President Alaa Abd-El-Aziz assisted the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food and MP for Cardigan, as he lay the wreath on behalf of Prince Edward Island at a Remembrance Day ceremony at the Canadian Embassy in Beijing, China on November 11. President Abd-El-Aziz is participating in a multi-sectoral Canada-PEI trade and investment mission to China that wraps up on November 15. The mission will support Atlantic Canadian businesses and organizations in targeted sectors—food and beverage producers including seafood, clean growth, education, and tourism—that are looking to create new partnerships and build business-to-business relationships in China, Canada’s second largest trading partner after the United States.

Dr. Trevor Jain (Maj.), Program Director for the Bachelor of Science in Paramedicine at UPEI and a reservist with the Canadian army, received the Order of Military Merit (officer level) from Governor General Julie Payette on November 6 in Ottawa. Dr. Jain was one of five members of the Canadian army at last week’s ceremony to receive the meritorious clasp, one of the highest military honours in the country.

Working as a surgeon with the armed forces, the major's most recent deployment was a nine-week stint in Iraq as part of Op Impact, where he was a trauma team leader. Dr. Jain is a member of the 36 Canadian Brigade, the reserve army that covers PEI and Nova Scotia, and Deputy Commanding Officer of the Prince Edward Island Regiment. The soldiers in the brigade nominated him for the Order of Military Merit, which is based on outstanding military service.

Dr. Jain also works as an emergency room physician at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and is Medical Director of the Primary Care, Paramedicine, and Advanced Care Paramedicine programs at Holland College.

Congratulations, Dr. Jain!

The annual UPEI Global Village Multicultural Festival takes place on Saturday, November 17 at 6:00 pm in McMillan Hall of the W.A. Murphy Student Centre at UPEI. The Global Village Organizing Committee is excited to invite to the community to celebrate the diversity and friendship of our beautiful island by attending this free event.

The festival brings together various ethno-cultural groups and community organizations in an effort to build a more comprehensive working model of the area’s cultural mosaic. To celebrate this rich heritage, UPEI students host an annual multicultural festival to gather cultural representation from the university and PEI. The Global Village is an exciting opportunity to bring domestic and international students and community members together to collaborate, promote, explore and learn about each other’s cultural background in an interactive and engaging way.

“Not everyone has the opportunity to go out and see the world, so it’s nice to be able to bring a little bit of the world here for everyone to enjoy,” said Russell Kleinveldt, one of the members of the Global Village Organizing Committee and an international student from South Africa in the Master of Education program.

This September, the number of international students enrolled at UPEI is the highest in its history, amounting to just over 25 per cent of the student population. There are more than 70 countries represented in the international student body at the university.

For more information on the UPEI Global Village, please contact Nouhad Mourad at the International Student Office at nmourad@upei.ca or (902) 566-6092.

The University of Prince Edward Island prides itself on people, excellence, and impact and is committed to assisting students reach their full potential in both the classroom and community. With roots stemming from two founding institutions—Prince of Wales College and Saint Dunstan’s University—UPEI has a reputation for academic excellence, research innovation, and creating positive impacts locally, nationally, and internationally. UPEI is the only degree granting institution in the province and is proud to be a key contributor to the growth and prosperity of Prince Edward Island.

Every week, UPEI Athletics and Recreation recognizes two student-athletes for their achievements and dedication to their respective sports. Congratulations to Camille Scherger and Amin Suleman, the UPEI Panther Subway Athletes of the Week for November 5 to 11.

Camille Scherger is a second-year science student from Lloydminster, Alberta and a goalie on the UPEI Women’s Hockey team. The Panthers won a pair of games over the weekend, defeating both Université de Moncton and St. Francis Xavier University by a score of 3–2. Scherger saved 94 per cent of the shots she faced over the weekend, including all seven overtime shots in the game against U de M. “Camille was very solid this past week giving us the chance to win both games,” said coach Bruce Donaldson.”

