Kurt Laird of Laird Tree Care donated and planted an oak sapling on UPEI campus to celebrate National Arbour Day, May 20.

“The reason I chose UPEI as a place to have an Arbour Day planting is that the campus has proven itself as an arboretum of sorts,” said Kurt Laird of Laird Tree Care. “The university is a great example of how to care and manage large trees as well as adding new, viable, and interesting trees to the inventory. In the past elms were the backbone to the university treescape, but red oak has taken over that role. Adding another young oak will help ensure sustainability of the oak population.”

“We value our trees on campus, and we appreciate the work Laird Tree Service has done for us over the years, including ongoing tree maintenance and a tree-planting plan to ensure our treescape is healthy and sustainable,” said Greg Clayton, director of Facilities Management at UPEI. “We are especially thankful for his donation of a tree on National Arbour Day.”

The tree donated by Laird Tree Care will live and grow between Kelley Memorial Building and Cass Science Hall. It replaces a tree that had to be removed in the last few years.

The twelfth annual PEI Nursing Research to Practice Conference is being held May 27 in Don and Marion McDougall Hall at the University of Prince Edward Island. The conference brings together practicing nurses, academic researchers, and students to hear and share the latest research from their respective fields of practice.

This year’s conference will be filled with powerful research and compelling practice initiatives, which focus on the mental, physical, and emotional health of healthcare professionals and how this affects the way in which we care for our patients, clients, and residents. This is sure to be a day of captivating presentations, engaging discussions, and strong networking with others in the healthcare field. A variety of concurrent sessions by local and regional presenters is scheduled between the key note addresses.

“Health PEI is pleased to partner with UPEI every year in this important conference for our health care professionals,” said Brenda Worth, Chief Nursing Officer and Executive Director of Laboratory Services for Health PEI. “Bringing together nursing researchers and clinical practitioners for a day of shared learning can only improve health care services for Islanders.”

Interim Dean of UPEI School of Nursing Dr. Jo-Ann MacDonald describes the conference, “as a prime opportunity for our two organizations to focus on enhancing our work life and our profession in a research to practice forum.” 

Conference Keynotes:

Dr. Wendy Austin is a Registered Nurse and Professor Emerita at the University of Alberta. Her research includes a national study of compassion fatigue, now published as Lying Down in the Ever Falling Snow: Canadian Health Professionals’ Experience of Compassion Fatigue. Arts-informed dissemination of research is a current interest; Wendy and her colleagues’ narrative study of the moral distress of paediatric intensive care teams has been dramatized as a film, Just Keep Breathing.

Gord McNeilly is a motivational speaker and exercise instructor; he is also a former professional basketball player, military fitness instructor, and policy and health promotions officer at DVA. His presentation focuses on motivation, change, and commitment in relation to groups and management.

Speakers and organizers will be available for a photo opportunity at 8:15 am, outside of the Alex H. MacKinnon Auditorium, room 242, Don and Marion McDougall Hall.

The 2016 PEI Nursing Research To Practice Conference is co-organized by UPEI’s School of Nursing and Health PEI. 

University of Prince Edward Island Women’s Soccer Coach Graeme McDonald is pleased to announce that Rogersville, New Brunswick native Tyffanie Bordage has committed to the Panthers for the 2016–17 season.

Coach McDonald says, “Tyffanie lives and breathes soccer and is very passionate about the game. She has excellent technique, explosive speed, and can score goals. She is an exciting player who works very hard and everyone will feed off her energy and enthusiasm. I am delighted to have her join the squad.”

Bordage, an honour roll student, is currently attending École secondaire Assomption (ESA) where she has received recognitions such as Athlete (2011-2015), Student (2011-2012), and 2013 Leader of the Year awards. Bordage was also a member of Student Council (2012-2016) and was School President in 2016. Bordage’s soccer experience includes playing at the AAA level (2 years in Moncton and 4 in Miramichi) and playing for Team NB (past 5 years), the Moncton High Performance Academy (2013), and Team Atlantic (2014).

“Tyffanie had a big impact on our high school soccer team as a great leader and captain. Over the last few years, she has become a complete soccer player both offensively and defensively. On the field, she’s gritty, skillful, and is great at finding space to create and explode through the offensive third—and makes teams pay,” says ESA Jaguars coach Philippe McCaie.

“She has scored many clutch goals while helping us bring home the regional and provincial soccer titles for our school even though we are one of the smallest schools in our division. Her hard work and devotion to the team has rubbed off on her teammates making everyone better,” McCaie adds. “Off the field, she had a positive impact as president of the student council and being involved in other school committees. She’s a great athlete and I really enjoyed having her on my team. UPEI did a wise choice by recruiting her!”

Bordage says, “Soccer is my passion, I've dedicated so many mornings, nights, weekends and holidays, that it has become more than just a sport to me. I am so grateful to be part of the UPEI squad and to continue my journey to reach new goals with the team and for myself.”

