The UPEI Women's Curling team, skipped by Veronica Smith and including third Jane DiCarlo, second Emily Gray, lead Aleya Quilty, and coach Paul Smith, is off to the 2015 CIS-Curling Canada University Curling Championships at the KW Granite Club at Waterloo, Ontario.

The team delayed their departure by a day due to Sunday's storm, but begins play on Wednesday, March 18 at 12 noon (EST) versus Thompson Rivers University.

Canada's top university curling teams, eight teams of each gender, will compete in the eighth edition of these championships, which are staged in partnership between Canadian University Sport (CIS) and Curling Canada, and presented by Travelers.

The teams play a round robin ending Friday evening, followed by semifinals pitting 1 vs 4 and 2 vs 3 on Saturday morning, with the winners advancing to their respective finals Saturday afternoon at 2:30 pm ET.

UPEI's berth at the event was secured at the Atlantic University Sport women's curling final in Montague on February 15, where they were silver medallists. The gold and bronze medal winning teams, Saint Mary's and St. Francis Xavier, respectively, are also competing at the CIS-Curling Canada championship. The Smith team has attended the past two national championship events and hopes to improve its record.

To follow the action, visit the CIS-Curling Canada University Curling Championships website.

Go Panthers Go, good curling, Team Smith!

UPEI's round-robin schedule (times listed as Atlantic Time (ADT)):

Wednesday
1:00 pm - Thompson Rivers vs. UPEI
9:00 pm - Brock vs. UPEI

Thursday
9:00 am - Wilfred Laurier vs. UPEI
5:00 pm - Guelph vs. UPEI.
9:00 pm - Saint Mary's vs. UPEI

Friday
1:00 pm - Alberta vs. UPEI
5:00 pm - St. FX vs. UPEI

A research team at the University of Prince Edward Island is seeking volunteers to participate in an anonymous online survey. There is currently limited research into what influences older adults' knowledge of the link between oral health and chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, aspiration pneumonia, and diabetes.

The team is looking for volunteers over the age of 50. The results of the survey are completely confidential and takes approximately 30 minutes to complete.

Participants can participate in the survey at upei.ca/oralhealth.

For more information on the research project, contact Alison MacDougall at amacdougall@upei.ca.

Dr. Etienne Côté, veterinary cardiologist at the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC), University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI), has been named a 2015 3M National Teaching Fellow by the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE) and 3M Canada.

Each year, STLHE and 3M Canada reward exceptional teaching and learning at Canadian universities by selecting ten teaching fellows. One of only a few veterinary cardiologists in Canada, Côté was nominated for the prestigious award by Dr. Sue Dawson, professor of anatomy and director of curriculum and outcomes assessment at AVC.

In her letter of nomination, Dawson describes Côté as an educator and leader who goes above and beyond within his specialty and the veterinary profession in general.

Côté's ultimate goal is to help his students be better veterinarians and better people, she says. Within the classroom, he experiments with ways to help students engage with the subject of cardiology. He uses examples of actual cases, and he has developed innovative learning aids such as cardiology karaoke and cardiology mythbusters. Beyond the classroom, he has developed opportunities for experiential learning, for example, a hands-on lab using volunteer animal patients to teach students to listen to animal heart sounds. In all of his teaching, he stresses the importance of compassion and communication between veterinarians and animal owners.

'Etienne Côté teaches with heart, both literally and figuratively,' says Dawson. 'He advises his veterinary cardiology students to remember that when they're in the examination room with a pet and an owner, they are dealing with more than one heart. In such complex and intense situations, he wants the student to feel that it is OK not to know, but it is not OK not to care.'

Côté is fuelled by the challenge of recognizing a need, an opportunity to resolve it, and addressing them together in a new way, says Dawson. For example, a few years ago, he helped an AVC graduate perform her first-ever heart surgery on a puppy with a severe cardiac birth defect.

'What is unique about this case? The surgery took place in Alaska with Côté assisting from AVC via Skype-five time zones away.'

