Sarah MacAulay, of the UPEI women's field hockey and hockey teams, has been named to the senior women's national field hockey team.

MacAulay has been awarded a development card and will report for team training on July 3 with the rest of the national squad in British Columbia, the home base for the national team. The players will train until September 5, with a two-week break at the end of July.

She joins fellow Islander Katie Baker who has been a member of Team Canada for the past three seasons.

MacAulay just completed her third year with the Panthers. She is a former field hockey league rookie of the year and two-time field hockey league all-star. She was named to the CIS All Canadian team this past season.

She helped lead her team to three straight Atlantic titles and won the Mickey Place Award for women's hockey for the 2007-2008 season. She will be greatly missed by both Panther programs next season. Both teams are very proud of her great achievement and wish her all the best in this exciting endeavour!

The University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI), Ryerson University and Seno Medical Instruments of Texas have teamed up to form an exciting research partnership that has great potential to benefit human and animal health.

Through this collaboration, UPEI and Ryerson University will develop new biomedical applications for Seno Medical’s technology called opto-acoustic imaging, with applications in animal and human health, including cancer detection and treatment monitoring.

"This is an outstanding three-way partnership, building on the cooperative relationship between UPEI and Ryerson University and on the opto-acoustic imaging strengths of Seno Medical Instruments," says UPEI President Wade MacLauchlan. "This could lead to real advances in medical technology, and training opportunities for students."  

“This project is a great example of how our researchers propel ideas and innovations into the community, industry and marketplace,” says Dr. Alan Shepard, Provost and Vice-president, Academic, at Ryerson University. “We look forward to continued interactions between researchers at Ryerson and UPEI, and opportunities to expand our research and academic connections in other disciplines.”

Leading the project are Dr. William Whelan, Canada Research Chair in Biomedical Optics and a member of the physics department at UPEI, and Dr. Michael Kolios, Canada Research Chair in Biomedical Applications of Ultrasound with the physics department at Ryerson University.

Dr.  Whelan and Dr. Kolios are long time collaborators and have jointly received funding from federal and provincial granting agencies for their work, including NSERC, CIHR, NCIC, CFI and ACOA. Their joint research programs focus on developing minimally invasive technologies that use light and sound, instead of surgery or radiation, to deliver, monitor and assess cancer treatments.

For this work, they are using the first-ever commercially available opto-acoustic small animal imaging device, created by Seno Medical, a cancer-focused company located in San Antonio, Texas. Funding in excess of $2 million was recently secured by Whelan and Kolios to carry out the research.

With opto-acoustic imaging, laser pulses are directed into tissues, and if tumors are present, they will absorb the light energy and convert this energy absorption into an acoustic wave, which is picked up by the transducers embedded in a probe, similar to those used by ultrasound. Seno’s team likes to say “ we make the tumors speak to us.” Seno’s technology will be used to provide clinicians with new cancer tools that are capable of detecting the hallmarks of cancer, angiogensis and oxygen saturation.
 
“We are so pleased that UPEI and Ryerson have purchased the first-ever commercially available opto-acoustic small animal imaging device,” says Janet Campbell, Chair and CEO of Seno Medical Instruments. “Individuals such as Dr. Whelan and Dr. Kolios are truly performing groundbreaking applications with our technology. This project is tremendously valuable to cancer researchers and cancer patients, and we are proud to be part of it.”

The Tourism Research Centre (TRC) at UPEI’s School of Business released a report on July 3 that profiles international visitors to PEI. This is the eighth report released based on data collected during the main season (June 27 to September 30) in 2007.

“The Exit Survey was designed so results could be cross-analyzed to provide a depth of data for further analysis. With this in mind, we were able to isolate data collected from our international visitors,” explains Dr. Sean Hennessey, Faculty Director of the TRC. “Although this small market, approximately 4.9 per cent of total visitors, does share some characteristics, we decided to divide this segment into three categories: European visitors, Japanese visitors, and other international visitors.”

