Dr. Vianne Timmons, Vice-President of Academic Development, is pleased to announce that Barb Campbell is the new Director of the Webster Centre for Teaching and Learning and the Faculty Development Office. Barb is an Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing. She was a nurse for 25 years before coming to UPEI in 1999. She has served as chair of the National Registered Nurses Exam, as a member of the Children's Health and Applied Research Team (CHART), and a member of the UPEI Honorary Degree and Hessian Award committees. Her areas of research are in knowledge translation, participatory action research, children's health, and immigrant health.

Over the past six years she has taught nursing courses in Ethics, Issues, Leadership, Population Health, and Advanced Practice. "Barb Campbell's teaching style, based on the Freirean principle of partnership, affirms the mutual and collaborative roles of teachers and learners. I am confident that she will be a great asset to the University in her new role," says Dr. Timmons.

Campbell aims to raise the profile of the Webster Centre by assisting faculty to become better teachers and students to become better learners. "Considering the costs involved for one to attend university, it is critical that we, as faculty, not only deliver a high standard of curriculum but that we do it with passion and commitment," she says.

Premier Pat Binns was on campus today for his annual participation in the kick-off of Shinerama. The Premier was joined by a large contingent of UPEI students in support of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

At the event, Binns praised the students who have committed time and effort to shining shoes for a donation for CF research. "Your participation demonstrates the commitment of each and every one of you to volunteer and help build a better future for those who are living with cystic fibrosis," said the Premier.

UPEI will join another 60 universities across Canada to support researchers who are targeting a cure for CF. The Premier noted that the UPEI community has always been a strong participant in the Shinerama campaign.

"The fight against cystic fibrosis depends upon public support to carry out its life-saving programs. The generosity of donors has enabled scientists to identify the gene that causes CF, to correct defective CF cells in laboratory dishes, and much more," said Premier Binns.

Shinerama makes a significant contribution to advancing the research agenda. However, as important is the campaign's ability to promote and increase awareness about cystic fibrosis is the opportunity it affords students to kick-off the school year with some fun and comradery.

In recognition the Premier mandated September 6, 2005 as Shinerama Day with a declaration.

The University of Prince Edward Island is rolling out the welcome mat for students who have been displaced by the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. "At this time of need we all have to help out in whatever ways we can," says UPEI President Wade MacLauchlan. "These students have had their lives disrupted enough in the past week; we want to ensure that they don't lose their academic year too."

UPEI has made available an unlimited number of openings in its undergraduate and graduate programs for students who may wish to transfer. And while international student fees will still apply, the University is providing the Katrina-displaced students with access to a special bursary which can offset the cost of tuition. Students would also be eligible to apply for any of UPEI's existing scholarships and bursaries.

In order to accommodate students from the storm area, UPEI is holding open its late registration option to ensure that they are able to get into the classes they need. The University is also opening up its residences to students and families who have been displaced by the storm.

"We can re-configure our residence halls to accommodate additional students, and we also have access to several of townhouses at Brown's Court which would be suitable for families," says Director of Residence Services, Marc Braithwaite.

"We would be very pleased to have students from the New Orleans area join us here at UPEI," President MacLauchlan says. "It would be an excellent opportunity for us to show our legendary Island hospitality and to welcome students who would make a valuable contribution to the intellectual and cultural life of our campus."

President MacLauchlan added that UPEI would be pleased to consider partnering with interested community organizations who wish to assist hurricane-affected students to attend UPEI.

The students, faculty and staff at AVC have established a Hurricane Katrina Relief donations table in the lobby of AVC. To aid the humanitarian effort, donations are being accepted on behalf of the Red Cross. The School of Veterinary Medicine at Louisiana State University (LSU) has asked AVC to assist it in its efforts to provide relief and care to the many animals that are ill, injured or stranded. AVC Dean Dr. Tim Ogilvie has responded positively and AVC is accepting financial donations that will be sent to LSU. "Assisting with this worthy and pressing cause is well within the mandate for outreach in the interest of animal welfare that is the mission of the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre," said Dr. Ogilvie.

Anyone can make a donation to either or both relief efforts by visiting AVC or by calling UPEI Advancement Services at (902) 566-0615 (Visa or Mastercard accepted.) UPEI will issue tax deductible receipts for all donations over $10 to support the animal relief effort. Humanitarian contributions will be payable to and processed by the Red Cross.

Anyone interested in more information on UPEI's efforts to assist students from the New Orleans area, or any organization interested in working in cooperation with UPEI, should contact the university communications office at 566-0760.

Founders' Day at the University of Prince Edward Island was a double celebration this year. In addition to honouring Jack Blanchard, Kay Martell, Georgina Mulligan, and Jim Rigney for their significant contributions to the development of UPEI and its founding institutions, the University announced that Chancellor William E. (Bill) Andrew and his wife, Denise Andrew, have donated $310,000 to the Building a Legacy Campaign. The gift is in addition to the Andrew family's commitment of $100,000 to the School of Business and PEI Centre for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship which was announced in May.

"UPEI is a great university and it deserves the support of everyone who recognizes that first-class education is the key to the future prosperity of PEI," said Chancellor Andrew. "This university is flourishing thanks to the commitment of hundreds of individuals, families, and corporations. As Chancellor I am committed to doing everything that I can to expand that support and to help UPEI to reach its goal of $50 million in private donations."

The $310,000 gift from the Andrews will be allocated as follows: $60,000 for Cass building renovations; $50,000 to create a graduate scholarship in the Masters of Arts in Island Studies (MAIS) program; $50,000 to the Music department for new instruments; $50,000 for the Faculty of Education to support international education and community development travel bursaries; $50,000 to the School of Nursing for school priorities; and $50,000 for women's athletics programs.

"We are immensely grateful to Bill and Denise Andrew for allocating their generous gift to priority areas where their support will have a significant impact on student learning and student services," said UPEI President Wade MacLauchlan. "This contribution to the Building a Legacy campaign adds value to an array of essential programs, to the benefit of students and the entire University."

Bill Andrew grew up in PEI and now lives in Calgary. His family is well known in PEI and national harness racing circles. He is President and CEO of Penn West Energy Trust and is active in various community and philanthropic endeavours. He received his Diploma in Engineering from UPEI in 1973 and became Chancellor in March 2005. He is a contributing member of the Friends of UPEI group in Calgary, and he and his wife are members of the UPEI Visionary Society.

With a goal of $50 million, the Building a Legacy campaign represents the most ambitious financial campaign ever embarked upon by UPEI. Since it was launched in April 2003, over $30 million has been committed to the campaign. More information on Building a Legacy is available at http://www.upei.ca/legacy/

The University of Prince Edward Island has announced that former UPEI hockey Panther captain, Dylan Taylor, has been selected as the new head coach of the men's hockey team.

Taylor played for UPEI from 1997 to 2001 and was captain the last two seasons. He subsequently played for the Central Hockey League's Indianapolis Ice. Previous to playing for UPEI, he played in the Ontario Hockey League with the Kingston Frontenacs and the Oshawa Generals.

Taylor served as the assistant coach of the UPEI men's hockey team from 2002 to 2004 and was an assistant coach of the PEI Rocket last season. He is currently an assistant coach for Team Atlantic at the World Under-17 Championships.

Taylor graduated from UPEI with a Bachelor of Arts, as an academic all-Canadian, in 2001. He completed his Bachelor of Education at UPEI in the spring of 2004. He is currently teaching morning classes at East Wiltshire Junior High School. He and his wife Angie live in Charlottetown.

Taylor has acquired his Advanced Level in the National Coaching Certificate Program and recently spent professional development time at the Hockey Canada High Performance Seminar put on by Hockey Canada in June 2005. He is a certified Specialist in Sports Conditioning with the International Sports Sciences Association.

Taylor, whose position begins immediately, replaces Mike Kelly who recently accepted a position as the assistant coach for the American Hockey League's Manitoba Moose.

On Thursday, September 8, a new work reflecting on UPEI's founding and early development was launched, in conjunction with the 6th annual Founders' Day ceremony.

Utopian U: The Founding of the University of Prince Edward Island, 1968-1970 by Dr. Alan MacEachern is a 48-page booklet about UPEI's early beginnings, told in a lively style that is sure to inform and entertain.

"It is time, almost forty years after the establishment of the University of Prince Edward Island, to tell the story of its creation and early development," UPEI President Wade MacLauchlan says in the book's Foreword. "In Utopian U, Alan MacEachern provides a lucid and lively account of the events leading up to UPEI's creation, and of the multitude of steps required to make the new provincial university a reality," MacLauchlan added.

A native of Prince Edward Island, Dr. Alan MacEachern graduated from UPEI with a BA in History in 1988, and went on to do his MA and PhD at Queen's University in Kingston. Director of the Public History Program at the University of Western Ontario, Dr. MacEachern is especially interested in exploring the many ways history can be communicated. He is the author of The Institute of Man and Resources: An Environmental Fable (Island Studies Press) and Natural Selections: National Parks in Atlantic Canada, 1935-1970 (McGill-Queen's University Press). He is currently working on a history of the 1825 Miramichi Fire.