In a letter of support for Côté's nomination, Dr. Leigh Lamont, associate dean of academic and student affairs at AVC, says, 'Dr. Côté is committed to shaping the student experience to ensure that our graduates are the best they can possibly be when they leave our program.'

As a member of the College's curriculum committee, Côté is a strong supporter of including in the curriculum courses and skills that ensure graduating veterinarians are well prepared to meet the challenges of clinical practice when they enter the work force.

Among other accomplishments, Côté has established a cardiology residency program at AVC and instituted bi-weekly 'cardio rounds,' which are podcast on iTunes University. He co-created a veterinary exam board game that students use to prepare for the rigorous national veterinary licensing exams. He is editor of 'The Clinical Veterinary Advisory,' which involved coordinating 400 authors and 19 section editors from 16 countries. He was an integral part of a team that created a veterinary drug index app, which is now licensed to over 145,000 veterinarians world-wide.

Côté is the first faculty member at AVC, and the sixth at UPEI overall, to be named a 3M National Teaching Fellow.

'To me, this award is the pinnacle of recognition for a university teacher, but this never happens in isolation,' he says. 'The award belongs equally to the mentors who have helped me do what I do, the students whose engagement make it worthwhile, and to my family who keep me going.'

Other 3M National Teaching Fellows at UPEI are Dr. Shannon Murray and Dr. Brent MacLaine, Department of English; Dr. Brian Wagner, Department of Chemistry; Dr. Philip Smith, Department of Psychology; and Dr. Fiona Walton, Faculty of Education.

The Steering Committee for the 10th North Atlantic Forum is pleased to announce that this year's conference, 'Building Community Resilience: Innovation, Culture, and Governance in Place,' will be held from September 16 to 19, 2015 in Summerside, PEI. The North Atlantic Forum is a network of researchers, policy-makers, and development practitioners focused on best practices in social and economic development and governance. We believe in and celebrate the power of small, and the innovations that come out of unlikely places. The conference is hosted by UPEI's Institute of Island Studies in partnership with the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation (CRRF).

The Building Community Resilience Conference invites explorations of how various 'dark horses' in Canada and the broad North Atlantic - including minorities, small towns, peripheries, aboriginal communities, those with little money, status, voice, or political leverage - can rise to the occasion and chart livable futures. The conference will examine opportunities for sustainable living that are more likely to emerge from small and peripheral communities - rural, coastal, or island.

Conference organizers welcome submissions from community organizations, community leaders, nonprofit organizations, government, students, researchers, and businesses to share information on the topic of building resilient communities or regions. Each presentation will be allocated 15 minutes for sharing information and 5 minutes for questions. Conference organizers also welcome suggestions for panel discussions on topics related to building resilient communities and regions.

The conference will serve as a platform for the critical and inter-disciplinary discussion of experiences where those living 'on the edge,' however defined, show unexpected ingenuity and mettle; and respond cleverly to dire economic straits or public policy negligence. Including:

• Politically, by developing suitable governance practices; flexing jurisdictional powers; and engaging in multi-level political and (para)-diplomatic relations;
• Economically, by facilitating small-scale entrepreneurship; promoting investment; creating skill-rich jobs; encouraging inward and circular migration; and developing new forms of human-scaled, place-based, no-growth economies, sensitive to environmental needs; and
• Culturally, by nourishing strong communities that celebrate traditions and encourage artistic expression; sustaining suitable environmental practices; and welcoming newcomers in their rooted yet routed ways of life.

Completed abstracts are to be emailed to Ryan Gibson (ryan.gibson@smu.ca). Contributors will be notified by the end of April 2015 regarding the acceptance of their submission. Inquiries and questions about presentations, panels, or themed sessions can be sent to Ryan Gibson.

We invite participants from academia, government, NGOs, and communities to join us this fall in Summerside, which itself has demonstrated resilience in a big way. We will use this opportunity not only to learn from other jurisdictions, but to explore rural and small-town Prince Edward Island through a lively and community-engaged program. For more information on the Building Community Resilience Conference, please visit www.pei2015.crrf.ca or contact naf2015@upei.ca.

