ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ

Earlier this fall, a variety of Celebration of Student Success events took place to honour 469 ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ students who have obtained a minimum average of 80 per cent over the past academic year. These students are named to the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Dean's Honours List and a notation is placed on the students' transcript indicating that the student has been recognized and has earned this achievement.

On Tuesday, September 30, the faculties of Arts and Science held a celebration at the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre to celebrate its students' success. On Thursday, October 9, the School of Business honoured its students at an event held at Government House; and on Monday, October 20, the School of Nursing held its annual event to celebrate its students in McMillan Hall, W.A. Murphy Student Centre.

On behalf of the University community, we offer congratulations to our students for their past achievements and best wishes for continued success!

View the full list

Research on Tap returns for its sixth season of public discussion, debate, and ideas presented by researchers from the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ. Join our next conversation on Monday, December 1 at 7:00 pm at the Haviland Club in Charlottetown. Dr. Don Wagner, an associate professor at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ's School of Business, will lead a discussion entitled: 'Microfinance in Africa. How it works. How it doesn't.'

The 2014-15 season of Research on Tap is presented in cooperation with the Royal Society of Canada (RSC), Atlantic Chapter. The RSC is Canada's national academy and is the senior national body of distinguished scholars, artists, and scientists.

Research on Tap meets the first Monday of every month from October to April. The full schedule of speakers can be found at upei.ca/research/research-on-tap

For information:
Dave Atkinson, Research Communications Officer, ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ
(902) 620-5117, datkinson@upei.ca

UPDATE: Read about the official groundbreaking ceremony

ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ held a special event today to unveil plans for its new School of Sustainable Design Engineering and Centre of Engineering Design and Industry Partnerships, the first program of its kind in Canada. The Honourable Gail Shea was in attendance (on behalf of the Honourable Rob Moore, Minister of State responsible for ACOA); the Honourable Allen Roach, Minister of Innovation and Advanced Learning (on behalf of Premier Robert Ghiz); ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ's President and Vice-Chancellor Alaa Abd-El-Aziz; and ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Board of Governors Chair Tom Cullen who acted as the event emcee.

'ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ is undertaking a transformative approach to putting innovation into action,' said Abd-El-Aziz. 'We are creating a professional, engineering R&D workspace where students and faculty will work alongside industry clients to design solutions for global challenges.'

ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ's School of Sustainable Design Engineering will focus on bioresources, mechatronics, and sustainable energy with programming designed for students who are eager to engage in hands-on learning by designing innovative, targeted solutions through a team-focused, project-based approach. Students will design sustainable processes, products, and systems that improve people's lives and better society. Students can choose from the two-year Engineering diploma or the new four-year Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design Engineering degree program.

In addition to the School's program, a new Centre of Engineering Design and Industry Partnerships will include four focused labs-food processing, sensory and sortation, sustainable energy, and robotics-where students and faculty can work on pilot-scale, industrial R&D projects.

Minister Roach announced the provincial government's $16 million commitment to the new School of Sustainable Design Engineering, while Minister Shea announced ACOA's contribution of close to $6 million for the new Centre of Engineering Design and Industry Partnerships.

'This initiative will help strengthen our university and provide us with a well-trained and knowledgeable engineering workforce, who are ready to start their careers,' said Minister Roach. 'This is a true example of collaboration between government and our leading post secondary institutions. This initiative will attract new students, improve the competitiveness of the institution, and contribute to the sustainability of ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ.'

'The new Centre for Engineering Design and Industry Partnerships at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ fits perfectly with our Government's focus on innovation, productivity and competitiveness,' said Minister Shea. 'Atlantic Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises have identified a need to have this kind of design capacity and expertise in the region, and the Centre for Engineering Design and Industry Partnerships will benefit them directly, while it strengthens our research and design capacity to build a more innovative future right here in Atlantic Canada.'

Construction begins next week for the new School of Sustainable Design Engineering and Centre for Engineering Design and Industry Partnerships. More details on the building and construction will be announced at a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, December 4.

Ever wonder about that island 'down under,' described by writer Nicholas Shakespeare as 'the literal end of the world: if you travel any further you are on your way home again?'

Prince Edward Island has strong links with Tasmania, which hangs like a teardrop off the island continent of Australia. On Wednesday, December 3, 'Tasmania Dreaming' will feature two guests from Tasmania, poet Jane Williams and publisher Ralph Wessman, along with writers Dianne Hicks Morrow and Deirdre Kessler; and hosted by Island Studies scholar Laurie Brinklow. We'll take a journey of our two islands through poetry and photos, and talk about the attraction we have for one another: two islands that are poles apart.

