The University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) is proud to learn that it has successfully entered Phase 2 of a national competition for funding under the newly created Canada Excellence Research Chairs program.

The Canada Excellence Research Chairs was established by the Government of Canada in 2008 to establish 20 prestigious research chairs in universities across the country. The program invests $28 million a year to attract and retain the world's most accomplished and promising minds to help Canada build a critical mass of expertise in priority research areas. UPEI's submission to the program was for funding to further its aquatic epidemiology expertise.

'The University of Prince Edward Island, supported by its veterinary medicine faculty (the Atlantic Veterinary College), is a global leader in aquatic epidemiology and a national leader in research excellence,' says Dr. Katherine Schultz, Vice President of Research Development.

'Our expertise in aquatic species health and epidemiology advances basic and applied science, strengthens industry both within Canada and internationally, and makes a healthy, sustainable source of food a possibility. We are excited and proud of this opportunity to further expand our strengths by competing to recruit a world leading researcher in this field.'

If successful in Phase 2 of the competition, UPEI will receive up to $1.4 million annually for seven years to develop an ambitious research program to contribute to Canada's global competitiveness, future prosperity and well-being.

The UPEI and Atlantic Veterinary College researchers, all of whom are professors of epidemiology, involved in the development of the Canada Excellence Research Chair submission for a UPEI-based world leader in aquatic epidemiology include: Drs Larry Hammell (Director of the Atlantic Veterinary College's Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences), Crawford Revie (Canada Research Chair in Population Health/Epi-Informatics ), Ian Dohoo (Director of the Atlantic Veterinary College's Centre for Veterinary Epidemiological Research) and John VanLeeuwen (Chief Research Officer of the PEI Health Research Institute).

UPEI is one of the top ten universities in Canada for undergraduate research, and the number one Canadian undergraduate university for research income growth over five years. External grants and contracts for all research areas at UPEI totaled $16.4 million in 2008. UPEI has seven Canada Research Chairs in the sciences and the social sciences and humanities.

For the complete list of competition results, please visit www.cerc.gc.ca.

The Tourism Research Centre (TRC) at UPEI has released a new report profiling cruise ship passengers to PEI in 2007 and 2008. The survey was conducted by distributing it to passengers who disembarked in September and October of 2007, and again in May and June of 2008.

The cruise ship passenger to PEI has quite a different profile than the typical overnight pleasure visitor to PEI. 'While only seven percent of our overnight pleasure visitors for the year come from the US,' stated TRC Research Director Dr. Monica MacDonald, 'over 80 per cent of cruise ship passengers to PEI are from the US.' Cruise ship passengers also tend to be older: in 2007 86 per cent of passengers to PEI were 55 or older, although in 2008 this figure dropped to 69 per cent.

Results also show that many of the passengers had not been to PEI before. Typically, about 20 per cent of overnight pleasure visitors to PEI are visiting the province for the first time, whereas about 85 per cent of the cruise ship passengers were first-time visitors. In the survey, passengers were asked if they would return to PEI for a vacation. While few (less than two per cent in 2008) said they would return in the next year, approximately 15 per cent (averaged over 2007 and 2008) said they would return sometime after a year, and 43 per cent said they may return at some point in the future.

'It would be worthwhile to follow up with these potential visitors and encourage them to return to PEI for a full vacation,' said Dr. MacDonald. 'Our cruise ship passengers have higher incomes than our typical overnight pleasure visitors to PEI, and gave good ratings when evaluating their short experience here.'

In 2008 cruise ship visitors to PEI spent an average of almost six hours away from the ship - minimal time for the province to leave a lasting impression. Nevertheless, in 2008 about two thirds of passengers chose to participate in an organized shore excursion, an increase from 58 per cent in 2007. Many of those (about 62 per cent) not taking organized excursions explored Charlottetown on foot and/or visited historic sites in the city. About 38 per cent shopped, and the percentage of passengers who chose to dine at a restaurant increased from 14 per cent in 2007 to 32 per cent in 2008.

