The University of Prince Edward Island has a number of resources available to students whose families may be affected by Hurricane Irma, and other storms in the Caribbean, as well as the recent earthquake in Mexico.

If students want to talk to someone or require assistance, they can drop into Student Affairs (second floor, W.A. Murphy Student Centre), call 902-566-0488 during business hours, or email Manager Treena Smith at trlsmith@upei.ca. Other on-campus supports include:

Office of Recruitment and International Relations
Robertson Library, 230
iro@upei.ca
(902) 566-0576

Residence Life Office
Bill and Denise Andrew Hall, 121
(902) 566-0330
residence@upei.ca

Chaplaincy Centre (Sister Sue Kidd, Chaplain)
(902) 894-2876
sukidd@upei.ca

If students need support at any time, they can also call The Island Helpline at 1-800-218-2885, which operates on a 24 hour, 7 day-a-week basis.  

To keep up-to-date on Hurricane Irma and other storms, visit the Canadian Hurricane Centre website.

Every week, UPEI Athletics and Recreation recognizes two student-athletes for their hard work and dedication to their respective sports. Congratulations to Carly Connell (women’s soccer) and Sam Smiley (men’s soccer), the UPEI Panther Subway Athletes of the week for September 4–10!

Carly Connell is a second-year Science student from Charlottetown, PEI and a midfielder for UPEI Women’s Soccer. The Panthers dropped a pair of games over the weekend, but Connell showed tremendous battling spirit, determination, and confidence. “Her consistent perseverance to take the tackles and get back on her feet is a great example of a player who gives it her all and is proud to wear the Panther jersey,” said coach Graeme McDonald.

Sam Smiley is a third-year fullback on UPEI Men’s Soccer and a Bachelor of Arts student. The Panthers lost their home opener Saturday against St. Francis Xavier, but rebounded with a win Sunday against Université de Moncton. “Sam was excellent in both games this weekend,” said coach Lewis Page. “He created chances and scored two goals from his midfield position.”

With four home games coming this weekend at UPEI, there really couldn’t be a better time to pick up your Panther Package. For just $75, you get admission to every home game for UPEI Women’s and Men’s Soccer, UPEI Women’s and Men’s Rugby, UPEI Women’s and Men’s Basketball, and UPEI Women’s Hockey. Head to gopanthersgo.ca and click on ‘tickets’!

And don’t forget, UPEI students get into all Panther home games for free. Let’s fill the stands and make 2017–18 the best season ever!

Two UPEI students recently presented their summer research projects at an international offshore renewable energy symposium in Ireland. Kellen Devries, a second-year student in sustainable design engineering, and Patrick Connolly, a fourth-year student in physics, attended the annual European symposium of the International Network on Offshore Renewable Energy—an organization that promotes connections and collaboration among graduate students, early-stage researchers, and industry.

Devries and Connolly worked with Dr. Matt Hall in the School of Sustainable Design Engineering to design and create simulation models for floating offshore wind turbines. This new technology sees wind turbines mounted on floating platforms, allowing for the harvesting of wind energy far offshore. Devries worked to improve design tools for mooring lines, which anchor the turbine platforms in place. Connolly explored new ways to interconnect farms of offshore turbines to reduce their cost.

Dr. Hall says both students presented posters and represented UPEI well among an international group of mostly graduate students. They also participated in industry-directed collaborative tasks from Cascadia Coast Research and Nova Innovation. Dr. Hall, who was in Ireland for the European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference, anticipates the students’ trip will lead to new research collaborations.

Devries and Connolly’s travel and summer work was supported by Regis and Joan Duffy, UPEI’s SURA program, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.

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 is located on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People.

UPEI’s Dr. Sean Wiebe will launch a new book of poetry Friday, September 22 at 6:30 pm in the Faculty Lounge of UPEI’s SDU Main Building. His latest work, Blue Waiting, is a collaboration with West Coast poet Celeste Snowber.

Writing on opposite coasts of Canada, Wiebe and Snowber explain the collection was formed through the geography of living. This geography takes shape in the edges of islands, mountains, families, and most of all the terrain of the inner life. In two voices, Blue Waiting explores many issues facing the coasts from both a male and female perspective.

