Latest news with #UniversityofNewBrunswick
Ottawa Citizen
a day ago
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Goaltender the first UNB alum to earn a shot at PWHL
Article content When Kendra Woodland's collegiate hockey career at the University of New Brunswick ended in 2024, the next step was in the direction of the newly founded Professional Women's Hockey League. Article content But that path took a turn when she was not selected in either the 2024 or 2025 PWHL drafts. But now, she has her shot. Article content Article content Woodland has been invited to the Ottawa Charge training camp in November. She said in an interview Thursday she spent the past year and a half staying ready. Just months away from training camp, that patience has paid off. Article content Article content 'Getting that call was awesome. Working with my agents and making sure that this is the best opportunity moving forward was important,' said the Kamloops, B.C. native, who has been training with junior and pro players at home for the offseason. Article content Article content 'It was rewarding to just get an opportunity to get my foot in the door, and (I'm) just really excited.' Article content The 25-year-old netminder's invite to Ottawa is a historic one for UNB's women's hockey program, which was revived in 2018 following a decade-long absence from varsity status. During her time at UNB, Woodland helped rebuild the women's hockey program, backstopping the team to back-to-back Atlantic University Sport titles in 2022 and 2023. Article content Hilworth said Woodland was a key piece in the revival. Article content 'She definitely gave us just a strong backbone right from the start,' the coach said. 'I'm not surprised just knowing how dedicated and determined she is, and I'm really excited for her to get that opportunity at the highest level.' Article content Article content In 2023, Woodland won the Brodrick Trophy as USPORTS' player of the year in women's hockey. Internationally, she won bronze at the 2018 International Ice Hockey Federation U18 Women's World Championship and gold with Canada at the 2023 FISU World University Games. Article content Woodland's plan for her hockey career didn't originally include a stop in Fredericton. In high school, she committed to playing NCAA hockey for the University of North Dakota, a program that was disbanded in 2017 before she could even step on the ice. Article content 'There's not a lot of goalies that can say they could come in and in their rookie year start, ultimately, for five years of their eligibility,' said Woodland. 'I was really lucky that opportunity came knocking on my door.'
CBC
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
Fredericton author's collection of short stories 'complex' and 'poetic'
Mark Anthony Jarman's life and writing are a mix of experiences and locations. The Fredericton author considers himself a collector — of newspaper clippings, and bits of dialogue, characters and ideas — which all find their way into his stories. Born and raised in Edmonton, he travelled across Canada for school and work before landing at the University of New Brunswick, where he accepted what he thought was a temporary job teaching creative writing. That was 25 years ago. His 2015 collection of short stories, Knife Party at the Hotel Europa, is part of this year's Books and Backroads series. Readers in six small communities in rural parts of New Brunswick took part in book clubs in CBC's partnership with New Brunswick public libraries — reading books from all genres and all with a connection to New Brunswick. Knife Party at the Hotel Europa is set in Italy, but was inspired by a New Brunswick crime. Jarman said he read a story in Fredericton's Daily Gleaner newspaper about a fatal fight that broke out at a party. One person attacked another with a staple gun and then a knife. Jarman remembers thinking, "There's a story there." That fight ended up in his collection of short stories about a man who travels to Italy after his marriage falls apart and finds himself lying on beaches in the sun while refugees' bodies wash up on the shore and violence surrounds him. "I wanted to write a slim, sunny novel set in Italy that would sell — and instead ended up with a much darker book," said Jarman, who spent time in Italy teaching creative writing in 2008. "Italy just blew me away," he said. "I just thought I want to write about this place." New Brunswick influence Jarman describes himself as "a sponge" and said since moving to the province, New Brunswick locations and people have influenced his writing. He has played in a blues band, on an "old-timers" hockey team and has worked on The Fiddlehead, a Canadian literary magazine, published at UNB, for 25 years. "I started writing stuff about New Brunswick right away," he said, crediting his hockey teammates with sharing the real New Brunswick. "If you're in the English department, you don't learn anything about New Brunswick," he laughed. "But you get on an old-timers hockey team out in the country and it's just a completely different world. It was great." His book was originally meant to be a novel, but Jarman had