Average spending per passenger increased from $39.04 in 2007 to $47.75 in 2008. To compare, the average overnight pleasure visitor to PEI spends $49.46 when accommodation is omitted. On average, about one third of spending by cruise ship passengers goes toward organized tours, and almost $6.00 per passenger is spent at a restaurant.

The full report is available on the exit survey section of the TRC's website: www.trc.upei.ca/exitsurvey. Further information about the report can be obtained from the Tourism Research Centre, School of Business, University of PEI, at (902) 566-6096 or trc@upei.ca.

The impressive five-storey building that stands at the southwest corner of the University of Prince Edward Island campus and serves as UPEI's newest student residence has been named in honour of Bill and Denise Andrew in recognition of their life-long commitment to the well-being of the University.

'To say that Bill and Denise Andrew are passionate about UPEI is an understatement. Their contributions of time, energy, and financial resources have been invaluable,' says Fred Hyndman, Chair of the UPEI Board of Governors. 'Their generosity has benefitted every corner of the UPEI community and made a tremendous impact on students' lives.'

"Bill and Denise Andrew have been outstanding supporters of UPEI and its advancement, in the fullest sense," says UPEI President Wade MacLauchlan. "The entire UPEI community, including students and alumni, has benefitted from their example and their generosity. We are proud that Bill and Denise Andrew Hall will have such a fine name, and that UPEI has such a bright future."

The Andrews are Calgary residents who maintain close ties to their native Prince Edward Island. They have a home in PEI and, in partnership with Bill's brother Brian and his wife Carol, they operate Meridian Farms in Milton where they raise standardbred horses, a family tradition for four generations.

Bill Andrew graduated from UPEI's Engineering program in 1973. He went on to become the CEO of Penn West Petroleum, one of Canada's largest senior oil and natural gas exploration and production companies. Since March 2005, he has been Chancellor of UPEI and was recently elected to serve for a second term, ending in 2013.

The Andrews have created numerous academic and athletics scholarships, supported neuroscience research, and assisted nursing leadership programs. They are also leading contributors of the Friends of UPEI group in Calgary which provides scholarships for Alberta students to study at the University of Prince Edward Island.

'Generosity and down-to-earth encouragement of students, faculty, and staff are their trademarks,' says Fred Hyndman. 'UPEI is a force that is capable of improving the lives of all Prince Edward Islanders, and positively affecting individuals and communities well beyond its shores. It is able to do so because of the extraordinary contributions of individuals like Bill and Denise Andrew.'

Bill and Denise Andrew Hall was officially named at a special ceremony during Convocation Week at UPEI. Students and faculty made presentations about the impact that the Andrew family's support has made on their education and research, and President Wade MacLauchlan unveiled a plaque that will be mounted in bronze in the main entrance to the residence.

Bill and Denise Andrew Hall was designed to provide quality accommodation that is quiet, spacious, and filled with natural light. Directly connected to the Wanda Wyatt Dining Hall, the residence offers a choice of one-, two-, or three-bedroom fully-equipped suites. It has significantly increased UPEI's capacity to host high-profile conferences, tournaments, and special events. Throughout the spring and summer months, it houses individuals and groups from across Canada and around the world. In June more than 400 members of the Federated Women's Institutes of Canada will call UPEI home, and in August campus residences will become the Athletes' Village for week two of the 2009 Canada Games.

Photo: Bill and Denise Andrew

Dr. Michael Entzeroth, Deputy Director of Biopolis, Singapore and Chairman of the Executive Council, BioSingapore, will give a public presentation called 'Singapore-An Outstanding BioMedical Hub in South-East Asia,' on Thursday, May 14, at the University of Prince Edward Island.

The UPEI School of Business is presenting this event in collaboration with the Province of Prince Edward Island, NSERC and the PEI BioAlliance.

The event begins with lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in Room 142 of Bill and Denise Andrew Hall (formerly known as the New Residence). Lunch will be followed by Entzeroth's presentation and a panel discussion in the K.C. Irving Chemistry Centre, Room 104.

The panelist will be Dr. Steven Casper, Fulbright Scholar and Director of the Bioscience Program, Keck Graduate Institute.

