UPEI's Winter's Tales Authors' Reading Series kicks off the 2013 season with the talented Susan Glickman and Julie Bruck, who will read on Thursday, September 26, at 7:30 pm in the Faculty Lounge, UPEI Main Building. Bruck won the 2012 Governor General's Award for poetry, and Glickman is a talented poet, fiction writer, and young adult novelist.

Their reading is sponsored by the UPEI English Department with funding from the Canada Council for the Arts and League of Canadian Poets. A reception and book signing will follow. Admission is free.

The UPEI women's rugby team had a very successful exhibition weekend hosted by StFX in Truro on Saturday August 31. UPEI came out on top in their first game against Acadia University's second team winning 17-7. They then went on to play against Dalhousie University's club team, winning 53-0. In their final matchup, the girls took on the host team, losing their battle 63-0.

It was a great opportunity for our very young team to work out some of the kinks and get used to playing with each other. The team relied heavily on returning players Kayla Weatherbie, Rebecca Chapman, and Danielle Lacey. Over half of this year's team is made up of first year players, and they certainly made some major contributions; Holly Jones, Megan Thorpe, and Holly Hartlen were very dynamic, especially on the offence.

'This is going to be a growing year for the team and I'm looking forward to watching them grow with each game,' said Head Coach Shannon Atkins.

UPEI plays their first regular season game on Saturday, September 7 at Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The UPEI Department of Music is pleased to announce their 2013-14 concert season. This year's series offers an exciting blend of faculty, local, regional, and national artists and several international guests. Highlights include the winner of the 2013 Eckhardt-Gramatté National Competition, pianist Everett Hopfner; the eclectic music of Diomira with accordion, piano, and percussion; the virtuoso guitar playing of Eduardo Menozzi Costa; and an evening of superlative jazz with the Mike Murley Septet.

The season opens on Sunday, September 8 at 7:30 pm in UPEI's Dr. Steel Recital Hall with Duo :nota bene: featuring violinist Eva Steinschaden and pianist Alexander Vavtar. The two musicians, both graduates of the Mozarteum University, have concentrated primarily on music of the Viennese Classical School.

In 1999, the duo was the only Austrian ensemble to be accepted into the master class of the Trio di Trieste. Since then, they have worked with the world-famous musicians of the Trio di Trieste at the Scuola Superiore di Musica da Camera del Trio di Trieste in Duino/Italy. To date, they have recorded six CDs, all under the Viennese Extraplatte label. Since its inception in 1996, the Duo :nota bene: has performed over 400 concerts in more than 35 countries. In September 2013, the duo will make its first concert tour in Canada, performing in Toronto, Antigonish, St. John's and Charlottetown.

The duo's program at UPEI will feature works by Mozart, Schubert, Kreisler, and Nussbichler. The concert tour is made possible with the support of the Austrian Cultural Forum Ottawa.

On Sunday, September 22 at 7:30pm the recital series continues at the Dr. Steel Recital Hall with 'A CORNUCOPIA OF MUSIC' featuring David Parker, horn; Frances Gray, piano; and Morgan Saulnier, flute.

Tickets for both recitals are $15 (adults) and $10 (seniors/students) and can be purchased at the Dr. Steel Recital Hall the night of the performance, or in advance as part of a Season Pass which includes 12 concerts and is now available at a 30 per cent discounted rate.

The complete schedule for the 2013-2014 Concert Series can be found at www.music.upei.ca/recital-series

For more information, or to purchase a pass, contact Susan Stensch at 566-0507 or music@upei.ca.

The UPEI Field Hockey squad of seven first-year players and eight returning players travelled to McGill University in Montreal this past weekend for a pre-season tournament. On Saturday, August 31 the young squad-some playing new positions for the first time-had one tie and one win in games against Queen's University.