A group of ten UPEI graduate students will compete this Thursday evening to see who can best cram years of learning into just three minutes! The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) is a skills development activity which challenges thesis-based graduate students to explain their research project to a non-specialist audience in just three minutes. The competition is Thursday, March 26 at 7 pm in the Wave. First place wins $200 and a trip to Concordia University to compete in the Regional 3MT. Second place wins $100. Third place wins $50.

The 3MT at UPEI is organized by the Office of Graduate Studies, Research Services, the UPEI Student Union, and the UPEI Graduate Student Association. For more information, contact Colleen Gallant, cgallant@upei.ca.

The third annual UPEI Mental Health Week held March 9-13 was a great success, reinforcing the University and the UPEI Student Union's commitment to wellness among students, faculty, and staff.

'UPEI recognizes that all members of our University community are affected by mental health issues,' says President Alaa Abd-El-Aziz. 'I thank all those involved in organizing Mental Health Week, as it is important to work together to improve awareness and the resources available on campus for students, staff, and faculty.'

Themed 'Relationships Matter,' the week kicked off with a moving presentation by keynote speaker Darin Meek who spoke to how his family have moved forward since his daughter lost her battle with anxiety and depression.

Several new activities were added including an information booth; a slam-poetry event; guided meditations; and free yoga for students, faculty, and staff. All events had the aim of raising awareness about the importance of mental health and that there are resources and counselling services available at UPEI to help those cope with the various types of stress, mental illness, addictions, and disabilities.

The weeklong event is just one of many efforts by the University.

President Abd-El-Aziz and UPEI Student Union President Lucas MacArthur co-chair the 'Student Mental Health Committee' that includes faculty, staff, and student representation, reflecting further the dedication to, and importance of, mental health awareness. Created in October 2014, the committee's first action was the implementation of a free, 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week student support program in collaboration with Shepell-FGI.

The committee also serves as the adjudicating body for projects stemming from the UPEI Student Union's new Mental Health Initiatives Fund, launched this month.

UPEI Student Union President Lucas MacArthur says, 'This fund will allow UPEI students to develop new and strengthen existing mental health initiatives at UPEI. The goal of this fund is to encourage students to plan, execute, and raise awareness to address issues of mental health at UPEI.'

Applications will be considered at various times per academic semester. The application due dates for the 2015-16 year will be announced next month. Examples of projects could include but are not limited to: conferences, peer support groups, speaker series, research projects, stress busting/exam week events, film screenings, workshops, training sessions, and on/off campus events.

More information

University of Prince Edward Island women's hockey coach Bruce Donaldson is excited to announce Korean national hockey team member Ye Eun Park has committed to join the team for the 2015-16 season.

Park, who plays defence, is from Seoul, South Korea, and currently plays on the Korean national hockey team. She soon will be attending the World Championships in Eindhoven, Netherlands.

Coach Donaldson says, 'This is exciting for our school as Ye Eun will open the door for other elite, international players to now take a hard look at UPEI. The next Olympic Games are in South Korea so by her coming to UPEI, she will play at a high level in Canada, be on the ice daily, and continue to develop within her national program.'

'Academically she is exceptionally strong,' adds Donaldson. 'And, as a player, her skillset will be an excellent addition to our program. I can see her being paired with one of our senior defence so she can continue to mature in strength and skill. Her work ethic is very impressive.'

Park started to play hockey when she was eight years old and has played for the South Korea women's national team since she was 15. Two years ago, she moved to Canada to develop her game and is now playing for the Ontario Hockey Academy in Cornwall, Ontario.

She looks forward to starting at UPEI in September and comments, 'I am very excited and it means a lot to me because I get to play a higher level of hockey in Canada. With South Korea hosting the 2018 Winter Olympics, I am doing everything I can to improve and develop to secure my spot and play for the Korean national team. I think UPEI is a great place to me to be to achieve my goal.'

Parks is enrolled in UPEI's Bachelor of Science program.