International visitors, those from outside Canada and the US, were quite different from various segments of North American visitors. Japanese visitors, somewhat of a niche market for PEI, were much younger than other visitors, with almost half of them being between the ages of 18 and 34. European visitors have the highest earnings with almost 38 per cent making more than $125,000 per year. Almost half of other international visitors are retired?the highest rate among all visitors by origin.

“International visitors are spenders, with European and Japanese visitors spending around $86 per person per night and other international visitors spending $102 per person per night,” states Dr. Hennessey. “This is significantly higher than the North American average of $66 per person per night. However, it is unfortunate that this market is so small and diverse from a marketing standpoint. Although the entire segment is comparable in size to the New England market, this market is spread around the globe, so targeting them will be much more difficult and expensive. A marketing strategy that is very successful in even one European country may completely fail to entice residents from another European country.”

Other highlights of this report include:

• Approximately 60 per cent of international visitors were from Europe, 10 per cent from Japan, and 30 per cent from other offshore countries.

• Almost all Japanese visitors were on pleasure trips (99 per cent); this figure dropped to 86 per cent for visitors from Europe and to 79 per cent for visitors from other international origins.

• Japanese and European visitors were travelling on trips of just over two weeks in length (16 nights). Other international visitors were on month-long trips (31 nights).

• PEI was the main destination for 77 per cent of the travellers from Japan, but they stayed only 4.2 nights (25 per cent) on the Island. This was less than European visitors (5.0 nights) and only slightly more than visitors from other international origins (4.0 nights).

• International visitors from all markets of origin stayed in hotels, motels, resorts, B&Bs, or inns much more often than Canadian or American visitors; they spent between 42 and 66 per cent of their total nights in this type of accommodation.

• European visitors spent a leading 36 per cent of their nights in Anne’s Land and the remainder were distributed throughout the Island in ratios fairly similar to US visitors. These visitors spent at least one night in almost all regions of the Island at above-average rates, with the exception of Summerside. However, their stays tended to be relatively short.

• Japanese visitors spent a far-above-average 71 per cent of their nights in Charlottetown and the remaining 28 per cent in Anne’s Land. They did not spend their nights on PEI in other regions. Visitors from other international origins also spent a far-above-average 44 per cent of their nights in Charlottetown; however, they spent a market low 8 per cent of their nights in Anne’s Land.

• As expected, Japanese visitors had very high participation rates for Anne of Green Gables- related attractions and activities: 85 per cent visited Anne attractions. In addition, 66 per cent attended live theatre and shopped for souvenirs, while 31 per cent visited Canada’s birthplace attractions. These were all market highs.

• Visitors from all three international markets of origin were very high spenders. Their average daily spending ranged from a low of $83.41 for European visitors to $88.33 for Japanese visitors, and on to a high of $102.36 for visitors from other international origins. In comparison, North American visitors spent an average of approximately $68 per person per day.

• European and Japanese visitors gave similar ratings for Island prices and value for money, and the ratings were very similar to those given by US and Canadian visitors. Visitors from other international origins gave market high ratings for prices and value. European visitors gave market low ratings for the variety of things to see and do on the Island, and for intention to revisit.

• Almost all Japanese visitors were first-time visitors (99 per cent); 77 per cent of visitors from Europe and other international origins were first-time visitors.

• The age structure of Japanese visitors was very unique relative to other markets: almost one-half (49 per cent) were 18 to 34 years of age. This was more than double the ratio in this age category for any other market.

• International visitors were very well-educated relative to Canadian visitors. This was especially the case with Japanese party heads, where 74 per cent had university or higher levels of education.

• European visitors have very high household incomes. A market-leading 38 per cent had incomes of $125,000 or more. Japanese income levels did not reflect their high levels of education. They were very diverse, which may reflect their younger age.

The report is part of a series of supporting reports based on comprehensive data previously released in the report, “Overall Results of the 2007 Exit Survey.” The data is for the main tourism season of June 27 to September 30, 2007, and was collected as visitors departed PEI at the Confederation Bridge, Charlottetown Airport, and Wood Islands Ferry (seasonally). Data presented is for pleasure visitors who spent at least one night on PEI. For a list of all reports released by the TRC on Exit Survey results, please visit  trc.upei.ca/exitsurvey. Three more reports based on main season results will be released over the next six weeks.

