Dr. Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Prince Edward Island, announced today that three exceptional leaders in their respective fields will be awarded honorary Doctor of Laws degrees at the University’s Convocation ceremonies on May 10 and 11, 2019. Honorary degrees will be conferred upon Roger W. Warren, Albert P. Fogarty, and the Honourable Diane Campbell.

“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 President Abd-El-Aziz. “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.”

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

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 Convocation ceremonies, which are by invitation only, will take place on Friday, May 10 at 1:30 pm (honorary degree recipient, Roger W. Warren), Saturday, May 11 at 10:00 am (honorary degree recipient Albert P. Fogarty), and Saturday, May 11 at 2:30 pm (honorary degree recipient Hon. Diane Campbell). Ceremonies will be broadcast live on Eastlink Television. For more information on UPEI’s Convocation Ceremonies, please visit upei.ca/convocation.

About the recipients

Mr. Roger W. Warren
Born in Ontario, Roger Warren’s sincere interest in students and education, paired with his philanthropic generosity, has had impact across the country and beyond. Mr. Warren is passionate for student-centred initiatives rather than bricks and mortar projects and has demonstrated this through the many boards and committees he has volunteered with over the years. He is most interested in education for youth and the disadvantaged, especially those with learning disabilities.

After studying commerce at McGill University, Mr. Warren began his illustrious investment career in 1955 with A.E. Ames & Co., working in their New York, London, and Toronto offices, and retired from RBC Dominion Securities’ Bay Street offices after serving in senior investment and portfolio management roles.

He created the Rathlyn Foundation as a small, private family foundation to support medical education and research; advance veterinary science and education; and areas where trained animals are used to assist persons with disabilities. The Foundation has grown tremendously and counts as its benefactors: McGill University Law School (advancing rights of people with disabilities; business management; scholarships, bursaries, and endowments for Indigenous students); Ontario Veterinary College at University of Guelph; The Gow School to support students with disabilities; and UPEI to support Atlantic Veterinary College student awards, the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre, and the Chinook Project, which provides essential veterinary care to isolated communities in the Canadian north.

Mr. Warren is a founding member and honorary trustee of the Ontario Veterinary College’s Pet Health Trust and holds an honorary degree from the University of Guelph.

Mr. Albert P. Fogarty
Albert Preston Fogarty has had a long and distinguished career in public life in Prince Edward Island. He was born in Cardigan, and educated at Saint Dunstan's University (BA ’62, BEd ’66), the University of New Brunswick (Graduate Studies in History), and Saint Francis Xavier University (MEd ’77).

In the early days of rural secondary education, Mr. Fogarty began his teaching career at Montague Regional High School, but very quickly moved to the principalship at Souris Regional High School. In this position, he lobbied for excellent teachers and indeed succeeded in bringing a high level of education to this part of Prince Edward Island. Under his leadership, he developed an excellent staff and many graduates proceeded to further education and distinguished careers in Canada and abroad.

As well as his contributions to education, Mr. Fogarty extended his skills and abilities to his community. He served as president of the Prince Edward Island Teachers' Federation from 1969 to 1970 and represented 1st Kings district in the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island from 1979 to 1993, serving in the provincial cabinet as Minister of Health and Social Services from 1981 to 1986. Fogarty was Superintendent of Education for the province from 1993 to 1994. In 1997, he became executive director of the adult and community education institute at Holland College, retiring in 2001.

Mr. Fogarty has published several reports and papers and was a contributor to Minding the House: A Biographical Guide to Prince Edward Island MLAs. He is a recipient of a Centennial Citizenship Citation (1973) and Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of Confederation (1992). Over the years, he has volunteered for a variety of boards and committees and is current Chair of the Saint Dunstan’s University Board of Governors and SDU Institute for Christianity and Culture at UPEI.

The Honourable Diane Campbell, QC
The Honourable Diane Campbell, from Summerside PEI, graduated from the University of Prince Edward Island in 1972 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She proceeded to the University of New Brunswick on full scholarship to complete her law degree in 1975, and her Master of Law degree the following year from the prestigious Harvard Law School.

As the first woman called to the Bar in PEI with a Masters of Law from Harvard, Madam Justice Campbell spent almost 25 years as a sole practitioner in Prince County, focusing her general legal practice on business, commercial, estates, and real estate law. While a resident of Prince Edward Island, she was extensively involved in the community, holding volunteer roles often at the leadership level with the PEI Literacy Council, Summerside Chamber of Commerce, the Boys and Girls Club, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Cancer Society, the PEI Humane Society, and PEI Women in Business Association.

In 2000, she was appointed to the Federal Tax Court of Canada as one of 20 judges—the first female from Prince Edward Island to hold this honour. Ms. Campbell is a well-respected Canadian jurist who regularly attends international meetings as a representative of the Canadian branch of the International Association of Women Judges. Diane Campbell's impressive career in law is a shining example of what can be achieved, particularly important because of her gender, as she was among the few women in the mid-1970s who entered the legal profession. UPEI recognized Justice Campbell as one of its most distinguished alumni with a 2017 Distinguished Alumni Award.

Dr. Greg Keefe, dean of the Atlantic Veterinary College, has been elected president of the Deans Council—Agriculture, Food, and Veterinary Medicine for a one-year term. He served as president-elect for the past year.

The council includes researchers, educators, and scientists in the five faculties of veterinary medicine and the eight faculties of agriculture housed in 11 universities across Canada.

Focusing on education and training, research, and public service and policy, the members provide scientific expertise and discoveries in areas critical to a sustainable economy, society, and environment. These areas include One Health, animal health, zoonotic diseases, and epidemiology; soil sciences including remediation of damaged sites and thawing permafrost; plant and crop sciences enhancing food production efficiency, quality, and safety; animal genetics, production, and welfare; bioproducts such as biofuels and biodegradable food packaging, and novel food development and processing; and economic and trade policy and consumer/purchaser priorities. They also work toward practical applications of their discoveries for the benefit of food industries, agricultural producers, and local and global communities.

The University of Prince Edward Island’s Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering (FSDE) will showcase the best in student, sustainable engineering at the annual Student Design Expo and Awards Ceremony, Thursday, April 18.

Student projects will be set up for public viewing at various stations around the first floor of the Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering building. Each project is the result of collaboration between FSDE students and an industry or community partner. Students were tasked with designing and creating solutions to their partners’ unique challenges.

“The Student Design Expo is a great opportunity for the public to learn about our unique educational model and to observe firsthand what our students can achieve over the course of their studies,” said Dr. Nicholas Krouglicof, dean of the Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering. “I’m confident that visitors will be amazed by the sophistication of the various design projects as well as the professionalism exhibited by our students.”

The public component of the Student Design Expo begins with a short ceremony at 1:00 pm. Projects are available for viewing through the afternoon, with the Student Award Ceremony beginning at 4:00 pm, and a brief panel discussion about opportunities for design engineering graduates beginning at 4:30 pm.

Dozens of projects will be on display from students in all four years of the undergraduate program. Projects range in scope from advanced optical imaging for use in national defence technology, to technology to capture and re-use energy used to cook lobster in a commercial cannery.

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.

The first International Conference on Small Island States and Subnational Island Jurisdictions was hosted March 26 to 29 by the University of Aruba, in collaboration with the Centre of Excellence for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States (COE) and the UNESCO Chair in Island Studies and Sustainability, which is shared between the University of Prince Edward Island and the University of Malta.

The theme of the conference was “Island States/Island Territories: Sharing Stories of Island Life, Governance and Global Engagement.” The conference appealed to scholars, policy-makers, NGO representatives, students, and members of the general public. Close to 100 participants attended, representing several geographic regions, including the Caribbean, Pacific and Africa, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean and South China Sea (AIMS), Australasia, and the North Atlantic.

The conference awarded six international student travel scholarships, including Owen Jennings, a graduate of UPEI’s Master of Arts in Island Studies (MAIS) program and now a PhD student at the University of Hawai’i; and Patrick Lévêque, a current student in the MAIS program. Five other UPEI faculty and students presented papers, including Dr. Laurie Brinklow (lecturer in Island Studies), Kimberly Wishart Chu-Foon (PhD candidate, Environmental Studies), and MAIS students Margaret Paterson, Louise Campbell, and Catherine Gallant.