Dr. Sean Wiebe is an associate professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Prince Edward Island. Since the inception of the International Symposium on Poetic Inquiry, he has been an integral part of the poetic inquiry community. He is the co-editor of Resonance: Poetic Inquiries of Reflection and Renewal (2016, in press), and was the co-editor of “Poetic Inquiry in/for/as,” a special issue of in education, 2014. He has been the principal investigator on four Canadian Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council funded projects investigating the digital economy and new literacies. His current grant, based on findings generated from multiple sites across Canada, investigates how establishing a creative ethos in schools might support teachers as contributors to Canada’s creative economy.

Dr. Celeste Snowber is a dancer, writer, poet and educator, who is an associate professor in the Faculty of Education at Simon Fraser University. Her essays and poetry have been published in journals and book chapters. She is the author of Embodied Prayer and co-author of Landscapes in Aesthetic Education. Her most recent collection of poetry is Wild Tourist. Her book, Embodied Inquiry: Writing, Living and Being through the Body, was released in 2016. She is recipient of the 2016 Ted T. Aoki Award for Distinguished Service in Canadian Curriculum Studies. Celeste continues to create/perform site-specific work in connection to the natural world and is presently the Artist in Residence in the UBC Botanical Garden.

Blue Waiting is published by Acorn Press. All are welcome!

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 is located on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People.

AVC’s popular Open House takes place on Saturday, September 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A free event hosted by students, faculty and staff, AVC Open House offers the community an opportunity to get an inside view of a busy veterinary college.

There is something for everyone including family-friendly activities, tours, exhibits, lots of different animals, a parade of dog breeds, community organization displays, and much more. Children can bring their stuffed animals to the teddy bear clinic where they will be examined by a veterinary student. They can also have their faces painted and get a balloon animal to take home. And they can get an animal-themed bracelet to take home (supplies are limited).

A great way to spend a late fall Saturday afternoon. Don’t miss it!

Fort McMurray-based independent theatre company Theatre; Just Because recently named UPEI alumnus Justin Shaw as its new artistic director. Shaw graduated from UPEI in 2014 with his Honours History and a minor in Theatre Studies before attending the National Theatre School in Montreal.

“I was instantly impressed by his ambition, professionalism, and enthusiasm to bring artists together and to put them in the spotlight,” says outgoing artistic director Michelle Thorne. “He was a huge influence in the formation and success of Theatre; Just Because without him really knowing. Having this young man come into our community and really shake things up and make things happen really lit the fire under many theatre artists in the community to step up the level of professionalism in their work.”

Shaw is an actor, writer, producer, and comedian who has been celebrated for his work on Island and off. He was recently awarded the Patron’s Prize for his debut as a playwright with The Wrestling Play at the 2017 Island Fringe Festival.

Congratulations, Justin!

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 is located on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People.

The University of Prince Edward Island takes the safety and security of its students, faculty, staff, and the entire campus community very seriously. As part of UPEI’s commitment to emergency preparedness and response, the Advantage Emergency Mass Notification System (EMNS) will be launched later this month.

The new system will improve efficiency and enhance UPEI’s current channels of communication during an emergency. Currently, emergency notifications are sent to UPEI email addresses (name@upei.ca) and media outlets as well as posted on the front page of upei.ca, the UPEI Campus Screen network, Twitter (@UPEI), and UPEI’s Facebook page.

A key feature of Advantage EMNS is that it will allow UPEI to also send emergency notifications by text (SMS or email).

During the week of September 25, students, faculty, and staff will receive an email with a link and instructions on how to download the Advantage EMNS “app” from their respective operating system stores.

The email will also invite campus members to voluntarily add their cell numbers to their profile so that users can take full advantage of the system and receive notifications by text. (Employees with UPEI-issued cell phones will have their numbers automatically added to their profile.)

UPEI strongly encourages all members of the campus community to monitor their UPEI email inboxes and to download the Advantage EMNS “app” to keep informed on emergency incidents that may impact them.

In his third book, Dr. Gil Germain critically examines the perception of reality that informs our technological world. Thinking About Technology: how the technological mind misreads reality is published by Lexington Books.

From the publisher’s website:

“The world we make reflects the way reality is perceived, and today the world is perceived primarily in technological terms. So argues Gil Germain in Thinking About Technology: How the Technological Mind Misreads Reality. Given the connection between perception and action, or thinking and doing, Germain first highlights the central features of technological worldview to better understand the contemporary drive to master the conditions of human existence. He then boldly proposes that the technological worldview seriously misreads the nature of the world it seeks mastery over, and shows how this misinterpretation invariably leads to the technologically related challenges currently vexing the contemporary social order, from the drift toward a post-human future to the anti-globalization backlash. Germain closes Thinking About Technology by articulating an alternative worldview to the technological perspective and illustrating how this re-reading of reality might help us inhabit the technological landscape in ways better attuned to the human condition.”

Dr. Gil Germain is an associate professor of political science at the University of Prince Edward Island.

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 is located on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People.

Students from UPEI’s Kinesiology 3430 class are seeking participants to take part in a six-week exercise-training program. Students will create personalized exercise-training programs for each participant, based on their fitness, skill level, and personal interests.

Participants must be between 30 and 65 years of age. The program runs Tuesday and Thursday afternoons 1:30–4:30 pm from the week of October 4 to the week of November 13. Volunteers will undergo a fitness test during the first and last week of the program, separated by four weeks of supervised aerobic and strength training.

All exercise training will take place in the Kinesiology Teaching Lab in UPEI’s Steel Building. Parking is free. No previous experience is necessary.

For more information, or to sign up, contact Dr. Travis Saunders, trsaunders@upei.ca, 902-566-0641.

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 is located on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People.

It will be civil war on the court as UPEI Basketball hosts itself in an exciting preseason event UPEI Athletics and Recreation is calling Green vs. White. The women’s and men’s basketball teams will be split in half for a pair of intersquad games Saturday, September 23. The women hit the court at 6 pm. The men play at 8 pm. The event is sponsored by the UPEI Bookstore.

“Playing an intersquad game in front of fans will be a great opportunity for the coaches to see the girls in a game atmosphere, as well as give their fans a glimpse of what this years team will look like,” said Greg Gould, coach of UPEI Women’s Basketball. “Twelve players are returning for this season, including all five starters from last year’s team. The team has been practicing hard with the goal of improving on our fourth-place AUS finish.”

“I am excited about the year ahead,” said Darrell Glenn, coach of UPEI Men’s Basketball. “There are several strong returning players and a talented and athletic group of recruits. We are only two weeks in, but I am really pleased with their work ethic. This game will be a great way to showcase the new team to all Panthers and Panther fans.”

The teams will be sorted over the next week by daily flips of a Panther coin. Coaches Glenn and Gould flipped the coin for the first day of sorting.

Women’s Team White

Name: Kiera Rigby
Position: fifth-year forward
Hometown: Charlottettown, PEI
Previous school: returning senior

Women’s Team Green

Name: Lauren Fleming
Position: rookie forward
Hometown: Sussex, NB
Previous School: Sussex High School

Men’s Team Green

Name: D'Adrian Allen 
Position: wing/forward 
Hometown: Toronto, Ont.
Previous School: Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Men’s Team White 

Name: Milodrad Sedlarevic
Position: wing/forward
Hometown: Jesenice, Slovenia
Previous school: returning senior

Follow the Panthers social media for sorting updates!

Admission is free, but those who bring a donation of food or money for the UPEI Campus Food Bank will receive a green or white T-shirt so you can cheer on your favourite squad in style! The winning team from each game will receive a pizza party. The stakes are high!

Don’t forget to buy your Panther Package! For just $75, the package includes admission to every home game for UPEI Women’s and Men’s Soccer, UPEI Women’s and Men’s Rugby, UPEI Women’s and Men’s Basketball, and UPEI Women’s Hockey. Head to gopanthersgo.ca and click on ‘tickets’!

And don’t forget, UPEI students can attend Panther home games for free. Let’s fill the stands and make 2017–18 the best season ever!