Further information about the report can be obtained from the Tourism Research Centre, School of Business, University of PEI, at (902) 566-6096 or trc@upei.ca.

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Media contact: Anna MacDonald, Media Relations and Communications Officer, (902) 566-6786, amacdonald@upei.ca, www.upei.ca

The University of Prince Edward island was the site of a news conference on Saturday, July 5, to announce over $7.6 million in funding for Canada Games facilities in the City of Charlottetown, including the new $6.8 million state-of-the-art Athletic Complex now under construction on campus.

A number of Charlottetown-area facilities will be upgraded and modernized to host various events during the 2009 Canada Games as a result of investments announced today by the federal, provincial and municipal governments as well the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI). The upgrades will benefit over 4,000 of Canada’s best athletes during the 2009 Canada Games, and bring lasting social and economic benefits to Charlottetown and Prince Edward Island.

The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and the Honourable Robert Ghiz, Premier of Prince Edward Island, were joined by Charlottetown Mayor Clifford Lee, Wade MacLauchlan, President of UPEI and Wayne Carew, Vice-President of the 2009 Canada Games Host Society to announce over $7.6 million in funding for Canada Games facilities in the City of Charlottetown.

“The Government of Canada believes that participation in sport is part of a healthy lifestyle and contributes to a healthy society,” said Minister MacKay. “These Canada Games facilities in the Charlottetown area will provide social and economic benefits for years to come. Venues like these better position the province to host large-scale events that create positive economic spin-offs that will be felt across the Island.”

Today’s announcement outlined details of the new $6.8 million state-of-the-art Athletic Complex that is currently under construction on the UPEI campus. The Athletic Complex will host almost 50 track and field events during the second week of the Games. Also on the UPEI campus, the aquatic complex at the CARI Centre will receive nearly $300,000 in upgrades allowing it to host numerous swimming and diving competitions. As well, Memorial Field and the nearby tennis courts at Victoria Park will undergo major renovations totaling almost $530,000 for the 2009 Canada Games.

"The Canada Games are a unique Canadian event bringing together young men and women from every province and territory in a celebration of sport and culture," said Premier Ghiz. “These facilities will be a tremendous legacy for the Island and will ensure that athletes, as well as the general public, have access to high-quality sport facilities for years to come."

There are 32 proposed venues all across Prince Edward Island for the 2009 Canada Games. It is anticipated that over 4,400 athletes, coaches and managers will attend.

"The City of Charlottetown is a city with impressive sport facilities and a rich sporting tradition, some of which was born from the Canada Winter Games hosted by our City in 1991. It is fitting that we stand here today with our federal and provincial partners again to speak about further legacy building through the Canada Games experience", says Mayor Lee. "We are confident it will have a positive impact on the City and these new facilities will leave a legacy for Island athletes for years to come."

The organization of the Canada Games is made possible through the dedication of the local Host Society, and the contribution and support of the federal, provincial and host municipal governments, and the Canada Games Council.

“As organizers of the 2009 Games, we are pleased to be partnering with the various orders of government and UPEI to create top-notch facilities for hosting the nation next summer,” said Host Society Vice-president Carew. “It is especially rewarding to know that our efforts will also ensure that future Canada Games athletes from Prince Edward Island will have access to excellent training and competition venues.”

"These magnificent athletics facilities will permit our entire community to achieve new levels of health and wellness, and to host an outstanding Canada Games,” said UPEI President Wade MacLauchlan. “UPEI is honoured to work together with governments and the community to create this major new platform for athletic competition and success."

These Canada Games facilities are being funded through Canada-PEI Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF) with contributions from the Government of Canada, the Province of Prince Edward Island, and the City of Charlottetown. The University of Prince Edward Island is responsible for maintaining the facilities on campus. For more information about infrastructure initiatives in Prince Edward Island, visit www.infrastructure.gc.ca or www.gov.pe.ca/cca

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Photo credit: The photo on the UPEI website's home page is courtesy of Brian Simpson.

