber, political journalist with The Globe and Mail, will moderate a discussion entitled 'Lessons Learned from Provincial/Regional/Municipal Programs.' Natasha Fatah, journalist with CBC and former host of the program, Promised Land, will moderate a discussion on 'Integration and Settlement, Economic and Social.' Monique Collette, former president of ACOA and senior advisor of the Privy Council Office, will moderate a discussion on 'Challenges and Rewards for Public Servants Working in Immigration.'

Conference Chair Wade MacLauchlan, former president of the University of Prince Edward Island, said the Palmer Conference is leading the discourse on issues of public sector leadership in Canada. 'The Palmer Conference is the home of big ideas, but it's also a forum for turning those ideas into big action,' said MacLauchlan. 'At the inaugural conference in 2010, we discussed public servants and their relationship with both politicians and the media; in 2011, the Palmer Conference theme was a Canadian energy strategy. This year, you see some of the brightest minds in the country coming together to discuss Canada's leadership in immigration policy and practice.'

The conference agenda is designed to encourage engaged dialogue and to reflect a diversity of opinion. For more information, visit palmerconference.ca.

About the Palmer Conference

The UPEI Sports Hall of Fame committee is pleased to announce that it will induct UPEI basketball star Jennifer Moore (née Johnston), and UPEI's football defensive star Hubert 'Socky' MacDonald on Thursday, October 11, during the UPEI Sport Legacy Dinner.

Johnston played basketball at UPEI for five years and is one of only three female basketball Panthers to be named an AUS MVP, others include Paula Edwards and Janet Nichols. Johnston was a three-time AUS all-star, and in 1998-99, was named a second-team CIS All-Canadian. She played a key role in the Panthers winning the AUS championship in 1997-98.

MacDonald was a football standout, playing five years for the Panthers and winning awards for each of those years. In 1975-76, he was named Rookie of the Year, followed by being named all-conference defensive back for the next three consecutive years. In 1979-80, he finished his football career at UPEI and was recognized as the University's Male Athlete of the Year.

The 2012 UPEI Sports Hall of Fame induction will form part of the annual Sports Legacy Dinner where Academic All-Canadians from the last varsity season and named award winners are also celebrated. The dinner takes place on Thursday, October 11, in the W.A. Murphy Student Centre's McMillan Hall. Tickets for this year's celebration are available for purchase by the general public for $75 each by contacting UPEI Athletics and Recreation at (902) 566-0432. A tax receipt will be issued for the non-meal portion, and all proceeds from the event will go towards the Panther Endowment Fund.

The UPEI Sports Hall of Fame was founded in 2001 to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the athletic programs at the University of Prince Edward Island, St. Dunstan's University, or Prince of Wales College. Each year, individual athletes, teams, and builders are inducted to honour their contributions towards the University's athletic success or community leadership. Those who have been inducted to date are:

Curtis Robinson, Glen Miller, Tracy McGee, Dick Tingley, Dr. William 'Bill' Stanish, Janet Rogers, UPEI Men's Basketball 1985-1986, Dr. Frank Garrity, Dr. Kathie McNally, Richard Little, 1983 UPEI Men's Soccer Panthers, Brian Chandler, Dave Shellington, Libby O'Brien (Baldwin), Mike Lyriotokis, 1952 SDU Rugby Team, Debbie White-Lamont, Ed Hilton, Gil Collins, Wilfred MacDonald, 1943-46 Prince of Wales College Hockey Line, 1964-65 SDU Hockey Team, Dave 'Hermie' MacNeill, Glenn Smiley, Tracy MacEachern, 1988-89 Women's Basketball Team, A.J. MacAdam, Alan Spink, Dr. Vincent Grant, Jim Foley, Mike Kelly, 1946-47 Hockey Team (Maritime Champions), Jack Reardon, Mac Beck, Paula Edwards (Kovinksy), and Peter Gordon.

