Charlottetown Rural student to attend Lester B. Pearson College
Martha Trivett, a Grade 11 student at Charlottetown Rural High School, is the winner of the 2010 Pearson College Scholarship for Prince Edward Island.
This prestigious award covers full tuition and residence for two years of study at the Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific in British Columbia. The selection committee for the PEI scholarship was comprised of ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ's Tamara Leary, Director of Student Services; Darcy McCardle, Assistant Registrar; Chris Power, Student Recruitment Coordinator; and Dr. Miles Turnbull, Associate Professor.
A memorial to the late prime minister and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Lester B. Pearson, the college is located on the shores of the Pacific Ocean at Pender Bay on Vancouver Island. One of 11 United World Colleges around the world, it promotes the cause of international understanding by creating an environment in which students from many countries and cultures come together to study and serve the community. Each year, 200 students from over 80 countries, including representatives from each Canadian province and territory, attend Pearson College.
Trivett, from Stratford, P.E.I., is the daughter of Lana Beth Barkhouse and Andrew Trivett, and is honoured to be this year's recipient, 'The opportunity to live and learn among hard?working and interesting students from all over the world in Pearson's unique atmosphere will be life changing, I am sure.'
'During my upcoming experience,' Trivett adds, 'I hope to discover my true depths and my value in the world, and to build the strength and confidence it takes to change it for the better.'
The demanding curriculum challenges the students to excel and leads to the completion of the international baccalaureate. Over the two years, students complete their last year of high school, and may earn credits toward their first year of university. In addition to the rigorous academic program, they are extensively involved in physical activities, the fine arts, social services and community projects.
'Nominating one candidate for the scholarship is always a challenge. Candidates are highly motivated, very talented and well-rounded individuals,' says Leary, chair of the selection committee. 'Martha is a very strong candidate as an accomplished violinist, an athlete, a stellar student at the Rural and a young woman who is committed to making a significant contribution to the world around her. We are delighted that Pearson accepted our committee's recommendation and are confident that Martha will be an excellent ambassador for P.E.I.'
Meetings and conventions add almost $20 million to Island economy
The Tourism Research Centre in the School of Business at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ has released encouraging research on visitors who come to Prince Edward Island to participate in a meeting or conference - further supporting investment in this market.
In 2009, PEI hosted 200 meetings and conventions that contributed almost $19.5 million to PEI's economy. The events were classified into three categories: regional (attendees primarily from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick); national (attendees primarily from provinces outside the Maritimes); and international (attendees primarily from outside Canada). Residents of PEI were excluded from the survey.
Although 99 per cent of regional attendees had visited PEI previously, 33 per cent of national, and 64 per cent of international attendees were on their first visit to PEI.
'One of the most exciting things confirmed in this study was the fact that business travellers are bringing other people with them when they come to PEI,' said Jo-Ann Thomsen, Director of MC & IT Sales, PEI Convention Partnership. 'Overall, the average party size was 2.5 people. About 35 per cent of these business travellers came to PEI on their own, but 31 per cent came with another adult who was not attending the event, 26 per cent travelled as a group of three or more adults, and eight per cent brought their family to PEI.'
While the study shows that meetings and conventions provide an opportunity to bring new visitors to the province, it also reveals benefits to local accommodations operators, retailers, restaurant owners, and others who provide goods and services to this market.
'It is worth noting that it is not only the hotel hosting the conference that sees a boost in occupancy rates,' stated Dr. Sean Hennessey, Faculty Director of the Tourism Research Centre. 'Almost 30 per cent of travel parties chose to stay at an accommodation other than the host hotel.'
Travellers also reported that they, or someone in their travel party, took part in many activities either on their own or as part of the event. The most popular activities were shopping for local crafts/souvenirs/antiques (57%), participating in sightseeing/driving tours (53%), going to a bar/pub/lounge/nightclub (44%), and going to a lobster dinner (41%).
Visitors spent an average of $1,126 per travel party in PEI, or $120.56 per person per night, with almost half of this going towards accommodation expenses, 21 per cent to restaurants, and 13 per cent towards shopping expenditures. This level of spending is much higher than the average party spending of $855.91 and the per person per night spending of $72.26 for all overnight pleasure visitors as reported in the July 2007 to June 2008 PEI Exit Survey.