BACKGROUNDERS

THE CANADA GAMES

Held once every two years, alternating between summer and winter, the Canada Games represent the highest level of national competition for the next generation of national team athletes and future champions. The Games have been hosted in every province at least once since their inception in Quebec City during Canada’s Centennial in 1967. The Games are proud of their contribution to Canada’s sport development system in addition to their lasting legacy of sport facilities, community pride and national unity.

The organization of the Canada Games is made possible through the dedication of the local Host Society, the contribution and support of the federal, provincial and host municipal governments and the Canada Games Council.

UPEI ATHLETIC COMPLEX

The Athletic Complex is under construction at the UPEI campus. The state-of-the-art facility will host 25 track and field events for men and 24 for women during the second week of the games. The Complex will feature a synthetic 400m, 8 lane oval track, a water jump for steeplechase, a facility for long and triple jump, pole vault, discus and hammer throw, javelin throw, shot put, warm-up track, storage, washrooms, spectator seating and viewing as well as site and storm drainage and fencing. The total cost of this project is $6,793,322, which will be funded through Federal, Provincial and Municipal contributions.

CARI CENTRE – SWIMMING AND DIVING INFRASTRUCTURE

Charlottetown will play a lead role in 2009 when Prince Edward Island hosts the Canada Summer Games. They are major shareholders in a CARI Centre which is owned by a not-for-profit corporation - Capital Area Recreation Inc. This $299,400 project will upgrade the technical requirements for both the swimming and diving facilities at the CARI Centre. The swimming upgrades include the installation of pushbutton Daktronics, touch pads, lane dividers/covers, and darken windows to reduce light reflection. The diving aspects of the project include a 3m diving board, pool lighting, and surface agitation system including electrical components.

VICTORIA PARK TENNIS COURTS

The Victoria Park Tennis Courts are located in the southern section of the 40 acre parkland. The current venue consists of a total of six lighted courts, a tennis club house, parking as well as a nearby canteen service owned and operated by a local service club. The site has been chosen by the 2009 Canada Games for the tennis competition. The Canada Games requirement includes a total of eight courts in one venue. Rather than try to create a new venue with eight new courts and all the amenities, it was decided to add two additional courts. In keeping with a specific bylaw pertaining to Victoria Park, the Council held a public consultation, and as a result, have support to proceed with two courts in a specified area. This venue upgrade will not only enable the City to host the 2009 Canada Games but will also enable the tennis community to attract other future national competitions which also require an eight court venue. The total project cost is $229,000.

MEMORIAL FIELD UPGRADES

Memorial Baseball Field, located in Victoria Park in the heart of Charlottetown, is a premier venue for baseball play in the City. This site has been chosen as a primary venue for hosting Canada Summer Games baseball in 2009. The facility presently does not meet Canada Games standards in either the dimensions or type of playing surface. A substantial upgrade is required in order to meet Games specifications. The work includes stripping the topsoil from the infield and replacing the infield material with natural sod material to create a grass infield. The infield will have a drainage system as well as irrigation. The overall repositioning and expansion of the field will be moved in a northerly direction so as to avoid tree removal in the adjacent woods. Lights will be relocated and repositioned. New amenities will include bleachers, a bullpen; fencing and a press box. The complete scope of work has been endorsed by Canada Games officials to ensure that medal games can be played on these fields. In addition, City has already committed to hosting the 2008 National Junior Baseball Championships in August. This event will act as a pre event trial of the venue for 2009 Games. The total project cost has been approved for $299,814.

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Fish health and the evolving role of aquatic animal health management on a global scale will be examined by 150 aquaculture, fish health, and bioscience experts from around the world during the Fish Health Section of the American Fisheries Society annual meeting. The meeting will be hosted by the Atlantic Veterinary College at the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island from July 9 to 12, 2008.

