The UPEI Wind Symphony performed its final recital of the Fall semester at the end of November at the St. Dunstan's Basilica in downtown Charlottetown. The change in venue ensured all Wind Symphony patrons were able to attend and can take advantage of the architectural and aesthetic beauty that St. Dunstan's offers.

Under the direction of Dr. Karem Simon, the Wind Symphony performed several symphonic masterworks of the wind band genre-one of the most ambitious Fall programs in its history. Among the featured works was 'Endurance' by the American composer Timothy Mahr. According to the composer, the work is a musical reflection upon the infinite endurance of the human spirit, the religious spirit, and the spirit of the earth. Initial inspiration for the piece came from a book of the same title by Alfred Lansing documenting the amazing story of the ill-fated expedition of the Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton in 1914-1916. His ship, the Endurance, became ice-bound and eventually sank, stranding Shackleton and his crew of 27. They experienced over 15 months of life exposed to the unrelenting, dangerous Antarctic weather, and, miraculously survived to tell it. The strength of character exhibited by these men in enduring incredible hardships is truly awe-inspiring.

Click here for a video of the performance that drew crowds - young and old - as part of the UPEI Wind Symphony's community outreach and engagement.

Over 400 guests were welcomed by a large group of international students and treated to some food from different countries at the University of Prince Edward Island's New Year's Day levee, reflecting UPEI's growing multicultural campus.

UPEI Alumni Association President Bruce Davison, UPEI President and Vice-Chancellor Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, and UPEI Board of Governors Chair Tom Cullen hosted the annual New Year's Day event in Don and Marion McDougall Hall's Schurman Market Square.

At the next Research on Tap, join us for a discussion about gender, sex, and equality. Dr. Ann Braithwaite, associate professor and coordinator of Women's Studies, will lead a discussion titled 'What is equality anyways?'

The event discussion begins at 7:00 pm, Tuesday, January 7 at The Pourhouse, above The Old Triangle Irish Alehouse in Charlottetown.

Sound interesting? Join us.

Research on Tap is a series of public discussions with UPEI researchers. For more information, contact Dave Atkinson at 620-5117, or datkinson@upei.ca

For information:
Dave Atkinson
Research Communications
Officer, UPEI
(902) 620-5117, datkinson@upei.ca

UPEI Athletics and Recreation announced the UPEI Panther Athletes of the Week for the week of December 30-January 5. UPEI Athletics and Recreation showcases these talented athletes to recognize their hard work and dedication to their respective sports throughout the season. UPEI Athletes of the Week are also nominated to Atlantic University Sport and Canadian Interuniversity Sport for possible recognition in the region and/or country.

Who: Women's Curling Team; and Brian Ofori, Men's Basketball

What: UPEI Panther Athletes of the Week

When: Week of December 30-January 5

Why: The UPEI women's curling team won the 'B' pool final at the Atlantic University Curling Championships hosted by UNB on January 3-5. The Veronica Smith skipped team earned the right to represent the Atlantic region at the CIS University Curling Championship in Regina, Saskatchewan on March 19-23. In the championship game, UPEI took two in the 9th and then stole one in the 10th for the win. The team finished with a 3-1 record. Team members include business student and skip Veronica Smith of Breadalbane; science student and third Jane DiCarlo of Charlottetown; science student and second Emily Gray of O'Leary, and science student and lead Aleya Quilty of Charlottetown. All members are enrolled in their second year of study at UPEI.

Brian Ofori, a second-year arts student from Montreal, Quebec, was selected as an All-Star at the Rod Shoveller Memorial Basketball Tournament. The Panthers placed second with two wins and one loss, where Ofori averaged 11 points and six rebounds over the three games, and was a very physical and defensive presence. Ofori was previously selected as a UPEI Athlete of the Week for the week of October 7-13.

The Women's Curling Team and Ofori will be recognized at this week's UPEI Athletes of the Week Celebration on Thursday, January 9 at 12:45 pm in the W.A. Murphy Student Centre's McMillan Hall. All are welcome.

Panther Action this weekend:
Friday, January 10
6:00 pm (W) Basketball vs. CBU
7:00 pm (M) Hockey @ UNB
8:00 pm (M) Basketball vs. CBU

Saturday, January 11
6:00 pm (W) Basketball @ SMU
7:00 pm (M) Hockey @ STU
8:00 pm (M) Basketball vs. SMU

Sunday, January 12
4:00 pm (W) Hockey @ MtA

Watch Panther games live at http://austv.ca/

Go Panthers Go!

