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Young scholars from institutions around the globe will converge in Charlottetown June 23 - 27 at the 2010 International L.M. Montgomery Conference, 'L.M. Montgomery and the Matter of Nature', to share their research on the province's best-known writer.

For Alicia McDonald, an Islander, ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ alumna and graduate student at the University of Western Ontario, Montgomery's works have hit close to home. 'Having grown up on Prince Edward Island, I found myself drawn to Anne and subsequently, L.M. Montgomery because they were talking about places I knew, and represented kindred spirits who understood what it was like to grow up in a rural area where everyone knows you. As I've gotten older and have traveled further away from PEI, I've found Montgomery's vivid descriptions of our Island and rural culture to be a stunning reminder of home that I can easily carry with me.' McDonald's presentation, 'Literary Tourism - Anne of Green Gables and Twilight as Tourist Attractions', takes place Saturday, June 26.

Emily Woster, a PhD student at Illinois State University, will be attending the L.M.M. Conference for the third time, along with her mother, Christy Woster. 'My love of all things L.M.M. began when my mother named me ‘Emily' and my sister ‘Anne' five years later,' says Woster of her interest in Montgomery. L.M.M. has provided her both professional and personal opportunities and lots of 'scope for imagination.' The pair will be giving their presentation, entitled 'A Book by Its Cover: Collecting the Artistic Interpretations of L.M. Montgomery's Works' together on Sunday, June 27.

Jean Mitchell, an associate professor of anthropology at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ and co-chair of the 2010 L.M.M. International Conference, sees these presentations as evidence of the continuing interest in Montgomery's works. 'The students' topics are very far-ranging and eclectic, suggesting Montgomery's multiple and meaningful influences on a new generation.'

Other student presentations include: Vappu Kannas, of the University of Helsinki, 'Familiar landscape in L. M. Montgomery's Emily series: Nature as the integrating factor in the Finnish translations'; Christiana Salah, of the University of Connecticut, 'Bonds of Sea and Shore: Locating the Gothic in Montgomery's Prehensile Landscape'; Erin Whitmore, of the University of New Brunswick, 'The ‘Old-Time Kitchen': Domesticity, Nature and Avonlea's Transforming Rural Economy'; and Kathryne Dycus, of the University of Glasgow, 'Footprints on the Landscapes of Artistic Creation: 'Wanderlust' in the Emily Books'.

All are welcome to register, and day and session passes are available for those unable to attend the full conference. For information and to register, visit , email katmacdonal2@upei.ca, or call 902-628-4346.

The ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ School of Business and the PEI BioAlliance invite you to a free, public session on 'Corporate Governance', presented by Professor Stephen Letza, PhD, Director of the European Centre for Corporate Governance.

Dr. Letza, a leading advisor to large, medium, and small profit and non-profit corporations as well as a wide range of UK crown corporations and departments, will share some of his insights into the boardrooms of the world. He has over 200 published articles and is often sought to provide media commentary on breaking events in corporate governance.

Anyone who has an interest in more effective leadership or board efficiency would benefit from this unique opportunity to meet and ask questions of this international guest.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

McDougall Hall, Room 329

3:00 - 4:30 p.m.

To register, please contact Pamela Harris at pjharris@upei.ca or at 902-566-0564.

The Centre for Health and Biotech Management Research (CHBMR) and Three Oaks Innovation Inc. will present Dr. Peter Smith of Millennium Pharmaceuticals on June 18, as the first instalment of the Innovation PEI Premier's Speaker Series.

As Senior Vice President, Drug Safety & Disposition and Comparative Medicine for Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Smith will provide insight into modern development approaches and strategies that efficiently promote drug candidates and biologics through the development process, which includes an overview of the research and corporate requirements to fulfill current registration requests of health authorities, both from a safety and non-clinical aspect.

Dr. Smith holds a Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology from the University of Arizona, and trained as a post-doctoral fellow in biochemical toxicology at SmithKline and French labs. Dr. Smith has served on several editorial boards including Toxicology Sciences, Journal of Pharmacological and Toxicological Methods, and Preclinica, and he has also served as an ad hoc reviewer for Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology and In Vitro Toxicology. Dr. Smith was featured in the July/August 2009 issue ofPharmaVOICE as one of the magazine's Top 100. The PharmaVOICE Top 100 is an annual feature ranking the 100 most inspiring individuals in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Presentation, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
K.C. Irving Chemistry Centre, Room 104

Networking luncheon, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Schurman Market Square, McDougall Hall

To register, click .

About the Innovation PEI Premier's Speaker Series at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ

Dr. Juergen Krause, Associate Professor at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ's School of Business and Director for the Centre for Health and Biotech Management Research (CHBMR), has been selected to organize and promote the Innovation PEI Premier's Speaker Series.