'We are extremely pleased with the results of this survey, and believe meetings and conventions are helping attract new visitors to the Island,' said Ms. Thomsen. 'It is also very encouraging that delegates expressed a strong intention to revisit and recommend PEI to others.'
The data was collected from May through December 2009 with the assistance of the PEI Convention Partnership and Tourism PEI. For a copy of the report or more information, visit the Tourism Research Centre website at , call (902) 566-6096 or email trc@upei.ca.
Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion event held on campus
Teams from the Webster Centre and the Department of Athletics competed along with corporate teams at the Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion event at the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre on Friday, June 25.
Coordinated by the Canadian Paraplegic Association on PEI (CPA-PEI), the event is part of a national Rick Hansen Foundation initiative to support community projects that impact the quality of life of people living with spinal cord injury. While it was the third annual Wheels in Motion event on PEI, this year marked the first time it was held on the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ campus.
Erin Peterson, Adaptive Technology Assistant at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ and a local CPA-PEI board member said, 'Knowing that the event was at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ, we encouraged as many ‘home' teams to participate. We had tremendous support from the Webster Centre with a total of five teams, made up of EAP students and Accessibility Services staff.'
In the weeks leading up to the event, Webster Centre teams raised almost $900 over-and-above the team entry fee by hosting several outdoor coffee houses that featured hot and cold beverages and home-baked goods.
The culmination of their fundraising efforts was the event itself, where teams turned in their proceeds and entry fees, and participated in a friendly, relay-style race that included some of the obstacles that people with spinal cord injury face every day.
Intellectual Property experts headline Speaker Series, July 8
The Centre for Health and Biotech Management Research, Three Oaks Innovations Inc., and the PEI BioAlliance will present Dan Darnley, Vice President and Chief Intellectual Property Officer at Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Dr. Jonathon O'Brien, Chair, Intellectual Property Practice Group at Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn on Thursday, July 8, as the second installment of the Innovation PEI Premier's Speaker Series.
Darnley establishes and directs Millennium's intellectual property strategy and is an expert in Intellectual Property (IP) protection and the surrounding issues of IP portfolio management. He has over 20 years of IP law and licensing experience and is a member of the Managing Directors Committee for the Southwest Michigan Innovation Center in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
An attorney who specializes in life science and chemical patent procurement and enforcement, O'Brien counsels a wide range of domestic and international clients regarding licensing and world-wide patent procurement strategies, providing opinions regarding non-infringement and the validity of patents.
Darnley and O'Brien will discuss the legal issues related to licensing university technology from the perspective of a large corporation and its legal counsel. Both bring vital knowledge and advice on the topic of IP protection and will highlight why university projects may or may not be licensed, describing the required IP preparation necessary for inventors to receive maximum value from the invention in terms of an IP license or acquisition arrangement. The combined experience of these experts provides an important perspective and unique opportunity for researchers to engage in one-on-one discussions, as they will also be available for private meetings.
- Presentation, 10:00 - 11:30 am, Room 237, Kelley Memorial Building
- Networking Luncheon, 11:30 am -12:30 pm, Faculty Lounge, Main Building
- Private Meetings, 1:00 - 3:00 pm, Room 234, Kelley Memorial Building
To register for the event and book a private meeting, .
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, has been selected to organize and promote the Innovation PEI Premier's Speaker Series.
The series, aimed at enhancing knowledge in bioscience and other technologies and forging international relationships for Island companies, will feature presentations in the upcoming weeks by experts with experience in the areas of intellectual property, licensing technology, and research and development. For more information, visit .
First ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Bachelor of Education (Kindergarten) students begin orientation
The first class of Bachelor of Education (BEd) (Kindergarten) students are attending a week-long orientation on the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ campus to help them adjust to the university environment. In September 2010, educators who have been hired as kindergarten teachers will begin a part-time BEd program as part of the move to the new K-12 public school system.
The orientation week was kicked off by remarks from ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ President Wade MacLauchlan, Assistant Deputy Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development Linda Lowther, and Dean of Education Dr. Tim Goddard. The week features sessions on work/life balance, effective practices for university study, and an overview of the courses students will take this fall.