The conference featured two female heads of government as keynote speakers addressing integrity in governance and the resilience of islands. Both the Honourable Evelyna C. Wever-Croes, Prime Minister of Aruba and Minister of General Affairs, Integrity, Energy, Innovation & Government Organization, as well as the Honourable Leona Romeo-Marlin, Prime Minister of Saint Maarten and Minister of General Affairs, graced the conference with their insights.

The community enjoyed a free public lecture by Dr. Godfrey Baldacchino, organized alongside the conference on the evening of March 28, which was attended by the governor of Aruba.

The conference’s international planning committee was chaired by UNESCO co-chair Dr. Jim Randall (UPEI), with help from UNESCO Chair Co-ordinator Dr. Laurie Brinklow. Local co-hosts included Deborah Alexander from the Centre for Lifelong Learning at University of Aruba, Glenn Thodé, Rector of the University of Aruba, Patrick Arens, Business Director of the University of Aruba, and Arno Boersma and Francielle Laclé from the COE. The planning committee comprised scholars from several academic institutions, including the University of the West Indies, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, University of Malta, Leiden University, and the University of the West of England.

Dr. Jim Randall noted that this was a wonderful opportunity to showcase the intellectual capacity and hospitality of the University of Aruba and the island in general. “Several first-time international delegates said to me that this will not be the last time they plan on visiting Aruba,” he said.

The Planning Committee is grateful for the contributions made by the sponsors to this event. These include The Dutch Ministry of Interior Affairs and Kingdom Relations, Guardian Group Fatum, the University of the West of England, Aruba Tourism Authority, the Think to Do Institute, Smit&Dorlas, and Aruba Aloe.

For more information, contact islands.conferencearuba@ua.aw.

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.

Please join us for a celebration of UPEI’s new Canada Research Chair in Geospatial Humanities, held by Dr. Josh MacFadyen.

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.

A reception will immediately follow.

When: Wednesday, April 17, 2019, 11:00 am

Where: Faculty Lounge, SDU Main Building, UPEI 

The University of Prince Edward Island and the Souris and Area Branch of the PEI Wildlife Federation have received $48,000 from the Atlantic Salmon Conservation Foundation (ASCF) and $7,000 from the PEI Wildlife Conservation Fund for Atlantic salmon research, monitoring, and conservation in three rivers in Eastern PEI.

Atlantic salmon have declined on PEI and are only present in 20 of the 70 Island rivers they were once thought to inhabit. Despite their precarious status in many of those rivers, salmon numbers in Eastern PEI have been increasing due to the efforts of the watershed group.

Fred Cheverie, watershed coordinator with the Souris and Area Branch of the PEI Wildlife Federation, has overseen the conservation and restoration measures that have led to these increases in the Souris area. The previous discovery of a unique genetic strain of salmon in two rivers in the region has ignited further interest in research and restoration of these populations.

“We believe that the native genetic strain of salmon may be more suited to the PEI environment and may be an important key to the re-establishment of wild Atlantic salmon populations across PEI,” said Cheverie.  “However, we need to better understand the optimal environmental conditions in our streams in order to give them a fighting chance.”

Dr. Michael van den Heuvel, director of the Canadian Rivers Institute and a professor at UPEI, and his students Scott Roloson and Carissa Grove have been working with the Souris and Area Wildlife Branch watershed group to better understand the conservation implications of the genetically unique and possibly ancestral strain of Atlantic salmon in the northeastern cluster of rivers in Souris and Area Wildlife Branch’s management area. Previous work, funded by the PEI Wildlife Conservation Fund and the Regis and Joan Duffy Foundation, has been ongoing in partnership with the Souris group. 

“I believe researchers working hand in glove with the boots-on-the-ground conservations efforts of watershed groups will help us turn around the fate of wild Atlantic salmon stocks on PEI,” said Dr. van den Heuvel. “As compared to the large iconic salmon rivers, funding for Atlantic salmon research and monitoring is thin on PEI. The ongoing support of ASCF and the PEI Wildlife Conservation Fund is absolutely critical to advancing salmon restoration efforts.”