“This conference is significant in many ways,” explains local organizing committee chair, Dr. Dave Groman of the Atlantic Veterinary College’s Aquatic Diagnostic Services Unit. “Aquaculture is the fastest growing food sector and many regions of the world need fish protein as a safe, stable food source. Aquaculture is also a major industry faced with many issues that go hand-in-hand when dealing with living organisms in a dynamic environment.”

“From a veterinary perspective, we need to better understand and apply the principles of veterinary medicine to aquatic animals,” explains Dr. Groman. “From a diagnostic perspective, there is huge potential for significant benefits through increasingly specialized testing.”

The meetings will center around four plenary sessions. The first plenary, Aquatic Animal Health: Veterinary Medicine’s Contribution for Market Opportunities, will be led by Dr. Brian Evans, Executive Vice President of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Chief Veterinary Officer of Canada. The second plenary, An Overview of Captive Tuna Diseases, will be led by Dr. Ivona Mladineo of the Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries in Croatia. Dr. Oystein Evensen of Norway’s School of Veterinary Science will deliver the third plenary on Inflammatory Cells and Processes of Early Immune Response in Fish. The Atlantic Veterinary College’s Dr. David Speare will deliver the final plenary session on Applications of Ultrastructural Pathology in Fish Health Diagnostics and Research.

“Furthering the science of fish health has considerable long term benefits for the world’s human population and eco systems,” explains Dr. Groman. “Our meeting will aggressively address the latest research and findings around fish health through almost 100 oral and poster presentations in four days.”

The Atlantic Veterinary College at UPEI is regarded around the world as “the fish vet school” because of its expertise in aquatic species health. A number of Atlantic Veterinary College experts, including Dr. Dave Speare (who was recently awarded the Pfizer Excellence in Research Award, the Carl J. Norden Distinguished Teacher Award and is the principal investigator in the recent discovery of the world’s first vaccine for a microsporidial gill disease), Dr. Fred Kibenge (who heads up one of only two OIE laboratories in the world for Infectious Salmon Anaemia), and Dr. Larry Hammell (Director of the Atlantic Veterinary College’s wide reaching Center for Aquatic Health Sciences), will participate in the conference.

The Fish Health Section (FHS) was formed in 1972 and is the largest organization of fish health professionals in North America. Current membership is made up of nearly 400 fisheries scientists, veterinarians, researchers, regulators, teachers, and students - all of whom work together to promote fisheries and to help protect the health of wild and cultured aquatic animals.

This is only the second time in the Fish Health Section’s history that it has held its meeting in Canada.

The University of Prince Edward Island’s annual International Student Award has been renamed in honour of Dr. Vianne Timmons, past vice-president of Academic Development at UPEI and now president-elect of the University of Regina.

During her tenure at UPEI, Dr. Timmons worked to enhance international development and education at UPEI. In 2002, an award was set up as part of the university’s efforts to support international development and international students. In the spirit of raising awareness and promoting international education, UPEI holds an annual luncheon during International Development Week in February each year to raise funds for this scholarship.

When Dr. Timmons recently left UPEI to accept her post at the University of Regina, her colleagues here decided to rename the award in her honour. Friends, family, and colleagues have donated to the award in her name, and Dr. Timmons’ family is matching the donations.

The Dr. Vianne Timmons International Student Award will be presented on February 6, 2009, during UPEI’s International Development Week.

International students from more than 50 countries make up about eight per cent of the student population at UPEI. To help students make the most of their university experience, UPEI offers support services, including an international student advisor, an international recruitment office, student connection “buddy” program and English-as-another-language training.

For more information, please contact Alaina Roach O'Keefe at aroach@upei.ca or 902-894-2842.

UPEI gives out $2.5 million in scholarships, bursaries and prizes annually. Most are made possible through the generous support of individual donors.

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Media contact: Anna MacDonald, Media Relations and Communications Officer, (902) 566-6786, amacdonald@upei.ca, www.upei.ca

Approximately 200 world-class scientists from around the world will attend the International Conference on Biodiversity and Natural Products at the Delta Prince Edward Hotel in Charlottetown from July 13 to 18.