Amin Suleman is a fourth-year arts student from Toronto, Ontario and a guard on the UPEI Men’s Basketball team. The Panthers split a pair of games over the weekend with Acadia University. Suleman led the team in assists with six for the weekend and had just one turnover. He also pulled down six rebounds. “Amin continues to grow as a complete player and is demonstrating the kind of tenacity and grit that that makes for winning basketball,” said coach Darrell Glenn.

Go Panthers Go!

Did you know that under the PEI Animal Welfare Act, it is illegal to travel with dogs, and other companion animals, unsecured in the back of a pickup truck? Are you aware that cosmetic surgery on animals, such as tail docking in dogs, cattle, and horses, and ear cropping in dogs, is prohibited?

On Tuesday, November 20, the Atlantic Veterinary College will host a free public workshop about the Act, which was passed by the Government of Prince Edward island in 2017, in Lecture Theatre A, starting at 7 p.m. The workshop will address the impact of the impact on Islanders and their animals--large and small. Dr. Alice Crook, Coordinator of the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre at AVC, will provide a “big picture” of the Act, focusing on the evolution of a distressed-based model to a standard–of-care model. Dwight Thompson, PEI Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, will speak about the rights and responsibilities of owners, and Mike Gilbertson, PEI Humane Society, will focus on how the Society handles animal welfare complaints.

Everyone is welcome. Admission is free, and refreshments will be served. For information, call (902) 566-0589. 

UPEI’s Faculty of Business will hold an information session for those interested in its Executive MBA program. The event will be Tuesday, November 20 at 5:00 pm at The Gallery in The Guild in Charlottetown.

UPEI’s EMBA program offers a high-quality learning experience for working business professionals. The program is designed for those working in, or aspiring to work, in a management or leadership position. Classes are offered bi-weekly on Fridays and Saturdays with the option to complete the program in 20 months.

Learn more about the program and application process, have your questions answered, and meet with staff from the Faculty of Business.

To reserve a seat, contact 902 566-6474 or mba@upei.ca.

For more information about UPEI’s Executive MBA program, please visit upei.ca/business/emba or contact the MBA Coordinator at 902-566-6474.

The University of Prince Edward Island prides itself on people, excellence, and impact and is committed to assisting students reach their full potential in both the classroom and community. With roots stemming from two founding institutions—Prince of Wales College and Saint Dunstan’s University—UPEI has a reputation for academic excellence, research innovation, and creating positive impacts locally, nationally, and internationally. UPEI is the only degree granting institution in the province and is proud to be a key contributor to the growth and prosperity of Prince Edward Island.

UPEI's Vice-President Administration and Finance Jackie Podger is pleased to announce the appointment of several key members to her team: Marilyn Barrett, Eileen Conboy, and Emi Abou-Wafia. 

"The creation of these senior positions will help ensure that the University is advancing its strategic priorities, especially in areas of student/employee health and well-being," said Ms. Podger. "I look forward to working with Marilyn, Eileen, and Emi and will count on their leadership, strategic thinking, and management skills in their respective areas within the Office of the Vice-President Administration and Finance."

Marilyn Barrett has joined the University in the role of Director of the UPEI Health and Wellness Centre. Marilyn’s extensive health background will be a tremendous asset for UPEI as she takes on the overall leadership, strategic direction, and management for the expanded scope of the UPEI Health and Wellness Centre. She will interact closely with the team of physicians, psychologists, psychiatrist, nurse practitioner, nurse, and administrative assistant that will offer an innovative and collaborative approach to health and well-being for students, faculty, and staff.

Previous to joining UPEI, Marilyn was the Director of Primary Care and Chronic Disease Prevention/Management for Health PEI, a position she held since December 2010. Along with a number of management positions with Health PEI, including Manager–Implementation & Change Management for the electronic health record project, Marilyn was also a Clinical Instructor and Clinical Coordinator for the UPEI Faculty of Nursing. She has a Diploma in Nursing from the PEI School of Nursing, holds a Bachelor of Nursing from the University of New Brunswick, and a Master of Nursing from Athabasca University. Marilyn currently sits on the board of directors of the Canadian Nurse's Protective Society and is past president of the Association of Registered Nurses of Prince Edward Island. In her spare time, she sits on the granting committee of the Community Foundation of Prince Edward Island and is board member of the Cardigan Village Heritage Committee.