Entzeroth is the Deputy Director of the Experimental Therapeutic Centre, Biopolis, Singapore. He has extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry, with many success records in drug discovery and development, as well as in generating entrepreneurial drug discovery cultures in an internationally competitive environment. He is currently Chair of BioSingapore, an industry association for life sciences' businesses in Singapore and a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of Chakra Biotech Sdn Bhd in Penang.

Casper is an Associate Professor and the Director of the Master of Bioscience Program at the Keck Graduate Institute in Claremont, California. Casper's research interests include comparative studies of the development of new technology industries, with a special interest in processes by which biomedical science has been commercialized across European countries. He is also interested in using computational social science methods to examine the emergence of social networks within biotechnology clusters. He is currently a Fulbright Chair at the UPEI School of Business.

To register, please contact Tammie Rose by Monday, May 11, at (902) 566-0564 or tmrose@upei.ca.

Dulcie McCallum, Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Review Officer for Nova Scotia, will be the guest lecturer at the annual Chief Justice Thane A. Campbell Lectureship in Law on Thursday, May 21, at the University of Prince Edward Island.

Her presentation, entitled 'The Audacity of Inclusion', will discuss assisted decision-making and guardianship - Is guardianship law a thing of the past? Has the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, to which Canada is a signatory, changed how we include people who are labeled mentally disabled? McCallum will discuss the proceedings at the UN leading up to the passing of the Convention. Her focus will be on what guardianship laws meant that held people to be incompetent, and what a new model might look like that will enable all people to maximize their ability to make decisions for themselves.

McCallum received her law degree from the University of Victoria in 1981 and was called to the bar in 1983. She was the ombudsman for British Columbia for seven years, until 1999. Since then, she has worked for government, contributing her expertise to high-profile projects such as the administrative review into abuse at Woodlands School that resulted in the public report, 'The Need to Know.' She has also worked in the not-for-profit sector, particularly in the area of rights of people with disabilities. This included acting as an expert representative on the Canadian Delegation to the UN for four years.

The Chief Justice Thane A. Campbell Lectureship in Law is co-sponsored by UPEI and the Law Foundation of Prince Edward Island. In 1991, the Foundation created an endowment at UPEI to provide a stimulating series of lectures in honour of Chief Justice Thane A. Campbell, former premier of PEI and first chancellor of UPEI.

The May 21 lecture by Dulcie McCallum is open to the public. It will begin at 7 p.m. in the Alex H. MacKinnon Auditorium of McDougall Hall, UPEI. Following the speech, there will be an opportunity for questions and discussion. There is no charge and everyone is welcome.

High school graduates who have deferred their post-secondary education can now find out what it is like to attend UPEI through a new program called ExperienceU. All students accepted into the one-week program will receive an ExperienceU award to cover their costs.

'Some high school students are uncertain about attending university right after grade 12, and others who have deferred university for a year are looking for information and support about beginning university,' says Tamara Leary, Acting Director of Student Services. 'They worry about finances, or making time for study, or they are not familiar with the academic and support options available here. ExperienceU is a hands-on program that helps them make an informed decision about their education and career paths.'

ExperienceU participants will learn about university academic expectations and supports, scholarships and bursaries, and research skills, and they will experience campus life. They will meet with academic advisors and a career counsellor, discuss learning styles, and have an opportunity to explore career choices. The program is delivered on campus and also includes online study. There are activities outside the classroom to familiarize participants with all aspects of the campus community.

ExperienceU runs from June 22 to 26, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The application deadline is June 12. More information is available at upei.ca/experienceu or khennessey@upei.ca.

Island business owners will have the opportunity to discuss practical business management approaches in difficult economic times at a symposium presented by ProfitLearn PEI at the University of Prince Edward Island on Friday, May 29.

The event, called 'LAUNCH - A Symposium for Growing PEI Business,' will take place in UPEI's McDougall Hall from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The symposium featured a stellar line-up of speakers, including Arlene Dickinson, CEO of Venture Communications Ltd., and sole female judge on CBC TV's popular show Dragons' Den; Elizabeth Beale, President and CEO of the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council; and Doug Hall, CEO of Eureka Ranch, author and star of NBC's 'The Inventor.'