This is the first time that the conference, sponsored by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), has been held in North America. It is chaired by Dr. Russell Kerr, Professor and Canada Research Chair in Marine Natural Products Chemistry at UPEI.

The conference, which has been developed by an international science advisory panel, will include plenary, invited and contributed talks on various aspects of the discovery and development of therapeutic compounds from natural marine and land-based organisms.

IUPAC conferences are highly rated by the scientific community and attract the highest calibre of scientists from around the world. Formed in 1919 by chemists from industry and academia, IUPAC has fostered worldwide communications in the chemical sciences and in uniting academic, industrial and public-sector chemistry in a common language. IUPAC has long been recognized as the world authority on chemical nomenclature, terminology, standardized methods for measurement, atomic weights and many other critically evaluated data.

For more information about the conference, please visit www.iupac-icbnp2008.com/.

Eight projects that will benefit companion animals, horses, and wildlife recently received funding through the 2008 competition of the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre (SJDAWC) at UPEI's Atlantic Veterinary College. More than 110 projects representing $2.8 million in funding have been supported by the Centre since it was established in 1994.

“We are very grateful to the Friends of the Christofor Foundation for their ongoing support of the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre at the Atlantic Veterinary College,” says Dr. Alice Crook, the centre’s coordinator. “This year’s research projects include a review of euthanasia procedures in Canadian animal shelters with the hope of assisting shelters with recommendations in best practices, as well as a study looking at a possible association between obesity and kidney disease in dogs. Service projects receiving funding this year include renewed support for the Chinook Project which enables AVC to provide veterinary care to isolated communities in the Canadian North, a financial aid program to help pet owners with low incomes, and health management services for two Island equine sanctuaries.”

The projects will be carried out by faculty and students at the Atlantic Veterinary College at UPEI. For information on the Centre, please visit the web site at: www.upei.ca/awc.

Information is provided below on projects funded through this year’s competition.

1. Survey of euthanasia practices in animal shelters in Canada to identify ways of incorporating ‘best practices’ into guidelines for humane euthanasia (Dr. Michael Cockram, Chair, Animal Welfare, AVC)

Euthanasia is an unavoidable and unfortunate reality for most animal shelters and humane societies across Canada. Regardless of the reason or the setting, all animals are entitled to a humane death, i.e., one without pain and distress. Factors that are likely to have a significant impact on the humaneness of euthanasia include the method used, the availability of drugs, the knowledge, training, and experience of staff, the equipment, the environment, and the circumstances.

This study will establish a baseline of knowledge of current euthanasia practices in Canadian animal shelters. One component of the study will be a literature review of euthanasia practices for companion animals and wildlife to look at aspects such as drug options, chemical and physical restraint, animal handling procedures, environmental conditions, and current legislation and guidelines. The second component will consist of a mail survey to identify and describe euthanasia practices and protocols in animal shelters across Canada, with a view to identifying what aspects require improvement and what aspects may require further research.

2. Is there an association between obesity and kidney disease in dogs? (Dr. Darcy Shaw, Chair, Companion Animals, AVC)

The health consequences of obesity in people, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease, are well-known. Many of these complications have direct harmful effects on the kidney. However, obese and overweight patients without diabetes or high blood pressure also have an increased risk of developing chronic kidney disease, which is preceded by a condition called obesity-related glomerulonephropathy (ORG). This condition can be reversed with weight loss.

Obesity is a common and significant health problem in dogs. Changes similar to those in ORG have been seen in the kidneys of obese dogs, but the correlations with protein loss in the urine or other markers of kidney injury have not been assessed. The purpose of this study is to determine if otherwise healthy, obese dogs have evidence of kidney injury and if the degree of injury corresponds with the severity of obesity. If there is obesity-related kidney disease in dogs that can be reversed through weight loss, this will provide important new information about both the health risks of canine obesity and the treatment of kidney disease in overweight dogs.