Jane Williams is the award-winning author of six books of poetry, the most recent being Days Like These (Interactive Press), and has been widely published in journals and anthologies. She recently started a blog featuring her writing for children (janewilliamsforkids.wordpress.com).

Jane's partner Ralph Wessman is a writer and former publisher of Famous Reporter, a semi-annual literary magazine that published out of Hobart from 1987 to 2012. He is the publisher of Walleah Press, which produces fine books of poetry, fiction, essays, and memoir. Jane and Ralph are also the creators of Communion, an online poetry journal (walleahpress.com.au/communion.html).

Deirdre Kessler is the author of two dozen books, ranging from award-winning children's picture books and chapter books to poetry, memoir, nonfiction, and educational books. Many have been translated into other languages. Deirdre teaches creative writing, children's literature, and the course on L.M. Montgomery with ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ's Department of English.

Poet and adult educator Dianne Hicks Morrow is the author of two volumes of poetry and a book of essays on Kindred Spirits. As the Island's fifth Poet Laureate, she writes and performs poems for stately occasions and hosts a monthly Open Mic reading series at the Haviland Club.

Both Deirdre and Dianne participated in the PEI-Tasmania Writers' Exchange, whereby three Tasmanian writers and three PEI writers swapped islands once a year from 2006 to 2012. Deirdre was the first PEI writer to spend a month in the Writers' Cottage in Hobart in 2007; she returned to Tasmania in 2010 as writer-in-residence in Launceston. Dianne was the last, in 2012. Other participants included PEI's Richard Lemm, along with Tasmania's Danielle Wood, Tim Thorne, and Louise Oxley.

Laurie Brinklow is an editor and former book publisher, and Interim Co-ordinator of the Master of Arts in Island Studies Program at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ. As host of the evening, she will draw upon her ten months spent in Tasmania as part of her PhD research comparing island identity in Newfoundland, Tasmania, PEI, and British Columbia's Gulf Islands. She looks forward to engaging the guests in conversation about our islands, and to asking them to share some of their poetry and other writings.

'Tasmania Dreaming' will be held at the Haviland Club, December 3, 7:00-9:00 pm. Admission is by donation. Everyone is welcome to attend.

For more information, please contact Laurie Brinklow at brinklow@upei.ca, or 902-894-2881.

For information:
Dave Atkinson, Research Communications Officer, ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ
(902) 620-5117, datkinson@upei.ca

ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Women's Hockey Head Coach Bruce Donaldson is pleased to announce two Ontario Provincial Women's Hockey League (PWHL) players have committed to ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ for the 2015 season. Stoney Creek Sabres forward Jessica Brown and Etobicoke Junior Dolphins forward Rachel Colle are the team's newest roster additions.

Brown, originally of Johannesburg, South Africa, currently attends Tapply Binet College in Ancaster, Ontario. Her family immigrated to Canada when Brown was six years old. She began playing hockey at eight years old, and shortly thereafter fell in love with the game.

'Jessica will add strength, size, and experience to our lineup,' said Donaldson. 'Coming out of a program like Stoney Creek, which emphasizes strong team play, makes Jessica a great fit for our program.'

'I am honoured to become a Panther and look forward to making ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ my second home,' stated Brown.

Colle, an honours student with the Richview Collegiate Institute in Etobicoke, Ontario, started with the Dolphins hockey organization when she was five years old. She is currently enjoying a strong season garnering nine points, and scoring key goals for a strong program. In 2013-14, Colle played with the Dolphins Midget AA team recording 24 goals and 11 assists for a total of 35 points.

'Rachel brings speed, size, and a ‘team-first' attitude to our Panther program,' said Donaldson. 'The signing of Brown and Colle is the start of our goal to become a more offensive, bigger-in-size team, with complementary skill levels.'

'I'm very excited and proud to have the opportunity to become a ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Panther next season,' added Colle.

Brown is enrolled in the arts program, while Colle will study business administration.

Go Panthers Go!

For information:
Ron Annear, ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Athletics and Recreation
(902) 566-0991, annear@upei.ca

Jessica Brown

The ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Panther Athletes of the Week for the week of November 24-30 are Samantha Sweet, Women's Hockey; and Mavric Parks, Men's Hockey. ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Athletics and Recreation showcases these talented athletes to recognize their hard work and dedication to their respective sports. ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Athletes of the Week are also nominated to Atlantic University Sport and Canadian Interuniversity Sport for possible recognition in the region and/or country.

Who: Samantha Sweet, Women's Hockey; and Mavric Parks, Men's Hockey

What: ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Panther Athletes of the Week

When: Week of November 24-30

Where: ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ

Why: Sweet, a fourth-year science student from O'Leary, PEI, scored the Women's Hockey team's first hat trick in four years. The scoring feat occurred during the team's 4-2 win over SMU on Saturday afternoon. Sweet also had a strong performance during the Panthers' 1-0 overtime loss to StFX on Friday evening. Sweet was also selected as the AUS Female Athlete of the Week for the week ending November 30.

