L. M. Montgomery and the Matter of Nature(s), a book co-edited by UPEI’s Dr. Jean Mitchell, is one of three books short-listed for the Association of Canadian and Quebec Literatures’ (AQCL) Gabrielle Roy Prize. The AQCL recognizes two books every year with this prestigious award for literary criticism, one in French and one in English.

Dr. Jean Mitchell is an associate professor of anthropology at UPEI. She co-edited L. M. Montgomery and the Matter of Nature(s) with Dr. Rita Bode of Trent University. The book is a critical study of L.M. Montgomery’s relationship to the material world and the revealing interconnections between nature and culture.

From the publisher’s website:

L.M. Montgomery’s writings are replete with enchanting yet subtle and fluid depictions of nature that convey her intense appreciation for the natural world. At a time of ecological crises, intensifying environmental anxiety, and burgeoning eco-critical perspectives, L.M. Montgomery and the Matter of Nature(s) repositions the Canadian author’s relationship to nature in terms of current environmental criticism across several disciplines, introducing a fresh approach to her life and work. 

Drawing on a wide range of Montgomery’s novels as well as her journals, this collection suggests that socio-ecological relationships encompass ideas of reciprocity, affiliation, autonomy, and the capacity for transformation in both the human and more-than-human worlds, and that these ideas are integral to Montgomery’s vision and her literary legacy. Framed by the twin themes of materiality and interrelationships, essays by scholars of literature, law, animal studies, anthropology, and ecology examine place, embodiment, and difference in Montgomery’s works and embrace the multiplicities embedded in the concept of nature. 

Through innovative critical approaches, L.M. Montgomery and the Matter of Nature(s) opens up conversations about humans’ interactions with nature and the material environment.

The winner of the 2018 Gabrielle Roy Prize will be announced at the annual Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences, held next month in Vancouver, British Columbia.

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.

Dr. Étienne Côté, professor of cardiology at the Atlantic Veterinary College, is the winner of the College’s 2018 Atlantic Award of Excellence in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Care.

Dr. Greg Keefe, dean of AVC, presented the award to Dr. Côté in front of a large crowd of AVC alumni and friends at the Atlantic Provinces Veterinary Conference in Halifax on April 13. Dr. Côté was nominated by Dr. Ameet Singh, a former student who is now an associate professor of surgery at the Ontario Veterinary College.

Dr. Côté came to AVC in 2003 as a small animal internal medicine clinician and set up a cardiology practice in 2004. He is passionate about teaching, and his dedication to veterinary students and residents is exemplary. He is known for his innovative teaching methods and consequently has received numerous teaching awards, including being named a 3M National Teaching Fellow.

“Dr. Côté’s dedication to his patients and his students has earned the respect of his colleagues at AVC and beyond,” said Dr. Keefe. “As a clinician and teacher, he is an inspiration to veterinarians, veterinary students, and others concerned about the health and welfare of animals.”

He is one of the most well-known and respected clinicians at AVC, committed to providing outstanding care to his patients and their owners, and to working with referring veterinarians. He has advanced the knowledge base of the veterinary profession, giving continuing education presentations and contributing to publications including Clinical Veterinary Advisor, Feline Cardiology, and the Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine, the seminal reference book for internal medicine.

“Dr. Côté has been a tremendous mentor for me… He is wise beyond his years, and I am fortunate to have him as a sounding board,” said Dr. Singh in his nomination letter.

Dr. Darcy Shaw, professor emeritus, supported Dr. Côté’s nomination, saying that he has advanced the veterinary profession through his clinical and publishing work but also through entrepreneurship. He developed a veterinary drug index app that allows veterinarians and students select and prescribe medications with their smartphones or tablets. And he co-founded Veterinary Board Games, which developed Veterinary Board Exam Flash Cards (vols 1, 2, and 3) to help students prepare for the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam (NAVLE).