3. Chinook Project - providing veterinary care to Nunavut communities (Dr. Lisa Miller, Associate Dean, Academic Affairs, AVC)

Veterinary care is unavailable in many communities in the Canadian North. This project is a renewal of the 2006-funded SJDAWC project which provided basic veterinary care to communities in Nunavut, specifically Kimmirut in 2006 and Cambridge Bay in 2007. The Chinook Project teams were very warmly received in both communities.

This year the AVC team will return to Kimmirut, an isolated community on the south shore of Baffin Island. The community has a population of approximately 400, many of whom maintain a traditional lifestyle involving hunting, fishing, and several sled dog teams. For one week in July, a volunteer team of two veterinarians and four veterinary students will provide medical and surgical care to sled and homebound dogs. Such care will include vaccinations, examinations and treatment for parasites, neutering, and other surgical and medical treatments as necessary (e.g, tumour removal). Community members will be given basic information about first aid, vaccinations, and parasite prevention; and supplies will be left with them to improve the well-being of their animals. AVC team members will also participate in a cultural exchange to allow them to broaden their understanding of Canadian diversity.

For 2009, the team has been asked to go to Kuglutuk (Copper Mine). Project participants are keeping journals during their time in the communities, from which will be produced a series of creative non-fiction pieces to form a book with the working title “AVC Goes North”.

Travel and shipping of supplies to Nunavut are very costly. Besides SJDAWC support, the Chinook project has received very generous reductions on air fares and shipping from First Air, as well as generous assistance from Pfizer, Iam’s, Cogsdale Corporation, and Home Hardware (St. Peter’s Road).

4. Financial aid to neuter companion animals of owners with low incomes (Dr. Peter Foley, Assistant Professor, Companion Animals, AVC)

Many dogs, cats and rabbits are surrendered to the PEI Humane Society every year because their owners can not provide homes for them. Pet over-population is particularly difficult to address in families that are unable to afford to have their pets neutered.

SpayAid PEI is a new volunteer non-profit organization dedicated to reducing companion animal over-population by creating and maintaining a spay/neuter assistance programme targeted to aid Islanders most in financial need. The organization works with participating veterinary clinics using a model that shares the costs of neutering a pet between the owner, the veterinary hospital, and SpayAid, each of whom pays one-third. SpayAid also pays the full cost of the first vaccination appointment three to four weeks prior to surgery.

As one veterinary partner in this initiative, the AVC Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) is supporting two SpayAid sponsored neuters per month. The SJDAWC is supporting the SpayAid programme by covering the organization’s portion of the costs for the two neuters at the VTH, which will allow SpayAid to direct its resources towards more neuters. Go to www.spayaidpei.com for more information or an application form.

5. Health management services for the PEI Equine Retirement Society, Inc. (Dr. Wendy Duckett, Associate Professor, Health Management, AVC )

The PEI Equine Retirement Society Inc. (PEIERS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the rehabilitation of horses destined to be destroyed or shipped for the meat industry, and to finding new homes for them as pets or pleasure horses. Since its founding in O’Leary in 1996 by Mr. Dale Cameron, the Society has taken in 28 horses, of which 14 have been placed in new homes and six have been euthanized due to intractable health problems. Eight horses are currently at the farm. Through the support of the SJDAWC, AVC has provided preventive medical care to the horses at the Society from the beginning.

Through this year’s project, support is continued for two more years. The program includes physical examinations of the horses, a parasite monitoring and control program for the facility, dental work, routine vaccinations, and minor surgical and medical procedures as needed. AVC senior veterinary students, interns, and residents all participate in the care of these horses.

6. Health management services for Handibear Hills Equine Sanctuary, Inc. (Dr. Wendy Duckett, Associate Professor, Health Management AVC)

This project provides preventive medical care to the horses at the Handibear Hills Equine Sanctuary, Inc. For 20 years, this facility owned by Yogi Fell in South Granville, PEI has provided a refuge for horses needing a home. Through programs such as the Trailblazers Club, young people and adults spend time at Handibear Hills learning to ride, groom, and generally care for the horses.