Eileen Conboy is UPEI’s new Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Coordinator. As an integral member of the management team, Eileen has already begun to receive and triage sexual violence concerns and complaints, as well as develop and provide information and training to prevent sexual violence on campus. She will be working with departments across the University to develop and facilitate training on sexual violence prevention, bystander intervention, and key human rights areas.

Eileen spent her wonder years in Cornwall, PEI before pursuing post-secondary education off-island. She is a graduate of Mount Allison University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and of the University of Ottawa with a Master of Education in Counselling. Eileen began her counselling career working with students at Carleton University prior to accepting a therapist position with the PEI Rape and Sexual Assault Centre. It is here that she immersed herself in supporting survivors of sexualized violence, representing the centre on committees in the community, and implementing prevention education. In her spare time, Eileen loves creating art, houseplants, sushi, and her cat named Mango.  

Emi Abou-Wafia, the new Director of Operations for the Office of the Vice-President Administration and Finance, comes to us from Vesey’s Seeds Ltd. where she held the role of Marketing Operations Manager since 2015. She brings to her new role extensive global experience and a proven track record across a broad range of industries and organizations, spanning from Fortune 500 multi-nationals to private, family-owned companies. Her expertise includes strategic planning, business development, client/partner management, product marketing, marketing communications, and cross-functional and cross-cultural team management. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Egypt’s Alexandria University and a Master of Business Administration from the American University in Dubai, UAE. In her spare time she enjoys traveling and experiencing new cultures, reading and learning about self-improvement, hiking, working out, and salsa dancing.

Emi has hit the ground running and is leading numerous projects and functions in the Office of the Vice-President Administration and Finance including administration, infrastructure, integrated communications, and stakeholder engagement.

Over the next few weeks, many of you will have the opportunity to interact with Marilyn, Eileen, and Emi as they make the rounds to learn about the University and its various faculties, offices and departments—please give them a warm UPEI welcome!

UPEI invites students and employees to fully make use of UPEI Emergency Alert—UPEI's emergency mass notification system—by signing up to receive texts during an emergency or for storm closures.

All current students, faculty, and staff with an @upei.ca email have already been automatically entered into the UPEI Emergency Alert system and will receive email messages (the database is updated on a periodic basis to capture new students and employees). However, campus members need to opt-in to receive text notifications.

Visit upei.ca/alert for instructions on how to login, update your profile, and opt-in to receive texts, or read the updated UPEI Emergency Alert instruction guide

If you think you have already updated your UPEI Emergency Alert profile with your cell/smart phone number but still are not receiving texts, email Mark Pharand, Manager, Security Services. UPEI Security Services will also be set up in various locations across campus to assist people in updating their profile and opting-in to receive texts. A schedule and locations will be posted in the coming days via Campus Notices (click here to subscribe).

The University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) is participating in GivingTuesday on November 27, an international day of giving that follows Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The focus of this year’s campaign is to raise awareness of and funds for the Atlantic Veterinary College’s (AVC) Wildlife Service.

The AVC Wildlife Service provides primary veterinary care to injured, sick, displaced, and orphaned wildlife on Prince Edward Island. In a typical year, the service provides medical care for 250–275 animals. However, as of the end of October this year, that number stood at 300.

The service sees a wide variety of avian and mammalian species. Birds account for 85 per cent of the species seen by the service—from small songbirds such as warblers and finches to large raptors like owls and eagles. This year alone, the service has cared for seven eagles, more than in any other year. Mammals such as foxes make up the remaining 15 per cent. The service works closely with Prince Edward Island’s fish and wildlife division, which is responsible for wildlife on the Island, and with rehabilitation centres in the Maritime provinces.

The AVC Wildlife Service is a non-revenue-generating program supported by the College through time and expertise provided by clinicians, students, and staff. Donations to the AVC Wildlife Clinical Care Fund are gratefully accepted.