Veronica Smith, UPEI women's curling skip

UPEI's Winter's Tales Authors' Reading Series kicks off the 2014 season with a public reading on February 6 at 7:30 pm in the Confederation Centre Public Library by UPEI writer-in-residence Don Gayton. An ecologist and award-winning nature and science writer, Gayton will be at UPEI from February 3-8, with his residence hosted by the Department of English and the Environmental Studies Program.

Canadian radio broadcaster Stuart McLean describes Gayton as 'having the eye of a scientist and the soul of a poet.'

Gayton will also deliver two public writing workshops on Saturday, February 8, in the UPEI Faculty Lounge, Main Building. The workshops are entitled 'Nature Writing: where do we go from here?' and 'Ecology As Literature: how ecology provides new material for writers of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry.'

For further information about his workshops and reading, and to register for workshops, contact the English Department at 566-0389 or tjohnston@upei.ca.

For information:
Dr. Richard Lemm
Professor, Department of English
University of Prince Edward Island
(902) 566-0592
rlemm@upei.ca

The PEI Urban Red Fox Research Project needs Islanders to keep reporting their sightings of red foxes to upei.ca/redfox. Each reported sighting helps us better understand our red fox population, and how it interacts with humans on Prince Edward Island.

Since the launch of upei.ca/redfox in the fall of 2012, Islanders have reported more than 1600 sightings of red foxes. With this valuable data, the research team has discovered areas of high red fox activity in urban areas and has identified possible den sites for further research. More data would allow the PEI Urban Fox Research Team to discover even more about this species, including possible public health concerns.

It takes just a few minutes. If you spot a red fox on Prince Edward Island, visit upei.ca/redfox. Fill out the simple form, and you've made an important contribution to UPEI research.

To report a sighting by mail, request a form by calling 566-0602.

For Information:
Dave Atkinson, Research Communications
(902) 620-5117, datkinson@upei.ca

The UPEI Men's Hockey Panthers will soon have a new face in the lineup with the addition of right-winger Nick Czinder from West Bloomfield, Michigan.

At 6'5" and 235lb, Czinder says his game is at its best when he is using his size and strength to create traffic in front of the net, as well as being strong on the puck along the boards in both ends of the rink.

'The strength of my game is being hard on pucks, working down low on the cycle and creating offensive chances by working hard,' said Czinder, who scored 13 goals last year in the OHL while splitting time between Kitchener and Peterborough. He had 15 goals with the Windsor Spitfires in 2011-12. Czinder finished last season in the East Coast Hockey League with San Francisco.

UPEI Head Coach Forbes MacPherson says he has been was working for a number of months recruiting Czinder and having him enrolled at the University is welcome news for the future of the men's hockey program.

'Nick plays with a high competitive level, plays in the tough areas, will wear down opponents and be a presence in front of the net,' says MacPherson. 'The game he plays will be a great complement to our team's style of play.'

As the power forward has been recovering from injury, MacPherson says he wants to wait until Czinder is fully ready to go before inserting him into the lineup.

'This isn't an easy league to just jump into, so we want to have Nick in game shape and fully ready to go before we put him into uniform,' MacPherson says. 'From what we have seen in practice, we like how he skates and moves the puck. He will be a welcome addition to the lineup.'

Czinder says he is impressed with the high quality of hockey in the Atlantic Conference and he is adapting well to life on Canada's east coast. He says he is adjusting to the routine of being a student while getting back into game shape, but he says the weather is taking some getting used to.

'I've seen more snow in my first week here then I am accustomed to, but everyone has been very friendly and welcoming which has made the transition much easier.'

UPEI Athletics and Recreation Director Bill Schurman praised the addition of Czinder to the UPEI family. 'I would like to welcome Nick to the University of Prince Edward Island. I know he will be a great addition to our men's hockey program and to our friendly Island campus,' says Schurman.

For information:
Ron Annear
UPEI Athletics & Recreation
(902) 566-0991
annear@upei.ca

The German Olympic women's hockey program announced today that UPEI defensemen Anja Weisser has been selected to Team Germany's roster for the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia. The Games will take place February 7-23.

The fourth-year UPEI business student from Kaufbeuren, Germany is no stranger to international competition, as she has represented her home country at two U-18 and two senior world championships.

Weisser was thrilled to learn she was chosen to compete at the Olympics. 'I am thankful that all of my hard work has paid off in such a big way. I look forward to competing in Sochi, and hope to make my country and UPEI proud,' she said.

