Acadia University launches historic $75-million campaign

Acadia University President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Peter Ricketts and Campaign Chair Nancy McCain (’82) announced the launch of a $75-million comprehensive fundraising campaign that will strengthen support for students and faculty, investment in research, and improvement of campus infrastructure. Campaign for Acadia will fund vital programs and priorities across Acadia’s faculties and campaign themes: Transform, Inspire, Discover, and Build.

Already, Campaign for Acadia has raised $40 million in gifts and more than $10 million in future commitments.

“We have a fundamental responsibility to support our students’ development as individuals and prepare them for a diverse range of situations,” said President Ricketts at a celebratory event held in the University’s renewed science facilities. “Campaign for Acadia will ensure that an Acadia education has a more powerful and positive impact on our students and our local, national, and global communities.”

Among Acadia’s primary strengths is its commitment to providing extraordinary student experiences. The Transform theme of Campaign for Acadia will strengthen the University’s financial awards and aid for students and create a stronger, more responsive support system to improve access, opportunity, and wellness.

“Every aspect of this campaign will benefit students,” said George Philp, President, Acadia Students’ Union. “On behalf of our student body, I want to express our gratitude to those who join Campaign for Acadia. You are making an important investment in our future.”

The Inspire theme looks to enhance exceptional teaching and engagement through new endowed faculty positions and additional professional development opportunities, while Discover focuses on expanding research and innovation on campus.

“Attracting and retaining top-performing faculty is an important aspect of Campaign for Acadia,” said Dr. Suzie Currie (’91), Dean, Pure and Applied Science. “Endowing new positions and investing in research will secure an innovative environment for our faculty that creates the best possible educational experience for Acadia students.”

Currie noted the significance of the location for the afternoon event, the David Huestis Innovation Pavilion, made possible by an early gift to Campaign for Acadia by David and Faye Huestis of Saint John, New Brunswick.

David Huestis (’63) saw the opportunity to give back to Acadia when the federal and provincial governments invested $15.98 million to the renewal project. Joining Huestis to generate $7 million in private support were The McCain Foundation, Penny and Stephen McCain (’81), Margie McCain Roy (’77, ’79) and Paul Roy, Gordon (’48) and Bobby MacNeill (’50), David Davidson (’71), Cynthia Trudell (’74), Fred (’61) and Nancy Chipman, Floyd Murphy (’69), and many others.

“We are enormously grateful to those who have already contributed to Campaign for Acadia,” added President Ricketts.

“Acadia is a shining example of what people can accomplish when they come together. The consistent way this small university positively impacts our knowledge economy makes investing in Acadia a very sound decision,” said the Honourable Scott Brison, Treasury Board President and Kings-Hants MP. “Through the Strategic Investment Fund, we are providing Canada’s students with the education and training they need to join a strong, healthy middle class.”

Keith Irving, Kings South MLA, echoed Brison’s comments. “Innovation, research and development, and entrepreneurship are key to moving Nova Scotia forward,” he said. “The Science Complex Renewal will give Acadia students access to modern, high-quality facilities that will prepare them for successful careers and help build the skilled workforce we need to support good jobs and economic growth today and tomorrow.”

The final priority of the campaign, Build, will work to improve the financial and physical infrastructure of Acadia’s campus, which the Huffington Post has named among Canada’s most beautiful.

“Campaign for Acadia will be critical to Acadia’s mission to provide a personalized and rigorous liberal education,” said Nancy McCain (’82), Campaign Chair. “I am proud to be joined by a team of dedicated alumni who are part of our Campaign Cabinet. I know that by working together, we will reach our ambitious goal of $75 million.”

She added that the Campaign would create more opportunities for the wider Acadia community to engage in the life of the University. “Campaign for Acadia will offer our alumni, parents, and friends more opportunities to make an impact on the issues they are most passionate about.”

To learn more and to register for Campaign for Acadia launch events at home, across Canada, and around the world, visit campaign.acadiau.ca.