Classes begin. Consult UPEI's Calendar Dates for other important first semester dates.

Orange Shirt Day occurs annually at the end of each September, the time of year when Indigenous children were taken away from their homes and put into residential schools. Phyllis Wedstad was one such child. As a young child on her first day at residential school, Phyllis’ favourite orange shirt was promptly taken from her upon her arrival at the school. Her language and pride in her culture was also taken from her. Orange Shirt Day has been created in honour of Phyllis, and the many other children who attended residential schools. More information on this day can be found online at www.orangeshirtday.org. This year on September 29, 2017, the Faculty of Education is encouraging all students, staff, and faculty to wear orange as an annual opportunity to discuss aspects of residential schools, and to continue discussions year-round.   Those who are wearing an orange shirt we encourage to come meet us at 12:30pm outside of McDougall Hall for a group picture.  Thank you for your support in bringing awareness to Orange Shirt Day we hope that many of you will participate in wearing orange!

On Monday, August 21, the moon will pass between the Earth and the Sun, creating a rare and spectacular show. A solar eclipse is a memorable event, but one that needs to be enjoyed with great caution. UPEI’s Department of Physics is hosting a viewing event for Monday’s eclipse to help you safely observe the eclipse—and learn a thing or two about astronomy! View the full release for more information.

All students are encouraged to attend and learn about the many volunteer organizations and available opportunities. This is a great time to get hands-on experience, make connections, and help make a difference in your community. 

Arts Faculty and new students are invited to welcome the new term, meet some new peple, and enjoy some chocolate and coffee. There will also be a free second-hand book table. If you're a new Arts student, come out to meet some profs and fellow students and to ask any questions you have about your year ahead.

Dr. Leo Dana, Candidate for a Canada 150 Research Chair, will present and take questions on a documentary film he produced for the Greenland Film Festival entitled, Sustainable Self-Employment Among the Sami: Why do they Stay in Low-Profit Enterprise? This film tells the story of the economic struggles of the self-employed indigenous Sami reindeer herders from Norway. It will take place on August 31st, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm in Room 246 of McDougall Hall. Free admission, all are welcome.

The UPEI Office of Recruitment and International Relations wishes to extend an invitation from Global Affairs Canada to the campus community to a North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) town hall meeting hosted by the Honourable Andrew Leslie, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Canada-U.S. Relations). Tuesday, August 29, 2017 from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm Rodd Royalty Hotel, Crowbush Room 14 Capital Drive, Charlottetown Further to the Canadian Government’s ongoing consultation process on the modernization of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and as the Government has now begun discussions with the United States and Mexico on the renegotiation of NAFTA, some of the issues that the government would like to hear from the public include: ·         Areas of the agreement that could be clarified; ·         Areas that should be updated; ·         Any new sections that should form part of a modernized agreement. For more information on the NAFTA consultation process, please visit the following web pages: ·         NAFTA Consultation Website ·         Statement by Foreign Affairs Minister, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, on NAFTABIOGRAPHY Born into a multi-generational military family, Andrew Leslie enjoyed a decorated 35-year career with the Canadian Armed Forces. In 2006, he became Chief of the Land Staff/Army Commander, a position he held until 2010, during which time he was responsible for 57,000 military and public service personnel, their equipment, military training and infrastructure. After a successful career in the Canadian military, Mr. Leslie retired in 2011 and worked as a senior vice president of CGI Group Inc., a Canadian information technology corporation. His professional experience is complemented by several academic degrees and courses focusing on economics, history, leadership, strategy, tactics, equipment acquisition and management. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics at the University of Ottawa and a Masters at the Royal Military College, in addition to undertaking professional development in management at the Harvard Business School. Mr. Leslie was elected as Member of Parliament for Orléans in October 2015. Mr. Leslie served as Chief Government Whip from November 2015 to January 2017. The Honourable Andrew Leslie will also be giving the keynote address at the Palmer Conference on Public Leadership, taking place August 29-31 on the UPEI campus.   

The Blessed John Henry Newman Dinner is an evening hosted by the University of Prince Edward Island’s Catholic Studies program and the Canadian Catholic Students’ Association.  Its aim is to honour the Catholic heritage of UPEI’s founding institution, Saint Dunstan’s University, as well as how the Catholic intellectual and ministerial traditions continue to serve today’s students on the UPEI campus. Each year, the Newman Dinner recognized its annual Newman Fellow, an academic or ecclesial leader whose distinguished career flows from the spirit of Cardinal Newman’s ministry, commitment, and contribution to Catholic higher education. The Newman Dinner has three aims: 1) an evening of fellowship and a celebration of community; 2) sharing the good work of the Catholic Studies program and the Canadian Catholic Students’ association; 3) to fundraise in support of global and/or experiential learning opportunities.  Proceeds from the 2017 dinner will support a group of eight students and two faculty/staff on a service-learning experience in Honduras planned for February 2018. Participants will work with the Congregation of Notre Dame on manual work projects and learn more about the spiritual and cultural heritage of this region of Latin America. Fellows of the Newman Dinner: 2015, Dr. Peter Erb (Founding Saint Dunstan’s Visiting Scholar of Catholic Studies); 2016, Fr. Thomas Rosica CSB (CEO of Salt and Light Media & English-Language Media Attaché to the Vatican; 2017, Dr. Don McDougall (Chancellor, UPEI).   Dr. McDougall’s talk is titled, “What the Blue Jays Should Learn from Cardinal Newman.” A tradition of the Newman Dinner is to follow the keynote speaker with two student reflectors. This year’s reflectors are Lorelei Kenny and Bethany Dunn. Lorelei and Bethany will be speaking on their experience in the May 2017 course, “Rome: Christianity and Culture,” taught over a three week period in Rome, Italy.  The experience was funded by the Saint Dunstan’s Institute of Christianity and Culture (itself formed out of a major bequest to the Inspire Campaign by the SDU Board of Governors) and brought ten students and two faculty members for an experiential-learning opportunity in Rome. “Saint Dunstan’s University, which operated for more than a 100 years and whose historic campus UPEI now sits,” said Dr. Robert Dennis, Religious Studies, “had incredible student traditions. The Newman Dinner is built on this foundation. Through the generosity of benefactors, many students are able to attend the evening. Newman has become a tradition for the twenty-first century.” 

Come one, come all to AVC’s popular Open House 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, exhibits, lots of different animals to see, a parade of dog breeds, 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. 

Celebrating 12,000 Years of Mi’kmaq resiliency   When Wednesday, September 6, 2017 from 4:00–5:30 pm in front of SDU Main Building, UPEI Rain location: Sustainable School of Engineering Room 128 A & B   Learn the Indigenous history that we’re rarely taught. This participatory event will help you understand the historic and contemporary relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada, how this relationship has been damaged over the years and how we can work together toward reconciliation.    This event will be witnessed by members of the Mi’kmaq community and other Indigenous peoples who now call Prince Edward Island their home.   FREE EVENT—Please dress for indoor/outdoor spaces—BYO Blanket.   Free BBQ to follow (6pm) for participants