The 2013 Gairdner Lectures features world renowned medical researcher

The º£½ÇÉçÇø is proud to again host the Canada Gairdner Wightman Laureate for the 2013 Gairdner Lectures. In the morning of Tuesday, October 15, Dr. James C. Hogg will deliver a lecture to senior high school science students from across the province entitled 'Why is breathing important?' That afternoon, he will give a public lecture called 'Developing new treatments for chronic lung disease.'

The afternoon lecture is open to the public and is free of charge. The event begins at 2:00 pm in McMillan Hall of the W.A. Murphy Student Centre.

Since earning his PhD in experimental medicine from McGill University in 1969, Dr. James C. Hogg has remained focused on the study of obstructive lung disease. He has advanced our understanding of how both healthy and diseased lungs work, including asthma, and the effects of smoking and pollution. He built a world-renowned centre for pulmonary and cardiovascular research at St. Paul's Hospital in British Columbia, which trains more than 100 professionals every year. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada, and a member of both the Royal Society of Canada and the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame.

The Gairdner National Program is a 10 day-long lecture series given by Canada Gairdner Award winners to over 6,000 students at 21 universities from St. John's to Vancouver. The National Program reaches students across the country, making the superstars of science accessible and inspiring the next generation of researchers. Along with the Canada Gairdner Awards, the National Program is part of Gairdner's efforts to promote a stronger culture of research and innovation across the country.

The Gairdner Foundation: Making Science Matter

The Canada Gairdner Awards were created in 1959 to recognize and reward the achievements of medical researchers whose work contributes significantly to improving the quality of human life. They are Canada's only globally known and respected international science awards, and Gairdner is the only national organization that consistently brings the world's best biomedical researchers to Canada to share their ideas and work with scientists across the country. In so doing, it enlarges networks and enhances Canada's international reputation, while providing a realistic and unbiased benchmark for Canada's leading scientists.

For information:
Dave Atkinson, Research Communications, º£½ÇÉçÇø
(902)620-5117, datkinson@upei.ca

2013 Mickey Place Memorial Tourney

The Mickey Place Memorial Basketball Tournament, presented by Rodd Hotels & Resorts, begins on Thursday, October 17 with nine basketball teams from across Canada competing in the annual three-day event.

The º£½ÇÉçÇø Men's Basketball team will tip-off against the University of Saskatchewan, Laval University, University of New Brunswick, and Crandall University while the Women's Basketball team will take on the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees, Acadia University and the º£½ÇÉçÇø Alumni team.

'We are very excited to kick off our 2013-14 home game season by hosting the Mickey Place Tournament,' said º£½ÇÉçÇø Men's Basketball Coach Kendrick.

º£½ÇÉçÇø Women's Basketball Coach Greg Gould comments, 'We are looking forward to this early test, there is no doubt that this will be a wonderful weekend of basketball action!'

The tournament is named after John Thomas 'Mickey' Place, a long-time friend of Panther Sport, a former º£½ÇÉçÇø student union employee, and a º£½ÇÉçÇø honorary degree recipient.

The full tournament schedule follows:

Thursday, October 17, 2013
8:00 pm (M) U of Saskatchewan vs. º£½ÇÉçÇø
Friday, October 18, 2013
2:00 pm (W) Ottawa vs. Acadia
4:00 pm (M) Laval vs. U of Saskatchewan
6:00 pm (W) º£½ÇÉçÇø Alumni vs. º£½ÇÉçÇø
8:00 pm (M) º£½ÇÉçÇø vs. UNB
Saturday, October 19, 2013
11:30 am º£½ÇÉçÇø Alumni Game
2:00 pm (W) Acadia vs. º£½ÇÉçÇø Alumni
4:00 pm (M) U of Saskatchewan vs. UNB
6:00 pm (W) º£½ÇÉçÇø vs. Ottawa
8:00 pm (M) º£½ÇÉçÇø vs. Laval
Sunday, October 20, 2013
9:00 am (W) Ottawa vs. º£½ÇÉçÇø Alumni
11:00 am (M) Laval vs. UNB
1:00 pm (W) Acadia vs. º£½ÇÉçÇø
3:00 pm (M) Crandall vs. º£½ÇÉçÇø
º£½ÇÉçÇø basketball season passes and Green & White memberships on now on sale, visit for more information. º£½ÇÉçÇø is hosting the AUS Women's Basketball Championship March 7-9, 2014 at the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre.
For information:
Ron Annear
º£½ÇÉçÇø Athletics and Recreation
(902) 566-0991

