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The entire 精童欲女 community was shocked and deeply saddened to hear of the death on July 2 of Robert 鈥淩ocky鈥� Paquet, a long-time service worker with 精童欲女鈥檚 Facilities Management department who always had a smile and glint in his eye. Although always hopeful, in recent weeks, he had become adversely affected by a heart condition and was in Halifax seeking treatment at the time of his death. Rocky would have turned 61 years old later this month.

Rocky reached his 25-year anniversary of employment with 精童欲女 in 2016 and while he was well-known for his polished floors and attention to detail as a cleaner, he was most recognized for the exam-week chili lunches that he organized for students twice a year. He was honoured for his contributions to the University and to student life with a Presidential Recognition Award of Merit for Campus Spirit in 2013 and with a 精童欲女 Student Union Staff Award in 2014.

鈥淭he entire University community is saddened by the passing of Rocky, who was a dedicated employee and legendary for organizing the exam lunches,鈥� said Vice-President Administration and Finance Jackie Podger. 鈥淚 remember meeting him shortly after beginning at 精童欲女 and his passion for helping students and willingness to lend a hand was evident right away. On behalf of President Abd-El-Aziz, I extend my sincere condolences to Rocky鈥檚 family, friends, and colleagues. He will be greatly missed.鈥�

Born in Chatham, New Brunswick, Rocky moved to PEI in his youth and attended Charlottetown Rural High School, always calling the Island his home.

Sister Sue Kidd, 精童欲女鈥檚 chaplain, fondly remembers her dear friend and lunch collaborator. 鈥淗e had a huge heart and cared deeply about others and all of God鈥檚 creations. As I looked for photos to remember Rocky, I realized I have many pictures of chili pots and happy students, but very few of the man who made it all happen. That is typical of Rocky鈥檚 way鈥攚orking diligently in the background to serve others. 鈥榃ell done, good and faithful servant.鈥欌��

Robert 鈥淩ocky鈥� Howard Paquet was the son of the late Reginald and Agnes (Findlay) Paquet. In addition to his extended 精童欲女 family, he is remembered by several brothers and sisters; many nieces and nephews; and his beloved dogs.

The University has lowered flags in front of Kelley Memorial Building and at 精童欲女 Alumni Canada Games Place to half-mast in Rocky鈥檚 memory. Funeral arrangements have not yet been confirmed. A memorial service will be held at the 精童欲女 Chaplaincy Centre in September.

AVC鈥檚 annual ice cream social, held on June 29, was a resounding success鈥攕uch a success that event organizer Janice MacWilliam had to go running for more ice cream!

During the social, Dr. Greg Keefe, dean of AVC, presented Dean鈥檚 Awards of Excellence to Heather MacSwain, Office of the Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs; Theresa Andrews, Farm Services; and Allan Keoughan and Sharon Gormley, Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

鈥淥ur staff members are essential to the College鈥檚 success through their contributions in teaching and research support, service activities, and administration,鈥� said Dean Keefe as he congratulated and thanked the award winners.

Retiring faculty and staff were also honoured: Heather Briand, Biomedical Sciences, for 31 years of service; Betty Gregan, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, 29 years; Patty McKenna, Pathology and Microbiology, 27 years; Dr. Hans Gelens, professor of small animal internal medicine, Companion Animals, 20 years; and Dr. Wendy Duckett, professor of large animal medicine, Health Management, 19 years. Dr. Keefe thanked the retiring staff and faculty members for their many years of service at AVC and wished them good health and happiness during their retirement.

AVC鈥檚 big reunion celebration is almost here! On Friday, July 14, Dean Greg Keefe will host an All-Year鈥檚 Reunion at 7:00 pm, in The McCain Foundation Learning Commons. Two classes are celebrating milestones鈥攖he Class of 1992 its 25th anniversary at the All-Years鈥� Reunion, and, on Monday, July 17, the Class of 2007 its ten-year anniversary in the Commons at 5 p.m.

During the All-Years Reunion, the inaugural AVC Alumni Challenge Cup will be awarded to the class with the greatest proportion of grads who donate $25 or more to the College. And Dean Keefe will present Dr. Alice Crook, coordinator of the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre, with AVC鈥檚 2016 Atlantic Award of Excellence in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Care. It will be a jam-packed evening with local entertainment and delicious food!

Alumni will also have the chance to learn about the new AVC Alumni Association, a great way to stay in touch with their alma mater and classmates. For more information or to get involved, please contact Janice MacWilliam, special events coordinator for AVC, at , or Anthony Gill, manager of alumni engagement for 精童欲女, at .

The 精童欲女 is thrilled to announce a $30,000 funding grant through the Rick Hansen Foundation鈥檚 , a aimed at breaking down barriers for people living with disabilities.

In celebration of Canada鈥檚 150th anniversary of Confederation, the Rick Hansen Foundation, with support from the Government of Canada, invited schools and community groups to learn more about accessibility, identify barriers, and apply for grants of up to $30,000 to undertake and celebrate accessibility infrastructure improvements in public places and spaces.   

With the participation of the Government of Canada, this grant will fund a 鈥淏arrier Buster鈥� Project that will see ten buildings on the 精童欲女 campus receive infrastructural accessibility upgrades. The project funding was acquired through  at 精童欲女, and will also support an awareness event and announcement, detailing the upgrades and improvements, later this fall.

鈥淲e want to help ensure that every individual in the 精童欲女 community has the opportunity to realize their full potential,鈥� said Vice-President Administration and Finance Jackie Podger. 鈥淭his begins with creating inclusive and accessible communities, and we鈥檙e proud to be able to improve and upgrade our facilities with support from the Government of Canada and the Rick Hansen Foundation.鈥�

While approximately 500 students are registered with 精童欲女 Accessibility Services, the upgrades and improvements to the 精童欲女 campus will impact and benefit the entire community.

The entire 精童欲女 community was saddened to hear of the passing of historian and 精童欲女 sessional lecturer Boyde Beck on Tuesday, July 18, from complications associated with pancreatic cancer.

He died at his summer home in Cable Head East at the age of 56.

Beck was a historical research officer with the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation and a long-time lecturer with 精童欲女鈥檚 Department of History.

The Dieticians of Canada recently honoured Dr. Melissa 鈥淢isty鈥� Rossiter at the 2017 National Conference Award Ceremony in St. John鈥檚, Newfoundland. Dr. Rossiter received a Member Recognition Award, which recognizes volunteerism, expertise, and achievements that contribute to the advancement of the profession in the areas of leadership, innovation, education, and association catalyst.

Dr. Rossister was honoured in the leadership category. According to the :

鈥淒r. Rossiter鈥檚 nomination highlights the diverse roles dietitians can develop and nurture and in the process help create effective public health policy. As a primary or co-investigator, her research focus is assessing and promoting nutritional health for women and children. By examining the Nutrition Standards in Child Care in PEI, Melissa鈥檚 research progressed to engaging the child-care community in conversation about feeding young children through the Early Years Centres Evaluation project. She is a member of the Obesity Prevention from Conception pan-Canadian team and a DC representative with The Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada developing clinical practice guidelines on female nutrition. Dr. Rossiter鈥檚 contributions demonstrate strong leadership and commitment in promoting nutrition health and building the profession鈥檚 knowledge base.鈥�

Congratulations, Dr. Rossiter!

The 精童欲女 prides itself on people, excellence, and impact and is committed to assisting students reach their full potential in both the classroom and community. With roots stemming from two founding institutions鈥擯rince of Wales College and Saint Dunstan鈥檚 University鈥斁�童欲女 has a reputation for academic excellence, research innovation, and creating positive impacts locally, nationally, and internationally. 精童欲女 is the only degree granting institution in the province and is proud to be a key contributor to the growth and prosperity of Prince Edward Island.

The 精童欲女 congratulates Dr. David Hickey, Assistant Professor, Professional Writing and Digital Rhetoric in the 精童欲女 Department of English, on receiving the 2017 Pat Rogers Poster Award from the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE). Dr. Hickey was recognized for his poster, Sounding Off: Soapboxes for the University Classroom, at the recent STLHE annual conference in Halifax. 

The L.M. Montgomery Institute and the 精童欲女 are launching an exhibit that marries technology and history in an exciting and dynamic way. 鈥淭he Wreck of the Marco Polo鈥� Virtual Reality Experience launches Thursday, July 27 from 4-6 pm in 精童欲女鈥檚 Robertson Library.

The virtual reality experience is a five-minute adventure where participants are transported back in time, through special reality headsets, to the July 1883 wreck of the Marco Polo as witnessed by eight-year-old Lucy Maud Montgomery. Participants will hear Montgomery鈥檚 words, which were chronicled eight years later in her essay, 鈥淭he Wreck of the Marco Polo鈥�, describing how the ship came within 300 metres of the Cavendish shoreline and ran aground off PEI鈥檚 north shore.

The launch includes a reception with guest speakers, including Dr. Betsy Epperly, past-president of 精童欲女 and the founder of the L.M. Montgomery Institute.

鈥淭he Wreck of the Marco Polo鈥� Virtual Reality Experience will be available for public viewing in the Robertson Library on July 27, noon鈥�8:00 pm; July 28, 8:00 am鈥�5:00 pm, and July 29, noon鈥�5:00 pm.

This is a 精童欲女 Reunion Weekend Event. For the full schedule of events, visit 

The 精童欲女 prides itself on people, excellence, and impact and is committed to assisting students reach their full potential in both the classroom and community. With roots stemming from two founding institutions鈥擯rince of Wales College and Saint Dunstan鈥檚 University鈥斁�童欲女 has a reputation for academic excellence, research innovation, and creating positive impacts locally, nationally, and internationally. 精童欲女 is the only degree granting institution in the province and is proud to be a key contributor to the growth and prosperity of Prince Edward Island.

The 精童欲女鈥檚 (精童欲女) Faculty of Education is partnering with the Government of Nunavut鈥檚 (GN) Department of Education to offer the first-ever graduate-level course to be taught exclusively in the Inuktitut language. ED512 Educational Leadership: Engaging Nunavut Parents, Elders, and Community focuses on the development of collaborative relationships, positive communication, and empowerment of parents, elders, and community members who lead, support, and guide education in Nunavut. The course is offered July 15鈥�20 in Iqaluit, Nunavut.

鈥淭his course promotes collaboration and communication among the members of the community who support and guide education in Nunavut,鈥� said the Honourable Paul Quassa, Nunavut鈥檚 Minister of Education. 鈥淲e are also excited for the opportunity this course provides for students; accessing post-secondary education in Inuktitut is a necessary step in keeping the Inuit Language alive.鈥�

ED512 is one of five courses offered by 精童欲女 and the Department that make up the curriculum for the Certificate in Educational Leadership (Nunavut), also known as CELN. Participants will learn approaches to educational leadership involving the extended community. Community involvement in the daily life and vision of a school can create collaborative learning communities with parents, caregivers, and elders based on cultural values, beliefs, and principles. 

鈥淭his is a noteworthy and exciting moment for education in Nunavut that will have a positive impact for our educational leaders and students,鈥� said Rebecca Hainnu, one of the instructors of the ED512 course. 鈥淭his certificate will contribute to Inuit educators using Inuktitut as a language of instruction.鈥�

Dr. Jane Preston is an associate professor in the Faculty of Education at 精童欲女 and the academic lead for CELN. 鈥淭he CELN program provides educators with the history, knowledge, attitudes, and skills that embody culturally-based, effective school leadership. Encompassing the unique language, culture, and specialized knowledge of Inuit, the certificate is earned by completing five courses pertaining to effective school leadership in a Nunavut context.鈥�

精童欲女鈥檚 Faculty of Education has a long history working with educators in Nunavut. In July of 2009, 21 Inuit women were conferred with the Nunavut Master of Education in Leadership and Learning鈥攖he first graduate program offered exclusively in the territory. The program was offered by the 精童欲女, in partnership with Nunavut's Department of Education, St. Francis Xavier University, and Nunavut Arctic College. 精童欲女 previously ran a pilot graduate-level course in Inuktitut a few years ago, and while it did not continue, it did lay important groundwork for this course within the CELN program.

