McCain family honours father with $1 million gift to Acadia

Andrew H. McCain Arena tribute to lifelong hockey fan

McCain
Nancy McCain ('82) announces family gift

(Wolfville, NS) – Acadia University’s arena will be renamed the Andrew H. McCain Arena in recognition of a $1-million gift to the University from Mr. McCain’s children, Nancy (’82), Stephen (’81), Margie (’77), Allison, Kathy, and Linda. When renovations to the existing 25-year-old building are completed, the Andrew H. McCain Arena will have a new roof; improved heating and ventilation; upgraded lighting, sound and video; interior acoustic paneling; and a range of other enhancements. In addition, dramatic improvements will be made to the Acadia Athletic Complex entrance and visitor lobby, and the arena will become the only Annapolis Valley facility to feature an indoor 250-metre running track.  

“Stephen, Margie and I are all graduates of Acadia. Making this gift, with the enthusiastic support of our siblings, gives us a great deal of pleasure,” said Nancy McCain. “Our father was a tremendous hockey fan throughout his entire life, and was very supportive of the overall academic and personal growth experience Acadia offers its students. Acadia’s Athletic Complex is a campus and community hub, and we are so pleased that the arena will now be able to better meet the needs of the future. We can’t think of a better way to honour our father’s love of sport, improve the experience of everyone who benefits from the arena, and make a meaningful contribution to Acadia. It’s a win all around.”

Ray Ivany, Acadia’s President and Vice-Chancellor, said, “We’re humbled by this wonderful gift from the McCain family. They’ve chosen a project that will transform an important University and community facility. It’s an investment that will pay dividends for years to come. We’re very proud to have the name of Andrew H. McCain so closely associated with the life of our campus, and we’re very grateful to Nancy, Linda, Kathy, Margie, Stephen and Allison.

“With this gift, we wanted to do something that would have an immediate impact on Acadia as a destination within the Valley and its ability to attract new events and activities to campus – not to mention its appeal to prospective students,” said Stephen McCain. “The option of making a significant investment in the arena and at the same time honouring our father’s legacy seemed perfect. It will be very exciting to be part of this project and to witness the building’s transformation.

“Athletic and academic achievement are closely linked at Acadia,” said Kevin Dickie, Acadia’s Director of Athletics. “With 91 Academic All-Canadians – the highest proportion of any Canadian university – and a number of nationally-ranked teams, our varsity sports program is highly respected. This very generous gift will make our arena one of the best in the Atlantic region and, we hope, also make it one of the hardest for visiting teams to play in! On behalf of our student-athletes and our community users, I want to sincerely thank the McCain family for their commitment to Acadia.”

When completed in fall 2014, the Andrew H. McCain Arena will be a dramatically enhanced feature of Acadia’s campus. Completed in 1988, the nearly 2,000-seat arena hosts a number of community activities, including Acadia’s CIS-ranked Acadia Axemen and its highly competitive Axewomen club team, Acadia Minor Hockey Association teams from all levels, the Wolfville Skating Club, and recreational sports from university intramurals to sledge hockey. The arena’s walkway and seating area is used by a variety of athletes for dryland and indoor training year-round. When not being used as a sport and fitness facility, the arena hosts trade shows, craft fairs, banquets and music concerts. It has also seen duty as a movie sound stage.

“It has been a great pleasure to work with the McCain family on this project,” said Rod Morrison, Vice-President, Advancement for Acadia. “Their focus throughout was on a fitting legacy for their father that also brings real benefits to Acadia and the Valley community. I think they’ve hit the nail on the head, and we’re very grateful for their generosity.”

About Acadia University
Acadia University, in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, has long been recognized as one of Canada's premier post-secondary institutions. With its nationally and internationally recognized undergraduate and graduate research initiatives, small classes, and technology-rich teaching and learning environment, Acadia offers students an experience that includes academic achievement combined with personal growth and development. Acadia also offers distance learning, certificate programs, language training and other university extension programs through Open Acadia. For more information about Acadia University, visit our website at http://acadiau.ca

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