Dr. Kate Tilleczek recognized with prestigious Whitworth Award

The Canadian Education Association (CEA) announced today that Dr. Kate Tilleczek, º£½ÇÉçÇø's Canada Research Chair in Youth Cultures and Transitions, has been honoured with the Whitworth Award. The CEA has awarded the Whitworth Award every three years since 1967, in recognition of individuals who have made a sustained and substantial contribution to education research over time.

In a news release, the CEA states that this award recognizes Dr. Tilleczek's work in articulating the impacts of modern society on marginalized students in the context of transitions through school, mental health, and technology.
'With the complexity of young peoples' social lives today, there are many teachers coming to me to say that mental health issues are the number one problem that kids are up against and they don't know what to do,' says Dr. Tilleczek in the CEA release. 'And you also can't overlook the incredible impact of technology on students' academic and social lives-both the good and bad of it.'
'This award confirms what we at º£½ÇÉçÇø already know,' says Dr. Robert Gilmour, º£½ÇÉçÇø's Vice-President Research and Graduate Studies, 'that Kate Tilleczek is an outstanding, dedicated researcher. Her work with marginalized children and their challenges as they move through school addresses an area that affects students and families across the world. I want to congratulate her on this award, on behalf of all of º£½ÇÉçÇø.'
Dr. Tilleczek will be formally recognized with the Whitworth Award later this month at a ceremony at the CEA's national conference in Calgary. Read the full release from the CEA .
For information:
Dave Atkinson, º£½ÇÉçÇø
(902)620-5117, datkinson@upei.ca

º£½ÇÉçÇø Panthers away at senior soccer nationals

º£½ÇÉçÇø Athletics and Recreation is proud of all current and former Panthers participating in the 2013 SportChek National Men's and Women's Championship in Halifax, Nova Scotia, October 9-14. The women will compete for the Jubilee Trophy, while the men will compete for the Challenge Cup.

'Congratulations to our current and former soccer Panthers participating at the Canadian Senior Soccer Championships this week,' said º£½ÇÉçÇø Director of Athletics and Recreation Bill Schurman. 'This is a chance for our Panthers to gain more experience competing against the most elite soccer players and top amateur teams in the country. º£½ÇÉçÇø is proud of their efforts and wishes them all the best in their competition play.'

On the women's side...

Current Panthers: Alumni:
Melissa Burke Krista Stevenson (formerly McInnis)
Sarah Stanley Melody Thomson (formerly McInnis)
Kelsie Collier Chelsie McInnis
Meaghan Malcolm Chanelle Roy
Ashley McKenna Laura Gaudet
Jen White Gina Lisi
Sara Stewart
Tessa Roche
On the men's side...
Current Panthers: Alumni:
Cole MacMillan Matt Thomson Dave Feener
Brett Hogan Jonathan Vos Dylan MacDonald
Adam Lowther Rob Aiken Dillon Wight
Kieran Dutton Dan McAleer Nathan Beck
Brett Macdonald Jimmie Mayaleh
Danny Hill Jared Murphy
Harminder Singh Logan Dawson
For information:
Ron Annear
º£½ÇÉçÇø Athletics & Recreation
(902) 566-0991, annear@upei.ca

º£½ÇÉçÇø Athletes of the Week (September 30—October 6)