Anyone with an interest in UPEI, SDU, or PWC athletics is invited to submit nominations. To do so, please contact UPEI Athletics & Recreation's website at gopanthersgo.ca.

The UPEI men's basketball team is excited to announce that six-foot-six forward Sammy Opel has committed to the Panthers for the upcoming season. Opel joins the team from Nairobi, Kenya, where he was captain of his high school basketball team that won both the Kenyan Secondary Schools Championship and the East African Title.

Head Coach Tim Kendrick is very pleased with the new addition. 'We are thrilled to add a player of Sammy's potential to our roster. We have been in contact with him for several months, and think that he will be a great fit for our program,' said Kendrick. 'He appears to be a very good young man, and we are certainly looking forward to his arrival on campus.'

Opel is anxious to get to Prince Edward Island and to the University. 'I want to bring all of my hard work and talent to UPEI. I am thrilled and grateful to the University, and to Coach Kendrick, for giving me the honour of playing for the Panthers,' he said. 'I will give my best to my studies and to my team.'

The Panthers begin the exhibition season by hosting the Mickey Place Basketball Tournament, October 12-14, with teams from across Canada competing in the event. Season passes are now on sale which include admission to the tournament, contact (902) 566-0432 or pantherpass@upei.ca.

The Advancing Interdisciplinary Research in Singing (AIRS) project will hold its fourth annual meeting and international conference from August 22 to 24 at the University of Prince Edward Island. More than 50 participants and researchers representing institutions from more than a dozen countries will be at the University for a packed, three-day schedule dedicated to the sharing of ideas, research findings, and music.

'Our schedule is so overflowing with regards to our three main research themes that even our mealtimes are filled with presentations and singing,' said Dr. Annabel Cohen, Director of the AIRS project. 'Three years into this project, outstanding researchers from many disciplines are working together to advance our understanding of what, at a first glance, is a seemingly simple subject matter: singing.'

The public is invited to participate in the official opening of the conference, from 4:30-5:30 pm on Wednesday, August 22 in McDougall Hall 246. The opening will include an overview of the research project and regional partnerships (for example, Culture PEI, Music PEI, Veterans Affairs Canada, Alzheimer's Society) plus vocal performances of several songs, including a presentation by the Young at Heart Musical Theatre group.

The public is also invited Wednesday from 7:30-9:00 pm for the 'Celebration of Singing' concert in the Steele Recital Hall, organized by Sung-Ha Shin-Bouey, Associate Professor of Music, featuring performances by many talented AIRS researchers, as well as some well-known PEI musicians.

The second day of the conference will allow participants to explore the three main themes of AIRS through 15-minute presentations from individual researchers and research teams. The first theme is singing and development.

'There are thousands of research papers dedicated to how humans develop the ability to speak,' said Dr. Cohen, 'but there are only a few dozen with regards to how we learn to sing. And yet, it's something we can all do, in every culture on the planet. AIRS is working to broaden that area of research and to ultimately share knowledge that can benefit society and the welfare of individuals.'

To aid in this goal, Dr. Cohen's research team has developed the AIRS Test Battery-an automated, online test, created with the assistance of post-doctoral fellow Dr. Bing-Yi Pan, to gather data about singing that can be used by researchers around the world.

The second research theme of AIRS is singing and education. Presentations on this topic include research by June Countryman, Assistant Professor of Music, and Dr. Martha Gabriel, Associate Professor of Education, about how children use informal chants and songs on the school playground to learn musical literacies.

Presentations on AIRS's third theme, singing and well-being, will focus on singing's role toward a cross-cultural understanding. One of the projects within this theme is the 'AIRS Quadcultural Songbook,' created with the assistance of UPEI student Kelly Gillis, which compiles music from Brazil, Canada, China, and Kenya. The project examines the benefits of incorporating these materials into Grade V classes in those four countries as studied over the last year.

