Ray MacCormack is no stranger to soccer. The Nova Scotia native has extensive experience as a player, coach, and advocate and UPEI is happy to announce he will be attending the 2012 Subway Atlantic University Sport (AUS) Men's Soccer Championship as the honorary chair.

MacCormack's soccer career began in the mid 1960s, where he played two years with Xavier Junior College-now known as Cape Breton University-before moving on to finish his studies at St. Francis Xavier University where he played on their varsity squad for two years.

Upon graduation, MacCormack headed to Prince Edward Island where he played in a recreational soccer league before taking on a high school soccer coaching opportunity in Sierra Leone, West Africa, for two years.

MacCormack received his Bachelor of Education from UPEI and went on to teach for 30 years at Queen Charlotte, East Wiltshire, and Stonepark intermediate schools, where he also coached boys' soccer. In 1981, MacCormack saw a need and established a junior girls' soccer program at East Wiltshire, the first of its kind across the province.

'Sport is fantastic, it builds so much character in young people,' said MacCormack.

During his time as a coach, MacCormack won approximately 10 championship titles. He's also been involved for many years in organizing university, local, and national soccer tournaments. MacCormack was the 2005 AUS honorary chair and is thrilled to be a part of this year's championship weekend.

'We all have talents and gifts, but the key to the talent or gift is to pass it on. One of our greatest gifts is time, and we need to pass that on to others-it will create lasting friendships and memories,' he said.

The championship weekend kicks off with soccer action on Friday at 3:00 pm. Tickets can be purchased at the gate or in advance by contacting (902) 566-0432.

The UPEI Wind Symphony will collaborate with the Three Oaks High School (TOSH) Music Department in a recital on Sunday, November 4 at 2:00 pm at TOSH in Summerside.

The Wind Symphony will perform an eclectic set of pieces designed to engage the audience and showcase the unique sounds of the wind band. Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovitch's 'Festive Overture' will open their performance. Written in 1954, this work is a favourite of the orchestral repertoire as it is noted for its opening fanfare and rapid, lyrical melodies.

'Traveler,' by the American composer David Maslanka, is the centrepiece of the program. An emotional and virtuosic work, listeners will be immediately captured by its cascading runs, colourful orchestration, and spiritual melodies.

Saxophonist Kevin MacLean is soloist in the performance of Claude T. Smith's 'Fantasia.' This work exploits the technical and lyrical capabilities of the saxophone. MacLean is UPEI's sessional saxophone instructor and is known for his body of work as a soloist and chamber musician. He has been featured with the Prince Edward Island Symphony Orchestra.

The Wind Symphony will conclude the evening with Charles Ives' 'Variations On America.' Ives was just seventeen when he wrote this work for the organ. It has been popularized as a result of transcriptions for orchestra and wind band. This piece presents five variations each with its unique character.

The UPEI Wind Symphony consists of 25 music majors, other UPEI students, and community musicians. Its mandate is to provide opportunities for its participants to apply their performance skills and develop musically through the study and performance of original and transcribed wind band literature. In addition, it is a forum through which professional attributes of ensemble performance are developed. It is within its mission to give its audiences meaningful and personal experiences with quality wind music, in the widest possible range of musical style and expression. The Wind Symphony has one, two-hour rehearsal each week.

The University of Prince Edward Island invites the nomination of candidates for honorary degrees to be conferred at Convocations in 2013.

Honorary degrees are conferred honoris causa, 'for the sake of honour,' and are intended to recognize outstanding provincial, national, and international contributions in any field(s) of endeavour. Contributions should reflect extraordinary intellectual or artistic achievements or significant service to society at a standard of excellence that merits the University's highest honour.

Nominations can be made online or mailed; all forms are available at upei.ca/nominatehdr.

Deadline for 2013 consideration is November 23, 2012.

For information, contact Angela Deighan, UPEI Senate Office at (902) 566-0540 or adeighan@upei.ca.

After a brief hiatus, Panther TV is back, and will feature live streaming of this weekend's UPEI men's hockey games at MacLauchlan Arena. The Panthers take on the SMU Huskies on Friday, November 2 and the St. FX X-Men on Saturday, November 3. Game time is 7:00 pm for both match-ups.

Check out the full men's hockey schedule by visiting http://www.gopanthersgo.ca/schedule/mens-hockey/

The Atlantic University Sport conference held a joint presentation with the University of Prince Edward Island this morning to share its new vision for propelling both its student-athletes and the conference forward over the next three years:

For UPEI alumnus Colby O'Donnell, involvement in sports is not just an opportunity to better his skills and get into shape, but rather a chance to share his knowledge with others. O'Donnell is doing just that. On December 28, he will embark on a two-week volunteer journey to Uganda, where he will teach and play soccer with youth through the Soccer Without Borders (SWB) program.

The former UPEI men's soccer centre-back will work with youth from Nsambya and Katwe neighbourhoods of Kampala where he will coach and play soccer with the children to help improve their skills. Currently, SWB has U10, U12, U14, U17 boys' teams and a men's team as well as an U14 girls' team and a women's team. Throughout the regular season, teams practice two or three times a week and meet for off-field activities twice a week.

O'Donnell shouldn't have any issues coaching, as he's been involved with coaching numerous soccer teams in PEI from U5-U19. 'I have always had an undeniable passion to work with youth my entire life,' he said. 'And so far, I've been lucky enough to be able to contribute here in Canada, but can't wait to take it one step further and help out internationally.'

