UPEI Kitchen Party for Peace

The UPEI Peace Project presents an 'Island Kitchen Party for Peace' on Thursday, November 8 from 6:30-8:30 pm in UPEI's Chaplaincy Centre. Performances by local musicians Chris Rayner, Richard Wood, Laura Mohan, and guest fiddler Father Charlie will entertain the crowd. Admission is $5 with all proceeds going to establish a Peace Pole on campus, a dedicated ceremony will take place next semester.

There will be baked goods and pizza for sale, as well as raffle prizes available as you enjoy the talent of our local musicians in a welcoming and fun social setting. Students from Sociology 101A will also be on-site taking orders for Peace t-shirts they have designed to help promote the UPEI Peace Project.

For more information about the UPEI Peace Project or the Kitchen Party for Peace, please contact Blythe Relf-Phypers at upeipeaceproject@gmail.com

Follow the group on Twitter @UPEIPeace, and join the Facebook group and event: https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/423296521070332/ https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/204133886387968

UPEI professor co-edited newly published book

UPEI history professor Sarah Glassford co-edited the recently published 'A Sisterhood Of Suffering And Service' with her colleague Amy J. Shaw, associate professor of history at the University of Lethbridge.

The book delves into the lives of women and girls of Canada and Newfoundland during the First World War. Glassford and Shaw drew together the work of 12 contributors creating specific sections including volunteer and paid work, family and grief, and poetry and novels.

When asked why she decided to research this particular topic, Glassford explained that the woman's role in the First World War was less visible than it was during the Second World War, something that is of interest to both editors. Oftentimes women are left out of First World War histories and commemorations when, in fact, they played a large role noted Glassford, and they wanted to write women and girls back into the story.

'Women and girls were certainly an integral part of wartime society-contemporaries constantly praised their service and sacrifice-but over the century since then, their experiences have been largely forgotten,' said Glassford. 'I like to think we've done something to reverse that trend.'

Glassford and Shaw questioned whether women were transformed as a result of the First World War. Based on their own and their contributors' research, they've found both change and continuity in a big picture sense; on a personal level, however, it is clear that the war could be very transformative for women.

'We spent five years thinking about these women and girls and trying to make sense of what it was like for them to live through the war while having little means of influencing its outcome,' added Glassford. 'As a result, I feel a kind of personal connection to the women of that era-that I owe it to them, not just to make sure their side of the story isn't forgotten, but to do justice to their experiences.'

Glassford hopes the book will be useful to others interested in the topic and those wishing to do more research on the women of the First World War. The book can be purchased on amazon.ca, or through UBC Press.

Canada works with Canadian universities to reduce international poverty

Today, the Hon. Gail Shea, Minister of National Revenue recognised support for the international poverty reduction efforts at the University of Prince Edward Island. In partnership with Canadian universities, this project will deliver concrete results for people living in Chiloe, Chile. Canadians want to make a difference for those in need around the world and expect real results from Canada's international assistance. Our Government will work with Canadian universities to deliver tangible results for people in developing countries,' said Minister Shea. 'By tapping into their expertise, Canada will help provide the essentials for people in need, and give them the economic tools they need to become self-sufficient over the long-term.'

Today's event, supported through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) Partners for Development Program's call for proposals, will help the University of Prince Edward Island to examine the social and cultural context of how young indigenous people live and learn, and build a unique school and curriculum based on that knowledge. This project will allow UPEI to share our knowledge, skills and capacity towards sustainable operation of a school that will support development of dignified, sustainable livelihoods in remote small island Indigenous communities.

'This project builds on a relationship of trust and respect between Islanders of PEI and Chiloe that has developed over the past seven years,' said Dr. Irene Novaczek, Director of UPEI's Institute of Island Studies, and co-leader of this initiative, along with Dr. Kate Tilleczek, Canada Research Chair in Child/Youth Cultures and Transitions. 'This project gives us a brilliant opportunity to make a significant positive impact on the lives of young people in Williche territory who struggle with many of the same issues faced by rural indigenous youth here in Canada. In the process, we will also learn and grow, in ways that will enrich what we offer to UPEI students and to the wider Island community.'

The University of Prince Edward Island was one of 15 different schools and 17 different projects that CIDA selected to implement projects around the world that will stimulate sustainable economic growth, secure the future of children and youth, increase food security and advance Canada's commitments on maternal, newborn and child health. The selected Canadian universities will implement the projects in partnership with institutions and organizations in developing countries, to ensure the results will directly benefit people in need.

The total CIDA contribution the University of Prince Edward Island is $3,778,270. UPEI's contribution is $1,548,059, which is 29 percent of the cost of the project.

For more information on the Partners for Development Program and the call for proposals process, please visit CIDA's website at www.cida.gc.ca/partnership.

