TD Bank Financial Group has made a $25,000 contribution to the PEI Health Research Institute (PEI HRI) at the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI). The funding will provide support for nurses who are completing a Master's of Nursing program. Since 2004, TD Bank Financial Group has donated a total of $50,000 to PEI HRI through the TD Grants in Medical Excellence program.

This year's four recipients of TD Grants in Nursing Skills and Education Awards are: Elaine Campbell, for her project, "The Lived Experience of Struggling with Personal Change"; Audrey Fraser, "Implementing Policy for Family-Centred Care"; Maureen MacInnis-Wheatley, "Young Women's Attitudes Toward Emergency Contraception: Predicting Intended Use"; and Janet MacIntyre, who will be working on Master's level course work.

TD Bank Financial Group is committed to investing in the future by helping to ensure that nurses and other practicing caregivers have access to funds to upgrade their skills or further their education. The TD Grants in Medical Excellence program provides funding for educational courses, research projects, and thesis work that contribute to the professional development of nurses or other practicing caregivers at regional and community hospitals or other healthcare facilities.

"Our partnership with TD Bank Financial Group is extremely important for building excellence in nursing, knowledge, research and evidence-based practice," says Donna Murnaghan, Director of PEI HRI. "A large percentage of nurses pursue their graduate- level education while continuing to work in the health system and therefore the traditional funding supports are not available. The TD Grant in Nursing Skills and Education Awards program is unique in that part-time students can benefit from this fund while contributing to the health system at the same time."

The PEI HRI works to build and support health research capacity in PEI. The goal is to develop a vital and sustainable health research community on Prince Edward Island, and at UPEI, that has a reputation for high-quality, productive research at the local, regional, national, and international level.

TD Bank Financial Group's Community Relations program supports education, health and the environment, with a focus on children and youth. TD Bank Financial Group sponsors four flagship programs -- TD Canadian Children's Book Week, TD Canada Trust Scholarships for Community Leadership, the Children's Miracle Network and TD Friends of the Environment Foundation -- as well as a host of national, regional and local children's programs across Canada.

To learn more about PEI HRI please visit www.upei.ca/peihri or call 902-894-2812.

Russell Fielding, a post-graduate student from the University of Montana who is working at UPEI to examine the effects of the Confederation Bridge on PEI's tourism industry, has been named a 2005 Canada-US Fulbright Fellow, a prestigious title reserved for a select few in Canada and the United States.

Fielding's project, "The Effects of Fixed Links on Island Communities," will build on his Master of Arts thesis, a similar study conducted on three small islands in Florida. Fielding intends to interview tourists and tourism officials and review provincial tourism statistics. He is particularly interested in the social and cultural heritage of island communities as well as the promotion of their economic growth.

"Russell Fielding has seamlessly integrated within our flagship and pluri-disciplinary graduate program in Island Studies and his input is being much appreciated by both students and faculty," says Dr. Godfrey Baldacchino, Canada Research Chair in Island Studies at UPEI. "His informed approach to Island Studies and his rigorous training in human geography are much appreciated here as we continue to analyse and unravel the meaning of islandness and its influences on a range of physical and social issues. It is a pleasure having him around, working under my overall guidance and mentorship."

When he returns to the United States, Fielding intends to pursue a PhD in Geography. As a "cultural geographer" he aims to promote understanding among cultures through research and teaching.

Long regarded as the world's premiere academic exchange program, the Fulbright attracts exceptional scholars from more than 150 countries worldwide. It is among the fastest growing of the bilateral exchanges. Named for former US Senator J. William Fulbright and supported by Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs and the United States Department of State, the Canada-US Fulbright Program has engaged more than 800 scholars in high-level academic exchanges since 1990.

Generations of students will benefit from a major scholarship program to honour the memory of one of PEI's best known, community minded, and successful entrepreneurs. The family of the late Harry W. MacLauchlan has created a series of renewable entrance scholarships aimed at exceptional students entering the UPEI School of Business Administration who are planning entrepreneurial careers on Prince Edward Island.

"Our family is proud to establish these scholarships in Harry's memory," said Marjorie MacLauchlan on behalf of the family. "Harry always had a keen eye for talent and took a special interest in encouraging the next generation of entrepreneurs, in business and in community life. We look forward to seeing the benefits of these scholarships, to the recipients and to Prince Edward Island."