Parks, a fourth-year arts student from Eganville, Ontario, enjoyed a strong return in nets from the injured list. Parks started in both Men's Hockey games last week, defeating UdeM 3-2, and STU 5-1, while only surrendering three goals.

For information:
Ron Annear
ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Athletics and Recreation
(902) 566-0991, annear@upei.ca

Samantha Sweet, Women's Hockey

ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ students and researchers wanting to learn more about the development of Island farming, forestry, fisheries, and aquaculture in the late 1900s and into the 21st century, will soon find a great new resource available to them at the University's Robertson Library.

Thanks to a generous donor, Island writer Kathy Birt has donated her sizeable collection of periodical publications and photographs, reflecting her 25-year freelance journalism career, to the Library's PEI collection. In addition to several hundred articles, and more than 1,000 photographs documenting the Island's farms, forests, and fisheries-which appeared in a range of regional, North American, and UK periodicals-the collection also contains clippings from Birt's journalism in the 1970s and 1980s, when, writing as Kathy Jorgensen, she served as Fashion and Lifestyles Editor at The Guardian. She also contributed a Cornwall 'Neighborhood News' column to The Evening Patriot.

'We're very pleased to be adding these materials to our Prince Edward Island Collection,' said University archivist and Special Collections' librarian Simon Lloyd. 'Kathy's freelance writing and photography provide a really good picture of how PEI's farming, fishery, and forestry were evolving around the turn of the millennium.'

Lloyd noted that the PEI Collection has long worked to track periodical writing about Island topics through its PEI Periodical Articles Database (PEI PAD), so Birt's donation is a nice complement to that effort.

Birt is happy to be sharing her materials with the PEI Collection's users. 'As markets for my Island stories grew, so did my collection of magazines and newspapers with those stories filling the pages,' she said. 'I often wondered what I would do with all of them as I grew older. Thanks to a suggestion from Janna Toms with the Provincial Archives, I have found a permanent home for my works.'

More about Kathy Birt:
Kathy Birt is a self-published author and a graduate of Holland College's Journalism program, Charlottetown Centre, class of 1982. She worked with both The Guardian and CHTN Radio 1982-1992. Her freelance writing career spanned 25 years. During the 1990's to the end of 2010, she wrote about the Island's agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries. Her stories sold to publications across Canada, the US, and in the UK. Birt's next self-published book, her sixth, will be launched in the spring of 2015, and will focus on several hot-button topics in Island politics. She is currently working on her memoirs.

The ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ held an official groundbreaking ceremony today for its new School of Sustainable Design Engineering. Construction begins this week for the leading-edge, 75,000 square-foot building.

The Honourable Robert Ghiz, Premier of Prince Edward Island; the Honourable Allen Roach, Minister of Innovation and Advanced Learning; Dr. Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, President and Vice-Chancellor, ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ; Mr. Tom Cullen, Chair of the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Board of Governors; Mr. Lucas MacArthur, President of the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Student Union; ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ faculty, staff, students; and industry stakeholders were in attendance.

'Today's groundbreaking ceremony was an opportunity to officially acknowledge the beginning of construction on this unique new building,' said President Abd-El-Aziz. 'This is truly an investment in the future of our students, our province, and the region through sustainable programming, global outreach, and knowledge-based and export-related economic benefits that the new building will provide.'

Initially focusing on bioresources, mechatronics, and sustainable energy and aligning with PEI's priority sectors, the School of Sustainable Design Engineering offers two programs including the two-year Engineering diploma and the new four-year Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design Engineering degree.

'The provincial government is proud to contribute $16 million to ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ's new School of Sustainable Design Engineering,' said Premier Robert Ghiz. 'ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ provides students with a holistic approach to achieving a quality education that includes a solid foundation for lifelong
learning and the practical means for a fulfilling career.'

'The new School of Sustainable Design Engineering will help strengthen our university and provide us with a well-trained and knowledgeable engineering workforce, who are ready to start their careers,' said Minister Roach. 'This new specialized engineering degree program was
strategically chosen, due to increasing demand for both engineering graduates and increasing student interest, both regionally and internationally.'

The School will redefine the region through an industry-driven model based on 'real-world' collaboration, problem solving, and innovation, and this is reflected in the building's design. For example, the building's own heat exchange and ventilation systems will be accessible to the students as learning opportunities.

The main floor emulates a 'factory floor' or the clinic aspect of the program, designed for students who are eager to engage in hands-on and active learning. Here, students will be involved in assembly, prototype testing, and experimentation.

