Members of the public are welcome to attend the release of two juvenile bald eagles by the Atlantic Veterinary College’s Wildlife Service on Saturday, October 13, at 2 p.m., at Macphail Woods Ecological Forestry Project in Orwell, P.E.I. Prior to the release of the eagles, there will be a Mi’kmaq smudging ceremony and drumming.

Both eagles spent a month at AVC under the care of the College’s Wildlife Service before going to the Cobequid Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre in Nova Scotia for rehabilitation.

One eagle was found in a field in Orwell on June 19, unable to fly. The young eagle possibly left the nest early because of strong winds. Students and staff built a nest in the flight cage where the bird spent its first few weeks, eating and recovering from its ordeal. Eventually it left the nest and explored the perches in the enclosure. After a month, it was transported to Cobequid Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre to interact with other eagles and gain flight muscle strength in the “Big Jeezley,” the centre’s huge oval flight cage.

The other eagle, also a young one, was found on July 24 in North Bedeque, P.E.I., with a stick protruding from either side of one of its wings. The stick was removed by Dr. Peter Moak, small animal surgeon at AVC, and the bird was treated with antibiotics and pain medication. It is thought that the eagle was probably still learning how to fly when it had a mishap, resulting in the stick being driven into its wing. After receiving medical care at AVC for a month, it also was taken to the Cobequid Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre where it continued its rehabilitation.

In releasing these two eagles, the AVC Wildlife Service is honouring the late Dr. Helene Van Doninck, AVC Class of 1991. During her veterinary career, she dedicated her life to caring for injured, sick, and orphaned wildlife. She and her husband, Murdo Messer, established the Cobequid Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre in 2001. In addition to her remarkable record as a veterinarian, Dr. Van Doninck passed on her knowledge and expertise in the care of wildlife to AVC students. In April she was presented with AVC’s Award of Excellence in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Care and in July the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association’s Humane Award for her dedication to caring for injured wildlife.

Should the weather be inclement, the release will take place on Sunday, October 14, at the same time and place.

UPEI announced today that Amy Connolly and Ryan Anstey will be inducted into the UPEI Sports Hall of Fame at its UPEI Sports Legacy Celebration on November 15.

“We are very excited to be inducting Amy and Ryan into the UPEI Sports Hall of Fame,” said Chris Huggan, UPEI’s Director of Athletics and Recreation. “Both were exceptional student-athletes, recognized at the U SPORTS level, and led their teams to AUS championships. They gave it their all while playing for the UPEI and it will great for all Panthers to be able to share in the celebration of their accomplishments on November 15^th.”

The UPEI Sports Hall of Fame was founded in 2001 to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the athletic programs at the University of Prince Edward Island, Saint Dunstan's University, or Prince of Wales College. Each year, individual athletes, teams, and builders are inducted to honour their contributions towards the University's athletic success or community leadership.

The inductees will formally take their place in Panther history at the UPEI Sports Hall of Fame Gala Reception and Dinner, which will be held November 15 in the UPEI Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre. The reception begins at 6:15 pm, with dinner served at 7:00 pm.

Tickets for the UPEI Sports Hall of Fame Gala are $50 each and can be purchased by dropping by or calling the Panther Central desk at 902-566-0368.

About the inductees

Amy Connolly was the cornerstone of the UPEI Women’s Soccer team from her rookie season to her final season in 2005–2006. Her coach Mike Redmond once said Connolly was “pound for pound, the toughest player ever to wear the green and white at UPEI. She could change games on her own. She was the heart and soul of this team for five years.”

Connolly was named team MVP in her rookie season. That same year, she made the first all-star team for the Atlantic Universities Athletics Association (now Atlantic University Sport or AUS)

—a tradition she would continue every year for her entire five-year university sport career. She was named to the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) First-Team All-Canadian squad in 2006. She captained UPEI to its first appearance at the CIS championship in 2004. In 2005, she was named the CIS Women’s Soccer Player of the Year, as well as the UPEI Female Outstanding Athlete of the Year.

