When UPEI Men's hockey coach Forbie MacPherson offered Ryan MacKinnon the chance to don the famed green and white Panthers jersey , the Summerside native felt an overwhelming sense of pride.

'Obviously, growing up in PEI and watching the Panthers makes you wish to someday put on that jersey,' said MacKinnon, who starred in his final major junior season last year with the Charlottetown Islanders of the QMJHL. 'It is an amazing opportunity and I feel very privileged for the chance to play at UPEI.'

MacKinnon had the best offensive season of his career in 2014-15, scoring 10 goals and adding 40 assists in 64 games. He also added five assists in the playoffs. MacKinnon knows he will be counted on to fill some of the void left with the graduation of Panther standout defencemen Reggie Traccitto to the American Hockey League.

'I am really looking forward to that challenge. Reggie had a great career and deserves a spot at the pro level. I learned a few things simply by watching him,' said MacKinnon. 'The past season with the Islanders gave me the confidence to add that offensive side to my game and I'm looking forward to doing what I can to help the Panthers win it all.'

Coach MacPherson said while he is excited about MacKinnon's offensive capabilities, there are many other important intangible factors to his game.

'Ryan is a born leader. He has captained two teams in the Quebec League. He was captain of his bantam and midget teams. He brings a lot of the table,' said MacPherson. 'He competes hard during every shift, in both ends of the rink, and I think his game is perfectly suited for the tough AUS conference.'

Joining the Panthers will give MacKinnon the opportunity to reunite with a number of his close friends including fellow defenceman Casey Babineau, who he played with in Rimouski. He also played minor hockey with and against Darcy Ashley, Brent Andrews, and Craig MacLauchlan.

'Playing with these guys just makes it special,' said MacKinnon, who will enroll in Business Administration program this fall. 'They are obviously great players and even greater people off the ice.'

During the recruitment process MacPherson said MacKinnon demonstrated strong character and a burning desire to win. He also has a great respect for the UPEI Panthers tradition.

'Ryan is the kind of player we covet. He is prepared to put the work in to win and he knows how special it will be for an Island kid to bring a championship home to UPEI,' added MacPherson. 'A university hockey career only lasts four or five years, but when you play here, you are a Panther forever. Ryan really gets that.'

Athletics and Recreation Director Chris Huggan was pleased to hear that MacKinnon has chosen UPEI.

'I watched Ryan MacKinnon be the leader of the Charlottetown Islanders on the ice and I was even more impressed with how he conducted himself off the ice,' said Huggan. 'I am pleased to know he will be joining our proud UPEI family.'

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
• 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

The University of Prince Edward Island announced today that Greg Gould is returning as head coach of the Women's Basketball team.

Gould, originally from Moncton, New Brunswick, coached the Panthers from 2012-14 and prior to that led the coaching staff for the girls' basketball team at Riverview High School in New Brunswick. He will begin his post at UPEI immediately to fill the vacancy left by Mark English last month.

Chris Huggan, Director of Athletics and Recreation said, 'While we were impressed with all of the candidates we interviewed, Greg Gould is an experienced, committed and highly successful coach. We are very excited to welcome Greg back, to take our program to the next level and build upon last year's success.' The 2014-15 team played in the final of the AUS championship, placing second behind Saint Mary's.

Gould is eager to return to the Island and continue working with UPEI student athletes, alumni, and the PEI basketball community.

'My goals are to help make the team a consistent AUS contender, win the championship, and ultimately, compete solidly at the national level,' said Gould. 'I would like to thank UPEI for sharing my vision for the Women's Basketball program and look forward to connecting with our student athletes to help them develop into the most capable, compassionate, ethical, and successful persons they can be. I can't wait to discuss how we can work together to move the program forward.'

Gould has coached basketball for 44 years, leading girls basketball teams at Moncton, Fredericton, and Riverview high schools, six times to the New Brunswick Interscholastic Athletic Association (NBIAA) AAA provincial championships. He also coached at the post-secondary level, including the St. Thomas University and the New Brunswick Teachers' College women's teams, and for a variety of provincial basketball teams. Gould is a recipient of the Atlantic Colleges Athletic Association (ACAA) Coach of the Year, Basketball New Brunswick Coaches Award, and the NBIAA Women's Coach of the Year award.

The Steering Committee for the 10th North Atlantic Forum conference, 'Building Community Resilience: Innovation, Culture, and Governance in Place,' to be held from 16 to 19 September 2015 in Summerside, is extending the early bird registration deadline until June 30. The early bird rate is $275, which includes conference materials, meals during the conference, conference banquet on September 18, shuttle from Charlottetown Airport, return transportation to Charlottetown, one field trip excursion, and local transportation events in Summerside.
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. The members believe in and celebrate the power of small, and the innovations that come out of unlikely places.

'Our Government is pleased to support UPEI through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency's (ACOA) Business Development Program, with a contribution of $30,000,' said the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, on behalf of the Honourable Rob Moore, Minister of State (ACOA). 'This conference will strengthen the local economy and explore how to sustain long-term prosperity in rural areas.'

Conference organizers have created a program of more than 70 presentations, workshops, panel discussions, and keynote addresses from community organizations, community leaders, nonprofit organizations, government, students, researchers, and businesses from across Canada and internationally, on the topic of building resilient communities or regions. The 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.

We invite participants from academia, government, NGOs, and communities to join us as we not only learn from other jurisdictions, but as we explore rural and small-town Prince Edward Island through a lively and community-engaged program. For more information, visit www.pei2015.crrf.ca or contact us at naf2015@upei.ca. The conference is hosted by the Institute of Island Studies at UPEI, in partnership with the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation (CRRF), and with funding from ACOA.

UPEI's Physical Activity Research Centre is seeking children aged 8-12 to participate in the Canadian Assessment of Physical Literacy (CAPL) study. The CAPL is a national study coordinated by the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute designed to assess physical literacy (the skills and abilities necessary for engagement in lifelong physical activity).

The study tests children in a number of different areas, such as fitness level, sedentary behaviour, motor skills, body composition, and knowledge and understanding of physical activity. The data collected will be used by researchers across the country, and will be included the ParticipACTION Report Card.

Testing can take anywhere from two to four hours, depending on the number of participants in the group. Children will complete activities in a number of stations.

Data collected in this study is confidential, however, parents will receive their child's results.
The CAPL study is made possible, in part, by the RBC Learn to Play Project. The RBC Learn to Play Project is funded by RBC and the Public Health Agency of Canada and delivered by ParticipACTION to help children develop the confidence and skills they need to enable them to become active for life.

For more information, or to participate in the study, contact capl@upei.ca.

Chris Rauckman loves to score goals. The 6'0, 190-lb left winger put up 80 goals over the past two seasons in junior hockey and he is hoping for continued success as he joins the UPEI Panthers Men's Hockey program in September.

'Right now I am just training hard to be in the best shape of my life because I know the college hockey on the east coast is as good as it gets,' said Rauckman, a native of Red Deer, Alberta. 'I've always prided myself on scoring goals and I am hoping to put my ability to good use to help our team succeed.'

Rauckman played three seasons of Tier 2 junior hockey in western Canada. He had 39 goals and 64 points in 56 games last season with the Flin Flon Bombers of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. He had planned on continuing his hockey career in the US college ranks and had seriously explored those options. He said he never put much emphasis on playing in the CIS until he became friends at the gym with another Red Deer native-Panthers third-year defenceman Derek Ryckman.

'Rycks was always talking about how good the hockey was, about how awesome PEI is and this top quality college hockey program at UPEI,' Rauckman said. 'When my final junior season ended, I started to give it a more serious look, made a visit to PEI and everyone was so nice…it made me confident that I was making the right choice.'

Panthers' coach Forbes MacPherson said initial scouting reports on the left winger were intriguing and the further he explored, more positives were revealed.

'His coaches, opponents' coaches, and scouts all kept saying the same thing-this is a guy who has a laser of a shot and who always seems to excel and score from the dirty areas,' said MacPherson. 'He is a character player. He doesn't mind paying the price for a scoring chance and he just competes hard every night. I am excited to see what he can bring to our lineup.'

Rauckman will enroll in the Arts program in September.

Athletics and Recreation director Chris Huggan welcomes Rauckman to the University.

'The recruiting process is such an exciting time for our athletic programs and our University,' said Huggan. 'The renewed sense of optimism brings excitement and energy to the campus. I look forward to seeing Chris succeed in the classroom and, on the ice, as a member of the Panther family.'

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
• 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

The inaugural University of Prince Edward Island Multidisciplinary Graduate Research Conference (UMGRC) is a pan-Canadian, refereed, academic conference designed to showcase the work of graduate students at UPEI and beyond.

The theme of the conference is Emerging Scholars: Illuminating Graduate Research. The conference will offer graduate students across Canada the opportunity to present their graduate research with either a poster or a paper presentation, acquire skills and knowledge through workshops, and participate in dialogue and discussion between and within disciplines.

The conference and workshops are open to anyone. More information and registrations details are available at the conference website. The conference runs from August 6-8.

Dr. Theresa Bernardo will deliver the conference keynote address. Dr. Bernardo was UPEI's first graduate student, earning her MSc in 1986 from the Atlantic Veterinary College. In 2012, she received the UPEI Distinguished Alumnus award. She is an associate professor at Michigan State's College of Veterinary Medicine. She has worked with the World Health Organization, where she dealt with the H1N1 pandemic, and the Haitian earthquake.

UPEI's Climate Research Lab is hosting a series of public talks by globally respected oceanographer and expert on sea-level rise, John Englander. Englander will present information he believes businesses on Prince Edward Island need to know about the rising sea level.

Businesses should have the latest information about how sea level rise is going to impact their assets and supply chains in coastal zones and low-lying inland areas. Englander will share the surprising facts and will expose the myths about rising seas to provide a clear warning for businesses across PEI.

Englander will be making three presentations while on the Island:
• Thursday, July 30, 12-2 pm at The Haviland Club in Charlottetown (lunch will be provided)
• Thursday, July 30, 5-7 pm in room 242, Don and Marion McDougall Hall, UPEI
• Saturday, August 1, 11 am-12 pm in the Hebrides Clubhouse in Campbellton, PEI

Englander's broad marine science background, coupled with his degrees in geology and economics, allows him to see the big picture on climate and look ahead to the large-scale financial and societal impacts, particularly as they relate to sea-level rise. He brings the diverse points of view of an industry scientist, entrepreneur, and CEO.

His bestselling book, High Tide On Main Street: Rising Sea Level and the Coming Coastal Crisis, clearly explains the science behind sea-level rise, the impending devastating economic impacts, and the 'intelligent adaptation' that all businesses and coastal communities must consider today. Copies will be available.

Space is limited at each talk. To register, or for more information, contact UPEI's Climate Research Lab at climate@upei.ca.

The UPEI Women's Basketball team announced today that Jennifer Newman, a 5'10' forward from Riverview, New Brunswick, will be joining the Panthers for the 2015-16 season. She joins the team following a four-year career at Riverview High School where she was the team's MVP this past season, as well as being selected to the NBIAA All-star Team. Jennifer was also a key member of Basketball New Brunswick's Under 15 and Under 17 teams.

Coach Greg Gould feels Jennifer is the consummate student athlete.

'Jennifer will be a solid addition to our team school and community. On the court she is tough, hardworking, has good skills, and can play a variety of positions. She is unselfish and a great competitor who wants to win.'