Bordage will be entering the Bachelor of Business Administration program.         

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

Dr. Frederick Kibenge, Chair of the Department of Pathology and Microbiology at AVC, has published his first book, Aquaculture Virology.

Co-edited by Dr. Marcos Godoy, Center for Applied Biological Research (CIBA) in Chile, the book examines the main virus families and diseases relevant to aquaculture. Published by Elsevier (Imprint: Academic Press), the book covers principles of clinical virology for viruses that affect fish, crustaceans, and molluscs, the three major categories of farmed aquatic animals. Authors of the different book chapters are international experts in specific virus families or diseases. Dr. Kibenge wrote or co-wrote eight of the 39 chapters in the book.

“Despite considerable advances in animal virology in recent years, coupled with an economically important global aquaculture industry, knowledge of viruses of animal aquaculture is still sparse and in some cases outdated although these viruses are closely related to well-known virus families,” says Dr. Kibenge. “The last book in fish virology (Fish viruses and fish viral diseases 1988, Wolf, K.) was published in the 1980s. A lot of work has been done on fish viruses, and many new aquatic animal viruses continue to be discovered.”

Aquaculture Virology will be useful to clinical veterinarians, aquaculture disease practitioners, biologists, farmers, and all those in industry, government or academia who are interested in aquatic animal virology. The book is expected to be released on June 01, 2016. It is available for pre-sale through Elsevier’s online store.

Dr. Kibenge teaches veterinary virology in the second year of the DVM curriculum at AVC. He has been working with animal viruses for more than 30 years in addition to prior extensive post-doctoral research experience in virology in the United Kingdom and the USA. A Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Microbiologists (sub-specialty Immunology), he has published extensively on the detection and virology of fish viruses.

Congratulations, Dr. Kibenge!

The Atlantic Veterinary College’s 2016 Graduate Studies and Research Days (GS&R Days) concluded on Friday, May 13, with the presentation of awards to participating graduate students and post-doctoral fellows.

During the two-day event, 20 graduate students and six post-doctoral fellows presented their research findings in areas ranging from terrestrial and aquatic animal health to environmental health and biomedical sciences.

On Friday, Dr. J Trenton McClure, professor of large animal medicine at AVC, was awarded the 2016 Zoetis Research Excellence Award and gave a presentation about his research. On Thursday, May 12, Dr. Dorothee Bienzle, an internationally recognized professor of pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, gave the annual R.G. Thomson Lecture, an endowed lecture honouring AVC’s founding dean, Dr. Reginald Thomson.

The following is a list of award winners:

2016 Governor General’s Award: Maria Forzan, PhD graduate, Pathology and Microbiology (awarded at UPEI Convocation, May 7)

2016 OGS Award of Distinction: Sarah McConnachie, PhD graduate, Pathology and Microbiology (awarded at UPEI’s 2016 senior class luncheon, May 6)

2015 G. Murray and Hazel Hagerman Scholarships: Michel Arsenault, PhD student, Biomedical Sciences (awarded at AVC Fall Recognition and Awards Night, October 2015)

Zoetis Graduate Student Award: Nora Biermann, PhD student, Health Management

Dr. Ian Dohoo Award: Niorn Ratanapob, PhD Student, Health Management

John and Carol MacLeod Award for Research Communication Excellence: Kami Harris, PhD Student, Pathology and Microbiology

The George and Margaret Peake Scholarships: Christopher Hagen, Post-Graduate Diploma student, Companion Animals, and Jonathan Lichtenberger, MSc student, Companion Animals

The Dr. E. Errol Hancock Scholarship: Shauna Richards, PhD Student, Health Management

Dr. Douglass W. Ehresmann Memorial Award: Louise Roux, MSc student, Biomedical Sciences

Dr. Ray Long Travel Award: Louise Roux, MSc Student, Biomedical Sciences

Dr. Basil Ikede Award in Diagnostic Veterinary Sciences: Laura Ross, MVSc student, Pathology and Microbiology

Best Paper Presentations in each session: Session One: Louise Roux, MSc Student, Biomedical Sciences; Session Two: Alyssa Grunwald, PhD student, Biomedical Sciences; Session Three: Jordan Poley, PhD student, Pathology and Microbiology

Best Overall MSc/MVSc Graduate Student Presentation: Denise Happ, MSc student, Biomedical Sciences

Best Overall PhD Graduate Student Presentation: Kami Harris, PhD student, Pathology and Microbiology

Best Overall Postdoctoral Presentation: Laura Braden, Pathology and Microbiology

Congratulations, everyone!

AVC faculty and staff were rewarded for their achievements and dedication at two events held at UPEI recently.