For information:

MP Office Contact Info
Justin Broekema
Press Secretary to the Minister of International Cooperation
Telephone: 819-953-6238
Media Relations Office
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
Telephone: 819-953-6534
Dave Atkinson
Research Communications Officer, UPEI
Telephone: 902-620-5117

"Get Swabbed!" on November 15

The UPEI Student Union is taking part in Canadian Blood Services' 'Get Swabbed!' event on November 15 from 10:00 am-6:00 pm in the W.A. Murphy Student Centre's McMillan Hall. The third annual national university challenge is a coast-to-coast competition amongst universities in support of the OneMatch stem cell and marrow network.

Participants across the country will have their cheeks swabbed to see who will be this year's national champion. The event targets young and diverse-specifically male donors (17-35)-as this particular demographic is vital to OneMatch's efforts in building an optimal stem cell network in Canada. Everyone is encouraged to attend and get swabbed to support UPEI and the Canadian Blood Services.

For more information, contact Amir Hosseinzadeh, President, UPEI Iranian Society at iraniansociety@upeisu.ca

UPEI celebrates the MacLauchlan Prizes for Effective Writing

UPEI celebrated the MacLauchlan Prizes for Effective Writing today at its first annual event in recognition of the importance of effective writing as a foundational skill for academic success and lifelong learning. The award-presented to 39 students and one faculty member this year-was established in 2011 by the MacLauchlan family to honour H. Wade MacLauchlan's contributions to the University and his 12 years of service as UPEI president and vice-chancellor.

UPEI's interim vice-president academic, Christian Lacroix, acted as the event master of ceremonies. 'The MacLauchlan Prizes for Effective Writing allow us to recognize students enrolled in a wide variety of programs at UPEI who produce notable written work, or have shown significant improvement in their writing,' he said. 'These awards also allow us to recognize faculty and staff who have contributed to the development of our students' writing skills.'

Fourth-year arts student and prize recipient Danielle MacDonald read an excerpt from her piece entitled 'Sexual Intercourse, Repression, and the Body,' and said receiving the award was an honour. 'The MacLauchlan family's generosity will help me continue my education at UPEI, and it's very encouraging to see students being rewarded for their academic successes,' she said. 'Their continued support of post-secondary education and contribution to students on an individual level is exemplary.'

'On behalf of the entire UPEI community, I thank the MacLauchlan family for their outstanding generosity in establishing the MacLauchlan Prizes for Effective Writing. I also thank former President Wade MacLauchlan for his long history of commitment to excellence in education,' said UPEI President and Vice-Chancellor Alaa Abd-El-Aziz. 'I congratulate each recipient of these prestigious prizes and encourage them to continue developing their writing ability which will impact their potential for future success.'

Host of CBC News: Compass and author of RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME Sidney, Heather, Boomer and Me, Bruce Rainnie was the event's special guest speaker. Rainnie entertained the crowd as he spoke about his own personal journey as a new author and the importance of writing as an effective skill for success.

The MacLauchlan Prizes for Effective Writing distribute up to $30,000 annually in awards. The family has made previous contributions to the Harry W. MacLauchlan Scholarships in Entrepreneurial Leadership, MacLauchlan Arena, Robertson Library, athletic scholarships, and student prizes in mathematics and entrepreneurship.

"A Taste of Islands" book launch—November 16

UPEI invites you to share in the Island Studies Press launch of "A Taste of Islands," edited by UPEI's Canada Research Chair, Island Studies, Godfrey Baldacchino and his wife Anna on Friday, November 16 at 6:30 pm at The Farm Centre.

"A Taste of Island: 60 Recipes and Stories from Our World of Islands" is the newest title from Island Studies Press and features signature recipes from the world of islands and their fascinating stories.

The event will feature delicious sample dishes from the book! All are welcome to attend.

For more information on the book visit islandstudies.com

UPEI Wind Symphony—World Premiere

The UPEI Wind Symphony will perform its final recital of the fall semester on Thursday, November 22 at 7:30 pm at UPEI's Dr. Steel Recital Hall. This program will feature an eclectic variety of outstanding contemporary works for the modern wind band designed to engage the audience and showcase its unique sounds.

Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovitch's 'Festive Overture' will open the performance. Written in 1954, this work is a favourite of the orchestral repertoire as it is noted for its opening fanfare and rapid, lyrical melodies.

'Traveler,' by the American composer David Maslanka, is the centrepiece of the program. An emotional and virtuosic work, listeners will be immediately captured by its cascading runs, colourful orchestration, and spiritual melodies.

Saxophonist Kevin MacLean is soloist in the performance of Claude T. Smith's 'Fantasia.'

This work exploits the technical and lyrical capabilities of the saxophone. MacLean is UPEI's sessional saxophone instructor and is known for his body of work as a soloist and chamber musician. He has been featured with the Prince Edward Island Symphony Orchestra.

Among the highlights of this recital will be the world premiere performance of Richard Covey's 'Maestoso.' This work was commissioned by the Wind Symphony with the assistance of a grant from the PEI Council of the Arts. A dramatic piece, 'Maestoso' explores different perspectives of what it means to be ‘majestic,' through distinct musical gestures and stylistic features. With regard to musical texture, phrasing and character, this piece provides unique interpretations of standard wind ensemble conventions found throughout the existing literature. The result is a fresh, exciting, highly expressive, and technically challenging piece of music for wind band. Dr. Covey is a sessional instructor of theory and composition at UPEI.