The series, aimed at enhancing knowledge in bioscience and forging international relationships for Island companies, will feature presentations in the upcoming weeks by three experts with experience in the areas of intellectual property, licensing technology, and research and development. For more information, visit .

A group of 22 English teachers from Finland recently visited Prince Edward Island to meet with members of ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ's Faculty of Education, the Webster Centre for Teaching & Learning and the Department of Modern Languages as part of a Canadian study and professional development tour.

Each year, the Association of English Teachers in Finland organizes a trip to a foreign land to learn best practices in teaching a second language. Dr. Miles Turnbull, an associate professor in the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Faculty of Education and Co-Coordinator of the Bachelor of Education, French Immersion, encountered members of the group last summer in Australia, and learned that in 2010, the group was visiting Canada.

'I met Ari Peltonen, a member of the Association's board, when I was attending a conference in Sydney,' said Turnbull. 'Next thing I know, the President of the Finnish Association was emailing me with a request to come to ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ. I said ‘yes' right away!'

While at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ, the group took part in a keynote address and workshop given by Dr. Turnbull entitled, ‘Open the Windows and Sweep Out the Cobwebs: Initiating dialogue on the first language in second and foreign language teaching, a Canadian perspective that challenges traditional views'. The group also had the chance to meet with various educators working in the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ English for Academic Preparation Program in the Webster Centre.

Peltonen, also the tour coordinator, said, 'We've really enjoyed our visit to PEI and appreciate the time we have spent with colleagues, including Doroley Coll in the language lab here at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ. Our own English programs are modelled after Canada's French immersion experience, so our group was really interested to meet with ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ educators who are leading programming in this area.'

ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ offers innovative programs through the Faculty of Education, Department of Modern Languages, Webster Centre for Teaching & Learning, and Centre for Life-Long Learning that demonstrate excellence in second-language teaching. Some examples include the B.Ed in French Immersion, the Language Lab at Robertson Library, English Academic Preparation for non-native-speaking students, and intensive summer English immersion like the 'Explore' program.

The ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ School of Business and the London School of Business and Finance (LSBF) signed an agreement June17 that enables LSBF diploma graduates to continue their studies at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ in a post-diploma degree program of Bachelor of Business Studies (BBS).

Beginning this September, students who have completed the two-year Diploma in Management Sciences at LSBF will be eligible to enter the third year of studies at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ and after completion of 20 designated courses, graduate with a BBS degree.

'This partnership is a great opportunity for our School and the students. It strengthens the international ties of the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ School of Business while providing an opportunity for these diploma students to further their education and bring a different cultural perspective into their classes,' says Roberta MacDonald, Dean of the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ School of Business. 'The new program provides a unique international experience for these diploma students and allows them to complete a business degree with two years of further study.'

Professor James Kirkbride, Director of LSBF, said this agreement opens up another avenue for students to take their international educational pathway to a new level. 'LSBF emphasizes the importance of a global career focus in all our programs. In our post-graduate degrees, we have been able to partner with a wide range of universities around the globe. This agreement will allow our diploma students to take advantage of the opportunity to enhance their learning and have an international exchange at the same time.'

Kirkbride adds, 'We are excited about the possibilities that this agreement brings to our two institutions. The BBS degree offers a tremendous option for our students to realize both their educational and global career objectives.'

For more information about this agreement for the Bachelor of Business Administration program, contact Alan Duncan, Director of International Business Programs, ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ School of Business, by phone at (902) 566-0686 or awduncan@upei.ca or visit or .

The London School of Business & Finance (LSBF) prepares students for creative thinking in an international context. A degree with LSBF is internationally recognized and ranked by the Financial Times, Grenoble Graduate Business School as one of the UK's leading business schools. LSBF provides world-class programming to over 10,000 students at campuses in London, Manchester, and Birmingham with a history of offering innovative curricula in business, finance and marketing.

The ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ (ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ) is located in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island and combines tradition with leading-edge research and learning opportunities. Offering programs in the Faculties of Arts, Science, Business, Education, Nursing as well as Veterinary Medicine at the Atlantic Veterinary College, ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ has an attendance of over 4,400 undergraduate and graduate students. ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ's School of Business features a Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Business in Tourism & Hospitality, an executive-style MBA, and several Certificate programs.

The Tourism Research Centre in the School of Business at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ has released research results concerning culinary tourism on behalf of Tourism and Culture PEI. The report provides information about visitors' attitudes, motivations and travel behaviour as it relates to culinary experiences when travelling.

The report shows that visitors to PEI enjoy a wide variety of food and food-related activities while on the Island. The four most popular food and food-related activities in PEI were dining at restaurants known for offering local ingredients, attending farmers' markets, dining at highly rated restaurants, and shopping for gourmet foods.