After welcoming remarks at 8:45 a.m., Elizabeth Beale will launch the symposium at 9 a.m. with a plenary presentation, entitled 'State of PEI Economy and Outlook: Where are the best opportunities for growth?'

Starting at 10 a.m., Doug Hall will lead a visionary panel discussion around 'Innovation and Innovating Efficiently: Finding your own opportunities in challenging times.' This will be particularly interesting to new entrepreneurs. Panelists for this session are David Perry, Carestream Health Canada Company; John Rowe, Honibe; and Michael Ives, NetLegal.

Named one of the most powerful women in business in Canada, Arlene Dickinson will give a keynote presentation called 'An Entrepreneur's Story of Optimism' from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The afternoon will feature two panel discussions, presented by experienced business owners from the Maritime region. The first panel, chaired by symposium facilitator Eric Riordan, will discuss finding financial capital and investment in today's economy, and the second, moderated by UPEI President Wade MacLauchlan, will focus on practical strategies for growing a profitable business in today's economic climate.

Presenters involved in the afternoon panels include Sean Casey, First Angel Network; Bertha Jay, BDC; Dan MacDonald, InNOVAcorp; Dennis Campbell, Atlantic Turbines; and Kevin Murphy, Murphy Investments Ltd., among others.

At a pre-symposium event, Dragon's Den fans can get 'up close and personal' with Arlene Dickinson at a question-and-answer session on Thursday, May 28, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in McDougall Hall. Presented in partnership with the UPEI School of Business's MBA and Entrepreneurship programs, this event is $15 per person.

LAUNCH - A Symposium for Growing PEI Business is supported by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and the P.E.I. Department of Innovation and Advanced Learning. The cost is $80 per person. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. on the day of the symposium.

For information about the symposium and the Thursday evening question-and-answer session, please contact Lisa MacKinnon-Laybolt at (902) 566-0336 or lisa@launchpei.com, or visit www.launchpei.com or http://profitlearn.upei.ca.

Established in 2003 through a partnership between ACOA, PEI Business Development Inc. and UPEI, ProfitLearn PEI provides business skill development workshops to owner-managers of small and medium-size companies across Prince Edward Island. For more information, please contact Marg Weeks at 1-800-270-4795 or marweeks@upei.ca.

Fans of CBC TV's popular program Dragons' Den will have the opportunity to get 'up close and personal' with Dragon judge Arlene Dickinson during a question-and-answer session at UPEI on May 28.

The UPEI School of Business MBA and Entrepreneurship programs and the Centre for Life-Long Learning will present this event from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 28, in the McKinnon Auditorium in McDougall Hall.

Dickinson will talk about her experiences with the Dragons' Den program and chat with audience members about starting, running and growing a great business.

Dickinson is the show's marketing expert, its only female judge, and one of its breakout stars. Ranked as one of Profit magazine's Top 100 Women Entrepreneurs for seven years running, she is considered one of the most powerful female business leaders in Canada today. She is owner and CEO of Venture Communications, one of the largest independent marketing agencies in Canada. She is the recipient of the prestigious Pinnacle Award for Entrepreneur Excellence, and has been named one of Chatelaine's TOP 100 Women Business Owners. She has also been inducted into Canada's Most Powerful Women Top 100 Hall of Fame.

Tickets for this event are $15 each and can be purchased in advance or at the door depending upon availability. A portion of the proceeds will help fund business student activities.

On Friday, May 29, Dickinson will give a keynote presentation called 'An Entrepreneur's Story of Optimism' at an all-day symposium at UPEI for Island business owners.

For information about both events, please contact Lisa MacKinnon-Laybolt at (902) 566-0336 or by e-mail at lisa@launchpei.com.

Dr. Benet Davetian, Chair of Sociology and Anthropology at UPEI, and Director of the Civility Institute, has just released a major new book entitled Civility: A Cultural History, published by University of Toronto Press.