The first game was a 1-1 tie with UPEI's Katherine Koughan (2nd-year defender) taking a self pass at the top of the circle and stick-handling in to score UPEI's first goal of the tournament. In the second game on Saturday, UPEI defeated Queen's by a score of 2-1. Queen's had scored early on in the game, but UPEI came back with goals from first-year player and Charlottetown Rural grad Sydney Stavert, and fourth-year player Eliza MacLauchlan. Eliza, who normally plays midfield, had moved to the forward line for that game.

On Sunday, the Panthers played their 3rd and 4th games in a strong heat (26.5 degrees) losing their first game 2-1 to McGill with UPEI's first-year player Hannah Dykerman scoring a goal with 15 minutes left in the game. The Panthers worked hard all game but missed a number of opportunities to tie the game. An hour later, the Panthers played their 4th game against McGill and lost 3-0.

The pre-season tournament was a great opportunity for coaches Charla Currie and Lacey MacLauchlan to see this year's squad in action. The squad will practice for the next three weeks before they host the first tournament of the season at UPEI on Sept 21 and 22.

There is still an opportunity for new playersto tryout for field hockey. Interested players are asked to contact Head Coach Charla Currie or UPEI Athletics.

Colonel Gray High School senior Alexander MacKay of Charlottetown is this year's PEI recipient of the Pearson College Scholarship. The annual scholarship covers full tuition and residence for two years of pre-university study at the prestigious Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific's United World College (UWC).

Named in honour of the late Canadian Prime Minister and Nobel Peace Laureate, Lester B. Pearson, the UWC 'of the Pacific' is an institution where students can learn to promote peace and understanding in the world. Each year, 200 students from over 80 countries attend Pearson College through donor-supported scholarships and take part in a challenging UWC life skills co-curricular program.

MacKay is the son of Karen Rose and Les MacKay and is described as an outstanding, intelligent, well-spoken, and devoted student and individual.

'Selecting a single candidate from a group of outstanding applicants is an enviable challenge, and the students who applied for the Pearson scholarship this year were an exceptional group to interview,' said Darcy McCardle, Assistant Registrar at UPEI and member of the PEI Selection Committee. 'Alex is a remarkable young man with a host of talents that will serve him very well as he embarks on this tremendous educational opportunity. The Selection Committee is very pleased to see Alex represent PEI at Pearson College, and we wish him all the best in this experience.' The PEI Selection Committee consisted of McCardle, Vickie Johnston, Director of Student Affairs at UPEI, and Miles Turnbull, UPEI Dean of Education.

'We look for promising students who show courage, leadership, and a sense of determination in their desire to make a difference, to help change the world,' emphasized Ms. Heather Gross, Admissions Director at Pearson College UWC.

MacKay noted on his application that he's considering studying sciences at the university level and has particular interests in engineering and political science. MacKay is heavily involved in sports and music, and recently represented Prince Edward Island in triathlon at the 2013 Canada Games in Sherbrooke, Quebec.

'Attending United World College will allow me to achieve my full potential. At Pearson, there will be no restraints on what my goals and dreams will be-no one to step in to say it cannot be done,' commented MacKay in his application. 'Pearson would be a step towards the life that I would like to lead, one that creates change and has an impact. I have a strong desire to constantly learn and fill my mind, but also to teach, and fill the minds of others.'

UPEI congratulates Alex on his well-earned scholarship!

The horn of plenty will be very much in evidence when David Parker stars as the featured performer in the second UPEI concert of the season entitled 'A Cornucopia of Music.' Works for horn and piano by Saint-Saëns, Strauss, Dukas and Poulenc, and a solo for horn entitled Appel interstellaire by Messiaen will form part of the program. Pianist Frances Gray will perform solo in an Intermezzo and a Capriccio from the intimate romantic music of Brahms. The concluding work welcomes flutist Morgan Saulnier to join in an engaging trio for this unusual combination of instruments. The Ballade, Pastorale and Dance by Eric Ewazen makes a lot of demands on each of the performers, but shows the brilliant talent of this American composer. The concert takes place on Sunday, September 22 at 7:30 pm at UPEI's Dr. Steel Recital Hall. Tickets are available at the door for $15 (adults) and $12 (seniors and students).

