Dear Acadia students and colleagues,

 

This week, we have seen the relentlessness of COVID-19 and its variants and how pandemics play out globally. However, we have also witnessed the strength of the Acadia community.

 

We have worked together to successfully protect our campus from the spread of COVID-19 throughout this past year.  And, thankfully, this latest surge has touched very few in our community.

 

Fortunately, with our very high rate of vaccination, regular testing, mask-wearing, and proactive self-isolation of those feeling symptoms, we were well prepared to address the recent outbreak in our province and minimize its impact on our campus.

 

To this end, the amazing work of our Occupational Health Nurse Caroliina Landry, has been instrumental in helping Safety and Security, Student Life, and departments across the campus implement and follow health and safety protocols. Throughout this pandemic, so many of you have provided extraordinary care for our students and employees. Thank you.

 

We are still in the midst of this outbreak, and unfortunately, we will likely see further positive cases in our community. However, our comprehensive safety plan will ensure that the impacts will be much less than if we had taken a different path. The additional restrictions announced in the last few days will further protect our community, both on and off campus.

 

My sincere thanks to our faculty and staff for responding to another sudden disruption. We all appreciate your willingness to ensure that our students can finish their academic studies despite the inconvenience of rearranging the final days of exams.

 

Our students deserve a series of special thanks.

 

Thank you so much for adapting to change and being prepared to do what’s right at such short notice.

 

Thank you for being vigilant, responsible, and following health and safety protocols despite the stress of doing so.

 

I know some of you are nervously waiting for PCR tests results, and I also know that some of you are changing your travel plans. While the pandemic might disrupt the hope of visiting family and friends for the holiday season, be assured that your Acadia community is here to help and support you through the coming days and weeks.

 

Our mantra has been that we will get through this together throughout the pandemic. The strength and resilience of our community have rarely been tested like this, but we are succeeding. Despite the continuing setbacks, we are moving towards the day when we will manage the COVID-19 virus in the same way we handle endemic viruses within our population.

 

Finally, to our entire campus community – thank you. Thank you for getting vaccinated, regularly testing, wearing masks, social distancing, and proactively managing symptoms and self-isolating to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and its variants. As soon as you are eligible, please get your booster shot (I am getting mine on Saturday) and continue to practice our health and safety protocols.

 

There are many unknowns in this situation, but one thing is for certain – we all deserve a break – and that is coming very soon.

 

Stay strong, stay safe, and stay vigilant. And, above all, stay healthy.

 

Sincerely,

 

Peter

 

Peter Ricketts
President and Vice-Chancellor
Acadia University