Funding for this project is continued for two more years. The program will provide regular dental care and vaccinations for the 26 horses currently at the Sanctuary, as well as parasite monitoring and control and behavioural advice for conditions that affect the comfort and quality of life of the horses. AVC senior veterinary students, interns and residents all participate in the care of these horses.

7. Medical and surgical care of homeless animals (Dr. Caroline Runyon, Professor, Companion Animals, AVC)

Since first receiving funding in 1994, this project has enabled care for more than 3,000 companion animals, primarily dogs and cats. Funding has been granted to this project for a further two years to continue to address the problems of pet overpopulation and homeless animals in the region. Injured or ill animals brought to the AVC Veterinary Teaching Hospital by the PEI Humane Society or Good Samaritans receive physical examinations, x-rays, and/or other diagnostic procedures, emergency medical care, and continued medical or surgical care (including neutering as required) in consultation with the shelter. Some lost animals are claimed by their owners, while most, once healthy, are placed in homes through standard shelter adoption. Some animals are placed in “special needs” adoptive homes because they require specific care during recovery. Animals with severe illness or extensive injuries are humanely euthanized. AVC senior veterinary students, interns and residents are extensively involved in the care of these animals.

8. Wildlife rehabilitation (including displaced or orphaned wildlife) (Dr. Hans Gelens, Associate Professor, Companion Animals)

Caring members of the public often bring orphaned or injured wild animals (birds and small mammals) to the AVC. Since 1999, the wildlife rehabilitation project has provided financial support to care for these wild animals, some of which require medical attention and others temporary nursing and supportive care (especially for orphaned wildlife). For some animals, the best option is humane euthanasia.

Funding has been renewed for this project to build upon and improve the level of care for injured or orphaned wildlife at AVC. Typical costs include building materials (cages, perches, environmental enrichment), specialty foods, equipment (heat lamps, special bedding), anesthesia, radiographs, and surgery. The number of raptors cared for through the project has increased and there are additional costs for transportation of these birds to and from Maritime wildlife rehabilitation centres for proper flight training and long term care. The end goal for all patients is successful release back into the wild.

AVC students from all four years participate in the program, which offers a unique opportunity to interact with wildlife and apply principles of veterinary medicine to non-domestic species. The project has been integrated into, and is supported by, the AVC Companion Animal Medicine Service and Student Wildlife Club. The AVC, through this project, is part of a North American network of caretakers and rehabilitators of wildlife.

For further information, please contact:
Dr. Alice Crook, Coordinator, Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre (902) 628-4360
External Relations, AVC Dean's Office (902) 566-0533

Retired Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) Faculty Member, Dr. Amreek Singh accepted the 2008 Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) Distinguished Alumnus Award on June 21 at Guelph University.

The OVC Distinguished Alumnus Award is presented to an alumnus who has made significant contributions of leadership and service to their country, community, science, education and profession.

Former student of Singh and faculty member with AVC’s Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Dr. Paul Hannah nominated Singh for the prestigious award. “Dr. Singh has brought great honour to the profession and his fellow alumni through his long-lasting contributions to veterinary science and education, and the community at large through his commitment, wisdom and leadership.”

Singh received a Master of Science degree in 1968 and a Ph.D in 1971 from OVC. Following, Singh taught at the OVC for 11 years until 1985, when he was recruited as one of the founding faculty members of the Atlantic Veterinary College in the Department of Biomedical Sciences.

“Dr. Singh has been an award winning teacher, valued mentor and highly recognized researcher over his career, says Dr. Tim Ogilvie, Dean of AVC. “Dr. Singh has provided invaluable training, leadership, advice and support to his many graduate and honour students. He has been a real role model to colleagues, staff and students.”

Since retiring from teaching Anatomy at AVC eight years ago, Singh has remained involved at the College as chair of the admissions committee. In addition, Singh is actively involved in the PEI Soccer Association, a mentor with Big Brothers and Big Sisters, and AVC Vet Camp.

“It was incredible news to me. I was shocked and floored,” said Singh, who has mentored many second- and even third-generation veterinarians, children of former students. “All I have achieved is thanks to my young, sharp and intelligent friends. They are the best.”