more luck selling the chapters to magazines to be published as short stories. "I just pulled out chunks and worked them over, and I find that's easier for me. I can't juggle a big project, but I can really focus on smaller sections," he said. "I felt like I made every section stronger doing that." Port Elgin book club describes writing as 'deep' Knife Party at the Hotel Europa. Members of the book club described Jarman's writing as poetic, complex and deep. "I felt like he was on something or lacking a lot of sleep," Monique Pereira laughed. "The way that he writes is extremely unique. It can be very complicated, but it evokes an emotional response," said Joyce Morouney. She advised readers to take their time and not to read it quickly. Jarman grew up in Edmonton in the 1950s and '60s and was "always a bookworm." He said he's always written about death and dark themes. "My writing is not everyone's cup of tea — I just kind of know that," he said. "Sometimes it's very tender, sometimes it's very dark and crazy. Ugly things happen but there is beauty as well," Morouney said of the stories. Max Ducsharm appreciated how Jarman's depiction of Italy was different than the romanticized versions that are common in fiction. "It's dark and it's real," he said. "The imagery that he uses to highlight those things is really beautiful." Make collecting a habit Jarman said his advice to aspiring authors is to always be collecting. "I never have a blank page because I always have notes and journals where I can find lines and details or bits of dialogue," he said. He compares his attention to the details in the world around him to a guitar player rehearsing. "To me, it's just like practice — you get better at it."
CBC
15-07-2025
- Science
- CBC
New docuseries episode assisted by N.B. right whale researchers
Researchers from the University of New Brunswick and Dalhousie University had a hand in a new Apple TV+ documentary series that delves into the world's most dangerous animals. The researchers helped filmmakers get a closeup look at the North Atlantic right whale.
National Post
12-07-2025
- Science
- National Post
33-year-old puffin on New Brunswick island going strong, with a chick
FREDERICTON — Daniel Oliker held a 33-year-old puffin from Machias Seal Island in his hands and was in awe about how it was a decade older than him. It felt like he was holding a world of knowledge and history in that puff ball of black and white feathers. Article content The University of New Brunswick graduate student, researching Atlantic puffin ecology, found a bird with a plastic band dating back to 1992. It showed the tuxedo bird to be a wise and worldly 33. And it had a chick. Article content Article content Article content Machias Seal Island is a flat, treeless sanctuary for seabirds located about 19 kilometres southwest of New Brunswick's Grand Manan Island at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy. It has about 8,600 breeding pairs of puffins. Article content Article content Oliker said last week his fellow researcher spotted one of the tuxedo birds on the island with a faded, green-and-white plastic band, and marked the area where it was seen. Those bands were used by Canada Wildlife Services starting in the 1970s until around 1995, when they started being replaced with metal ones. Article content Around midnight Oliker and a couple of researchers went to search the burrows — nests where puffins rest at night after a day at sea — looking for the old bird. Article content After searching a few burrows, he said he found the right bird by feeling the bands on their legs. A few had metal bands. Article content 'Then I felt one that felt a little bit different, and it was in the right location that we marked so I pulled it out and it was the right guy,' he said in an interview from the island. Article content Article content The old bird was curious and didn't put up much of a fight when it was pulled out. Article content Article content The researchers replaced the plastic band with a metal one, giving the puffin its new number: JG18. But they don't yet know its gender. Article content That he was holding one of the oldest birds, Oliker said, was 'very exciting' and 'truly amazing.' Most puffins in the wild live up to their mid-20s. Article content 'Just to think of how many years he spent out on the open ocean. How deep he's dived before. It's fascinating to think about just how much this bird has gone through, what it's seen, and the fact that it's still here and raising a chick. It speaks to its persistence.' Article content The chick was a 'decent size,' which was pleasantly surprising because puffins are struggling this year from a seeming lack of food, he said. There have been a number of eggs that haven't hatched and several pufflings — babies — have died, he added. Article content 'It is very probable that this puffin, being so old, has experience and knows what it's doing. So it's been able to find a good burrow for its mate, himself and the egg, and then able to produce a chick,' he said. 'It's very likely, because he's been alive for so long, that he knows which spots might be better for fish.'