This volunteer expedition comes as no surprise to O'Donnell's friends and family who applauded him at this year's UPEI Panthers Athletic Awards ceremony when he received the Passion for Life Award, given in memory of Rene Ayangma, a former UPEI soccer player. O'Donnell received the award for his true passion for life and commitment to raising funds for the first annual Battle of the Jocks fundraiser which was held last year and raised close to $5,000. He also received the men's soccer J.T. Mickey Place Award, presented to student athletes who have made a contribution to student leadership in sports and on campus.

O'Donnell is currently raising funds for his volunteer mission and began with a Facebook campaign last month where he requested monetary donations from friends and family. In return, he provided humorous and heartfelt 'shout-out' messages to each and every supporter. In the first four days alone, O'Donnell raised $2,000, and is well on his way to reaching his total of $2,850. O'Donnell is also collecting used soccer cleats to take with him to Uganda; cleats can be dropped off at PEI's Soccer Stop.

'I'm actually shocked by the support I've been receiving. It's absolutely nuts how many friends and family have come forth to donate,' he said. 'I'm so overwhelmed, but this is truly a testament to the support of Islanders and our great community.'

For more information on how you can donate to O'Donnell's cause, contact him directly at colby_o@hotmail.com.

The UPEI Peace Project presents an 'Island Kitchen Party for Peace' on Thursday, November 8 from 6:30-8:30 pm in UPEI's Chaplaincy Centre. Performances by local musicians Chris Rayner, Richard Wood, Laura Mohan, and guest fiddler Father Charlie will entertain the crowd. Admission is $5 with all proceeds going to establish a Peace Pole on campus, a dedicated ceremony will take place next semester.

There will be baked goods and pizza for sale, as well as raffle prizes available as you enjoy the talent of our local musicians in a welcoming and fun social setting. Students from Sociology 101A will also be on-site taking orders for Peace t-shirts they have designed to help promote the UPEI Peace Project.

For more information about the UPEI Peace Project or the Kitchen Party for Peace, please contact Blythe Relf-Phypers at upeipeaceproject@gmail.com

Follow the group on Twitter @UPEIPeace, and join the Facebook group and event: https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/423296521070332/ https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/204133886387968

UPEI history professor Sarah Glassford co-edited the recently published 'A Sisterhood Of Suffering And Service' with her colleague Amy J. Shaw, associate professor of history at the University of Lethbridge.

The book delves into the lives of women and girls of Canada and Newfoundland during the First World War. Glassford and Shaw drew together the work of 12 contributors creating specific sections including volunteer and paid work, family and grief, and poetry and novels.

When asked why she decided to research this particular topic, Glassford explained that the woman's role in the First World War was less visible than it was during the Second World War, something that is of interest to both editors. Oftentimes women are left out of First World War histories and commemorations when, in fact, they played a large role noted Glassford, and they wanted to write women and girls back into the story.

'Women and girls were certainly an integral part of wartime society-contemporaries constantly praised their service and sacrifice-but over the century since then, their experiences have been largely forgotten,' said Glassford. 'I like to think we've done something to reverse that trend.'

Glassford and Shaw questioned whether women were transformed as a result of the First World War. Based on their own and their contributors' research, they've found both change and continuity in a big picture sense; on a personal level, however, it is clear that the war could be very transformative for women.

'We spent five years thinking about these women and girls and trying to make sense of what it was like for them to live through the war while having little means of influencing its outcome,' added Glassford. 'As a result, I feel a kind of personal connection to the women of that era-that I owe it to them, not just to make sure their side of the story isn't forgotten, but to do justice to their experiences.'

Glassford hopes the book will be useful to others interested in the topic and those wishing to do more research on the women of the First World War. The book can be purchased on amazon.ca, or through UBC Press.

Today, the Hon. Gail Shea, Minister of National Revenue recognised support for the international poverty reduction efforts at the University of Prince Edward Island. In partnership with Canadian universities, this project will deliver concrete results for people living in Chiloe, Chile. Canadians want to make a difference for those in need around the world and expect real results from Canada's international assistance. Our Government will work with Canadian universities to deliver tangible results for people in developing countries,' said Minister Shea. 'By tapping into their expertise, Canada will help provide the essentials for people in need, and give them the economic tools they need to become self-sufficient over the long-term.'

Today's event, supported through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) Partners for Development Program's call for proposals, will help the University of Prince Edward Island to examine the social and cultural context of how young indigenous people live and learn, and build a unique school and curriculum based on that knowledge. This project will allow UPEI to share our knowledge, skills and capacity towards sustainable operation of a school that will support development of dignified, sustainable livelihoods in remote small island Indigenous communities.

'This project builds on a relationship of trust and respect between Islanders of PEI and Chiloe that has developed over the past seven years,' said Dr. Irene Novaczek, Director of UPEI's Institute of Island Studies, and co-leader of this initiative, along with Dr. Kate Tilleczek, Canada Research Chair in Child/Youth Cultures and Transitions. 'This project gives us a brilliant opportunity to make a significant positive impact on the lives of young people in Williche territory who struggle with many of the same issues faced by rural indigenous youth here in Canada. In the process, we will also learn and grow, in ways that will enrich what we offer to UPEI students and to the wider Island community.'

The University of Prince Edward Island was one of 15 different schools and 17 different projects that CIDA selected to implement projects around the world that will stimulate sustainable economic growth, secure the future of children and youth, increase food security and advance Canada's commitments on maternal, newborn and child health. The selected Canadian universities will implement the projects in partnership with institutions and organizations in developing countries, to ensure the results will directly benefit people in need.

The total CIDA contribution the University of Prince Edward Island is $3,778,270. UPEI's contribution is $1,548,059, which is 29 percent of the cost of the project.

For more information on the Partners for Development Program and the call for proposals process, please visit CIDA's website at www.cida.gc.ca/partnership.

For information: