Dr. Sheldon Opps, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Physics, is part of a committee that has been raising funds to upgrade the playground equipment at West Kent Elementary School in Charlottetown.

This project includes the installation of a variety of new playground equipment; some of the structures being installed include a wheelchair-accessible slide, swing sets, table with seating, snail spring rider, and a stationary four-wheeler.

Thanks to parents, local businesses, and government agencies, this project will bring joy to the children of West Kent for many years to come.

Since 2008, Dr. Bill Whelan has been a member of the Board of Directors for the Canadian Home and School Federation. In this role, Dr. Whelan represents PEI on the National Board, networking with the directors from the other provinces on education issues that affect all children in Canada.

Since 2004, Dr. Bill Whelan has brought research experiences to the Board of Directors discussions. He was Chair of the Ownership Linkages Committee (subcommittee of the Board) from 2007 to 2009, responsible for strengthening the connection between the Board and Islanders. Dr. Whelan now sits as a member of that subcommittee.

For close to 25 years, Dr. John Burka, a professor of Pharmacology in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, has donated his time and skills to help others help themselves. John is the co-ordinator of Ten Thousand Villages craft sale at UPEI, a three-day event that involves close to 50 volunteers and hundreds of hours of planning and set-up. He is also the publicity person for six annual sales across the province, which generated $76,000 in 2008.

Ten Thousand Villages sells handicrafts made by groups of artisans from 30 developing countries. Items are made in home workshops in small-group settings. Co-operatives, and eventually small businesses, are developed. The artisans are paid a fair price for their products, which is the essence of fair trade and sustainable development.

This not-for-profit organization is one of North America's largest international development organizations helping to build global citizenship. All over the world, community organizations are working to improve living standards, preserve natural ecosystems, and build hope for a better future. CUSO-VSO sends volunteers to work with these partner groups at the grassroots of change. Volunteer placements are available in Africa, Asia/Pacific, Americas/Caribbean, and other regions.

For over 20 years, UPEI has been working with CUSO in numerous projects, both locally and internationally. Some recent collaborations include the "Dance for the World" fundraising campaign, documentary film screenings during International Development Week, panel discussions, information booths, and more.

The Prince Edward Island Writers' Guild is a writers' organization serving PEI. Several individuals in the UPEI community are members.

Lisa Stapleton and Matthew MacKay from the Integrated Communications Unit sit on the Holland College Graphic Design Advisory Committee. They also participate in a yearly portfolio review.

The Atlantic Publishers Marketing Association (APMA) is an industry support organization representing book publishers located in Atlantic Canada. The APMA is the publisher of Atlantic Books Today, and the Summer and Holiday Reading Guides. Acorn Press, under publisher Laurie Brinklow, is an Active member and Past-President. Island Studies Press (Institute of Island Studies) is an Associate Member.

Laurie Brinklow, Publications Co-ordinator in the Integrated Communications Unit, is the sole proprietor of The Acorn Press, Prince Edward Island's only publishing house. Established in 1993, Acorn primarily publishes books about Prince Edward Island, by Prince Edward Islanders. UPEI staff and faculty, who have been published by Acorn, include:

- Godfrey Baldacchino (Island Studies), Bridging Islands: The Impact of Fixed Links on Islands
- Orysia Dawydiak (Biomedical Sciences), House of Bears
- Deirdre Kessler (English), Afternoon Horses
- Frank Ledwell (Professor Emeritus), Dip & Veer: Reflections on the Art of Alex Colville; The North Shore of Home; Island Sketchook; Taste of Water
- Richard Lemm (English), Shape of Things to Come
- Brent MacLaine (English), Landmarks: An Anthology of New Atlantic Canadian Poetry of the Land; Shades of Green...

Laurie Brinklow (Publications Co-ordinator, Integrated Communications) is the Association of Canadian Publishers' representative on the Public Lending Right Commission (PLRC). The PLR's mandate is to recognize the significant contribution that Canada’s authors make to its national culture by compensating authors for the presence of their published work in Canada’s public libraries. In 2008-09, the PLRC's 23rd year, the PLRC delivered $9,904,023.60 in payments to 16,514 Canadian authors in 1,751 communities in Canada and abroad.

The Royal Commonwealth Society seeks to raise the profile and the mandate of the Commonwealth in a variety of international missions.

Dean Richard Kurial, a Research Associate with the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute (FERI), is engaged in publications, conferences, research initiatives, digitization projects, and public history projects.

"Through analysis of the economy, outreach to the next generation of leaders, and celebrations of great leaders today, the Roosevelt Institute is examining the critical issues of our time while building a bold network of innovators and thought leaders." (http://www.feri.org)

Dr. Bill Whelan is Associate Professor (Physics) and Canada Research Chair in Biomedical Optics. In addition to his work at UPEI, he is also the president of the Prince Edward Island Home and School Federation. This organization involves parents and teachers working together to represent 48 schools across PEI and over 11,000 parents from King's, Queen's, and Prince Counties. They are involved with decision-making for all schools with regards to curriculum content, class size, school and school bus safety, health, school closures, fees, and other important issues.

Dr. Whelan is responsible for leading the Federation, liaising with school boards and government, and advocating for the best education system for children and youth on Prince Edward Island.

UPEI’s first-ever Relay for Life took place in October 2008. Over 120 people raised more than $19,000 for the PEI division of the Canadian Cancer Society during the 12-hour overnight event in the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre.

The next Relay For Life is scheduled to take place in March 2010, as students, faculty, and staff prepare to celebrate life and remember people who have died from cancer. We encourage everyone on campus to get involved!

Dr. Edward MacDonald is currently working with Charlottetown activist Catherine Hennessey and Director of the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation, Dr. David Keenlyside, co-authoring the Landscapes of Confederation, a compendium of historical materials relating to the Charlottetown Conference of 1864. It is intended to be a one-stop resource for tourism programmers, city planners, and local business people seeking to build on the Birthplace theme in the development of the city.

View a recent video:
http://www.upei.ca/media/video/y/2009/09/11/landscapes-confederation-dr-...

Dr James Kemp from the Department of Biology is the present chair of The Environmental Advisory Council, a group of individuals appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council to advise the Minister responsible for the environment on environmental matters and public concerns. Dr. Kemp has also participated in subcommittees that have written environmental recommendations and issued publications for the government on watersheds.

For more information on the council:
www.gov.pe.ca/envengfor/index.php3?number=1028515&lang=E

Dr. Lori Weeks, Associate Professor in the Department of Family and Nutritional Sciences, is the chair of the Central Queens Family Health Centre Advisory Board. This group works closely with the Queens Family Health Centre to ensure that a variety of health services are available in the rural area, and addresses physician recruitment and promoting various healthy activities in the community.