Parker is a regularly featured horn soloist and chamber musician and appears in chamber music series throughout the Maritimes including Scotia Festival of Music, Dalhousie University's Faculty Series, the Music Room, Music at The Three Churches in Mahone Bay, University of New Brunswick's Music on the Hill, and the Charlottetown Festival. Parker holds degrees in music from Acadia University, the University of Toronto, and Boston University. His influential teachers have included Eugene Rittich, Daniel Katzen, and Hermann Baumann. He has received generous support from the Canada Council for the Arts and the Nova Scotia Talent Trust. He was formerly a member of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra, the Quebec Symphony Orchestra, and the Israel Sinfonietta. He has also performed with the Toronto Symphony, the Boston Lyric Opera, and the Boston Pops Orchestra. Parker has been the principal hornist of Symphony Nova Scotia and instructor of horn and brass chamber music at Dalhousie University since 2000. He coaches the winds and brass of the Youth Orchestras of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and is a frequent guest teacher with Sistema New Brunswick. He performs regularly with Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra on natural horn.

Gray is well known for her solo and chamber music performances, broadcasts, adjudicating, and teaching. She has recorded three solo CDs-'Poems for Piano,' 'The Evocative Piano,' and 'Soundscapes of Spain'-all nominated for ECMA classical music awards. She has performed throughout Canada, in the United States, England, Belgium, Russia, and Australia. She is the pianist/keyboardist with the Prince Edward Island Symphony Orchestra, with whom she has performed many times as concerto soloist. Dr. Gray holds a music degree from McGill University and MM and DM degrees from Indiana University where she studied with Menahem Pressler, renowned pianist of the Beaux Arts Trio. Awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship, Gray spent a year at the Royal Academy of Music in London, England. She also attended master class sessions at Tanglewood with the Russian duo-piano team, Victor Babin and Vitya Vronsky. She has been a long-time valued professor of piano and theory at UPEI and has frequently adjudicated county and provincial music festivals and competitions in the Atlantic Region.

Saulnier holds a masters degree in flute performance from Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN), and a bachelor of music from UPEI. Saulnier has performed extensively throughout Atlantic Canada, and in 2006, placed third in the woodwind category at the National Music Festival of Canada. Saulnier has appeared as soloist with various ensembles, most recently performing Ibert's Flute Concerto with the MUN Chamber Orchestra. She has also appeared as soloist with the Prince Edward Island Symphony Orchestra and the UPEI Wind Symphony. She is a member of PEI's new music group, eklektikos, and the Prince Edward Island Symphony Orchestra. Saulnier has performed in several master classes across the country, receiving guidance from Michel Debost, Susan Hoeppner, Camille Churchfield, and others. While maintaining a busy performance schedule, Saulnier is in high demand as a flute and piano instructor in Charlottetown, where she is a sessional flute instructor at UPEI.

The University of Prince Edward Island and the Georgetown Conference organizing committee have partnered to provide a set of free online learning modules on rural economic change. This learning community will provide background on some of the major issues on rural economic change in Atlantic Canada and set the stage for the conference, and stimulate online dialogue on rural economic change in Atlantic Canada.

Module one (of four) was released today on 'A History of the Rural Economy in Atlantic Canada' which covers the history of Georgetown, defining rural and urban historically in Atlantic Canada, the rural and urban economy of Atlantic Canada before the 21st century, and defining rural and urban today in Atlantic Canada. These interactive modules can be of use to the broader digital community interested in redefining rural.

'These free, interactive learning environment modules on redefining rural that have been prepared for the Georgetown Conference are a way that UPEI and researchers from throughout Atlantic Canada can contribute to a better understanding of the past, present, and future of the region,' said UPEI's Dr. Jim Randall, Coordinator, Master of Arts in Island Studies. 'We encourage everyone to read and watch the modules and participate in the online discussion.'

The second module, 'A Primer on Rural Economic Change in Canada' will focus on some of the statistical economic and demographic changes in the Atlantic (rural and urban) over the past 50 years; leadership development and governance in rural communities, and strategies for rural communities.