Dr. Shari Raheb, a former student now doing a residency in cardiology at the Ontario Veterinary College, knows Dr. Côté as a teacher, mentor, and colleague. In supporting his nomination, she praised him for his dedication to student veterinarians and residents he has taught.

“Étienne’s compassion and respect towards his patients, veterinary students, and colleagues serve as an example for veterinarians everywhere,” said Dr. Raheb.

The Honourable Brian Francis, Senator for Prince Edward Island, presented Dr. Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, President and Vice-Chancellor, with the Senate of Canada Sesquicentennial Medal on April 26 at a ceremony hosted by the Honourable Antoinette Perry, Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island at Government House. Senator Francis also presented medals to Shirley Affleck, Deana Beaton, Stephen Cousins, Lennie Gallant, Susan Keizer, James MacAulay, Tara MacLean, Kathy O’Rourke, Julie Pellissier-Lush, and Dr. D.I. Stewart.

Senator Francis said, “I am delighted to be able to recognize outstanding individuals who, through hard work and determination, have made a profound difference on the lives of others and in the community. Their contributions are a testament to the kindness and generosity that permeates in our province and country.”

The medals, which are struck by the Royal Canadian Mint, commemorate the first time senators came to Ottawa to sit in Parliament, on November 6, 1867. Each Senator was provided with 12 medals to award to individuals who have helped make their communities a better place to live. The medal features the Senate’s emblem on one side and the Senate Chamber, along with the recipient’s name, on the other.

President Abd-El-Aziz was nominated by Senator Francis on the recommendation of colleagues from UPEI. Since assuming his role in 2011, he has championed a highly collaborative strategic-planning process, guiding the University in the development of future-focused, industry- and community-linked programming that that teaches skills in increasingly experiential ways. President Abd-El-Aziz is committed to increasing the awareness and knowledge of the histories, cultures, and perspectives of Indigenous Peoples in Canada on campus, and continues to encourage initiatives on the journey into reconciliation.

Under the President’s leadership, UPEI’s student body has increased by 16 per cent between 2014 and 2019, and its number of international students has grown to 26 per cent of total enrolment. He has demonstrated that a UPEI education can be used as a model around the world, instilling the Canadian values of respect and equality in students, as they become global citizens.

Congratulations, President Abd-El-Aziz!

For the first time, UPEI has added a third ceremony for Convocation to accommodate the growing number of graduates and limited seating capacity in the UPEI Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre. The additional ceremony will take place on Friday, May 10 at 1:30 pm, along with ceremonies on Saturday, May 11 at 10:00 am, and Saturday, May 11 at 2:30 pm.

Each ceremony is preceded by a procession of graduates across campus. Over 900 students will graduate in the 2018–19 academic year, along with three honorary graduands: Roger W. Warren, Albert P. Fogarty, and the Honourable Diane Campbell. (Read the article)

The UPEI Senate approved the recipients of honorary doctorates of laws at a meeting earlier this year in accordance with the University’s policy that states these degrees will be presented “to individuals who display the highest levels of achievement in public and community service.”

“Our 2019 recipients are excellent role models for our graduates and each one is a distinguished individual who has made a significant impact in their community,” said Dr. Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, President and Vice-Chancellor. “By recognizing their outstanding achievements and connections to Prince Edward Island and UPEI with honorary degrees, we acknowledge them for their many contributions to society.”

Due to safety regulations, seating at the Convocation ceremonies remains limited to guests with invitations, which must be presented at the door. Guests are asked to arrive early to ensure everyone is seated at least 15 minutes before the ceremony start time as there will be no admittance once the academic procession enters the Sports Centre.

There is plenty of parking within a five- to ten-minute walk of the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre. Please refer to the campus map for the location of general parking areas on campus. There are a number of accessible parking spots, designated by the International Symbol of Access (wheelchair symbol), situated in front of the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre and the W.A. Murphy Student Centre.