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. Malcolm Murray, a professor of philosophy at UPEI, will launch his new book, The Philosopher, a collection of one-act plays at the Playwrights Cabaret on Saturday April 27 at 7:00 pm in the Faculty Lounge of the SDU Main Building at the University of Prince Edward Island. Hosted by the PEI wing of PARC (Playwrights Atlantic Resource Centre), the cabaret celebrates Island playwrights with readings of their plays.

The Cabaret is hosted by PEI PARC members Orysia Dawydiak and Yvette Doucette, with readings by Rob MacDonald, Catherine O'Brien, Nadine Salami, among others. Dr. Murray and friends will read selections from The Philosopher, which will be available for sale. Doors open at 6:30 pm, with a cash bar and nibbles. Admission is by donation.

Comedic, satirical, and at times solemn, The Philosopher showcases the range of human complexity from nonsense to wisdom. Murray’s characters range from a philosopher in chains brought up from the basement to entertain guests, to a psychologist who assists a traumatized patient to become more self-aware, only to result in greater angst. Provocative, perceptive, and rife with questions about the motives and morality of our everyday conduct, The Philosopher ultimately deals with the search for meaning and our need to believe. Murray writes, “Believe what though? Politics. Religion. Sports. It’s obvious that content doesn’t matter. It’s just belief itself. What they fear most is not believing. No one can stand that.”

Apart from being a playwright, Dr. Malcolm Murray is also a fiction writer and philosopher. His produced plays include “Art of Posing” (2014), “The Abettor” (2013), “The Philosopher” (2012), and “Chop Wood, Carry Water” (2008). He is the author of five philosophy books including Morals and Consent (2017). Malcolm lives with his wife, a cat, a dog, and recently, though less agreeably, a raccoon. He teaches philosophy at the University of Prince Edward Island.

Please join Island Studies Press and PEI PARC in celebrating the work of local playwrights. For more information about the book or the launch, please contact Bren at ispstaff@upei.ca or call (902) 566-0386.

UPEI’s Department of Athletics and Recreation celebrated the 2018–19 season at the 50^th annual UPEI Athletic Awards Gala on Friday, April 5, recognizing outstanding student-athletes who have excelled in sport, the classroom, and serving the community. This year, the UPEI Alumni Association’s Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year award went to Bailey Smith, a sprinter on the UPEI Track and Field Team. The Male Athlete of the Year is Kameron Kielly of the UPEI Men’s Hockey team.

The event, held at the Rodd Charlottetown Hotel, included student-athletes, coaches, staff, along with members of the university community, alumni, donors, sponsors, and booster club supporters.

In addition to the Athlete of the Year awards, varsity team and competitive club awards were presented. The Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Rookie of the Year award winners from each team include (note that the MVP is listed first followed by Rookie of the Year):

Men’s Soccer: Sam Smiley, Chris Sear
Women’s Soccer: Amanda Stayner, Maddie Hurley
Women’s Rugby: Anneke Dykerman, Brinten Comeau
Women’s Field Hockey: Alyssa Ferguson and Hannah Gormley, Erica Penwell
Men’s Hockey: Kameron Kielly, Doug Blaisdell
Women’s Hockey: Camille Scherger, Jolena Gillard
Men’s Basketball: Milorad Sedalervic, Jamesley Jerome
Women’s Basketball: Jenna Mae Ellsworth and Carolina Del Santo
Cross Country (women): Michaela Walker, Tatiana Kelly
Cross Country (men): Nick Robertson, Nick Robertson
Women’s Volleyball: Abbie Ronalds
Men’s Rugby: Mark Lloyd, Blake Jurkowski
Track and Field (women): Bailey Smith, Nathalie Lane
Track and Field (men): Damon MacDonald, Mohammed Hamza

The W.A. Ledwell Award is presented annually to a student who has demonstrated outstanding athletic ability in the intercollegiate program, academic excellence, and the qualities of leadership, sportsmanship, and citizenship. This year’s recipient is Brent Andrews of the UPEI Men’s Hockey team.

The Gordon and Muriel Bennett Award is presented to a male or female student athlete who, over four years, has best combined athletic achievement and academic excellence. This year’s winner is Danielle Younker of UPEI Women’s Soccer.