Founders' Day honours those who have made significant, long-term contributions to UPEI or its predecessor institutions. Jack Blanchard, Kay Martell, Georgina Mulligan, and Jim Rigney were honoured as Founders at this year's celebraton. Noted historian Catherine Hennessey was the guest speaker.

With a renewal of funding support from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), the University of Prince Edward Island's School of Business Administration will continue to deliver a successful international trade internship program.

"Small-and-medium-sized businesses in Atlantic Canada who are entering the export market or looking to diversify or grow their export markets must explore the export potential beyond our own borders," said ACOA Minister Joe McGuire. "Graduates from this internship program will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to benefit these businesses in their pursuit to succeed, compete and thrive in the global marketplace."

The program was established at UPEI in 2003 with the goal of helping participating companies to develop or enhance their exporting capabilities, to develop a solid working relationship between educational institutions and the private sector, and also to provide program participants with employment opportunities. The program's trade courses are made available through the nationally recognized Forum for International Trade Training (FITT).

"The FITT program has been an excellent addition to the UPEI School of Business offerings and its students have contributed positively to the PEI business community. Students have excelled in the program, with several students placing first in national exams. They have also taken their FITT international knowledge and skills into real life working experiences on the Island, helping to increase internationalization of the economy of PEI for today and the future," said Dr. Roberta MacDonald, Dean, UPEI School of Business Administration.

Since the inception of the program, three groups of students have taken part in the training. The first two groups, who began in April 2003 and September 2003, have completed their required courses. The third group is currently five-to-seven months into their internships, with placements at a variety of Island companies. The School of Business Administration will be seeking placements for the fourth group beginning in September.

The benefits and successes of the trade internship program are being realized and, in turn, there is a growing demand for the internationally recognized training. Companies interested in receiving more information on the availability of interns are asked to contact the UPEI School of Business Administration.

ACOA provided a $307,550 non-repayable contribution through the Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (ATIP) to UPEI's School of Business Administration to administer the International Trade Internship Program. ATIP is one of the four components under the new five-year $708-million dollar initiative, the Atlantic Investment Partnership and#150; The Second Wave.

UPEI's Centre for Life-Long Learning has launched a new series of evening courses called "The Well-Lived Life." The first course, The Fun of Being a Retired Entrepreneur, takes place 7:00 - 9:00 pm, October 13, 20, and 27, 2005. It offers insights into entrepreneurship as a retirement lifestyle and is instructed by Ken Pierce.

Dr Clive Keen, Director of the Centre for Life-Long Learning, said "Lifelong learning shouldn't just be about job-related skills. We should also take time for personal growth, quality of life, and the sheer fun of learning. If Islanders agree and support the courses, this will be the first in an ongoing series covering everything from Wine Appreciation to Spirituality, from Collecting Antiques to Poetry Writing."

Dr Ann Howatt will be one of presenters with her four-Tuesdays course called "Art Secrets: The Art World Behind the Scenes." It begins on November 1, 2005 (note, this is changed from the original date of October 4.) Dr. Howatt, a native Islander who has recently returned home, is a specialist in visual culture and art conservation. She brings an intimate knowledge of art history and conservation and will be sharing her art conservation experiences in Canada, China, Japan, Australia and many other countries, covering everything from Egyptian mummies to the restoration of Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper", the painting behind the controversial novel, "The da Vinci Code."

"This course is about human stories and#150; some revealed by science, others discovered by dedicated citizens. We will explore actual cases of art, artifacts and ideas from the past that shape our world now. World heritage is every human's birthright, not an elitist study and#150; and in this course we will celebrate what we have saved," said Dr. Howatt.

Other courses include "Raising Happy Children and#150; and Enjoying Doing It", a discussion-based course covering how to make the good times better, and how to avoid, or deal with, the not-so-good times and situations, taught by Nancy Beth Guphill;"A User's Guide to Complementary and Alternative Medicine" which opens and concludes with an eye-opening general discussion of complementary and alternative medicine, coordinated by Daniel Schulman; and "How to Appreciate Great Music" which provides insights into listening and how to listen, deepening both appreciation, and knowledge, of classical music, led by Dr Clive Keen.

Courses cost between $98 and $125 per person, or $150 to $220 for couples. For further information contact extension@UPEI.ca, call Kelly Duffy at (902) 566-0336 or visit http://www.upei.ca/extension/wll/.

Joanne McCabe, Coordinator for Accessibility Services at UPEI for the past five years, has received a Learning Disabilities Association (LDA) of Canada's National Education Award.