Overflow seating and a live broadcast are available at McMillan Hall in the W. A. Murphy Student Centre, or the ceremonies can be watched live on Eastlink Television.

For more information on UPEI’s Convocation Ceremonies, please visit upei.ca/convocation.
 

Seaside Books in Summerside will host authors Jane Ledwell and JoDee Samuelson for a reading on Saturday, May 11, at 1:00 pm. Jane Ledwell will read from her new book of poetry, Return of the Wild Goose, which explores the life of PEI writer and activist Katherine Hughes. JoDee Samuelson will read from The Cove Journal, a collection of columns from The Buzz about rural life on the Island. Both books are published by Island Studies Press at UPEI.

Bookstore owner Nancy Quinn hopes this will be the first in a series of readings at the store. She views Seaside Books as “a literary and cultural destination in Summerside.” The shop showcases the quality of local readership as all books were sourced on the Island.

Jane Ledwell is a writer and editor who lives in Charlottetown. She has published two previous collections of poetry, Last Tomato and Bird Calls: The Island Responds. JoDee Samuelson is an award-winning filmmaker and artist who has lived on the South Shore of PEI for the past thirty years.

Please join Seaside Books and Island Studies Press in celebrating Island authors. Books will be available for sale. Tea and cookies will be provided. Seaside Books is located at 240 Water Street in Summerside. For more information about the reading, please contact Bren at ispstaff@upei.ca or call (902) 566-0386.

The National Day of Mourning, or Workers’ Mourning Day, originated in Canada in 1984 and is now observed annually in over 100 countries on April 28 to honour the memory of those who have died, and pay respect to those who have been adversely affected by life-changing injuries or illnesses in the workplace. Workers' Mourning Day also raises awareness and renews the commitment of all levels of government, employers, workers, and community members to ensure safe and healthy workplaces exist as every worker has the right to return home safe and sound at the end of each workday. 

Canadian workers compensation statistics from 2017 tell us there were:

• 951 workplace deaths (an increase of 46 in 2016) including 23 young workers from 15–24 years of age.
• 251,508 claims accepted for lost time due to a work-related injury or disease, including 31,441 from young workers aged 15–24.

There are several ways to show support for those who have been affected by workplace fatality or injury. The PEI Federation of Labour will host a National Day of Mourning Ceremony on Sunday, April 28, 2019 at 2:00 pm at St Paul's Church Hall, 101 Prince Street, Charlottetown. The University of Prince Edward Island will observe the day by keeping the flags at half-mast (they were lowered earlier this week to honour UPEI alumnus Josh Underhay and his son Oliver who passed away suddenly as a result of a tragic accident).

The University of Prince Edward Island celebrated the appointment of its newest Canada Research Chair at a ceremony today. Dr. Josh MacFadyen becomes the Canada Research Chair in Geospatial Humanities in UPEI’s Faculty of Arts. Over the five years of the appointment, Dr. MacFadyen will use new techniques and multidisciplinary approaches to examine historical transitions of food and energy in Canada as well as their impacts.

“It is an honour to be back at my alma mater and very exciting to be a faculty member in the new Applied Communication, Leadership, and Culture program,” said Dr. MacFadyen. “The Canada Research Chair offers a unique platform for training and research, the region has robust historical and geospatial communities, and PEI has become a nexus for people interested in how food systems become more—or less—resilient in the face of threats like climate change. PEI has been mapped more than most jurisdictions; during the 1960s it became a focal point for federal projects like the Canada Land Inventory and the world’s first Geographic Information System (GIS). As such, PEI is an ideal place for historians to develop new geospatial research, and the CRC allows us to examine bigger questions such as how policy impacts land use and livelihoods in modern societies.”

Within the Faulty of Arts, the Canada Research Chair in Geospatial Humanities will reside in the Applied Communication, Leadership, and Culture (ACLC) program. The ACLC is defined by its focus on the transferability of the written, oral and visual communication skills, the critical thinking, and the cultural awareness acquired during a Liberal Arts education to the world beyond academia.