'The fact that dining at restaurants offering local ingredients and attending farmers' markets were rated as the top two activities for visitors highlights the importance of local ingredients to visitors. It may be beneficial for tourism operators to highlight the availability and use of PEI ingredients at their establishments,' said Jeff McCourt, Chair of the PEI Culinary Alliance.

The research showed that visitors to PEI have distinct ideas about what foods best represent the Island. When asked, respondents readily identified three food items - potatoes, lobsters, and mussels - that they associated with Prince Edward Island.

The report identified four distinct types of food tourist based on their motivation and participation in culinary experiences. Approximately 15 per cent of respondents were classified as Deliberate Culinary Tourists or 'foodies'. The second largest group, at 39 per cent, was Opportunistic Culinary Tourists. At 40 per cent, the largest segment was Accidental Culinary Tourists. At 6 per cent, the smallest group is classified as Uninterested Culinary Tourists.

'From a marketing and outreach perspective, focusing attention on ‘foodies' or Deliberate Culinary Tourist and the Opportunistic Culinary Tourist seems a sensible strategy,' said Dr. Sean Hennessey, Faculty Director of the Tourism Research Centre. 'These two groups are the most active when it comes to food and food-related activities. They are an interested and captive audience. For example, on their most recent visit to PEI, over three quarters of the Deliberate and Opportunistic Culinary Tourists purposely sought out a culinary experience.'

While all respondents reported average spending of $54.86 per person per day while in PEI, the highest spending segment of culinary travellers were the Deliberate Culinary Tourists who spent $60.85 per person per day. They also had high participation rates in other non-culinary activities while travelling.

Overall satisfaction with PEI's food and food-related activities, and intention to recommend PEI's food and food-related activities received very positive ratings. Furthermore, the overall quality of PEI's food was rated highly by all respondents.

'The report provides information for government and tourism operators on a niche market that appears to be quite keen on PEI and our food,' stated McCourt. 'The Culinary Alliance is pleased with the findings of the report and we feel that it will help provide direction in planning future food-related activities and promotions.'

The report is based on data collected from December 29, 2009 to January 18, 2010 and is available on . More information about the report can be obtained from the Tourism Research Centre, School of Business, ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ, at (902) 566-6096, or trc@upei.ca.

New ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Women's Rugby head coach Shannon Atkins announced her coaching staff for the 2010-11 season today. Assistant coaches will be former Panthers, Madelon Cheverie and Dawn Paynter.

Madelon Cheverie graduated in 2006 from ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ with a Bachelor of Science and went on to the University of Waterloo, receiving a Masters of Science in Health Studies and Gerontology. She is a researcher with the Addictions Research Centre in Montague. While at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ, Cheverie played five seasons with the Panthers, was named team captain twice, and maintained Academic All-Canadian status. She has also been active in coaching high school rugby. During her ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ playing days, she coached the Charlottetown Rural High School team, and this past spring, was head coach of the men's program at Morell Regional High School.

Cheverie had this to say about the upcoming season, "I am so excited to be back at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ and involved with the rugby team. I have seen this rugby program evolve over the years and I am really looking forward to getting to know the girls and give back to the club that played such an important role in my life while I was a student at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ."

Dawn Paynter has travelled all over Canada to play rugby winning numerous awards. She played for both ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ and St. FX, was named an AUS All-Star three times, and was part of two AUS championship teams. She graduated from St. FX with a degree in business and is the operations manager at REJ Holdings Inc.

"Having played rugby for over a decade both on and off the Island, I am excited to be returning to the game as a coach. I look forward to sharing my knowledge and experience with the green and black,' commented Paynter.

All three coaches have played together on PEI provincial teams and Atkins and Paynter are both former teammates of Olympian Heather Moyse. The Panthers play their first home game on Saturday, September 11, when they host the Saint Mary's Huskies.

ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ officials are pleased with high employment and education ‘satisfaction' statistics detailed in a report issued in Halifax today by the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission.

Using data captured in 2008, the study called, ‘Five Years On: A Survey of Class of 2003 Maritime University Graduates', focused on graduates who completed their first bachelor's degree in 2003 at universities in the Maritimes. It examined graduate employment, further education trends, and financial status.

The employment rate for the 2003 first-degree holders from all Maritime universities is 95 per cent and their earnings have increased compared with the last time they were surveyed in 2005.

ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ also received information outlining its own institutional statistics in comparison with the averages for all Maritime universities in the report.

'What is especially rewarding to see is that, among ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ 2003 first-degree holders, 87 per cent said their education was worth the time investment, and 79 per cent, worth the financial investment,' said Rosemary Herbert, Acting Vice-President, Academic.

The job satisfaction of all ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ 2003 graduates surveyed, regardless of whether it was their first degree or not, was 79 per cent. In addition, 89 per cent said their job in 2008 was closely related to their 2003 degree.

ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ President Wade MacLauchlan said, 'We are very pleased to learn that our graduates overwhelmingly report that they have found satisfying jobs.' He adds, 'ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ will continue to offer student-focused, leading-edge programs that enable our students and graduates to make a difference at home and around the world.'

The Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission's graduate survey program assesses graduate outcomes in the region and is conducted two and five years after graduation. The next class that will be studied will be that of 2007 in 2012.

Dr. Benjamin Lefebvre, of Waterloo, Ontario and one of the world's leading experts on Lucy Maud Montgomery, was reappointed as Visiting Scholar for the institute bearing the famed PEI writer's name, the L.M. Montgomery Institute (LMMI).

Mark Leggott, Institute chair and University Librarian, announced the year-long appointment during his welcoming remarks at the 2010 L.M. Montgomery Conference taking place at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ, June 24-27.

'We are pleased to have Dr. Lefebvre return as our Visiting Scholar and accept this further term. His past year's work with LMMI's governing committee in facilitating and expanding scholarship about L.M. Montgomery and her contemporaries has been excellent. We look forward to seeing what exciting initiatives the next year will bring.'

Lefebvre will continue working with the Institute on projects that will benefit Montgomery's international community of readers, including coediting a collection of essays with ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ's Dr. Jean Mitchell, a past Visiting Scholar. The collection will be based on papers presented at the 2010 conference, titled ‘L.M. Montgomery and the Matter of Nature,' which begins today.

'I am thrilled to be invited to return, as it gives me further opportunities to support the mandate of the LMMI and to be energized by the dedication of its committee members,' Lefebvre says.

He adds, 'It is extremely rewarding to witness first-hand the community of Montgomery scholars and readers that have built up over time. I am so pleased with the high quality of work and the range of topics pursued at this conference by participants from all over the world.'

The conference features speakers and panellists from the United States, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Japan, China, Australia, Taiwan, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and South Africa and explores Montgomery's writing and thoughts on nature through a number of presentations and papers.

The biannual event also provides a captive audience for the release of another one of Lefebvre's projects, Anne's World: A New Century of Anne of Green Gables. Edited by Lefebvre and Dr. Irene Gammel, this collection of original essays offers 'fresh and timely approaches to issues of culture, identity, health, and globalization as they apply to Montgomery's famous character, and to today's readers.' Anne's World was published by University of Toronto Press this month, June 2010.

Lefebvre has previously published internationally on Montgomery's fiction and life-writing, and on film, television, and tourism adaptations of her work. His edition of Montgomery's rediscovered final book, The Blythes Are Quoted, was published by Viking Canada in October 2009.

Lefebvre's term as Visiting Scholar runs from July 2010 to June 2011. For more information on LMMI and the 2010 L.M. Montgomery Conference, visit .

The Sport Information Resource Centre (SIRC) recently selected a paper written by Dr. Sean Hennessey, Dr. Dongkoo Yun, and Dr. Roberta MacDonald for a SIRC Research Award. The paper, ‘The Economic Impact of Golf to a Tourist Destination,' won the ‘Impact of Sport on a Community' category. The award includes a cash prize of $2,000.

'This is great news for both the School of Business and the Tourism Research Centre,' stated coauthor MacDonald, Dean of the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ School of Business. 'This is research that supports Tourism PEI's decision in recent years to support and promote our golfing industry and it ties University research directly back to the community.'

In 2005, a study was commissioned by Golf PEI and surveys were distributed to visitors at 24 golf courses which are members of Golf PEI. Over the 2005 golfing season, 3,397 surveys were completed by golfers. The paper focuses on golfing visitors, mainly profiling dedicated golfers, those who played more than 25 rounds annually.

'This is the group of visitors that PEI wishes to attract,' said Hennessey. 'They have higher disposable incomes, and are much more likely to golf, stay, and eat at the more expensive locations. The average amount they spend is also much higher than the amount spent by the average visitor to PEI.'

One interesting result is the importance word of mouth has in the process of gathering information about golf in PEI or for particular golf courses. Almost half of the respondents relied on friends, relatives, or coworkers for this type of information. Less than seven per cent of respondents relied on TV ads and the visitor information package to gather information about golfing in PEI.

'The PEI golf product is viewed very favourably by our golfing visitors,' explained Hennessey. 'Over 95 per cent of survey respondents said their golf experience in PEI met or exceeded expectations, while 80 per cent of golfers were likely to return to PEI to golf in the future.'

For more information, please contact Dr. Sean Hennessey at (902) 566-0523 or hennessey@upei.ca.

About SIRC

SIRC is a not-for-profit amateur sport organization with the mandate to provide information and serve the educational needs of organizations and individuals involved in, or responsible for the development of, sport and fitness in Canada and around the world.