Ryan Anstey’s university sport career started with a bang, being a member of the AUS-champion Panthers in his second season with the UPEI Men’s Soccer team in 2002–2003. He was named team MVP and an AUS first-team all-star in 2003–2004. The next year, he made the AUS first team again and was named a CIS Academic All-Canadian. His final season, 2005–2006 , was incredible. He was named team MVP, a first team all-star for the AUS, leading scorer in the CIS, a CIS Academic All-Canadian, a tournament all-star at the CIS championship, UPEI Male Outstanding Athlete of the year, and the CIS Outstanding Male Player of the year.

“Ryan is a great one-on-one player, quick and hard for defenders to get a hold of," said head coach Lewis Page. “He's also a striker that will come back and help his midfielders win the ball back. But I think, most important, he's just a great person, on or off the field.” 

Every week, UPEI Athletics and Recreation recognizes student athletes for their achievements and dedication to their respective sports. Congratulations Jenna Mae Ellsworth and Amin Suleman, the UPEI Panther Subway Athletes of the Week for October 1–7.

Jenna Mae Ellsworth is a third-year science student from Charlottetown and a guard on the UPEI Women’s Basketball team. The Panthers recently competed in the Concordia Classic, notching wins against Laurentian University and Memorial University, and dropping a game to the hosts. Ellsworth averaged 19 points per game, including a 25-point, five-rebound, five-steal performance in the Panthers win over MUN. “Jenna Mae had a great weekend for us in Montreal, Jenna Mae had a strong weekend for us,” said coach Matt Gamlin of Ellsworth. “She was a leader on the court in all three games. I’m very excited to see our continued development as we prepare for the start of the regular season.”

Amin Suleman is a fourth-year arts student from Toronto, Ontario and a guard on the UPEI Men’s Basketball team. The Panthers just returned from an exhibition road trip in Ontario, including a showing at the Brock RBC Classic. Suleman tallied 15 points, seven rebounds, and five assists in the Panthers 78–61 loss to Brock University. “Amin showed lots of leadership throughout the weekend, not just his play on the court, but off it, too,” said coach Darrell Glenn.

Go Panthers Go!

The following release was issued by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency on October 10, 2018.

Being able to fill gaps in the labour market with highly educated and skilled students is critical for Atlantic Canadian businesses to thrive and grow the economy. The region’s skills shortage is top of mind within federal and provincial governments, and is a high priority for post-secondary institutions looking to recruit students from other countries. That is why both orders of government are teaming up to support the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) and Holland College as the schools build on their international student recruitment and retention efforts. 

Sean Casey, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard and Member of Parliament for Charlottetown, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), along with the Honourable Sonny Gallant, Prince Edward Island Minister of Workforce and Advanced Learning, today announced support for PEI’s largest post-secondary institutions to grow international activity at UPEI and Holland College.

“The Government of Canada continues to support growth in business and academia to help entrepreneurs and innovators grow, export and create jobs," said Mr. Casey. "While students at any level of the education system can become the entrepreneurs, innovators and leaders of tomorrow, we still need highly skilled post-secondary graduates who are ready work in a variety of sectors. The key is to keep these bright minds engaged and working locally. These investments will help UPEI and Holland College carry out strategic approaches to attract students to learn in the province and entice them to stay, build their lives here and contribute to our economy.”

"Our government is pleased to support this project as it is a direct action item from our Population Action Plan. International students bring diversity to our Island post-secondary institutions, and furthermore contribute to our province’s overall economic growth and long-term sustainability when they choose to live and work on Prince Edward Island after their studies," said Minister Gallant.

This support will better position Holland College to apply focused strategies to build up its international student enrollment and further grow international education activity across its programs. UPEI will build on its recruitment activities and will implement a pan-Atlantic student retention initiative in partnership with Holland College and Collège de l'Île. The initiative will help attract greater numbers of international students to PEI post-secondary institutions and support students to stay in PEI and become permanent residents after graduation.

“In the last five years alone, UPEI has seen its international student body grow from approximately 600 to over 1200 students, with representation from over 80 countries," said Dr. Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, UPEI's President and Vice-Chancellor. "It is important to retain our international students so that our province and region can reap the benefits of their knowledge, skills and global perspective. Thanks to ACOA and the Government of PEI, the University is in a position to support graduates in reaching their full potential right here on PEI.”

“As we see a significant increase in our international student numbers, we are also witnessing a growing interest among our international graduates to live and work in PEI," added Michael O'Grady, Holland College's Vice-President, Innovation, Enterprise and Strategic Development. "With the support of ACOA and the Government of PEI, we are confident that we can transition more international students to the Island labour force at a time of skill shortages and labour gaps.”

Over the next three years, the Government of Canada, through ACOA’s Business Development Program, will provide non-repayable contributions of $932,068 to UPEI and $437,175 to Holland College to attract and retain more international students. The Government of PEI will also provide $176,625 to UPEI, Holland College and Collège de l'Île through the Department of Workforce and Advanced Learning.

These investments build on commitments made by the Government of Canada and the four Atlantic Provinces to further support the Study and Stay program, an initiative of the Atlantic Growth Strategy. Enhancing the region’s capacity to attract and retain a skilled workforce and meet regional labour market needs is a key component of this Strategy, which supports strategic projects to drive economic growth in the region.

Quick Facts

• The international student enrollment at the University of Prince Edward Island represents approximately 26% of the student population.
• At Holland College, international students make up 18% of the student population.
• In February 2018, the Atlantic provincial governments, with support from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Immigration, Citizenship and Refugees Canada, announced the expansion of the Study and Stay program to Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador.
• Initially a pilot program to attract and retain greater numbers of international students delivered by EduNova in Nova Scotia, Study and Stay is being adapted to meet the specific needs of the individual provinces.

The Mickey Place Memorial Basketball Tournament, presented by Rodd Hotels & Resorts, begins on Friday, October 12. Six men’s basketball teams from across Canada and the United States will compete in this annual three-day event.

“U SPORTS and CCAA Basketball fans will not want to miss this weekend’s Mickey Place Tournament,” said Darrell Glenn, coach of the UPEI Men’s Basketball team. “Some of the top players from across country will compete in our gym, and that's an opportunity that you don’t get everyday.”

The tournament is named after John Thomas “Mickey” Place, a long-time friend of Panther Sport, a former UPEI student union employee, and a UPEI honorary degree recipient.

Admission is free for UPEI students and students K-12. Tickets are $10 for an adult day pass, or $20 for a weekend pass. All games will be played in the UPEI Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre. The full tournament schedule follows:

Friday, October 12

4:00 pm: Humber College vs University of Maine at Fort Kent
6:00 pm: Holland College vs McMaster University
8:00 pm: UPEI vs University of Regina

Saturday, October 13

4:00 pm: University of Maine at Fort Kent vs University of Regina 
6:00 pm: Humber College vs Holland College
8:00 pm: UPEI vs McMaster University

Sunday, October 14

11:00 am: UPEI vs Humber College 
1:00 pm: McMaster vs University of Regina
3:00 pm: Holland College vs University of Maine at Fort Kent

Go Panthers Go!

The Island Lecture Series kicks off its 2018–2019 season with a discussion on how the addition of a fixed link affects “the Island way of life.” The event features the  research of Master of Arts in Island Studies graduate Janice Pettit and takes place Tuesday, October 16, at 7:00 pm in the Faculty Lounge of UPEI’s SDU Main Building.

Politicians began talking about building a fixed link between Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick in the late 1980s, and while this was not the first time the topic was broached, the premier of the day suggested a plebiscite to determine Islanders’ interest. Both those opposed and those in favour of the link rallied at public meetings prior to the vote to ensure their messages were heard. The “no” side raised a number of issues, but their main concern centered on the perceived loss of the “Island way of life.” During the 1989 plebiscite, Islanders voted almost 60 per cent in favour of a fixed crossing, and in 1997, the Confederation Bridge opened to the public.

Given all that was said and written regarding concerns about the loss of “islandness”, it is somewhat surprising that, until now, research had not been conducted to determine if the bridge has, in fact, had this impact. Have Prince Edward Islanders lost their “island way of life”? This presentation, drawn from Pettit’s exploratory thesis research, provides some insight into whether Prince Edward Island residents still consider themselves islanders and if their island identity has been affected by the fixed connection to the mainland.

Janice Pettit graduated from the MAIS program in May of 2018 and is a Senior Policy Advisor with the Government of Prince Edward Island.

Admission to the lecture is free and everyone is welcome to attend.

For more information, please contact Laurie Brinklow at iis@upei.ca or (902) 894-2881.

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.

It’s one of the busiest home weekends of the fall season for the Panthers. Men’s Basketball hosts the annual Mickey Place Basketball Tournament (see the full release for schedule). Women’s hockey plays its home opener. Rugby and soccer hosts games as well.

The weekend starts with the UPEI Women’s Hockey home opener, Friday evening at 7:00 pm against St. Thomas University.

“We have had a strong week of practice, firming up our rotation and getting everyone ready for the weekend,” said Bruce Donaldson, coach of the women’s hockey team. “STU is always a hard team to play against; they give you very little room and are very strong on the stick.”

Saturday, the day begins with a celebration of UPEI’s 76 U SPORTS Academic All-Canadians. The celebration begins at 10:00 am in McMillan Hall of UPEI’s W.A. Murphy Student Centre.

A busy afternoon begins with a 2:00 pm match between UPEI Women’s Rugby and Saint Mary’s University.

“Saint Mary’s are a well coached, tough team,” said coach John LaBoyne. “Any team that takes them lightly will be in for a shock. Our away game against them earlier this season was difficult—we had to come from behind at the half to get the win. They are tough and persistent.  Their defence is hard, especially in the close quarter play.”

Men’s Hockey hits the ice at 7:00 pm against the University of New Brunswick.

“This is another big weekend for us,” said coach Forbes McPherson. “We are coming off of very difficult trip to the U.S. playing NCAA teams. We battled very hard against Moncton Wednesday. It will be important for us to have a good couple of days of preparations and get dialled in for UNB.”

Sunday, the women’s hockey team is back in action, this time against the Université de Moncton. The puck drops at 2:00 pm.

“While we have not seen U de M this year, they always have a very strong skill set, with lots of speed and execute well on the power play,” said Donaldson.

Both UPEI soccer teams host St. Francis Xavier University Sunday afternoon. The women’s game begins on the artificial turf at 2:00 pm.

“We need to be focused tactically against a fluent and dynamic St. FX team,” said coach Graeme McDonald. “Training has been intense this week and the players understand how important this game is as we go into last few games of the season.”

The men host St. FX at 4:15 pm.

“The team had a chance to regroup and recharge over the Thanksgiving break,” said coach Lewis Page. “We will be fired up for the visit Sunday of top-ranked St. FX.”

Go Panthers Go!

U SPORTS, the national governing body of university sports in Canada, gives special recognition to student-athletes across the country with an academic standing of 80 per cent or better. UPEI is proud to announce 76 of its 184 student athletes in the 2017–2018 season have been named U SPORTS Academic All-Canadians. That’s more than 41 per cent of the student-athlete population, and one of the top rates of Academic All-Canadians at universities in the country.

UPEI student-athletes strive for excellence in sport, academics, and in the greater community. This level of academic achievement speaks volumes about their work ethic and the quality of our coaches, faculty, staff, and varsity programs.

UPEI Athletics and Recreation will celebrate its Academic All-Canadians at a ceremony Saturday morning at 10:00 am in McMillan Hall at UPEI’s W.A. Murphy Student Centre.

Congratulations to our Academic All-Canadians! Go Panthers Go!

Men’s Basketball: Matt Connolly, Stefan Vujisic; Men’s Cross Country: Lucas Clow, Stephen David Paul Seviour, Jacob Daniel Ezeard, Alec Dunstan Brown, Lee Wesselius; Men’s Hockey: Darcy Darrell Ashley, Brent Colin Andrews, Connor Morgan Wilkinson, Austin Levi, Ryan Patrick Mackinnon, Nathan Ronald Yetman, Marcus Timothy Power, Matthew Terrence Mahalak, Chad Morgan Labelle, Sam Aulie, Tanner McCabe, Beni Sam Berisha, Bobby Gaither Zinkan, Riley West Whittingham, Cody Adam Payne; Men’s Soccer: Ben Keefe, Ignacio Sanchez, Jesse Cameron, Nathan John Bruce Ford, Noah Najib Bitar, Austin MacKenzie, Jake David Deighan; Men’s Track and Field: Jordan Donald Bruce MacIsaac.

Women’s Basketball: Kiera Rigby, Leah Dawn Robinson, Jane C McLaughlin, Julie Elizabeth Campbell, Victoria Lynn Barbour, Jennifer Newman, Annabelle Charron; Women’s Cross Country: Emma Caroline Moore; Women’s Curling: Veronica Alice Smith, Chloe McCloskey; Women’s Hockey: Emma Katherine Martin, Megan Michelle Sullivan, Emma Dianne Weatherbie, Madison Faith Clarke, Rachel Lucia Colle, Emily Louise March, Gabrielle Frances Gray, Kristen Michelle Ca Macintyre, Jenna Pellerin, Caroline Daoust, Sophie Vandale, Camille Scherger; Women’s Rugby: Alysha Corrigan, Sidney Corrigan, Amy Hickey, Terrisa Lynch, Frances MacWilliam, Anneke Julianne Dykerman, Madeline Beatrice Shea, Nicole Caroline Davies, Tara Margaret Campbell, Taylor MacDonald, Elizabeth McQuaid; Women’s Soccer: Jennifer Balderston, Kelly Rebecca Green, Courtney McRorie, Danielle Leslie Younker, Tyffanie Bordage, Andrea Dawn Mahoney, Amanda Stanyer, Laura Burge; Women’s Swimming: Kelsey Bolivar; Women’s Track and Field: Kylee Jane Wallace, Megan Ann O'Hanley, Danika Korail Atchia, Kelly McCardle.

Every week, UPEI Athletics and Recreation recognizes student athletes for their achievements and dedication to their respective sports. Congratulations to Danielle Younker and Jack MacAulay, the UPEI Panther Subway Athletes of the Week for October 8–14.

Danielle Younker is a fourth-year science student from Charlottetown and a left-back on the UPEI Women’s Soccer team. The Panthers tied St. Francis Xavier over the weekend, and Younker was named Subway Player of the Game. “Danielle put on a fantastic defensive display and scored a terrific goal from 40 yards out,” said coach Graeme McDonald.

Jack MacAulay is a third-year business student from Charlottetown and a guard on the UPEI Men’s Basketball team. The Panthers hosted the Mickey Place Memorial Basketball Tournament over the weekend, dropping a game a piece to the University of Regina and McMaster University, and beating Humber College. MacAulay scored 41 points over three games and shot 65% from the three-point line. “Jack’s a pure shooter and an important player for us, it was great to see him have a successful weekend,” said coach Darrell Glenn.

Go Panthers Go!

The University of Prince Edward Island congratulates Chief Brian Francis of Rocky Point, PEI, on being appointed to the Senate of Canada. He is filling a PEI seat that has been vacant since the Honourable Libbe Hubley retired from the Senate in September 2017 and will be sworn in on Tuesday, October 16 in Ottawa.

A graduate of UPEI’s Certificate in Conflict Resolution Studies program, Senator-Elect Francis holds a Bachelor of Social Work from Dalhousie University and most recently served more than 11 years as Chief of the Abegweit First Nation. He is a formal signatory to the Canada–Prince Edward Island–Mi’kmaq Partnership, and is an executive member of the Fathers of Confederation Building Trust.

“I was so excited to hear that Chief Francis was recommended for appointment to the Senate of Canada, and, on behalf of the University of Prince Edward Island, I extend my sincere congratulations to this great leader,” said Dr. Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, President and Vice-Chancellor. “This is wonderful and historic news for Indigenous Peoples, Prince Edward Islanders, and Canadians, and I am honoured to count him as a colleague and advisor.”

In 2016, Chief Francis was recognized by the University of Prince Edward Island as a Founder on behalf of the Indigenous Peoples of Prince Edward Island. He also serves on the President’s Indigenous Advisory Council.

Congratulations, Chief Francis!