Goddard said, 'ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ has a long tradition of innovative programming to meet the real needs of people on PEI. We therefore made the commitment to adapt our BEd degree and introduce kindergarten-specific examples to that curriculum, and are committed to helping students, through this week's orientation, adapt to university life.'
'Now that the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission has endorsed our BEd (Kindergarten) and our orientation is under way,' adds Goddard, 'we are full steam ahead on delivering a top-quality program that will provide kindergarten teachers with a full BEd, recognizing the many years of experience held by kindergarten teachers on PEI, and the value of the Early Childhood Education diploma they hold.'
The BEd (Kindergarten) program is offered on a limited term as a result of policy changes enacted by the provincial government last year. Offered over a six-year period, the program allows for two cohorts of learners to enter the program while maintaining their employment status as kindergarten teachers in the new K-12 system. Normally, the 20-course program will be completed in four calendar years with one course in the fall term, one in winter term, one in spring, and two in the summer session.
ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ hosts international track and field teams
The ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ (ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ), in partnership with the City of Charlottetown and Province of Prince Edward Island, is hosting an athletics training camp festival from July 7-18 for several international teams competing at the 2010 IAAF World Junior Athletics Championships in Moncton, New Brunswick later this month.
'We are very excited to host five countries as they prepare for the world junior athletics championships,' said ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ athletics director Ron Annear. 'The legacies left by the 2009 Canada Games at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Alumni Canada Games Place, Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre, CARI facility, artificial turf field, fitness centre and residences enable ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ and the City of Charlottetown to be a competitive, state-of-the-art event and training camp destination on the world stage.'
ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ worked with the 2010 Championships' organizing committee to promote ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Alumni Canada Games Place, built for the 2009 Canada Games, as a training camp location to participating teams. Prior to hosting the athletics competition and closing ceremony as part of the 2009 Canada Games, the athletics facility was host to the 2009 Canadian Junior Track & Field Championships.
The Charlottetown training camp includes teams from Germany, Great Britain, Switzerland, Czech Republic and Ukraine. In addition to using the modern sport facilities at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ, the approximate 300 athletes, coaches and team staff will stay at the University's residences.
The 2010 IAAF World Junior Athletics Championships takes place July 19 - 25 in Moncton and will see over 1,400 athletes representing 170 member federations competing in 44 medal events. The World Junior Athletics Championships take place every two years as part of the International Association of Athletics Federation's (IAAF) World Athletics Series. For more information on the championships, visit .
"Poor No More" premieres on ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ campus, July 14
The Prince Edward Island premiere of the film "Poor No More" along with a question/answer period with executive producer David Langille will take place on July 14 at 7 pm at AVC Lecture Theatre A, ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ. Sponsored by CUPE and other anti-poverty groups including PEI Working Group for a Livable Income, Poverty Bites, and McKillop Centre for Social Justice, the film offers solutions to Canada's working poor.
'Poor No More' is hosted by TV and film star Mary Walsh and offers an engaging look at Canadians stuck in low paying jobs with no security and no future.
The film takes three Canadians to a world where people do not have to beg, where housing is affordable and university education is free. They ask themselves: if other countries can do this, why don't we? Walsh then takes us on a journey to Ireland and Sweden to see how these countries have tackled poverty while strengthening their economies. The film offers hope to those who have to work two jobs a day and to those who cannot even find work.
About David Langille
Executive Producer David Langille is interested both as an academic and an activist in how social movements can shape public policy. Founding director of the Centre for Social Justice, he is now teaching at York University and co-chairing the Ontario Coalition for Social Justice.
For more information on the film, .
ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ women's basketball Panthers add three more
It was announced today that head coach Carly Clarke has added Danielle MacDonald, Marie-Christine Parent, and Amy Gough to the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ women's basketball roster for the upcoming 2010-11 season.
MacDonald, a 5'4' guard from Memorial High School in Sydney, Cape Breton is sure to create havoc on the defensive end. A feisty and energetic player, she is a great ‘on ball' defender who isn't afraid to be physical-she took 32 charges in 33 games for Memorial while averaging 12.8 points per game this season. 'Danielle is a high-energy and very competitive player. I expect her to have a positive influence on the entire team both in practice and on game day,' stated coach Clarke.
MacDonald added, 'I am very excited to be attending ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ and playing with the Panthers this season. I have toured the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ campus-the facilities are first-rate, the school has an excellent reputation, and the community is very friendly, very much like home. As I leave Cape Breton Island, it will be reassuring to be moving to another Island.'
A 5'9' guard from CEGEP de Sherbrooke in Quebec, Parent adds another strong outside shooter to the line-up, who is also hoped to bring composure to the floor for the otherwise young Panther squad. Parent averaged 9 points in 32 minutes per game for the Sherbrooke Volontaires this season. 'Coming from a college conference, ‘M.C.' has a high level of experience that will be invaluable to our first-year players coming right out of high school,' said Clarke.
Gough is a 5'10' wing player from Bishop's College High School, St. John's, Newfoundland, and is a strong athlete with the ability to run the floor and get to the rim. Clarke added, 'Amy will bring some much-needed size, strength and athleticism at the wing position. Her ability should create numerous scoring opportunities for herself and teammates.' Gough was a member of the Newfoundland and Labrador Canada Games contingent that finished sixth last summer at the 2009 Canada Games.
MacDonald will enter the Faculty of Arts, while Gough and Parent will begin study in the Faculty of Science this September.
WIN with ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ winners announced!
ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ has announced the winners of its recent online contest, ‘Win with ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ', that handed out $10,000-originally slated to purchase advertising-in bursaries, as well as other prizes.
The Faculty of Education received 2,519 votes out of 10,495 total votes, and received the largest proportion of bursary dollars-$2,402. Veterinary Medicine was a close second, receiving $2,382. The remainder of the $10,000 was divvied amongst the Faculties of Science, Nursing, Arts, and Business as well as University 100 and the Department of Athletics.
The ‘Win with ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ' contest website asked visitors to vote on their favourite student project, with faculties receiving a percentage of bursary dollars based on the percentage of votes cast. A second component allowed anyone with a connection to the university to enter a story, photo or video online for a chance to win prizes.
In the second part of the contest, ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ student Nan Zhao won ‘Best Entry' for her story called My Sweet Moments with ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ. Judged by a panel of four, her submission recounted her first moments on the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ campus and how excited she was to be a part of the campus community after moving to PEI from China.
'I enjoy [sic] every single moment staying at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ because it is so graceful, friendly and warm, just like a big family that welcomes people from all backgrounds and interests,' she wrote. Zhao was thrilled to find out she had won the $1,000 prize.
Rita Stanley won $1,000 for having the ‘Most Referred Entry' while Heather MacSwain's entry was selected in a random draw for $500. Both women are ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ employees. Other random draws took place for a stuffed toy version of the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Panther Mascot, Pride.
Glenda Clements, Director of Integrated Communications, said, 'ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ is proud of our students, faculty and staff and their local, national and international community involvement. It's fitting that a personal university like ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ would encourage conversation and storytelling while providing an opportunity to support the further good work of community members.'
'This contest was the best idea,' added Tim Goddard, Dean of Education. 'It certainly encouraged friendly competition among the faculties and we engaged everyone to tell their good news. While it hasn't been finalized, the bursary dollars coming to the Faculty of Education will assist students interested in pursuing community projects at home and around the world.'
For complete results, visit .
ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ on Live! with Regis and Kelly
ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ's website saw a 50% increase in hits on Tuesday, July 13 after receiving about a minute and a half of dedicated airtime from Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa during a live broadcast of the Live! with Regis and Kelly show from the Charlottetown waterfront.
The internationally-syndicated talk show is typically broadcast from the Disney-ABC studios in New York, but was on location on PEI for four episodes.
During the start of Tuesday's show, during what is called the 'host chat', Kelly Ripa hoisted her ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ coffee mug and said the province had a great university, while Philbin jokingly commented on how the 'ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Panther' stuffed toy he received kept him 'up all night'. The duo added that, this week, the Atlantic Veterinary College was hosting their award-winning summer vet camp, and that Ripa was thinking about sending her kids next year.
The comments came as a result of small gift packages and personalized letters to Ripa and Philbin hand-delivered to their hotel earlier in the week.
Increased visits to upei.ca, inquiries to AVC concerning vet camp, and emails congratulating ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ on the positive exposure all highlight the boost in awareness that ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ received via inclusion on the show.
To see the host chat for Tuesday, July 13 featuring ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ, .