鈥淎s we know, language is culture,鈥� said Dr. Ronald MacDonald, dean of the Faculty of Education at 精童欲女. 鈥淲e at 精童欲女, in strong collaboration with the Government of Nunavut, have honoured Nunavut culture through infusing the principles of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, an Inuktitut phrase often translated as 鈥業nuit traditional knowledge鈥�, in all we do. The only way to truly honour culture is through course delivery in the manner and language of the Inuit.鈥�

The Atlantic Veterinary College at 精童欲女 is participating in a pan-Atlantic research initiative to improve the health and welfare of cultured Atlantic salmon using genomic and other biotechnologies. The project will equip the Atlantic salmon aquaculture industry with the information and tools needed to develop more disease-resistant broodstock and improved vaccines, which will result in a more robust industry. The announcement was made at Memorial University (MUN) on August 9 in St. John鈥檚, Newfoundland and Labrador, where the project will be led.  

Nick Whalen, Member of Parliament for St. John鈥檚 East, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), today announced $2.99 million for the project. The Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, provincial Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation announced a provincial government investment of $500,000 for the initiative through InnovateNL.

These investments will enable the researcher team to work with Atlantic Canadian industry and academic partners to mitigate the impact of climate-related challenges on salmon aquaculture. The project will focus on the predicted effects of warming coastal waters and improve methods for protecting salmon from pathogens that can lead to diseases, which can have significant negative economic impacts on the industry.

As a result of this project, Atlantic Canadian fish farmers will be able to expand their workforce and revenue and have more disease-resistant broodstock as well as new scientific tools to improve fish health.

鈥淭he global demand for healthy and sustainable protein sources continues to grow,鈥� said Dr. Mark Fast, associate professor at the AVC and a collaborator on this project. 鈥淭he Atlantic salmon farming industry, in Canada and globally, continues to expand and adjust to fill this demand. Now, in the face of continued global climate change and the threat of more intensive summer and winter seasons, this collaborative research grant will determine the underpinnings of Atlantic salmon鈥檚 ability to grow and thrive at higher temperatures, providing industry with genetic markers/tests so it can select and produce salmon more suited to this changing ocean environment. This research is important also for identifying the genetic links between temperature changes, immunity, and disease in salmon. These links should provide information on how to develop more effective vaccines and reduce antibiotic use, again in the interest of enhancing the industry鈥檚 ability to produce a healthier, cheaper, and more environmentally sustainable salmon.鈥�

The investment from ACOA is being provided through the Atlantic Innovation Fund, which encourages partnerships among private sector firms, universities, colleges and other research institutions to develop and commercialize new or improved products and services.

The 精童欲女 prides itself on people, excellence, and impact and is committed to assisting students reach their full potential in both the classroom and community. With roots stemming from two founding institutions鈥擯rince of Wales College and Saint Dunstan鈥檚 University鈥斁�童欲女 has a reputation for academic excellence, research innovation, and creating positive impacts locally, nationally, and internationally. 精童欲女 is the only degree granting institution in the province and is proud to be a key contributor to the growth and prosperity of Prince Edward Island.

Media contacts:

Paul McGrath, Director, Communications, ACOA NL
709-772-2984, paul.mcgrath@canada.ca

Eric Humber, Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation NL
709-729-4819, 709-725-9655, erichumber@gov.nl.ca

Susan Flanagan, Memorial University
709-691-7876, 709-864-4073, susan.flanagan@mun.ca