Toronto Sun
12-07-2025
- Science
- Toronto Sun
Hey old bird: A 33-year-old puffin on New Brunswick island going strong, with a chick
Published Jul 12, 2025 • 4 minute read This Atlantic puffin, captured on Machias Seal Island by a small team of UNB researchers earlier this week, is the oldest on record in Canada. FREDERICTON — Daniel Oliker held a 33-year-old puffin from Machias Seal Island in his hands and was in awe about how it was a decade older than him. It felt like he was holding a world of knowledge and history in that puff ball of black and white feathers. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The University of New Brunswick graduate student, researching Atlantic puffin ecology, found a bird with a plastic band dating back to 1992. It showed the tuxedo bird to be a wise and worldly 33. And it had a chick. Machias Seal Island is a flat, treeless sanctuary for seabirds located about 19 kilometres southwest of New Brunswick's Grand Manan Island at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy. It has about 8,600 breeding pairs of puffins. Oliker said last week his fellow researcher spotted one of the tuxedo birds on the island with a faded, green-and-white plastic band, and marked the area where it was seen. Those bands were used by Canada Wildlife Services starting in the 1970s until around 1995, when they started being replaced with metal ones. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Around midnight Oliker and a couple of researchers went to search the burrows — nests where puffins rest at night after a day at sea — looking for the old bird. After searching a few burrows, he said he found the right bird by feeling the bands on their legs. A few had metal bands. 'Then I felt one that felt a little bit different, and it was in the right location that we marked so I pulled it out and it was the right guy,' he said in an interview from the island. The old bird was curious and didn't put up much of a fight when it was pulled out. The researchers replaced the plastic band with a metal one, giving the puffin its new number: JG18. But they don't yet know its gender. That he was holding one of the oldest birds, Oliker said, was 'very exciting' and 'truly amazing.' Most puffins in the wild live up to their mid-20s. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Just to think of how many years he spent out on the open ocean. How deep he's dived before. It's fascinating to think about just how much this bird has gone through, what it's seen, and the fact that it's still here and raising a chick. It speaks to its persistence.' The chick was a 'decent size,' which was pleasantly surprising because puffins are struggling this year from a seeming lack of food, he said. There have been a number of eggs that haven't hatched and several pufflings — babies — have died, he added. 'It is very probable that this puffin, being so old, has experience and knows what it's doing. So it's been able to find a good burrow for its mate, himself and the egg, and then able to produce a chick,' he said. 'It's very likely, because he's been alive for so long, that he knows which spots might be better for fish.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Puffins start reproducing around four or five so JG18 has probably had more than 25 chicks in its lifetime even if all didn't survive, Oliker said. Nick Lund, a network manager for U.S. wildlife conservation organization Maine Audubon, said one of the biggest threats facing Atlantic puffins in the Gulf of Maine is climate change. 'The Gulf of Maine is the southernmost breeding area for puffins in the Atlantic, but the water is warming very quickly,' he noted. 'New fish species are moving in to the warming waters, and other fish species — those traditionally eaten by puffins — are moving out. Whether or not puffins can adapt to eat the new fish species is a major question mark for their continued survival in the gulf.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists puffins as 'vulnerable,' which means they face a high risk of extinction in the wild. Finding these 'very' old puffins is interesting and important because it provides data confirming longevity, said Heather Major, a marine biology professor at the University of New Brunswick, who is studying these birds on Machias Seal Island. A paper published last year in the journal Ecology and Evolution said adult survival of puffins has declined over time, which is particularly concerning because they are an important component of population growth rate. Puffins are a cold-adapted, northern species in this region that have been exposed to some of the warmest waters in comparison to puffins in other regions, she said. '(The finding of JG18) is important information given recent warming in the region,' she said. Oliker said he hopes he can see the puffin for the next few years. 'We have yet to give him a name,' he said. 'Now that he has a new band and we know which guy he is in the database, we can come up with a name, and maybe it'll be fun to see if he's still around the next few years. And we can call him by his name.' World Relationships World Toronto Blue Jays MLB