The third module entitled 'The Stories of the ‘Doers and Producers' at the Georgetown Conference' will highlight a subset of conference delegates through interviews with a focus on what works and what doesn't work in Atlantic communities and lessons and advice for other rural Canadian communities.

Module four 'Outcomes and Next Steps for the Georgetown Movement' will include messages from Georgetown, reports from the conference break-out groups, and final thoughts on the conference by Dr. Donald Savoie, Canada Research Chair in Public Administration and Governance at the Université de Moncton.

'The Georgetown Conference and its theme ‘Rural Redefined' have struck a responsive chord with people throughout Atlantic Canada and well beyond,' said Conference Co-Chair Wade MacLauchlan. 'UPEI's initiative to offer an online learning environment dedicated to rural issues is a much appreciated service to the 250 ‘doers and producers' who have been selected as delegates, and to a much larger interested community here in the region and around the world.'

The Georgetown Conference takes place October 3-5. To access the free online modules, visit http://redefiningrural01.pressbooks.com/

UPEI Athletics and Recreation announces that former Women's Rugby All-Star Jaclyn (Coady) Carr will be recognized at Saturday's UPEI Women's Rugby home opener versus Saint Thomas University on MacAdam Field at UPEI Alumni Canada Games Place. The special ceremony begins at 1:50 pm with kickoff at 2:00 pm.

Each year one former rugby Panther is honoured and remembered because of the impact they made on the program.

Carr began her days at UPEI as a basketball player, and then moved to rugby. Over the years, she has coached rugby at the high school and provincial levels, and has represented PEI as a rugby player all through the Maritimes and in Ontario, New Orleans, Louisiana, and Ireland. She played for UPEI from 2000-2003 where she was a team captain and MVP, a three-time AUS All-Star, and CIS All-Canadian-one of only a handful of Panthers to receive this honour.

'Jaclyn was known for her ‘laid back' style of play at the stand off position,' commented UPEI Women's Rugby Coach Shannon Atkins. 'She was always smooth and agile, and would slide through the defense to score many tries. Add to this the many points she put on the board through conversions, and it was easy to see why she was consistently one of the top scorers in the league. Congratulations Jaclyn, and we thank you for the legacy that continues to make UPEI Women's Rugby Panthers proud.'

Carr now resides in Halifax with her husband Mark and three children Riley, Alex, and Shyla, and does term work with the Department of National Defense.

UPEI Panther Rugby season passes are now on sale and are available at Panther Central at the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre, online at www.gopanthersgo.ca, or by calling 566-0368.

The UPEI women's basketball team will host a fundraising golf tournament on Thursday, September 19 at the Rustico Golf & Tennis Resort. The first annual 'Hoops & Greens' Golf Classic will begin with check-in at 9:00 am and a shotgun start at 10:00 am.

Teams of four can register for $400 per team which includes their green fee, post-round barbecue, on course contests, and awards/door prizes. Registration deadline is Monday, September 16.

To register, contact Panther Central at (902) 566-0368 or panthercentral@upei.ca, or contact Tournament Organizer Adrian Murray at asmasm6655@gmail.com

The fourteenth annual Recognition of Founders Ceremony and the MacLauchlan Plaza Dedication will take place Wednesday, September 25 at 12:30 pm in front of UPEI's Health Sciences Building.

The Prince Edward Island community is invited to take part in a ceremony to honour UPEI's rich heritage and traditions by acknowledging people who have contributed to the University in an exceptional way.

The 2013 Founders are Ms. Janice Robertson (posthumous), Mr. Bob MacAulay (posthumous), Mr. Mike Read, and Mr. Verner Smitheram. John and Carol MacLeod will also be recognized as this year's recipients of the Honourable Eugene F. Whelan Green Hat Award, which honours those who have had a positive impact on the Atlantic Veterinary College.

A reception will follow the ceremony. Parking will be available at the CARI Complex.