About UPEI Athletics and Recreation

• Nine varsity sports and six club team programs
• Proud member of the AUS and CIS
• Athletic facilities include: Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre, UPEI Alumni Canada Games Place
• Home of Panther Sports Medicine
• Other facilities available to students and the community at large include: fitness centre, squash and racquetball courts, competition and leisure pool with hot tub, and two ice arenas

National Phase 3 clinical trials have begun for the most promising new stroke treatment in decades. Paramedics at five hospitals across the country are testing NA-1: a drug that had some of its most important early testing right here at UPEI by a team including Dr. Tracy Doucette, Dr. Catherine Ryan (Psychology), and Dr. Andrew Tasker (Biomedical Sciences).

NA-1, which The Globe and Mail calls Canada's first 'blockbuster pharmaceutical' since insulin, proved effective through two rounds of clinical testing at lessening cell death in stroke victims with minimal side-effects. This intra-ambulance trial, dubbed FRONTIER, gives paramedics the opportunity to administer NA-1 soon after a stroke when every minute is precious.

'The start of the FRONTIER trial is a watershed moment in the history of stroke trials,' said Dr. Andrew Tasker. 'If NA-1 proves effective in this trial it will change the landscape for the development of neuroprotectant drugs and is a wonderful endorsement of the value of investigator-driven, basic research in universities. For our lab teams at UPEI to have been major contributors to NA-1's early development is extremely gratifying.'

NA-1 has also shown to be beneficial for all types of stroke, compared to the clot-busting medication tPA, which can only be administered in confirmed cases of ischemic stroke. NA-1 is not designed to break down clots in the brain. It instead acts as a neuroprotectant which enhances the brain's ability to withstand stroke.

"This is a terrific example of how a small group of talented and dedicated scientists can make a discovery that promises to have a huge impact on the treatment of one of the world's most prevalent and debilitating diseases,' said Dr. Robert Gilmour, UPEI's Vice-President Research and Graduate Studies. 'UPEI is extremely fortunate to have been the home base for this pioneering group of scientists, and we congratulate them on this groundbreaking achievement."

The FRONTIER trial began March 16 in Toronto and is expanding to other cities across Canada. Participating hospitals include St. Michael's Hospital, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto Western Hospital, Trillium Health Partners, and Vancouver General Hospital.

The FRONTIER trial is supported by a Multi-Investigator Research Initiative grant from the Brain Canada Foundation, and is supported by NoNO Inc. The Globe and Mail published a story on Monday, March 23 about the FRONTIER trial. Read about it here.

Gough, MacMillan, and Scott named Athletes of the Year

UPEI's Department of Athletics and Recreation celebrated the 2014-15 season at the 46th annual UPEI Athletic Awards Gala on Saturday, March 28, recognizing outstanding student athletes who have excelled in sport, the classroom, and serving the community. The UPEI Alumni Association's Outstanding Athlete of the Year awards went to women's basketball star Amy Gough and to co-winners, men's basketball standout, Tyler Scott, and dual athlete Cole MacMillan (men's soccer and hockey).

The event, held at the PEI Brewing Company, included student-athletes, coaches, staff, along with senior administration, alumni, donors, sponsors, and booster club supporters.

UPEI President Alaa Abd-El-Aziz said, 'The UPEI Panther Celebration and Athletic Awards Gala is an exciting opportunity for student-athletes, coaches, staff and their supporters to reflect on a great season. It is also a wonderful occasion for the University community to recognize athletic, academic, and community service excellence among our Panther student-athletes.'

'Tonight is when we, as a Panther community, remember the fun times and the individual and team challenges and successes,' said Director of Athletics and Recreation Chris Huggan. 'It is a night for all Panthers to feel proud about representing the University and the pieces of history that they have contributed to Panther Sport. It is also a time to get excited about what lies ahead for next season, and for those seniors who are graduating, what their next steps in sport and in life will be.'