“Dr. MacFadyen’s strong digital humanities skill set and passion for research have already proven to be invaluable assets in our program,” said Lisa Chilton, director of the ACLC program at UPEI. “Students who work with him gain inspiration to explore new ways of using computers to understand and convey information. We are thrilled he has joined our team!”

This chair presents an exciting opportunity for students. Students working under the chair will study the environmental history and historical geography of Atlantic Canada. Much of their work will focus on the history of food and agriculture in Canada, including ways the modern food system has shaped our relationships with animals and the land. The transition to this kind of system occurred relatively recently on PEI; this presents an opportunity to map the causes and impacts of the transition using the tools of the geospatial humanities.

“This Canada Research Chair is a feather in the cap of the Faculty of Arts, and it presents many exciting opportunities for our students,” said Dr. Katherine Gottschall-Pass, interim Vice-President Academic and Research at UPEI. “History comes alive when we can make real connections to the physical place where they happened. Dr. MacFadyen’s talents and skills to examine the historical transitions of this place will help us all better understand our island home.”

As chair, Dr. MacFadyen will use new techniques and multidisciplinary approaches to examine Canadian food and energy transitions. The energy transition from wood to coal is widely considered the critical stage in global industrialization, and many economic historians point to the period when a nation’s fossil fuels surpassed its use of wood and other biomass energy. However, new research in the “metabolism” of social-ecological systems demonstrates that biomass energy consumption, especially wood energy and feed for livestock, actually grew in many countries during industrialization. The core outcomes of this chair will include databases and publications on the environmental history of food and energy, articles comparing Canadian regions to the international literature on social-ecological metabolism, and a book on Canadian energy history.

For more information on the new projects underway at Dr. MacFadyen’s lab, visit www.upei.ca/geolab .

The Canada Research Chairs Program (CRCP) was established in 2000 by the Government of Canada. It stands at the centre of a national strategy to make Canada one of the world's top countries in research and development. It invests approximately $265 million per year to attract and retain a diverse cadre of world-class researchers, to reinforce academic research and training excellence in Canadian postsecondary institutions.

Chairholders aim to achieve research excellence in engineering and the natural sciences, health sciences, humanities, and social sciences. They improve our depth of knowledge and quality of life, strengthen Canada's international competitiveness, and help train the next generation of highly skilled people through student supervision, teaching, and the coordination of other researchers' work.

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.

As part of UPEI’s 50th anniversary, the Robertson Library is presenting a lecture series to celebrate the historical roots of higher education on Prince Edward Island and its future. The series is named after educator Frank Pigot, honoured as a UPEI Founder for his work building the Library’s PEI Collection and University Archives.

Historian Georges Arsenault will deliver the third lecture of the series on Tuesday, May 21 at 7:00 pm in the Faculty Lounge of UPEI’s SDU Main Building. Arsenault’s talk is titled “Société Saint-Thomas d’Aquin and French Education on the Island.”

The Société Saint-Thomas d’Aquin (SSTA), the principal voice of the Acadian and Francophone community of PEI, is 100 years old this year. It was founded in 1919 at the annual convention of the PEI Acadian Teachers’ Association. Its immediate objective was to collect money for the education of young Acadians, but the overall goal of the SSTA was to see French and Acadian life flourish on the Island. Among the founders of the SSTA and who spearheaded the society for many years were Dr. J. Henri Blanchard, who taught at Prince of Wales College from 1910 to 1948, and Rev. Nazaire Poirier, who was on the teaching staff of Saint Dunstan’s University from 1912 to 1937. The lecture will focus on the important contribution of the SSTA to French education on the Island over the last century. 

A native of Abram-Village, Georges Arsenault lives in Charlottetown. He is the author of many publications on Acadian history and folklore and a well-known lecturer. He is the president of the Sister Antoinette DesRoches Historical Society and was recently made a member of the Order of Canada.