Cole MacMillan also named AUS and CIS Athlete of the Week

º£½ÇÉçÇø Athletics and Recreation announced the º£½ÇÉçÇø Panther Athletes of the Week for the week of September 30-October 6. º£½ÇÉçÇø Athletics and Recreation showcases these talented athletes to recognize their hard work and dedication to their respective sports throughout the seasons. º£½ÇÉçÇø Athletes of the Week are also nominated to Atlantic University Sport and Canadian Interuniversity Sport for possible mention in the region and/or country.
Who: Stephanie MacKinnon, Field Hockey; and Cole MacMillan, Men's Soccer
What: º£½ÇÉçÇø Panther Athletes of the Week
When: Week of September 30-October 6
Why: Stephanie MacKinnon, a fourth-year student-athlete played a large part in the field hockey Panthers' three wins in the second Atlantic University Field Hockey tournament at UNB this past weekend. MacKinnon stepped up and played tough defence all over the field. She led the way in transitioning the ball through the middle, and created many good scoring chances from penalty corners. The key to º£½ÇÉçÇø's success this year has been its strength through the middle of the field, and MacKinnon is a great leader in this area.
Cole MacMillan, a second-year arts student and Men's Soccer co-captain, in his third year of eligibility, scored five goals in three games this past week to give the Panthers their first wins of the season. MacMillan scored the first of two team goals in º£½ÇÉçÇø's 2-1 win over AUS No. 3 ranked Moncton on Wednesday. He then contributed the game-winning goal in Saturday's 2-1 victory over the Memorial Sea-Hawks. He followed these performances up on Sunday by scoring three of º£½ÇÉçÇø's four goals against Memorial in their 4-0 win. MacMillan is a key player and contributor to the Men's Soccer team which is back on its way to the AUS playoff hunt. MacMillan was also selected as this week's AUS and CIS Athlete of the Week.
For information:
Ron Annear, º£½ÇÉçÇø Athletics & Recreation
(902) 566-0991, annear@upei.ca

Mike Murley Septet returns to Charlottetown

After playing to a full house at the PEI Jazz & Blues Festival this past summer, Mike Murley returns to Charlottetown with his Septet performing October 19 at 7:30 pm at º£½ÇÉçÇø's Dr. Steel Recital Hall. Along with Murley on tenor saxophone, the band includes Tara Davidson, soprano and alto saxophone; Kevin Turcotte, trumpet; Terry Promane, trombone; David Braid, piano; Jim Vivian, bass; and Ted Warren, drums.

An engaging, lyrical saxophonist, Murley is considered one of Canada's finest jazz talents and one of the most versatile players on the scene today. Currently active as a leader in various formations from duo to septet, Murley also maintains a busy schedule as a sideman and jazz educator at the University of Toronto. He has played on eleven Juno Award-winning recordings including his 2012 release 'Test of Time.'

Since moving to Toronto from his native Nova Scotia in 1981, Murley has enjoyed a career that has spanned a wide stylistic spectrum. Recordings with veteran Canadian artists such as Ed Bickert, Guido Basso, and the late Rob McConnell showcase the saxophonist's talents in the mainstream standard repertoire. On the more contemporary side, Murley has collaborated frequently with the younger generation of improviser/composers including pianist David Braid and guitarist David Occhipinti. He is well known for his work with the multi-Juno Award-winning electric jazz group Metalwood. In addition, he has recorded and performed with numerous other Canadian and international artists including Kenny Wheeler, John Scofield, David Liebman, and Paul Bley.

Murley's debut recording for his septet, 'Still Rollin'' (Cornerstone Records), was nominated for a 2012 Juno and features the saxophonist's compositions and arrangements performed by some of Canada's finest jazz improvisers.

The septet showcases the saxophonist's compositional and arranging skills and features some of the most dynamic improvisers on the Toronto jazz scene. Rooted in the jazz tradition but not constrained by it, the septet's music reflects the strong yet lyrical musical personality for which Murley has become known over the past three decades.

Tickets can be purchased in advance at the º£½ÇÉçÇø Music Department at (902) 566-0507 or music@upei.ca, and they can also be purchased at the door. Tickets are $20/adults, and $15/students and seniors.

Record-high 73 º£½ÇÉçÇø athletes receive CIS Academic All-Canadian recognition

The º£½ÇÉçÇø congratulates 73 student-athletes who have earned Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) Academic All-Canadian status for the 2012-13 season. The record-high number represents almost 40 per cent of º£½ÇÉçÇø's total student-athlete population of 185 athletes, and is one of the top percentages in Canada.

º£½ÇÉçÇø student-athletes continue to strive for excellence in sport, academics, and in the greater community, and this level of academic achievement speaks volumes about their work ethic and to the quality of the coaches, faculty, staff, volunteers, and others who support athletes throughout the year.

'We are so proud of our student-athletes at º£½ÇÉçÇø and we are thrilled that they are being recognized at this national level,' said President and Vice-Chancellor Alaa Abd-El-Aziz. 'Their hard work, both in academics and athletics, has clearly paid off and on behalf of the entire º£½ÇÉçÇø community, I wish them congratulations and continued success.'

In order to receive this national recognition, student-athletes achieved an academic standing of 80 per cent or higher.

The following is a list of º£½ÇÉçÇø's 2012-13 CIS Academic All-Canadians, by sport:

Field Hockey: Michelle Clow, Leanne Doiron, Emily Jackson, Katherine Koughan, Danielle LeClair, Marina MacAulay, Jenna Matheson, Lauren Matheson, Emily Ross, Jaclyn Sanderson, Kristy Wu

Men's Hockey: Colin Beck, Tyler Brown, Nicholas Creelman, Dana Fraser, Cole MacMillan (dual sport), Travis McIsaac, Harrison McIver, Nathan McQuaid, Ryan Taylor, Alex Wall

Men's Soccer: Logan Dawson, Tyler Dykerman, Daniel Hill, Adam Lowther, Cole MacMillan (dual sport), Jared Murphy, Trevor White

Swimming: Sydney Abells, Jennifer Acheson, Genevieve Cormier, Patrick Gauthier, Zachary Laustsen, Emma MacKay, Rebecca McOnie, Rebecca Milton, Marianne Parent, Eeve Steever

Women's Basketball: Katelynn Donahoe, Holly Jones, Julia McKenna, Nakita Newman, Marie-Christine Parent

Women's Hockey: Kristy Dobson, Jamielynn Donaldson, Olivia Doughart, Maggie Grimmer, Jessie-Anne Howard, Christina Kelly, Kiana Strand, Samantha Sweet, Bailey Toupin

Women's Rugby: Hanna Austin, Amy Lou Caulier, Rebecca Chapman, Isabelle D'Amour, Marley MacInnis, Shannon Moore, Alanna Stewart, Jaleesa Villard

Women's Soccer: Elizabeth Babcock, Kayla Balderston, Lauren Chamberlain, Ashley Johnston, Julie Lannan, Anna Lazurko, Olivia Murphy, Lindsay Noonan, Melissa Richardson, Nicole Roberts, Hannah Roche, Allyson Seviour, Lynn Symington

Stay up-to-date with our º£½ÇÉçÇø Panthers at .

About º£½ÇÉçÇø Athletics and Recreation:

  • Nine varsity sports and six club team programs
  • Proud member of the AUS and CIS
  • Athletic facilities include: Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre, º£½ÇÉçÇø Alumni Canada Games Place
  • Other facilities available to students and the community at large include: fitness centre, squash and racquetball courts, competition and leisure pool with hot tub, and two ice arenas

º£½ÇÉçÇø Athletes of the Week, October 7-13

º£½ÇÉçÇø Athletics and Recreation announced the º£½ÇÉçÇø Panther Athletes of the Week for the week of October 7-13 today at a campus celebration.

º£½ÇÉçÇø Athletics and Recreation showcases these talented athletes to recognize their hard work and dedication to their respective sports throughout the regular season. º£½ÇÉçÇø 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: Holly Jones, Women's Rugby and Brian Ofori, Men's Basketball

What: º£½ÇÉçÇø Panther Athletes of the Week

When: Week of October 7-13

Why: A second-year Bachelor of Science, dual student-athlete from Riverview, NB, Holly Jones is in her second year of eligibility. Jones, playing at the Prop/Flanker positions, was all over the field making important hits during the Panthers game vs. the CIS fifth-ranked Acadia Axewomen this past Saturday. Holly's play kept the game tight, and she also tore straight through Acadia to score the Panthers only try of the game.

Brian OforiBrian Ofori

Brian Ofori had his best weekend to date as a º£½ÇÉçÇø Panther. The second-year Arts student from Montreal, Quebec, was a force on the court during the Panthers' exhibition wins over Holland College and Mount Allison. Ofori scored 35 points and hauled down 15 rebounds and 5 blocked shots.

º£½ÇÉçÇø to launch seven titles by º£½ÇÉçÇø authors and editors at the Faculty of Arts Book Launch

Join us Friday, October 18 for a celebration of the culture of writing and publishing from º£½ÇÉçÇø's Faculty of Arts. Seven new books by five º£½ÇÉçÇø author/editors that were published in 2013 will be launched. The event begins at 3:30 pm in the Faculty Lounge of º£½ÇÉçÇø's Main Building. Books will be available for sale and for signing.

This year's titles include:

• Annabel Cohen, The Psychology of Music in Multimedia (Oxford)
• Catherine Innis-Parker (co-ed), Anchoritism in the Middle Ages (University of Wales Press)
• Ed MacDonald, Cradling Confederation: The Founding of the Confederation Centre of the Arts, Charlottetown (Charlottetown: Confederation Centre of the Arts)
• Jean Mitchell and Jane Ledwell (eds), Anne Around the World: L.M. Montgomery and Her Classic (McGill-Queens University Press)
• Deirdre Kessler, Danger--Keep Out! A Porcupine Chapter Book (Curriculum Plus, Toronto)
• Deirdre Kessler, Dreamtime, illustrated by Christina Patterson (Acorn Press)
• Deirdre Kessler, Land of Dreams, illustrated by Cecily Donnelly,published by Forty Degrees South, Hobart (Australian edition published by Acorn Press, Charlottetown)

For more information, including a video interview with Dr. Ed MacDonald about his book Cradling Confederation, visit

º£½ÇÉçÇø researchers release results of project-based learning study

Dr. Ron MacDonald, a researcher and associate professor of education, along with high school science teachers David Ramsay and Jennifer Halupa, and PhD student Selvi Roy, presented their findings in a study that piloted a project-based learning approach to teaching high school science curriculum in a classroom setting. Project-based learning steps away from the traditional top-down, teacher-centered learning in a traditional classroom and gives students problems and scenarios that must be solved by groups of students.

'Often, in a school environment, a project is seen as an add-on to supplement the learning that happens from lectures and tests,' said Dr. MacDonald. 'In project-based learning, students engage in a question. The amount of formal instruction time is reduced, and students spend the bulk of their time working to accomplish something together. It shifts the motivation from external to internal: rather than doing this project because their teacher wants them to, they're doing it because they want to accomplish something over which they feel ownership.'

The study was carried out in a Grade 10 science classroom at (school), taught by David Ramsay. For one semester, Ramsay used a project-based learning approach to deliver the outcomes laid out in PEI curriculum.

'I divided the class up into groups of four, and these groups were asked to invent a new planet,' said Ramsay. 'There was certainly a creative element to it, in that they were able to use their imaginations to determine the size and name of the planet, the type of star it orbited, and so on. But the planets had to follow the natural laws of science. They had to make it work in a practical way, demonstrating the knowledge they had gained along the way.'

Dr. MacDonald notes that, 'What is unusual about this project-based learning approach is that the student-centered project runs the full length of the semester, and 100% of the Grade 10 science curricular outcomes in chemistry, ecology, meteorology, and physics are able to be attained by students, while most proponents of project-based learning suggest that 80% of the outcomes are typically attained.'

The study took feedback from students and measured results at several points along the way. Among the team's key findings:

• Students became very interested in their projects and understood the applicability of what they'd learned
• Students reported improved learning and retention and were better able to apply what they learned
• Work contracts signed at the beginning of the project helped some groups divide work and deliver the promised results
• Hands-on learners thrived under a project-based approach to learning
• Non-hands-on learners required more teacher intervention
• Not all students naturally work well in groups and need support in doing so.
PhD student Selvi Roy helped gather data for the project. 'I thought it was very exciting to see how individual student's skills were highlighted using this approach. Those with certain skills and interests were quick to embrace the aspects of the project that fit those skills. As they approached the final presentation, it was wonderful to see how the members of the groups motivated each other to finish the task.'
This project-based learning research was made possible through the support of the Joint Education Research Group, which is made up of PEI Department of Education, the Prince Edward Island Teachers Federation, the º£½ÇÉçÇø, and the PEI English Language School Board.
For information:
Dave Atkinson, Research Communication, º£½ÇÉçÇø
(902)620-5117, datkinson@upei.ca