Jennifer is an honours student who will be studying Kinesiology. 'I am excited to play for the Panthers and Coach Gould next season. I am looking forward to working hard, learning, and developing into the best player possible.'

'I believe UPEI will also be a great fit for me academically. The small classes with easy access to my instructors will help me to excel.'

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
• 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

Plenty of NHL hockey stories, and some from the old rinks of PEI, will be shared by three Islanders now coaching in the NHL during the UPEI Men's Hockey Hot Stove Night on August 5 at Fox Meadow Golf and Country Club in Stratford, PEI.

Dave Cameron, head coach of the Ottawa Senators, Gerard ‘Turk' Gallant, head coach of the Florida Panthers and Mike Kelly assistant coach of the Florida Panthers will be on the stage during the event.

'We were looking for a new fundraiser for the hockey team and we approached Dave, Turk, and Mike about the idea and we are thrilled they agreed,' said Booster club president and former Panther Lennie Kelly.

The evening event, organized by the UPEI Men's Hockey Booster Club, celebrates not only the success of Islanders in the coaching ranks of the NHL, but offers a chance to meet with the coaches, get an inside view of NHL dressing rooms and pose questions during the Hot Stove Session.

Tickets are $50 each and only 250 are available. Tickets can be purchased by contacting mhockey@upei.ca or calling (902) 566-0986. Doors open at 6:30 pm for a 'mix and mingle' event followed by the Hot Stove Session at 7:00 pm.

'It has been a busy off-season for each of them and we are very grateful that they will be at Fox Meadow on August 5 and help the UPEI Men's Hockey Program,' said UPEI head coach Forbie MacPherson.

Biographies:

Dave Cameron is a former UPEI Panther, played in the NHL, has coached in the Island Junior Hockey League, The Colonial Hockey League, the OHL, the AHL, Canada's World Junior team, and the NHL. He was named head coach of the Ottawa Senators in December of 2014.

Gerard (Turk ) Gallant, played in the QMJHL, was named to its Hall of Fame last year, played 615 games in the NHL with Detroit Red Wings and Tampa Bay Lightning, coached in the Island Junior Hockey League, and won the Royal Bank Cup. He was an Assistant coach and then head coach in NHL with Columbus Blue Jackets, Assistant coach with the New York Islanders, coached Saint John Sea Dog to a Memorial Cup, assistant coach with Montreal Canadiens and named head coach of the Florida Panthers in June of 2014.

Mike Kelly, played in the Island Junior Hockey League, played with UNB and in Europe. He was an assistant coach with the PEI Senators in its first season. He coached in the OHL and then as head coach of UNB won the University Cup, he also coached in the WHL and the AHL. He coached UPEI for one season and from there became an assistant coach with the Vancouver Canucks, then went on to be an associate coach of the Saint John Sea Dogs and was named QMJHL General Manager of the Year. He became an assistant coach of the Florida Panthers in early July of 2014.

The Department of Student Affairs, in partnership with the Student Diversity Office and the UPEI Rainbow Alliance, raised the pride flag on Monday, July 27, 2015 at noon time at the flag plaza near Kelley Memorial Building.

A number of senior administrators, including President Abd-El-Aziz and Vice-Presidents Robert Gilmour and Jackie Podger, along with students, staff, and faculty attended the short ceremony. Zak Court, with the Student Diversity Office, greeted everyone on behalf of students while Treena Smith, Manager of Student Affairs, offered a few closing remarks on behalf of the Department of Student Affairs.

"It is great to see support for students and for our campus community through the raising of the Pride flag at UPEI," said Smith. "Today's event also serves as a reminder that there are still countries that persecute those who are a different sexual orientation than what they were born as, and to be thankful to live in a country like Canada where diversity is celebrated, in ways such as Pride Week."

The raising of the flag recognizes that UPEI supports all of its students, faculty, and staff and celebrates PEI Pride Week, July 27-August 2. PEI Pride raised flags at the same time at other locations across the province.