'As the Head Coach of the UPEI program, there are certain times that stand out as highlights for the players, the program, and the school, and this is certainly one of those times,' said UPEI women's hockey coach Bruce Donaldson on Weisser's news. 'Anja has been an amazing addition and we are so proud to say we have had the opportunity to have her on our team for the past four years. The entire Panther community wishes her all the best, and takes great pleasure in calling her our very own Olympian.'

'Anja is a great example of the quality of student-athletes that choose to wear the Panther green. On behalf of the Panther family, our fans, partners, donors, and alumni, we salute Anja and wish her great success at the Olympic Games,' said UPEI Athletics and Recreation Director Bill Schurman.

Congratulations, Anja, and all the best at the Olympics! Go Panthers Go!

For information:
Ron Annear
UPEI Athletics and Recreation
(902) 566-0991, annear@upei.ca

The following was distributed by Prince Edward Island 2014 Inc. on Wednesday, January 15, 2014:

Two conferences coming to PEI in 2014 will benefit from a PEI 2014 Fund grant. The 2014 Heritage Canada Annual National Conference and Guardians of Confederation: Leaders of Tomorrow - a special segment of the 2014 Conference on Teaching Canada's History being hosted by the University of Prince Edward Island, have received large grants.

'We are honoured to be hosting such prestigious conferences in Prince Edward Island in 2014 as we mark the 150th anniversary of the Charlottetown Conference,' says Minister of Tourism and Culture, Robert Henderson. 'The goals of these conferences align perfectly with the guiding principles of PEI 2014 as we honour the past, celebrate the present and plan a bold tomorrow.'

The Heritage Canada Foundation's annual national conference is the largest heritage conservation conference in Canada, attracting 300-350 delegates. The conference is being held in Charlottetown in October 2014 and will be a signature national event highlighting PEI and Canadian heritage, and making special reference to the delegates of the 1864 Charlottetown Conference and PEI's place in Confederation. The conference will be comprised of tours and workshops in Charlottetown and rural PEI, keynote speakers, and special events like the Heritage Canada Foundation's national awards ceremony.

'Holding our conference in the Birthplace of Confederation during this important anniversary year is quite fitting,' says Executive Director of the PEI Museum & Heritage Foundation, David Keenlyside. 'This will be a very rewarding conference that, among other things, will discuss the connection between heritage and economic renewal and environmental sustainability, and foster collaboration between heritage and non-heritage groups.'

In November 2014, the University of Prince Edward Island will host the conference portion of its Guardians of Confederation - Leaders of Tomorrow project. Organizers will select a diverse contingent of high school students from across Canada early in 2014 to participate in a unique opportunity to become the 'Guardians of Confederation.' Paired with UPEI student mentors, participants will gather online in the lead-up to the in-person conference in order to re-contextualize the world of 1864 and questions surrounding confederation. This project coincides with UPEI hosting the Conference on Teaching Canada's History in partnership with the Association for Canadian Studies (ACS).

'The University of Prince Edward Island had a vision to bring together high school students from across the country to explore where Canada is today and what we will look like in another 150 years. We are extremely pleased that PEI 2014 is investing in our idea to develop Guardians of Confederation in this group of young leaders,' said UPEI Coordinator of Canadian Studies Sharon Myers, chair of the Guardians of Confederation Organizing Committee. 'We are looking forward to the legacies that the lead-up work and the conference itself will create throughout Canada and UPEI is excited to host these Guardians in the birthplace of Confederation.'

In 2014, Canadians will mark the 150th anniversary (Sesquicentennial) of the historic 1864 Charlottetown Conference, which paved the way to Confederation. PEI 2014 Inc. is facilitating the planning, promotion and implementation of the Sesquicentennial celebrations. The PEI 2014 celebrations are made possible through generous support from the Government of Canada, Government of Prince Edward Island, and the City of Charlottetown. The year-long and province-wide PEI 2014 program of events will honour the past, celebrate the present and plan a bold tomorrow.

At the next Graduate Research on Tap, join two UPEI graduate students for discussions about education and the environment. The event begins at 7 pm, Tuesday, January 21 in the Wave in the W. A. Murphy Student Centre at UPEI.

The first discussion will be led by Laura Phalen, an MSc student in Biology. The title of her discussion is "Do the oil sands make fish sick?"
Gabriela Arias de Sanchez, a PhD student in Education, will lead the second discussion, entitled "Cracking the math code: how we talk numbers with young children."

Sound interesting? Join us!

Graduate Research on Tap is a series of public discussions with UPEI graduate student researchers. Presented by the UPEI Student Union, the UPEI Graduate Student Association, and the Vice-President Research and Graduate Studies.

For information:
Dave Atkinson, Research Communications, UPEI
(902)620-5117, datkinson@upei.ca