'We have research from Portugal which shows that children who learn the traditional songs of one of the smaller marginalized cultural groups of that country, gain a better attitude toward that group,' said Dr. Cohen.

AIRS is a major collaborative research initiative funded by SSHRC to explore development, education, and well-being with regards to singing.

Two new assistant coaches for UPEI men's hockey know all too well what it means to be a Panther. Former players Josh Patterson and Devan Praught will join head coach Forbes MacPherson and assistant coach Kenny MacDougall for the 2012-13 season.

MacPherson believes both additions will connect immediately with the team, injecting their youth and enthusiasm. 'Both Josh and Devan are in the early stages of their coaching careers but offer some valuable assets contributing to our coaching staff and program,' he said. 'Josh was a former captain and has tremendous passion for UPEI, while Devan has been very active in coaching youth on the Island.'

Patterson played four seasons for the Panthers notching 31 goals and 41 assists during his UPEI career. After graduating, he then went on to play one season with the Central Hockey League's Oklahoma City Blazers in 2008-09.

'I have watched the program and team grow over the past few years under Coach Macpherson's direction,' said Patterson. 'It is an exciting opportunity for me to be a part of a coaching staff at this level of hockey and I can't wait to get started.'

Praught finished off his Canadian Interuniversity Sport hockey eligibility at UPEI this past year with eight goals and 14 assists. He is currently heading into his final year of the education program and played hockey previously for four seasons with the St. Thomas Tommies.

'I'm really excited about staying on board with the Panthers,' said Praught. 'I look forward to working with the coaching staff as we strive to build on the successes that the UPEI hockey program has experienced over the past few years.'

The UPEI men's hockey team begins their regular season on Friday, October 12, when they host rival Université de Moncton at 7:00 pm. Seasons seats are now on sale by visiting gopanthersgo.ca.

Devan Praught finished off his CIS eligibility at UPEI and will become a new assistant coach for the 2012–13 season.

UPEI women's hockey head coach Bruce Donaldson is pleased to announce that Lance Jones will join him behind the bench as assistant coach.

'Lance has had a strong history working with young female hockey players on PEI,' said Donaldson. 'He will bring experience and a strong work ethic to the program, which will help the team successfully defend our AUS championship title.'

Jones has coached minor hockey for over 20 years, including North River Midget AAA for six years and Pownal Midget AAA for two years. He has also coached the Holland College women's hockey team and, most recently, the Mid-Isle Midget AA girls' hockey team.

Jones, who works as a supervisor in the City of Charlottetown Public Works department, is eager to get started with the team. 'I'm excited for the opportunity and challenge to coach at this level,' he said. 'I'm looking forward to coaching with Bruce, Chris, and Zoe, and hope to help build on the success realized by the Panther program last year.'

The Panthers will look to repeat last year's fairytale season that saw them go into the playoffs 13-10-1, and where they clinched the AUS championship beating league favourites St. FX X-Women in the semifinal. On Friday, October 19 at 7:00 pm, they will faceoff against St. FX in their home opener at MacLauchlan Arena. In a pre-game ceremony, the women will raise their AUS banner. Season passes are now on sale and can be purchased at gopanthersgo.ca.

UPEI is gearing up to welcome incoming first-year students with a number of services and support offerings available on Saturday, September 1 from 9 am-3 pm. For the first time, the University will host New Student Orientation (NSO) Welcome Day, to give students and their families a chance to get oriented to campus and meet a number of staff and faculty who will support them throughout their university studies.

The beauty of NSO Welcome Day is that it brings all student supports and services to one area on campus -Don and Marion McDougall Hall and Wanda Wyatt Dining Hall-so that students can 'one-stop shop' and be ready to go even before classes officially start on Wednesday, September 5. Students can take a campus tour, get their student ID cards, pay for tuition and other fees, shop at the Bookstore, sign up for NSO activities/pick up NSO packs, register/change courses, purchase a meal plan, buy a parking pass, join a society or club, move into residence, check out the fitness centre and its programs, pick up student handbooks, find out about tutoring, the library, and other supports and resources, and much more! A barbecue will be held outside McDougall Hall from 12-2 pm.