This first level is also where the Centre of Engineering Design and Industry Partnerships will be located, including four centres of excellence in food processing, sensory and sortation, sustainable energy, and robotics, and where students and faculty can work on pilot-scale, industrial R&D projects.

The program inspires innovative, targeted solutions through a team-focused, project-based approach versus the use of traditional classrooms. The second floor of the building will be where students, in design studios and ideation spaces, design sustainable processes, products, and systems that improve people's lives and better society.

The third level fosters client-centered facilitation and mentoring, integrating project management and the activities taking place on the other levels. Students will have access to smartboard meeting rooms in order to collaborate and connect with industry partners either in person or remotely.

The building will be completed by September 2016.

More about the new building:
• Building is a combination of two and three storeys
• Approximately half of the building footprint is two-storey in height with some warehouse-like space that will be used as focused labs or centres of excellence
• Building will consist of a steel structure and metal deck system with flat roofs, with envelope including a combination of a curtain wall, masonry, and metal siding.
• Building features design studios, smart boardrooms, seminar rooms, project ideation rooms, academic stairs, a green roof, and more.
• Architecture 49 designed the building; Brighton Construction is building the School.

ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ congratulates business graduate Janell MacDonald who recently received the regional Gold Medal from the Chartered Accountants of Canada for the highest standing in Eastern Canada. MacDonald, a 2012 ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ business administration graduate, earned Eastern Canada's highest mark on the Uniform Final Evaluation (UFE).

In addition, MacDonald received the Gerry Gillis Memorial Award from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of PEI for the highest standing in Prince Edward Island. MacDonald will also be placed on the Atlantic School of Chartered Accountancy's David Hope Honour Roll and the UFE Honour Roll for her accomplishment.

MacDonald is currently employed at BDO Canada LLP in Charlottetown as a junior staff accountant. 'The partners and staff at BDO are proud of Janell's well deserved accolades. Her dedication and hard work in receiving this significant achievement in the accounting profession has paid off, and we are thrilled to celebrate in her accomplishments,' said Jennifer Dunn, Tax Partner, BDO Canada LLP.

During her time at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ, MacDonald competed on the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ case team that placed first at the IIBD Case Competition in Hong Kong, and second place at the Royal Roads University International Undergraduate Case Competition in British Columbia. MacDonald placed first in the 2012 Estey Undergraduate Student Paper Competition hosted by the University of Waterloo's Centre for Accounting Ethics.

Other prizes MacDonald has received include: The Institute of Chartered Accountants of PEI Prize for Auditing; The Institute of Chartered Accountants of PEI Prize for Accounting; The Institute of Chartered Accounts of PEI - T. Earle Hickey Prize; and The Yousef Hashmi Award of Excellence in Business Administration.

'Hearing this news is wonderful and it fills us with great pride that Janell, and our other accounting graduates, have consistently performed so well throughout the CA program,' said ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ's Dean of the School of Business Juergen Krause. 'On behalf of the School of Business and ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ, I would like to congratulate Janell who has just added another great award to her string of extraordinary accomplishments. Janell is an exceptionally high achiever and has laid the foundation for a great professional career.'

Congratulations, Janell!

Third-year ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ business co-op student Amber James is positive there's a better way to connect students and recent graduates with Islander employers. Enter Gradpeek.com, James' new business that aims to connect young talent with Island companies and reduce Island youth unemployment rates.

For her first co-operative education work term, James co-founded Gradpeek.com, an innovative venture that began in April, after seeing first-hand the challenges her fellow students were facing when it came to landing their first jobs in their fields of study.

'We wanted to create an interactive marketplace for students and employers to connect,' said James. 'LinkedIn is a similar tool, and is particularly great for individuals with plenty of experience, but can fall short when it comes to servicing upcoming talent.'

Beginning in May of 2015, post-secondary students will be able to create their own candidate profiles on Gradpeek.com, which consists of a short video or professional photo, and an infographic résumé. James and Gradpeek.com Founder Jonathan Cormier will be on campus today, December 9, and tomorrow, December 10, with their bright green Gradpeek mobile studio to shoot their first ten video profiles.

'I applaud the entrepreneurial spirit and creativity of Amber and the opportunity she created to mutually benefit our co-op students, as well as Island employers,' said Dean of the School of Business Juergen Krause. 'We are proud to welcome Amber and her new business as a tenant in the ‘Launch Pad,' our business incubator office for students in the School of Business, and I wish her lots of success.'

James, the passionate entrepreneur from Morell, PEI truly believes that Gradpeek will make a difference in the lives of hundreds of unemployed and underplayed millennials across Prince Edward Island.

Congratulations, Amber!