"This is outstanding news," said John MacDougall, President of Atlantic Turbines, Inc. and Chair of the School of Business Administration Advisory Council at UPEI. "These scholarships will significantly enhance the School's ability to recruit and retain the 'best of the best' entrepreneurial stream students and, most importantly, keep them in PEI after graduation. Entrepreneurial ventures are the leading job creators in our economy."

The Harry W. MacLauchlan Scholarships in Entrepreneurial Leadership will be awarded to students with high academic standing who show the qualities that MacLauchlan himself exhibited and admired: strong entrepreneurial initiative, high levels of accomplishment, and genuine commitment to the PEI community. There will be four renewable $3,000 entrance scholarships awarded each year, for a total of sixteen scholarships valued at $12,000 each over four years of University studies.

"This is an excellent demonstration of one generation of entrepreneurs supporting future generations," said Tim Banks, President of the APM Group and Co-chair of the fundraising initiative for the new UPEI School of Business and Centre for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship. "Harry and his family quietly built a business network that provided a solid foundation for commerce on PEI and they have always supported the community and supported youth. With this gift, young Island entrepreneurs can receive some of the benefits of this leadership and can continue Harry's work of building an entrepreneurial spirit in PEI."

From early beginnings on the family farm in Stanhope, Harry MacLauchlan became an entrepreneurial leader in various sectors of the PEI economy. There are well-known tales of MacLauchlan's first business endeavours selling ducks and berries by the age of ten, later moving on to opening a general store and buying and shipping lobsters by the age of twenty. His subsequent ventures included pulpwood, heavy construction, tourism, golf, cable television, oil and gas distribution, and real estate. MacLauchlan's community involvements touched on many aspects of Island life, including sports, health care, politics, local community improvement and heritage, as well as fundraising for UPEI and various other causes.

The new Harry W. MacLauchlan Scholarships in Entrepreneurial Leadership were enthusiastically welcomed by Billy Mingo, a self employed business operator who is also a full time student in the UPEI Business Administration class of 2006. Mingo is the 2005 recipient of the Harry MacLauchlan Memorial Award in Entrepreneurship, which was established through memorial donations made at the time of MacLauchlan's death in 2002. "I truly appreciate the efforts of the MacLauchlan family to inspire entrepreneurship through their generosity and values. These values are creating futures for individuals with a passion and a drive to succeed. This really is a major step towards retaining a skilled and knowledgeable workforce in this region."

Dean of Business, Roberta MacDonald, added "Harry MacLauchlan made a significant impact as an entrepreneur on the Island and these scholarships in his name will continue his legacy to help ensure growth in entrepreneurship, educate youth, and sustain the Island's future." The first scholarships will be awarded in September 2006. Applications will be available through high school guidance counsellors.

Dr. Miles Turnbull, an associate professor in the Faculty of Education, was elected President of the Canadian Association of Second Language Teachers (CASLT) at the CASLT Annual General Meeting held recently in Toronto.

Dr. Turnbull is Director of a new joint pre-service program with l'Universitand#233; de Moncton for French second language teaching, with a special focus on teaching French Immersion. He also teaches in the graduate program in leadership and learning. Before joining the faculty at UPEI, he was an assistant professor in the Modern Language Centre at OISE-UT (University of Toronto), and he worked in Core and Immersion French programs in three Canadian provinces.

Dr. Turnbull plans to strengthen ties between CASLT and associations such as the Canadian Association Applied Linguistics, university based language and research centres and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) for improved dialogue and support of second language research in Canada. He will pursue a stronger involvement for CASLT in supporting teacher educators and in promoting FSL teaching as a viable andrewarding career. He stated, "We must attract new and enthusiastic people into the teaching profession, and specifically into teaching French as a second language. We must support these new teachers through flexible professional development opportunities and provide them with a strong professional learning community for them to grow in their chosen careers." He also hopes to help steer CASLT as a leader in coordination of the implementation of the federal government's Action Plan on Official Languages.

CASLT, established in 1970, promotes the advancement of second language learning and teaching throughout Canada by creating opportunities for professional development, by encouraging research, and by facilitating the sharing of information and the exchange of ideas between second language educators. Members believe that second language learning, encompassing both official and international languages, is an essential component of a formal education and that every second language teacher should have the opportunity to learn and grow in a supportive professional community.

The PEI Division of the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) has pledged $36,000 to continue a graduate student award that it established at the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) two years ago. Since 2003, the PEI Division of the CCS has funded a graduate student whose studies have focused on cancer research.

The value of the 2005 Canadian Cancer Society Graduate Student Research Award is $18,000, and it is renewable for a second year based on the submission of a satisfactory annual report. The recipient is Eddie Francis, a candidate in the Master of Science program at UPEI. Under the supervision of Professor Robert Hurta, Francis will investigate the expression and suppression of tumour cell activation to contribute to the understanding of how they work.

"Supporting quality cancer research is one of the key commitments of the Canadian Cancer Society," says Dawn Binns, Executive Director of the PEI Division. "Researchers at UPEI are conducting excellent and exciting cancer research, and it is our desire to support them and see their work grow. By assisting young researchers, we hope to continue to see a strong PEI cancer research community into the future. This is vital as we work towards our mission of the eradication of cancer and the enhancement of the quality of life of people living with cancer."

The award will be administered through the PEI Health Research Institute (PEI HRI). Based at UPEI, the PEI HRI carries out activities to support, promote, and enhance health-related research in Prince Edward Island. "A key element for building excellence in research is investing in people," says Donna Murnaghan, Director. "We congratulate our partner organization, the PEI Division of the Canadian Cancer Society, for choosing to invest in our young, bright scholars. By doing so they are helping to strengthen our health research community for the future."

The Canadian Cancer Society is the single largest charitable founder of cancer research in Canada. Since 1958 the PEI Division, solely through the generosity of Islanders, has been transforming powerful research knowledge into information and programs and#150;helping Islanders to understand, prevent, and reduce the risk of cancer. Research funded by the CCS produces new knowledge to enhance understanding of the causes of cancer. The discoveries over the last 20 years have set the stage for a new era in cancer research over the continuum, from prevention to palliation reducing the burden of cancer.

Island Diagnostic Imaging Associates (IDIA) have created an annual $1,000 scholarship for students entering the Radiography program at the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI). Island Diagnostic Imaging Associates comprises all physician radiologists practicing in Prince Edward Island. Dr. John Goodwin, Medical Director for Diagnostic Imaging at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital(QEH), noted that IDIA created this scholarship to recognize the important role radiology technologists play in diagnostic imaging.

This four-year degree program is offered in cooperation with the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. During the program, students complete required academic courses at UPEI and clinical experience is offered at the QEH in areas such as general radiography, mobile and OR radiography, fluoroscopy, specialized contrast procedures, mammography, and computer tomography (CT scans).

The recipient of the Island Diagnostic Imaging Award for 2005 who has demonstrated academic excellence and strong commitment to the radiography profession is Jenna Perry of St. Louis, PEI.

"UPEI was one of the first universities in the country to respond to the new career-entry requirements for this profession by instituting a degree program in partnership with the QEH," says Dr. Roger Gordon, UPEI Dean of Science. "Jenna is one of a growing number of excellent students who have benefited from it."

Students may apply for the Island Diagnostic Imaging Associates Scholarship in July of each year. Applications are available on-line or through the UPEI Registrar's Office.

More than 50 new student scholarships, bursaries, and awards have been created by supporters of the UPEI Building a Legacy Campaign over the past two years. Generous families, individuals, and organizations have given over $1 million to the University to assist students who achieve well academically and students who are in financial need.

For further information contact: Tracey Comeau at 902-566-0354 or by email at tcomeau@upei.ca

Island author Marian Bruce will be at the Bookmark in Charlottetown on December 17, 11:30 am to 3:00 pm to sign copies of her newly-released book, A Century of Excellence: Prince of Wales College, 1860and#150;1969, published by Island Studies Press and the Prince of Wales Alumni Association.

Bruce demonstrates with her natural gift for telling a good story, how religion, politics, tradition, and the powerful force of blood ties played a large role in the birth, life, and death of the College, from its beginning as the Central Academy to its conclusion with the formation of the University of Prince Edward Island. The book showcases many of the fascinating professors who taught at PWC, and the experiences of many of its alumni. Incorporating interviews of alumni, faculty, and staff, as well as drawing upon extensive archival material, she has captured the essence of not just a school, but of a piece of educational history that spans generations.

Author-signed copies of the book will be available at the President's campus Christmas reception beginning at 3:00pm on December 20. For more information contact Alf Blanchard, UPEI Alumni Officer at 566-0761.

Diagnostic Chemicals Ltd. (DCL), a long-standing and generous supporter of student scholarships at UPEI, has committed $100,000 to Building a Legacy, the University's capital campaign to raise $50 million through private donations. The DCL gift is unrestricted which means that UPEI can apply the funds to projects or programs that are top priority.

"We are very fortunate to have Diagnostic Chemicals Ltd., a forward thinking business, support UPEI's Building a Legacy campaign," says Mike Schurman, Chair of the campaign. "Their long- standing support of the University speaks volumes about their confidence in UPEI's students and educational programs. Gifts of an unrestricted nature are particularly beneficial to the university because the funds can be directed to the immediate priorities."

Diagnostic Chemicals Limited is an award-winning chemical and diagnostic manufacturer located in West Royalty Industrial Park. The company operates subsidiary sales and marketing operations in the United States and Mexico. It employs over 200 people in Prince Edward Island, 30 in the US, and 10 in Mexico City. More than 50 of DCL's employees are science graduates of UPEI. Dr. Regis Duffy, Company Chair, founded DCL in 1970.

Dr. Duffy was UPEI's first Dean of Science and he is the current Chair of the Board of Governors. He taught at St. Dunstan's University from 1957 to 1969, and at UPEI from 1960 to 1980. In 1995, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada. His company funds several valuable student awards, including two full-tuition scholarships that honour his parents, Earl and Annie Duffy, and his wife Joan=s parents, Percy and Helen Murphy. Annie Duffy and Helen Murphy attended Prince of Wales College in the Teacher Certificate Program in the 1920s.

The Duffy family's support of UPEI reaches back to the 1960s when Clair Duffy, Regis' uncle, made a substantial donation towards the construction of the Duffy Science Centre. Forty years later, UPEI has just completed a $7 million renewal of the Duffy Science Centre, supported, in large part, through gifts and pledges that businesses and individuals are making to Building a Legacy.

More information on Building a Legacy is available at http://www.upei.ca/legacy/.

UPEI is offering a new course in bioinformatics, developed by Dr. Yingwei Wang of the Department of Computer Science and Information Technology. It will be offered for the first time in the Winter semester, 2006. Bioinformatics merges computer science with molecular biology. Specifically, it is the use of computers to compile, analyze, and present vast amounts of biological data.

The introduction of this new course is timely. Bioinformatics is expected to play a key role within the growing biosciences sector on Prince Edward Island. Designed for upper level computer science and biology students, the course will also be open to suitably qualified people working within government and the private sector. Some of the topics to be covered in the course include biological databases, gene prediction, and phylogenetic analysis which looks at the evolution of particular species, genes, or even viruses.

It is Dr. Wang's hope to not only teach the students about the tools of today, but to instill in them the skills to approach new problems. "Nowadays, bioinformatics is an integral part of modern biology. Using powerful computational techniques, bioinformatics skills enable us to investigate and solve many new problems, both practical and theoretical," says Dr. Wang.

Dr. Wang's personal research is on genomic signatures. The idea is that each species - human, mouse, flower - has an individual "fingerprint" that may be identified by looking at even a small part of its DNA sequencing. These signatures can be represented as a computer generated picture, one that is the same for all members of that species. The long-term goal of this field is the development of a database of these signatures for all species, to be used the way the periodic table is used in chemistry, at a fundamental identification level.

Students in the new bioinformatics course stand to benefit as Dr. Wang brings his research expertise into the classroom.

The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company, a supporter of the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) since 1996, has made another substantial contribution to the university through the Building a Legacy Campaign. The Company has made an unrestricted donation of $100,000, which means that UPEI can apply the funds to projects or programs that are top priority.

"The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company is one of the most active writers of general insurance in PEI. They have been established for generations and have distributed their insurance policies through a number of local independent agencies, which have also supported the campaign," says Fred Hyndman, member of the UPEI Board of Governors and Building a Legacy Campaign Cabinet.

Canadian owned and operated, The Dominion has been serving Canadians since 1887, when Sir John A. Macdonald became the company's first president. Since then, The Dominion has grown to be one of the country's largest property and casualty insurance companies.

"Participating in the enhancement of the communities in which we invest and do business is a core value of The Dominion," says George L. Cooke, president and chief executive officer of the Company. "Prince Edward Island has always provided a stable business environment, and we have enjoyed excellent relations with policy holders, independent brokers, business partners, and government officials. We are honoured to have the opportunity to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the province by supporting UPEI."

The Building a Legacy Campaign is a $50 million fundraising campaign to support enhanced academic programs, capital expansion, increased scholarships and bursaries, new research chairs, and a range of improvements across the campus. Building a Legacy is the most comprehensive and ambitious campaign in the history of UPEI. The campaign's objective is to generate widespread support, locally and across the country, to strengthen the University's capacity as an institution devoted to academic and research excellence.