After taking advantage of supports and services available during the day, students can continue right into NSO Week activities that begin at 4 pm and continue through to September 6. NSO Week is said to be the most spirited week of the year with welcome events to bring students together and build friendships with individuals from all years, faculties, and schools. NSO events include team meetings, PlayFair, pool and dance parties, breakfast/picnics and mass, scavenger hunts, hypnotist visits, and more. Students will fundraise all week for Shinerama, a national campaign that raises awareness and funds for cystic fibrosis treatment and research. The event raised a record-setting $32,000 last year and is a great way for students to discover the community and support a great cause.

For more information on NSO week activities, visit upei.ca/nso. Click here to view the UPEI campus map to get accustomed to campus places and spaces. The University looks forward to meeting new students and their families at upcoming NSO events!

The University of Prince Edward Island received this year's APPA Sustainability Award in the Small Colleges and Universities Institutions category. APPA supports educational excellence with quality leadership and professional management through education, research, and recognition.

APPA's newest award, the Sustainability Award in Facilities Management is designed to recognize and advance sustainability excellence in educational facilities. This award recognizes the facilities management department that has integrated sustainable policies and 'green' practices throughout all facets of its organization and embedded them within the educational institution.

Facilities Management initiatives include energy management, resource conservation, waste management, improved energy efficiency of buildings, improved maintenance and cleaning practices, implementation of sustainable landscaping, and construction. Last year, UPEI also achieved BOMA Building Environmental Standards (BESt) Certification from the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) of Canada environmental certification for 22 of its campus buildings.

Greg Clayton, Director of Facilities Management said, 'We are excited to be recognized this year by APPA. This award is a result of hard work by a campus community, including Facilities Management, which has embraced sustainability concepts and practices over the years. We are pleased to be considered as a sustainability leader within higher education and our profession.'

'This award validates all the hard work and effort of the last number of years and provides motivation to continue improving sustainability on campus,' said David Taylor, UPEI's Manager of Environmental Services. 'With APPA being such a large organization, representing facilities management professionals from across North America, it's also very humbling.'

APPA is committed to supporting its members' ability to create and maintain sustainable campus environments.

Staff and faculty welcome all new and returning students to the University of Prince Edward Island. As we begin the 2012-13 academic year, the University continues to focus on the enhancement of student supports and improving the student experience so that all students feel at home. When better supported by the campus community, students will achieve success.

We welcome international and exchange students to campus on Friday, August 31 during a full-day International Student Orientation (ISO) event from 9:00 am-10:00 pm. Students are encouraged to attend a breakfast with ice breaker games, a picnic, city and scenic tours, and evening activities. Students will also learn about the International Student Connections 'Buddy' Program which offers assistance for a smooth transition by matching new students with returning local or international students. 'Buddies' help students adapt to a new country, culture, and environment. ISO is an opportunity for students to meet international peers and support staff before diving into New Student Orientation (NSO) week activities which kick-off on Saturday, September 1 with NSO Welcome Day.

NSO Welcome Day is a first-time event that brings together a number of services and support offerings in two areas on campus-Don and Marion McDougall Hall and Wanda Wyatt Dining Hall-so students can 'one-stop shop' and be ready to go before classes start on Wednesday, September 5. For more information on NSO Welcome Day, click here.

Organized by over 100 upper-year students, NSO Week also takes place September 1-6 and is said to be the most spirited week of the year. For a full list of NSO events and activities, visit upei.ca/nso.

UPEI's Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) also welcomed its students to campus last week at its annual Blue Coat Ceremony which celebrates the students' achievements in joining the ranks of veterinarians in training. Vet students began classes on Monday, August 27.