The topics of civility and incivility are in the forefront of public debate. In today's Western societies, many feel that there has been a marked decrease in mutual consideration in both public and private settings. Are we less civil now than in the past? This 608-page book responds to the question through a historical, social, and psychological discussion of the civility practices in England, France, and the US. It reviews civility from 1200 to the present, offers a multi-dimensional analysis of the psychology of human interaction, and charts a new course for the study and understanding of civility and civil society.

The book has been described as the most comprehensive work on the topic since the publication of Norbert Elias's seminal work, The Civilizing Process. It is written to be useful to academics, upper-division students, and the general public.

"Benet Davetian's scintillating tour-de-force fills a gaping void in the history of ideas…," says Professor P.M. Forni of the Johns Hopkins Civility Initiative.

"Civility: A Cultural History is a tour-de-force: a work of dazzling scholarship on this core concept of our social life, ranging from the Middle Ages to the present, and covering France, England, and the United States…Davetian is as much at home with 'The Art of Courtly Love,' the Enlightenment, the rise of individualism, the Victorian gentleman and gentlewoman, as with contemporary teens and narcissism. It's absolutely fascinating," says Anthony Synnott, Professor of Sociology at Concordia University.

'Impressive in both scope and depth, this engaging book is an innovative and substantial dialogue on the concept of civility. Well documented and erudite, it not only historicizes the development of civility but also grounds it in today's society, offering a renewed perspective on crucial issues such as multiculturalism. I read Civility with great pleasure,' says Jean-François Côté, professor of Sociology at Université du Québec à Montréal.

Civility: A Cultural History is available in most university libraries. It is being distributed through major websites such as Amazon.com. Locally, it is sold through the UPEI Bookstore.

Scholarships and awards at the University of Prince Edward Island now total $3.5 million annually. Financial support for UPEI students has more than doubled over the past seven years. The increase reflects, in large part, the generosity of people who are creating new student awards as a way of supporting post-secondary education while paying tribute to their own family members.

Two of the newest awards recognize Michael and Aletha Hennessey of Charlottetown. Their children, Maureen, Frank, Sean, and Patrick Hennessey, and Kathleen Garrett, have established two annual scholarships in their honour. One is awarded to a mature female student entering third or fourth year in any faculty, who has returned to university full-time, and the other is for a student entering third or fourth year in Arts or Business, based on academic achievement.

Aletha Hennessey worked at the Robertson Library from 1968 to 1976. Michael Hennessey (SDU '50) served as UPEI's first registrar. 'We are pleased to support UPEI students, and we appreciate our family for creating these two awards,' he says.

Business student Laura Moore is one of the two first recipients of the scholarships. 'I am grateful for the generosity of the Hennessey family and feel it is an excellent opportunity for students to take advantage of as well as other bursaries and scholarships offer at UPEI,' she says.

The Audrey J. Tinney Nursing Scholarship is another newly established award. Audrey Tinney (PWC '49 and PEI Hospital School of Nursing Class of '52) worked for more than 40 years as a registered nurse. To recognize her passion for nursing and her enthusiasm for life on PEI, her son Bill (UPEI '82), son Roger (Holland College '83), and husband Donald (PWC '48) created the scholarship for students entering first year in the UPEI School of Nursing.

"Receiving this scholarship has definitely lightened my load substantially, and is greatly appreciated,"says Erin Acorn, the first recipient of the Audrey J. Tinney Scholarship. "The generosity and unselfishness of families who set up scholarships for students is a wonderful gift to be recognized and appreciated for its greatness. I hope, one day, to be as generous and selfless, both in my practice as a nurse and as an alumna of UPEI."

Other recent student awards include the Dr. Brendan O'Grady Scholarship in Catholic Studies; Passion for Life Award in memory of René Ayangma; the Doug Riley Memorial Music Award; the George E. Howatt MBA Scholarships; and the Kyle and Kody Men's Hockey Award.

Students looking for more information can take advantage of UPEI's re-designed website at upei.ca/scholarships. Information on how to establish a new scholarship or award is available through the UPEI Department of Advancement.