On May 4, the UPEI Faculty Association and the Office of the President sponsored the annual Faculty Recognition Night, which honours faculty members for excellence in teaching and scholarly achievement. Dr. Juan Carlos Rodriguez-Lecompte received a UPEI Merit Award for Scholarly Achievement, and Dr. Cora Gilroy, a Hessian Award for Excellence in Teaching. Both are with the Department of Pathology and Microbiology.

UPEI's annual Presidential Recognition Awards of Merit and 25-Year Service awards were presented to staff and faculty at a ceremony on Wednesday, May 11. The awards, created by UPEI President and Vice-Chancellor Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, recognize outstanding performance and dedication to students and the community—on campus, provincially, and globally.

Marven MacLean, operations manager of AVC’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital, received a Presidential Recognition Award of Merit for Exemplary Service. This award is presented to a UPEI employee who has demonstrated outstanding service and/or who has made significant contributions to the university community beyond that normally expected for his/her position.

Robert Doiron, the porter at AVC, received a Presidential Recognition Award of Merit for Campus Spirit, presented to a UPEI employee who has fostered a sense of excitement on campus and promoted fellowship, goodwill, and belonging within the University community, by supporting and promoting UPEI.

Receiving 25-year Service Awards were Laurel Fisher, Companion Animals; Eleanor Irving, Health Management; Karen Roche, Office of Academic and Student Affairs; Dr. David Speare, Pathology and Microbiology; and Dorota Wadowska, Electron Microscopy Lab.

Congratulations to all award recipients!

Dr. Ian Gardner, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Aquatic Epidemiology at UPEI, has been honoured by the University of California Davis (UC Davis) School of Veterinary Medicine with a 2016 Alumni Achievement Award for his outstanding contributions to veterinary epidemiology.

A professor of epidemiology at the Atlantic Veterinary College at UPEI, Dr. Gardner was one of four UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine alumni who received the award on Friday, May 20. He was presented with his award by Dr. Michael Lairmore, Dean, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Gardner has a Master of Preventative Veterinary Medicine (MPVM) and a PhD in comparative pathology from the school, and he was a member of its faculty for 23 years, rising to professor of epidemiology.

The highest honour bestowed by the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, the Alumni Achievement Award is presented to one or more alumni for outstanding personal and professional contributions to veterinary science or one of its branches, veterinary practice in any of its forms, or to humankind and the advancement of human welfare. The following is the citation read at the award presentation:

“Dr. Gardner is honored for his outstanding global contributions that advance the discipline of veterinary epidemiology.

“Dr. Gardner’s 40-year career began as a Veterinary Research Officer in Australian Agriculture before coming to UC Davis to pursue his MPVM and Ph.D. in Comparative Pathology. In 1988 he joined the school’s faculty where he served with distinction for 23 years, rising to Professor of Epidemiology. He went on to lead aquatic epidemiology efforts at the Atlantic Veterinary College and continues to be internationally recognized for his leadership in applied veterinary epidemiology.

“Dr. Gardner is highly regarded as both an excellent teacher and researcher who has received numerous awards and published more than 300 peer-reviewed publications. One of his strengths has been described as his ability to effectively blend theory and application of epidemiologic principles. Not only is this ability key to his teaching success, but he regularly brings this expertise to the numerous national and international committees, policy-development activities within USDA and at the World Organization for Animal Health. His continued appointment to these committees reflects the peer respect that he has earned in the global veterinary research community through his research focused on the improved evaluation of diagnostic testing standards for economically important, transboundary diseases.

“Dr. Gardner has been a key collaborator on a wide range of projects including infectious diseases of livestock and production aquaculture, African horse sickness, West Nile fever, Johne’s disease, validation of diagnostic tests and development of appropriate management/disease mitigation strategies. He has also collaborated on many other contemporary issues such as: lameness and breakdown injuries of racing horses, protozoal diseases of marine mammals and Culicoides-transmitted viral diseases.”

Congratulations, Dr. Gardner!

The Atlantic Veterinary College has honoured its founding dean, Dr. Reginald G. Thomson (1934-2002), by naming the dean’s office boardroom the Dean R.G. Thomson Boardroom.

During the spring meeting of the College’s advisory council on May 9, Dean Greg Keefe and Dr. Basil Ikede, retired professor of pathology, unveiled two plaques honouring Dr.Thomson. One plaque will hang on the boardroom door, and the other inside the room next to Dr. Thomson’s portrait. Dr. Ikede had a special relationship with Dr. Thomson, first as his graduate student and then as his faculty colleague at AVC.

“The story of Dr. Reginald G. Thomson is one of a man of exceptional intellect, motivation and drive, whose tenacity made him the most important individual involved with our establishment, but whose achievements were ultimately cut short by devastating illness,” said Dr. Keefe at the ceremony.

A native of Woodstock, Ontario, Dr. Thomson graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 1959, with his DVM degree and in 1963 with a Master of Veterinary Science degree in pathology. He became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists and obtained a PhD at Cornell in 1965. Subsequently, he received an appointment as an associate professor with OVC, and within two years, was promoted to full professor.

“Such a rise within academia was a testament to his scholarly pursuits and drive,” said Dr. Keefe.

In late 1978, Dr. Thomson took a leave of absence from OVC to explore the possibility of establishing a veterinary college in Atlantic Canada. He worked with regional universities, bureaucrats, provincial and federal politicians, veterinarians, farmers, fishers, and the general public to help develop the vision for the new College.

In 1983, it was announced that the Atlantic Veterinary College would be established at the University of Prince Edward Island with Dr. Thomson as its founding dean. Over the next few years, he led a team of architects, builders, and veterinary colleagues to develop a world-class veterinary medical facility at UPEI, recruiting highly skilled faculty and staff in the process.

Because of illness, Dr. Thomson retired in 1991 and returned to Woodstock, where he passed away in December 2002 at the age of 68. AVC was proud to posthumously award Dr. Thomson the 2010 Hon. Eugene F. Whelan Green Hat Award for his leadership and dedication in establishing the College. The Green Hat Award is the most prestigious award given by AVC.

“Today the Atlantic Veterinary College is a justifiably proud institution, universally recognized for the quality of its graduates, the discoveries of its researchers, and the care and support of regional animal populations and veterinary practitioners,” said Dr. Keefe, quoting from the citation written for Dr. Thomson’s Green Hat Award. “This relatively small College has made a difference in veterinary medicine that belies its stature, but that faithfully reflects the culture of hard work and determination established at the very outset by Dr. Thomson.

Noting that the College’s 27th DVM class graduated on Saturday, May 7, Dr. Keefe went on to say: “It is fitting that we celebrate the legacy that Dr. Thomson began by naming our premier meeting space the Dean R.G. Thomson Boardroom.”
 

The UPEI Climate Research Lab, in association with the Department of Communities, Land and Environment, is inviting members of the public to a series of workshops across the Island. We are asking for input on the development of the province's Climate Change Adaptation Strategy. Dr. Adam Fenech, director of the Climate Research Lab, will give a short presentation on current climate change projections, expected impacts, and discussing priority areas of concern. The goal is to identify ideas, techniques, and technologies that will better position our province to adapt to the changing climate while minimizing our contributions to climate change. Interested parties are encouraged to attend and engage in discussion on how best to adapt to current and anticipated challenges related to climate change as well as potential benefits and opportunities that may arise. 

Alberton Community Centre, Alberton, Monday, June 20, 7 pm

Tignish Community Office, Tignish, Tuesday, June 21, 7 pm

Silver Fox Curling Club, Summerside, Wednesday, June 22, 7 pm

West Royalty Community Centre, Charlottetown, Monday, June 27, 7 pm

Montague Town Hall, Montague, Tuesday, June 28, 7 pm

Souris Striders Ski Lodge, Souris, Wednesday, June 29, 7 pm

For more information, contact climate@upei.ca.

Dr. Jason Pearson, associate professor of chemistry at UPEI, has been recognized with one of five 2016 Brightspace Innovation Awards in Teaching and Learning from the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE).

Dr. Pearson is a passionate scientist and educator. He has a keen interest in rethinking how science is taught at all levels and inspiring students by enabling them to make self-driven discoveries through research. His innovations include an original, customized digital textbook that “comes alive” for students with fully interactive diagrams, figures, and content. Students are able to explore complex mathematical relationships and perform chemical “experiments” directly in their textbook, which is provided as an open-source education resource, free of charge. Dr. Pearson constantly seeks to empower students to take ownership in their learning by providing ample opportunity to explore concepts independently and innovate within the laboratory environment.

“I'm honoured to be recognized by STLHE for my work with chemistry students at UPEI,” said Dr. Pearson. “Everyone here at UPEI is focussed on bringing the best possible educational experiences to our students, so it's fantastic news that we are competing nationally.”

“The Brightspace Award is an excellent indication of how Dr. Pearson's innovation in research, which is abundant, transfers to the physical and virtual classroom. His creative use of technology is a wonderful example of how research informs teaching and vice versa,” said Dr. Robert Gilmour, vice-president academic and research at UPEI.

Dr. Pearson and the rest of the 2016 cohort of Brightspace Innovation Award winners will be recognized at the 2016 STLHE Annual Conference this June in London, Ontario, and at the Brightspace Global Conference later this summer in Orlando, Florida.

STLHE strives to be the pre-eminent national voice and a world leader for enhancing teaching and learning in higher education. STLHE supports research, its dissemination, increased awareness and application of research through scholarly teaching and learning. Visit www.stlhe.ca for more information.

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 St. 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.