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.

Canada's Minister of State for Science and Technology, the Honourable Ed Holder, was on UPEI campus to announce the successful recipients of Discovery Grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada (NSERC). Read the full release here.

'What actions will we take now that our descendants will celebrate or regret in 150 years?'

This question is at the heart of the fourth J.S. Palmer Conference being held at the University of Prince Edward Island September 3-4.

'Looking toward 2017 and celebrations for Canada's 150th birthday, we have partnered with the Watermark Theatre and their Canada 300 project to address issues of importance to Canadians now, that will have an impact for generations to come,' said UPEI President Alaa Abd-El-Aziz.

'This partnership has led to a diverse and inspiring line-up of panelists attending the 2015 Palmer Conference,' noted President Abd-El-Aziz.

The J.S. Palmer Conference was created in 2010 to bring together some of the finest minds across the country to discuss public policy issues of high priority to the public sector and to Canada.

Canada 300 is a groundbreaking project that toured 21 cities across Canada this past winter. Through an innovative use of arts and technology, Canadians were engaged in a dialogue envisioning our nation's next 150 years.

Dr. Tim O'Neill, founder and president of O'Neill Strategic Economics and former Executive Vice-President and Chief Economist of BMO, will open the conference with the keynote address.

'Thousands of Canadians shared their hopes and dreams for Canada as we toured the country,' said Watermark Theatre Artistic Director, Duncan McIntosh. 'The conference planning team distilled the information we gathered into three themes for the conference. Panelists will explore issues related to people, nations and the environment.'

The J.S. Palmer conference includes an extraordinary group of speakers and presenters. They include, Dr. Pamela Palmater, Mi'Kmaq lawyer, professor and activist; Tanya Davis, spoken word poet; Dr. Andew Light, Special Advisor to the White House on Climate Change; Dr. Teo Dagi, neurosurgeon, neuroscientist, and ethicist; Nora Young, CBC Spark host and author; Phil Fontaine, former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations; and Jeremy Webber, Dean of Faculty of Law at the University of Victoria.

'This conference will appeal to anyone interested in the future of Canada and understanding how our actions now will impact our descendants,' says McIntosh.

For more information and to register for the conference see the website, at www.palmerconference.com.
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For more information:
Sara Roach-Lewis
J.S. Palmer Conference Manager
(902) 393-7204
sara@watermarktheatre.com

University of Prince Edward Island Men's Soccer coach Lewis Page is pleased to announce that Okanagan Valley, BC native Lucas Ross has committed to join the Panthers for the 2015-16 season.

Midfielder Ross just finished his fifth year in the Vancouver Whitecaps school academy and completed his third year in the British Columbia Soccer Premier League.

Commented Ross, 'I can't wait to come out east and offer what I've learned here. I know I will improve my game at the University of Prince Edward Island.'

Coach Page comments, 'I am happy to add Lucas Ross to our roster for next season. His experience from the Whitecaps Academy in the Okanagon will make him a strong candidate for a midfield role in our team.'

Ross will be entering the Bachelor of Science program at UPEI.

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
• Home of Panther Sports Medicine
• 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

University of Prince Edward Island Men's Basketball Head Coach Tim Kendrick is excited to announce the addition of Tim Butler and Jonathan Lane to the Panther staff as assistant coaches.

Coach Kendrick comments, 'I am very excited to have both of these fine young men join our coaching staff. After getting to know them better over the past couple of years, it was apparent to me that they would be great additions to our team. They are committed, hardworking young men who have exhibited great loyalty and passion for our Panthers program.

'I believe that it is extremely important to constantly be looking to improve our program in every way,' he adds. 'I believe that Jon and Tim bring not only fine and keen basketball minds and very positive attitudes, but also a love and passion for working with student-athletes within the great game of basketball and beyond. I expect to put them right to work in helping us build towards another successful season.'

Butler is a former Panther, who played from 2006-10, and was team captain his last two years on the roster. Butler's previous coaching experience includes Colonel Gray Colonels head coach 2013-15, Colonel Gray assistant coach 2012-13, and was a former UPEI Men's assistant coach 2010-11.

'I am extremely excited for the opportunity to be a part of the continued development of the Men's Basketball program at UPEI,' says Butler. 'This program is something very special to me. I was at my first Panthers game when I was 5 days old and being able to grow up with them and eventually play for them was a true honour. I am thankful to be able to take the next step as a coach and for the opportunity Coach Kendrick has given me. I can't wait to work with the great student-athletes we have at UPEI and help bring a championship back to the Island.'

Lane, native of Saint John, NB graduated from UNBSJ in 2006 where he played basketball from 2002-06 and was team captain during his final three years. After graduation from UNBSJ, Lane went on be an assistant coach with the team from 2007-09.

'I am looking forward to being a part of the UPEI Men's Basketball program this season and grateful for the opportunity provided by Director of Athletics and Recreation Chris Huggan and Coach Kendrick,' says Lane. 'I have followed the team since I moved to the Island in 2010 and have been fortunate enough to be around the team while working with the Athletics department. I believe Coach Kendrick has developed a winning program that is close to taking the next step and look forward to contributing in any way I can.'

While taking on assistant coaching duties, Lane will remain as Coordinator, Sales and Panther Academy with UPEI Athletics and Recreation.

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
• Home of Panther Sports Medicine
• 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 Honourable Richard Brown, Minister of Workforce and Advanced Learning, recently toured campus at the invitation of the University.

Accompanied by President Alaa Abd-El-Aziz and PEI’s Executive Director of Post-Secondary and Continuing Education Susan MacKenzie, Minister Brown visited with the Vice-Presidents and CIO, and made stops at several buildings, meeting briefly with each of the Deans and the University Librarian. The visit was a high-level tour that touched on key initiatives and developments in each faculty.

The Minister, a UPEI alumnus, was appointed to cabinet in June by Premier Wade MacLauchlan and is the MLA for Charlottetown-Victoria Park. No stranger to cabinet, Minister Brown previously served as minister of Development and Higher Education and minister of Environment, Energy and Forestry in former Liberal premier Robert Ghiz’s government.