Catherine Callbeck chancellor-elect
Catherine Callbeck will become UPEI’s ninth chancellor when she is installed at a ceremony later this spring.
Retired Canadian senator and former P.E.I. premier Catherine Callbeck has been unanimously elected as the ninth chancellor of the University of Prince Edward Island for a four-year term.
An installation ceremony will be held this spring.
“UPEI will benefit greatly from Callbeck’s vision, passion and extensive leadership experience. I congratulate her on this new role as chancellor and thank her sincerely for her dedication to post-secondary education and commitment to UPEI,” said UPEI president Alaa Abd-El-Aziz.
The university chancellor is a volunteer, titular role that presides over convocations and confers degrees, diplomas and certificates.
Callbeck will replace UPEI’s eighth chancellor, Don McDougall, who was installed in 2014 and whose extended term concludes this year. She is the second woman to hold the post — Doris H. Anderson was UPEI’s first female university chancellor, 1992–96.
Callbeck has a long and active involvement in business, politics and charitable and public service groups at all levels.
UPEI’s chancellors and their installation dates - Thane A. Campbell – May 14, 1970
- Gustave Gingras – May 12, 1974
- David Macdonald Stewart – Oct. 1, 1982 - Gordon L. Bennett – March 9, 1985
- Doris H. Anderson – October 24, 1992
- Norman Webster (chancellor emeritus) – Nov. 2, 1996
- Bill Andrew – March 6, 2005
- Don McDougall – March 30, 2014
She was the second woman ever elected to the P.E.I. legislature and, in 1988, she was the second woman ever to be elected to the House of Commons from P.E.I. She returned to provincial politics in 1993 and became the first woman in Canada to be elected as premier. In 1997, she was called to the Senate of Canada and retired in July 2014.
“I am deeply honoured and humbled by this opportunity to become more involved in the university community. The University of Prince Edward Island has become a global institution of higher learning that makes the student experience a priority. I hope to be excellent ambassador for UPEI as it continues to develop programs that inspire students to contribute solutions, whether it be at home or around the world, to better society.”
While there may not be much snow, the 14th annual Evangeline Region Winter Carnival should have no problem getting off the ground this Friday.
With the help of close to 20 local groups and businesses, le Conseil scolaire-communautaire Évangéline has revealed its program for this year’s edition of the carnival.
Activities will take place in several areas of the Evangeline Region between Feb. 23 and 25, and Mother Nature will bit more of the white stuff to cover the ground.
Should certain activities be cancelled or modified at the last minute, le Conseil will inform the public.
Festivities begin Friday at 6 p.m. with a family treasure hunt, followed by a pizza party at the Evangeline ATV Club on the Cannontown Road.
The Old Mills Park in Wellington will have a carnival atmosphere on Saturday, when three classic winter activities will take place for the whole family to enjoy. Starting at 9 a.m., a three-on-three ice hockey tournament will take place on the frozen pond with all profits going to the Evangeline high school’s international trip. Register with Charles Bernard at cxbernard11@gmail.com or 902-303-0665.
At 10 a.m., Go!PEI will lead a snowshoeing excursion.
Then on Saturday afternoon, the Evangeline ATV Club has organized a four-wheeler run on the trails of the Evangeline and surrounding areas. The run starts at 1 p.m. at the club, 1007 Cannontown Rd. Hot dogs will be waiting at the end of the run.
On Sunday, events will be held indoors and outdoors at Evangeline School. The snow sculpture competition will start at 9 a.m., and everyone is invited to create a team and have a chance to win in either the youth or adult/family categories. For more information and to register in advance, contact Annette at agente@cscevangeline.ca or 902-854-2166.
At 10 a.m., a pickleball tournament will take place at the school. This event is for adults only, and registration in advance is required with Toni at geary.wsrc@gmail.com or 902859-8856. A lunch including chicken fricot, hamburgers and hot dogs will be available at 11 a.m.
Other activities taking place Sunday include music by Les Éloizes, art demonstrations, a bake sale, cribbage tournament, maple syrup snow candies, bingo organized by the Grade 12 students and a variety of games for the kids.
Finally, everyone is invited to bring a sled to go down a big hill created for the occasion, and then finish off the day with a family skate at the Evangeline Recreation Centre.