“The AVC Wildlife Service is an important part of our educational and service programming,” says Dean Greg Keefe. “Students who work with the service learn about the joys and the challenges of providing veterinary care to wild animals. As well, our work in this area provides a window on the health of wild animals and their environment.”

Second-year student Kate Rundle, who volunteers with the AVC Wildlife Service, says she has had some great experiences.

“I have seen some amazing animals up close and personal, learned new and different ways of caring for and rehabilitating wildlife, and have had the opportunity to observe a surgical procedure on a juvenile eagle and learn more about wildlife medicine. The AVC Wildlife Service gives me and many other students much needed experience to pursue these areas of veterinary medicine.”

This is the second year that UPEI has participated in GivingTuesday. Last year, the University community came together to raise funds to create an award in memory of the late Rocky Paquet, a long-time employee who was loved for his dedication to UPEI students.

Coming after Black Friday and Cyber Monday, GivingTuesday opens the season of giving, inspiring people to take action to improve their local communities and give back to charities and causes they care about. Now in its sixth year, GivingTuesday continues to gain traction across the country, with thousands of partner organizations and millions of Canadians expected to take part.

Follow the AVC Wildlife Service campaign on AVC Friends and Family Facebook.
 

The public is invited to the first Harry Baglole Memorial Public Symposium in Island Studies. Measuring Quality of Life on Prince Edward Island will take place on  Thursday, November 22, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm in the Alex H. MacKinnon Auditorium (Room 242), UPEI’s Don and Marion McDougall Hall. This event is sponsored by UPEI’s Institute of Island Studies and UPEI Research Services. 

The principal speaker will be Gwen Colman, who, in 1997, along with her husband Ron, founded Genuine Progress Index (GPI) Atlantic, a pioneering research organization in creating new measures of well-being and progress. Colman will discuss GPI’s work in collaborative development of well-being measures with communities in Bhutan, New Zealand, Thailand, and Nova Scotia. Recently, GPI has worked with a network of universities and NGOs in southeast Asia, developing a methodology for collaborative development of well-being measures at the community level. She will speak about recent work in two communities in Thailand and about previous work with the creation of community GPIs in two communities in Nova Scotia. Colman will identify the elements for creating successful community partnerships to measure well-being and their resultant impact.

Colman will be joined by panelists Dr. Jim Randall and Wendy MacDonald, who will address the relevance of GPIs to the health and prosperity of this island.

“Too often what we think constitutes quality of life is divorced from the everyday lives of people,” says Dr. Randall, UNESCO Chair in Island Studies and Sustainability, chair of the Institute of Island Studies, and coordinator of the Master of Arts in Island Studies program at UPEI. “By asking people how they feel about themselves, their neighbourhoods, and their communities, we can start to get a better picture of islanders’ values, hopes, and dreams and whether these are being fulfilled.”

Wendy MacDonald worked in a range of policy and management roles in the provincial government before establishing her own consulting firm in 1998. In 2008, MacDonald rejoined the provincial government and in 2010 was appointed Clerk Assistant. She has worked on various policy projects including kindergarten, early childhood, education governance, and poverty reduction. As secretary to the cabinet committee on priorities, she works to support the cabinet decision-making processes and to strengthen policy capacity in government. 

The symposium will be chaired by Andrew Lush, a member of the Institute of Island Studies advisory committee.

Following the presentations, there will be time for discussion and questions from the floor. Admission is free. All are welcome.

The symposium series is being renamed in honour of Harry Baglole, the Institute of Island Studies’ first director, who passed away in May. Baglole was the architect of many public symposia over the years, born out of his passionate vision for strong, Prince Edward Island-made public policy frameworks.

For more details, visit islandstudies.com or contact the Institute at iis@upei.ca or (902) 894-2881.

The University of Prince Edward Island prides itself on people, excellence, and impact and is committed to assisting students reach their full potential in both the classroom and community. With roots stemming from two founding institutions—Prince of Wales College and Saint Dunstan’s University—UPEI has a reputation for academic excellence, research innovation, and creating positive impacts locally, nationally, and internationally. UPEI is the only degree granting institution in the province and is proud to be a key contributor to the growth and prosperity of Prince Edward Island.