About the UPEI Athletes of the Year

Kameron Kielly is a centre on the UPEI Men’s Hockey team and a second-year business student from Charlottetown, PEI. His 15 goals this season put him in third place for the scoring title in the AUS. Add his 28 assists, and he was also third for overall points. In just his second season, Kielly was named an AUS Second-Team All-Star. He was also named the U SPORTS Athlete of the Month for October.

Bailey Smith, a sprinter on the UPEI Track and Field team, is a third-year nursing student from Mount Stewart, PEI. She was named the AUS Female Track Athlete of the Year for the second year in a row and won the silver medal at the U SPORTS Track & Field Championship in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Go Panthers Go!

Dr. Alaa S. Abd-El-Aziz, President and Vice-Chancellor, and J. Gordon MacKay, Chair of The INSPIRE! Campaign, announced today that through the support of alumni, friends, foundations, companies, and government, the University of Prince Edward Island has exceeded its campaign goal of $50 million. UPEI has raised $50,256,292 to support its strategic priorities of creating new knowledge and delivering exceptional learning experiences that prepare students for success.

In addition to surpassing the campaign target ahead of schedule, the President also announced that UPEI has secured another $3 million donation from private donors, who wish to remain anonymous, and which has been earmarked for several health and wellness initiatives over and above INSPIRE! projects.

“This is a great day for UPEI and our students, faculty and staff. With 3,013 donors—679 of them new—from 10 countries, including all 13 provinces and territories in Canada, and 32 states in the United States, The INSPIRE! Campaign has been a tremendously successful and far-reaching friend- and fund-raising effort,” said President Abd-El-Aziz. “Along with our campaign chair, Gordon and co-chairs, Blair MacLauchlan, Ray Keenan, Donna Hassard, and John Horrelt, I thank all of our donors for making this ambitious goal become reality.”

Launched on October 2, 2015 in conjunction with Founders Day and the participation of UPEI past-presidents Dr. Ron Baker, Dr. Peter P.M. Meincke, Dr. Elizabeth Epperly and Premier Wade MacLauchlan, The INSPIRE! Campaign had four priority areas: sustainable design engineering, experiential and global learning, veterinary medicine, and athletics and recreation. Led by a cabinet and team of champions, the campaign was slated to continue until October 2019, but will now wrap up six months early, during UPEI’s 50th anniversary year.

“This effort has been about friend-raising,” added MacKay. “It was important to have people involved who were supporters, not necessarily only alumni, but those connected to, and known by, the different communities that were our four priorities. We have built strong relationships that will benefit UPEI in many ways for years to come.”

MacKay concluded the event and the campaign with recognition for President Abd-El-Aziz and Myrtle Jenkins-Smith, executive director, and the staff of the Department of Development and Alumni Engagement.

“With their leadership and coordination, we’ve not only achieved our goal, but have exceeded it, and ahead of schedule," said MacKay. "Those of us who became part of the Cabinet and champions are proud to be associated with UPEI, and although today marks the end of the campaign, it will not end our association with this excellent institution.”

Jessica Pottie, a third-year student at the Atlantic Veterinary College, loves to sew. When she heard that first-year student Carolina (Carl) Vicente had to suspend her veterinary education last fall because she had been diagnosed with breast cancer, she decided to use her sewing skills for a good cause.

Jessica didn’t know Carolina, but she felt the need to help. She bought pink fabric printed with the ribbon used to raise awareness of breast cancer and made over 30 scrub caps and 60 catnip toys. In her spare time, she sold the caps and toys online and at AVC, making $700 to help Carolina.

Jessica’s sewing project was the second one to raise funds to help Carolina. Earlier this year, the AVC Wellness Committee and Bark For Life PEI raised $6,005.00 during an aptly named collaborative fundraising initiative, Mission PAWSible. From November 27, 2018, to January 16, 2019, AVC students, faculty, and staff were tasked with doing 20 hours of activity—with their pets or on their own—and collecting pledges for the cause.

The funds raised went to Carolina and Bark For Life PEI to help Islanders and their families who are dealing with cancer. Carolina is currently at her home in Mount Olive, New Jersey, where she is receiving treatment.