Refreshments will be provided. Everyone is 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.

The University of Prince Edward Island is proud to host the Canada 2018 Gairdner International Award winner for the 2019 Gairdner Lectures. Dr. Davor Solter will deliver a public lecture on Monday, May 6 at 9:30 am in the Faculty Lounge of UPEI’s SDU Main Building. A second lecture for high school students will take place immediately after at 10:45 am.

Dr. Davor Solter is an emeritus member and director of the Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics. He is a visiting international professor of the Siriraj Center for Excellence in Stem Cell Research, Mahidol University, and a visiting professor at the University of Zagreb Medical School.

Together, the work of Dr. Solter and Dr. Azim Surani has contributed to the understanding of the developmental consequences and molecular mechanisms of genomic imprinting, starting the field of epigenetics, the study of heritable changes in gene function without changes in the DNA sequence.

In 1984, they released parallel studies that demonstrated the concept of genomic imprinting. All cells in the animal contain two copies of every autosomal gene, one from the mother and one from the father, and in most cases both copies are expressed. However, “imprinted” genes are expressed only from either the maternally or the paternally inherited copy. Genomic imprinting has widespread roles in mammals, affecting embryonic and placental development and transmission of nutrients to the fetus, and regulating critical aspects of mammalian physiology, such as metabolism, neuronal development and adult behaviour. Extensive research based on this discovery led to the identification of numerous imprinted genes whose alleles are differentially expressed depending on the parent of origin.

Faulty imprints can lead to developmental, physiological and behavioural anomalies in mice, and result in diseases in humans. There is growing evidence for the importance of imprinting in disease susceptibility from developmental syndromes like Beckwith-Wiedemann, Angelman and Prader-Willi, to a variety of cancers and neurological disorders and obesity. It also has effects on diverse aspects of mammalian development and physiology, such as stem cells, core body temperature, nutrition and behaviour.

All are welcome to the public lecture. High school classes who would like to attend the student lecture may contact Jane Vessey at javessey@upei.ca.

The Gairdner Foundation was established in 1957 with the goal of recognizing and rewarding international excellence in fundamental research that impacts human health. Seven awards are given annually: five Canada Gairdner International Awards for biomedical research, one John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award for impact on global health issues, and one Canada Gairdner Wightman Award, reserved for a Canadian. The Foundation has bestowed 380 awards on laureates from 35 countries; 89 of those recipients have gone on to receive Nobel Prizes.

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.

The following message was distributed earlier today to faculty, staff, and students.

Message from the President and Vice-Chancellor

Dear Members of the University Community,

The conclusion of the 2018–19 academic year at the University of Prince Edward Island is fast approaching, and, with Convocation around the corner, I am looking forward to celebrating the accomplishments of our students, faculty, and staff.

We are also nearing the end of the fiscal year (April 30, 2019), signifying the culmination of several months of budget planning, which began with broad consultation with the Vice-Presidents, University Librarian, Chief Information Officer, Deans, and Directors. After gathering information from across campus, we made the best decisions possible to ensure that growth is sustainably managed and the burden of tuition costs on our students is minimized.

Therefore, due to the collaborative efforts of many, I am pleased to announce, for the eighth year in a row, that the University of Prince Edward Island Board of Governors, at its meeting last night, approved a balanced operating budget for the 2019–20 fiscal year. We are projecting total operating revenues and total operating expenses of $124.2 million, a record high. The budget document outlines how we will fund UPEI’s operating expenditures, while identifying opportunities to invest in new strategic initiatives that expand our community impact and global reach.

As a public institution, UPEI also works very closely with the Government of Prince Edward Island on shared priorities—including the attraction and retention of students from the Island, across Canada, and around the world—in order to develop a sustainable budget for the University. Last year, the Government announced a multi-year funding agreement, allowing us to better plan, and to plan earlier, because of our advance knowledge of the two per cent increase to UPEI’s core operating grant. This support reflects the importance of postsecondary education to the future well-being of our province and we remain incredibly grateful for the Government’s investment, and true to our ongoing commitment to invest in our future.