In addition to the Athlete of the Year awards, club and varsity team awards were presented. The MVP and Rookie of the Year award winners from each team include:

MVP, Rookie

Women's volleyball Ellie Beck, Rachel Hughes
Men's rugby Harrison Torr, Brian MacKay
Women's rugby Megan Larkin, Alysha Corrigan
Field hockey Katherine Koughan, Hannah Gormley
Men's soccer Jared Murphy, Ben Keefe
Women's soccer Emilie Pelletier, Julia MacSwain
Men's hockey Chris Desousa, Marcus Power
Women's hockey Samantha Sweet, Emma Weatherbie
Men's basketball Tyler Scott, Milorad Sedlarevic
Women's basketball Amy Gough, n/a
Swimming Rebekah Nitschmann, Hannah Jenkins
Joël Legault, Martin Sobey

The J.T. 'Mickey' Place Awards are presented by the UPEI Student Union to student-athletes who have made a contribution to student leadership on their team and on campus. John Thomas 'Mickey' Place was connected not only with Athletics at UPEI, but also with all aspects of campus life. These awards were given in his memory to: Lauren Chamberlain (women's rugby), Emily Ross (field hockey), Adam Lowther (men's soccer), Kelsie Collier (women's soccer), Mason Wilgosh (men's hockey), Ferran Brown (women's hockey), Geoff Doane (men's basketball), Darcy Zinck (women's basketball), and Rebekah Nitchsmann (swimming).

The Gordon and Muriel Bennett Award is given to a student (male or female) who, over four years, best combined athletic achievement and academic excellence. Men's soccer student-athlete Jared Murphy was this year's recipient.

The W.A. Ledwell Award goes to a student-athlete who has demonstrated outstanding athletic ability in the intercollegiate program, academic excellence, and the qualities of leadership, sportsmanship and citizenship. Samantha Sweet from women's hockey was the recipient.

One of the evening highlights was the presentation of the Passion for Life Award, originated in memory of Rene Ayangma, a former UPEI soccer player. All nominees were recognized and the overall award winner was women's basketball player Danielle MacDonald.

'A successful Athletics program is important to the University and it is at events like tonight's celebration where we can demonstrate that,' added President Abd-El-Aziz. 'On behalf of the entire UPEI family, I congratulate everyone for representing UPEI in the community with Panther Pride. I am very proud of you.'

About the UPEI Athletes of the Year and Major Award Winners

Amy Gough, a 5'10' guard on the women's basketball team, is a fifth-year nursing student from, St. John's, NL. She was named The Wave Athlete of the Week twice during the regular season and an AUS First Team All-Star and had a tremendous AUS championship, being named to the AUS Championship Tournament All-Star Team.

Tyler Scott is a 6'2' guard from Halifax, NS who was a strong performer for the men's basketball team all season. The second-year business administration student was named The Wave Athlete of the Week several times as well as CIS Athlete of the Week for November 10 to 16. He was an AUS First Team All-Star and a CIS Second Team All-Canadian.

Cole MacMillan, from Stanhope, is a fourth-year Arts student who plays both varsity soccer and hockey. In men's soccer, the 5'11' striker was the team's nominee for the Passion for Life Award, was an AUS First Team All-Star, and CIS Championship All-Star.

Jared Murphy, a Charlottetown native, is 5'10' striker for the men's soccer team. The fifth-year Business Administration student has consistently performed at an elite level during his entire university career. He is a CIS Academic All-Canadian, AUS First Team All-Star, CIS Championship All-Star, and CIS Championship bronze medallist. He was a four-time UPEI Athlete of the Week and an AUS Athlete of the Week during the 2014-15 season.

Samantha Sweet, from O'Leary, is a fourth-year Science student and three-time CIS Academic All-Canadian. The 5'6' forward has been assistant captain for the past two years and led her women's hockey team to an AUS championship in 2012. She was The Wave Athlete of the Week and AUS Athlete of the Week for the week ending December 3, 2014.

Danielle MacDonald is a 5'5' guard from Sydney Mines, NS, who was the women's basketball team's nominee for the Passion for Life Award. A leader on- and off-the-court, the fifth-year Science student was the major force behind her team's 'Shoot for the Cure' fundraiser, in support of breast cancer research. She was The Wave Athlete of the Week for the week ending February 22, 2015.