"Joanne has shown superior leadership in education and has made significant contributions to persons with Learning Disabilities (LD) throughout many Canadian provinces. She has been an exceptional advocate for LD and provides many services for LD students at UPEI," says Sandra LeBlanc, Executive Director of the Learning Disabilities Association of PEI (LDAPEI) who nominated her for the award.

Joanne is an active board member of the PEI Literacy Alliance, LDAPEI, and a public member of the Prince Edward Island Psychologists Registration Board. She was the driving force to re-establish the Learning Disabilities Association in PEI, and has devoted many volunteer hours as a member of the Provincial Joint Working Group Committee on Learning Disabilities. The committee's report, "Recommendations for Improved Services for Islanders with Learning Disabilities" has been presented to the departments of Education, Health and Social Services, and the Office of the Attorney General.

Keefe Deighan, a student at UPEI, was selected for a Learning Disabilities Association (LDA) of Canada's Award of Excellence: Beat the Odds Youth Award. He began attending UPEI in September 2002 and is working toward a degree in Religious Studies. He was diagnosed with two learning disabilities in May 2002 in the language processing area, auditory processing and dyslexia. Keefe was the guest speaker at the first-ever PEI Literacy Summit held in Charlottetown in November 2004 and has acted as an advocate for young people with learning disabilities. He is currently Vice-President of the Learning Disabilities Association of PEI.

Keefe's university grades are in the 80 to 90 per cent range citation. His citation notes that he "continues beating the odds by having academic success and by making outstanding contributions to his community since being diagnosed with learning disabilities."

Both awards were presented by Honorable Shawn Murphy, MP for Charlottetown, on September 19.

The Honourable Mr. Justice James C. MacPherson, one of the judges who presided over the landmark decision by the Ontario Court of Appeal finding that the prohibition of same sex marriage was unconstitutional, will be guest lecturer at the Chief Justice Thane A. Campbell Lectureship in Law on September 29.

His lecture, open to the public, is "The Same Sex Marriage Case - The Intersection of Law and Politics in Canada and the United States," and will be held in the Courtyard of the W.A. Murphy Student Centre at the UPEI campus starting at 7:30 pm. Following the speech, there will be an opportunity for questions. The lecture is sponsored by UPEI and the Law Foundation of Prince Edward Island.

"We are delighted to have Justice James MacPherson deliver the Campbell Law Lecture," said UPEI President Wade MacLauchlan. "Justice MacPherson is one of Canada's leading jurists, and the opportunity to hear his personal reflections on the role of the courts in dealing with the constitutionality of Canada's marriage laws bears out the wisdom of the Law Foundation in establishing this lecture series."

In 1991, the Law Foundation of Prince Edward Island created an endowment at UPEI to provide a stimulating series of lectures that were to be held throughout the province on a regular basis. The lecture series was named the Chief Justice Thane A. Campbell Lectureship in Law to honour the Rhodes Scholar, former Premier, and first Chancellor of UPEI.

The first lecture took place in 1993 and the series has continued over the years with guest speakers such as: Chief Justice Antonio Lamer, Justice Joseph Ghiz, Justice Gerard LaForest, Anne S. Derrick, Peter MacKinnon, Bruce H. Wildsmith and Ronalda Murphy.

"The Law Foundation is delighted to continue its support of the Chief Justice Thane A. Campbell Lectureship in Law," said Paul Kiley, Secretary-Treasurer of the Law Foundation. "We are very pleased to have Mr. Justice James C. MacPherson as this year's guest lecturer, in keeping with a tradition of very distinguished speakers throughout the history of the lecture series."

The Law Foundation is administered by a board consisting of four members of the Law Society of Prince Edward Island and a representative of the Attorney General. The Law Foundation's mandate includes the promotion and funding of legal education in Prince Edward Island.

Justice MacPherson, who is on sabbatical from the bench and is teaching at Dalhousie Law School, comes with an extensive background with degrees from Acadia University, BA'71, Dalhousie, LLB'74; and Cambridge University, LLM'76. He taught law at the University of Victoria from 1976-79 and was director of the constitutional branch of the Saskatchewan Department of Justice from 1982-85. From 1985-87 he served as an Executive Legal Officer at the Supreme Court of Canada, then from1988-93 he was Dean of Osgoode Hall Law School. He was named to the Ontario Superior Court in 1993 and to the Ontario Court of Appeal in 1999.

For further information contact:

Alf Blanchard, UPEI Alumni Communications Officer at 566-0761 or alfblanchard@upei.ca

Paul Kiley, Secretary-Treasurer of the Law Foundation of Prince Edward Island, 368-8473 or paul.kiley@mcinnescooper.com