Before I discuss these future opportunities, I would like to share some highlights from the past year.

Together, we have made wonderful progress in advancing our mission to provide outstanding experiential and research-driven learning opportunities for our students.

In 2018, we completed the transformation of Dalton Hall into the Student Experience Hub, an important and key component in serving prospective and current students, and in their successful completion of the enrolment process.

Along with members of the UPEI Strategic Planning Committee, I was energized after we engaged with members of our University community during our strategic plan renewal process, and then unveiled our guiding document, UPEI Strategic Plan 2018–2023. We are setting the bar higher and higher, and continue to develop ideas that align with our strategic priorities.

We can be proud of our ongoing gains in enrolment, and that our reputation as a leading university is growing locally, nationally, and around the world. We have welcomed a higher number of international students than ever before, and from more countries. We also have seen increases in the number of students from across Canada. 

To support this enrolment and program growth, UPEI has invested in people. We continue to attract and retain exceptional faculty and staff, and currently have the highest number of employees in our history.

The Atlantic Veterinary College completed the fifth year of its 10-year funding agreement with the four Atlantic Provinces, enjoying great success. This year, for the first time, AVC met certain Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), allowing for additional funding over and above the guaranteed one per cent funding increase to its general operating grant.

Looking ahead to 2019–20, core revenue in the budget is allocated towards the cost of important University activities including student and ancillary services, faculties and schools, academic support, administration, and property/maintenance. We continue to work diligently to grow revenues to help offset these costs and pressures such as increased labour costs, important infrastructure upgrades, increasing supply costs, and inflationary pressures, while at the same time keeping tuition increases to a minimum and among the lowest in Atlantic Canada. This budget includes the following tuition increases:

• Undergraduate tuition increase: 2% or $12 per course
• International fee increase: 2% or $14 per course
• Graduate tuition increase: 2% per program, amounts vary
• The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine tuition will also increase by 2% with the exception of international tuition. International tuition will remain at $66,500 per annum until 2019. This tuition rate was established in 2016 as a result of comparative support from regional sources and competitive market place analysis

I must commend our UPEI Student Union and President Will McGuigan for their ongoing collaboration with the University and advocacy on behalf of our students. While he and Board of Governors student representative Owen Shaw abstained from voting on the budget motion based on the principle that the tuition increase is higher than the current consumer price index (1.5), they also understand the pressures that the University is under to balance its budget. I am grateful for their hard work in ensuring student concerns are brought to the table.

Healthy people mean a healthy university. In 2019–20, UPEI will continue to make investments to support a healthy and vibrant campus environment. Our University will continue to work with government, donors, faculty, staff, alumni, and students to develop new academic programs and grow our physical and mental health services. We do this by expanding our unique offerings and delivering them in innovative ways.

As we look to the future, I encourage you to reflect on what UPEI has achieved last year, but also over the last fifty years as we celebrate UPEI at 50. We have recently completed the most ambitious friend-raising campaign in our history, INSPIRE!, and have received great support from the community, reaching our $50 million goal early. The economic and cultural impacts of our students, faculty, staff, and alumni go well beyond our campus to communities across the Island. In addition, UPEI makes important contributions to the economies of PEI and Canada through our research agenda and expertise, and we look forward to continue working with our government counterparts to propel opportunities forward.

With every year, my amazement builds at how UPEI’s innovation is having more and more impact. I sincerely thank all of our faculty and staff for their contributions to our University, and our students for choosing UPEI. As we celebrate our 50th anniversary in 2019, I hope that you will share my enthusiasm for our future initiatives and what they will mean to our University for the next 50 years.

Sincerely yours,

Dr. Alaa S. Abd-El-Aziz
President and Vice-Chancellor
University of Prince Edward Island