The Wind Symphony will conclude the evening with Charles Ives' 'Variations On America.' Ives was only 17 when he wrote this work for organ. It has been popularized as a result of transcriptions for orchestra and wind band. This piece presents five variations each with its unique character.

This year's UPEI Wind Symphony consists of 24 music majors, other UPEI students, and community musicians. Its mandate is to provide opportunities for its participants to apply their performance skills and develop musically through the study and performance of original and transcribed wind band literature. In addition, it is a forum through which professional attributes of ensemble performance are developed. It is within its mission to give its audiences meaningful and personal experiences with quality wind music, in the widest possible range of musical style and expression. The Wind Symphony has one two-hour rehearsal each week.

Each year the Wind Symphony tours selected areas of the region to provide its membership with additional performance experiences and share its music with a wider audience. As part of this process, it has partnered with most of PEI's school band programmes. Recent performances in Montague, Summerside, and Saint John, NB were favourably received.

During the past 14 years the Wind Symphony has produced an annual compact disc featuring selected repertoire from each year's performances. 'Cathedrals,' released in May 2010, received the 2011 Music PEI Award for Best Classical Recording. In February 2011, the Wind Symphony released its 'O Canada' CD, a project exclusively for PEI public schools. Its most recent CDs-'Freebirds,' (2011) and 'Lord of the Rings' (2012)-have been highly acclaimed.

Recent performances of the UPEI Wind Symphony have generated much interest with capacity audiences filling UPEI's recital hall. While tickets may be available at the door, advance purchase is recommended.

For Information:
Dr. Karem Simon
Professor, Department of Music
University of Prince Edward Island
(902) 566-0702 (work)
(902) 892-5993 (home)

UPEI seeks Aeroplan Miles donations to support Panther Sport

A new fundraising initiative designed to enhance the recruitment of student-athletes to the University of Prince Edward Island is now underway, says Ron Annear, UPEI Director of Athletics and Recreation.

'Aeroplan Miles can now be donated to UPEI through a Charitable Pooling Program on the Aeroplan website and the miles will be used to help our coaches recruit student-athletes to the University,' said Annear. 'People can donate their miles any time during the year, but we also have a contribution campaign goal of 500,000 miles for the month of November. Once we achieve 90 percent of the goal, Aeroplan will donate the remaining 10 percent.'

UPEI has nine teams participating in the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) conference, a part of Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS), and takes pride in its student-athletes who prove time and time again to be excellent role models and leaders in the community. Last season, UPEI had 57 CIS Academic All-Canadian athletes-those who achieved an academic average of 80 per cent or higher. In order to continue to attract the best and brightest student-athletes to UPEI, the recruitment effort is critical and the University is thankful for the opportunity to earn Aeroplan Miles through the Charitable Pooling Program.

Aeroplan members anywhere in the world can easily donate points to UPEI and support recruitment efforts for the Panthers. To donate, visit beyondmiles.aeroplan.com/eng/charity/123 and click 'donate now.' Login with your Aeroplan account number to donate your Aeroplan Miles. Aeroplan contributions are not eligible for charitable tax receipts.

Kim (Sullivan) Watson, former UPEI women's rugby player, who now resides in Calgary, helped kick-off the campaign with a 25,000 mile donation.

'Every donation counts, and when put into action, introduces potential Panther student-athletes to our province's university. We encourage people to donate their miles to help us achieve our goal and support the Panthers,' added Annear.

For Information:
Alf Blanchard
UPEI Athletics Development Officer
(902) 620-5036
Sheila Kerry
Media Relations and Communications Officer
University of Prince Edward Island
(902) 566-0760

Coffee Break Open House at the Chaplaincy Centre

You have been walking by for a long time...why not drop by the newly renovated Chaplaincy Centre? Come out to a coffee break/open house on Wednesday, November 21, 10:00 am-12:00 noon with words of appreciation at 11:00 am.

Did you know we have Christian and Muslim prayer spaces and a full kitchen, food bank, and clothing cupboard? Student tours and Chartwells coffee break treats will be offered-a sure incentive! All are welcome!

UPEI’s 2014 Committee seeks your ideas

2014 is the anniversary of the 1864 'Charlottetown Conference' and the government of PEI has made funds available to Island initiatives that celebrate and promote the spirit around this historic event. The University has struck a committee to develop and review ideas from the campus community, and to submit a set of proposals where the requirement for matching funds has been identified. The Committee will also be looking to define links between proposals where there is benefit in doing so.

In order to accommodate the proposal deadlines and allow effective review, the Committee is asking for interested individuals and groups to submit their ideas by November 21. Please forward your ideas to Committee chair Mark Leggott (mleggott@upei.ca).

More information can be found at the 2014 site: http://www.pei2014.com.