Panthers land Centennial Cup standout Lucas Vacca
Fresh off an OJHL championship and top defenceman honours at the Centennial Cup, Lucas Vacca is bringing his puck-moving game to UPEI for the 2026–27 season.
Vacca, a 21-year-old from Aurora, Ontario, joins the Panthers after three seasons in the Ontario Junior Hockey League. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound, left-shooting defenceman spent the 2023–24 season with the Haliburton County Huskies before playing the next two years with the Toronto Patriots.
Welcome Week: Family and Friends Music Festival
End the weekend with music, lights, and good vibes at the Family and Friends Music Festival! Join your fellow Panthers in the Quad for an evening of live music and entertainment. Bring your friends, family, or just yourself and enjoy a fun night together as Welcome Week continues. Everyone is welcome!
Rain Location: MacMillan Hall, W.A. Murphy Student Centre
Welcome Week: Aerialist Pop-Up and Outdoor Games
Get ready to see some impressive moves! Watch interactive fitness and acrobatics demonstrations from Aerial Warehouse, then enjoy the outdoors with your fellow students. Come by, take in the show, and enjoy an afternoon of movement, entertainment, and Welcome Week fun. Incoming students only.
Welcome Week: Kickoff Ceremony with Senior Leaders and Indigenous Community
Officially kick off your UPEI journey in the Quad! Join senior leaders and members of the Indigenous community for a special welcome ceremony as we celebrate the beginning of your university experience. Come be part of this memorable Welcome Week moment and start your UPEI journey surrounded by your fellow Panthers. All Panthers invited!
Rain Location: MacMillan Hall, W.A. Murphy Student Centre
Welcome Week: Cheer on the UPEI Women's Rugby team
Grab your thunder sticks and get ready to cheer! Meet at the Welcome Week check-in table at 1:30 pm, then head to the field with your fellow Panthers to support the UPEI women's rugby team. Come bring the energy, enjoy some live sport, and show our team what Panther spirit looks like. Everyone is welcome!
Welcome Week: Residence Move-in and Welcome Week Check-in
Still need to check in? Stop by the Welcome Week check-in table to pick up your swag and connect with campus service providers. It's another chance to get the information and support you need while meeting some of the people who can help make your transition to UPEI a little easier. Incoming students only.
Welcome Week: Game Night with your Student Union Executives
Ready to meet the people representing you at UPEI? Come hang out with your Student Union executives for a relaxed evening of games, entertainment, and getting to know your fellow students. Leave the first-week nerves at the door, bring your competitive spirit, and spend the evening making connections in a fun and informal setting. Incoming students only.
Welcome Week: Panther Pause: Treat and Meet
Before heading out on a campus tour, take a little time to Treat and Meet! Stop by the table for a snack, meet some fellow Panthers, and make a few new connections along the way. Whether you're looking for a quick break or your first Welcome Week conversation, come grab a treat and say hello. Open to new students, friends, family and supporters.
Collective Bargaining Update – August 20
The following provides an update on collective bargaining and related labour relations activities at UPEI.
CUPE 501
The University has reached a tentative agreement with CUPE 501 following negotiations held on August 10 and 11, 2026. The tentative agreement is now subject to ratification by both parties.
The University appreciates the work undertaken by both bargaining teams throughout the negotiations and remains committed to supporting a constructive collective bargaining process.
UPEI Faculty Association
"Attending medical school comes with many sacrifices, including financial ones."
UPEI recognizes the life-changing impact our donors and supporters have in the lives of our students!
Graduate student Tayah Sommer completed a Master's in Biology at UPEI in the Faculty of Science and is entering the Medical Doctor program in fall 2026 at UPEI. In her gracious thank you letter to Marylou Hughes, Tayah wrote:
