Professor Focus

By Angela Matheson

Ninean LeBlanc Professor of Biology

Ninean Leblanc, who grew up in the Caribbean, always had a fascination for living things and nature. When he finished high school, he was faced with the choice of studying biology in either Great Britain or Canada. Inspired by friends and the better employment opportunities, he decided to study at Guelph University in Ontario. He worked for three years at an oil refinery in the West Indies to raise sufficient money to travel and study in Canada, and in 1956 he became a student at Guelph University.

After completing his BSc and MSc, he went to Queen’s University to complete his Ph.D. When he finished his studies at Queen’s, he was Offered a job at Delhi as an Endimologist for tobacco research for the federal government. He was also offered a job as a professor at the Prince of Wales college on PEI. He chose the latter because he enjoys dealing with students and demonstrating labs.

Two professors at Guelph and Queen’s University had a great influence on Ninian Leblanc during his university years. He explained that English professor, A.M. Ross and Biology professor C.D. Nelson knew how to inspire. They could stimulate students by turning the dullest topic into an intriguing subject. These professors would

make classes pleasurable by relating and making associations of interesting topics to the learning students.

While studying at university, he lived in residence. Drinking and pubbing were confined to weekends. On Friday nights they’d crash into buses and travel to the pubs to release pressure and to let the hair down. Saturdays were left for studying with perhaps a little dancing at night. He feels sorry for the undergraduates today who deal with the pressures of drugs and alcohol. Drugs and booze weren’t popularly known back then and most students were. only familiar with the drug called NONODS.

Today Mr. Leblanc lives in West Royalty outside of Charlottetown and is continuing to spread his love and knowledge of biology. One of his most memorable classes was being corrected for a speed talker. About fifteen years ago, he was in a middle of a lecture going "a mile a minute" when a student in the back interrupted by saying "Be Jesus Christ, Where the hell is the fire?"

Mr. Leblanc is deeply interested in athletic variety. He has a passion for running and has been jogging with close friends for approximately ten years. He awakes every morning at five pm to jog six to eight miles with a group of close knit friends. He has participated in Road Runners on PEI and

The UPEI X-Press

November 8, 1990

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