Acadia University - Newsroom

Fourth-year English Honours student Angel Percentie shares tips on what to consider when choosing a university.

For Andrew Steeves, anything worth doing is worth doing well. 

This is the ethos that he and his co-founder, Gary Dunfield (’88) brought to their 28 years of work building Gaspereau Press into an internationally recognized leader in Canadian literature. With their individualized and careful treatment of every book that came through the house, the pair set a new standard for what publishing can look like when you approach it with community building, empathy, and care at its centre.  

Dr. Carlyle Smith Beals (1899-1979) has been posthumously inducted into the Nova Scotia Science Hall of Fame and received the Discovery Award for science and innovation. This award celebrates outstanding innovators whose achievements in science and technology put Nova Scotia at the forefront of global innovation.

The Health Promotion office is increasing student and staff awareness and preparedness around opioid overdose response and harm reduction. During Acadia’s Naloxone Education Week in October, they held training sessions in each residence building and discussed the nature of opioids, how to recognize the signs of an overdose, and the proper administration of naloxone.

In summer of 2025, 15 members of an interdisciplinary crew, including Acadia students Bella MacQuarrie and Cameron Barnard, embarked on a trip  to southern Greece to work on the Southern Mani Archaeological Project (SMAP) led by Dr. Chelsea Gardner (History & Classics) Dr. Bill Parkinson (Field Museum, Chicago).

It should come as no surprise that students in Acadia University’s computer science department are doing work that seems right out of science fiction. With Dr. Esteve Hassan’s new project, if Fantastic Voyage pops into your head, it’s understandable.

When Genna Beed’s (‘25; English, Master’s) path led her to applying for the Government of Canada’s Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) youth innovation component during the fourth year of her undergrad at Acadia, it was no surprise.

Dr. Alex Marland (Politics), Jarislowsky Chair in Trust & Political Leadership, led a field trip to Halifax recently with 23 Acadia students, including exchange students and local retirees auditing his class. Four Saint Mary’s University students and five students from the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières joined them as well. The theme of the trip was Politics and the Media.

If you haven’t already met Kinesiology Masters student, Michaela Dankwa, you can expect to soon. As Acadia’s inaugural Wellness Champion, you’ll find Michaela all over campus this year building community, hosting events, and sharing information about mental health.

So, you’re thinking about university, and you want to know why Acadia should be your top choice. Well, I’ve been exactly where you are now, and there are a few things that made my decision a little easier.

These days, walking into the Acadia Art Gallery is like stepping into a magical storybook world. That’s all thanks to the current exhibit by Holly Carr, Light in the Forest: Coming Home.

Light in the Forest is a multifaceted art installation that was first presented at the Acadia University Art Gallery in 2013 that explored the role of nostalgia and childhood memories. At that time, the installation comprised of large-scale paintings on silk that created an illustrated environment of immersive storybooks.  

In apple breeding only around 0.014% of seedlings planted will make it to the final round of evaluations. And even fewer become commercially available cultivars. Researchers at Acadia are bringing together biology and computer science to bump that percentage up and make apple breeding and cultivation more sustainable.

A federal funding announcement today marks a significant new chapter for tidal energy research at Acadia University. 

From transforming waste into climate solutions to reshaping youth mental health across the country, Enactus Acadia is proving that big change doesn’t require a big school—just bold ideas and a team that believes in them. 

Whether you’re entering your first or final year of university, it’s always important to have what you need to succeed on hand for class. Here is a brief overview of items that I find are absolute essentials for success…and a few you can probably skip!

Four years can fly by in a flash—just ask Acadia University’s graduating class of 2025! Upon graduation, some of our students took a moment to share a note of thanks with the Acadia faculty and staff that made a lasting impact on them and let them know how they changed their lives forever.

Acadia University is one of the first three recipients of funding from the Nova Scotia Lighthouse Project, receiving $320,643 to create a self-sustaining farm-to-school initiative with Northeast Kings Education Centre (NKEC) in Canning.

SSHRC-funded research from Dr. Emily Lockhart and Professor Allison Smith of Acadia's Law and Society program is working to create survivor-led solutions for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth who have experienced technology facilitated violence.

Accessible health care for some of the most remote patients in the Maritimes is on the horizon with a new program through Acadia’s School of Kinesiology. And the benefits are going both ways—the students are gaining insights and skills as well as the participants.

As much as we all enjoyed that blast of early spring weather this March, it also heralded in one of Nova Scotia’s less welcomed experiences: ticks. It turns out that the eight-legged crawler is just as much of a fan of temperatures above 4°C as we are.

Winner of the 2025 Frank H. Sobey Award and third-year student in entrepreneurship and innovation, Dawson McCulloch, is a prime example of what it looks like when your community gives to you, and you give back to them. 

At first glance, the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) – a tiny, aphid-like insect barely bigger than a millimetre – hardly seems threatening. But Nova Scotia’s old-growth hemlock forests, the meal of choice for this insect, are now under significant threat if nothing is done – and the effects of these forests being wiped out would be catastrophic.  

Ah, senior year. It’s hard to believe that one minute we are first years, trying to figure out how to balance classes, social life, and laundry, and now we’re standing on the edge of graduation, looking down at the unknown and filled with anxiety, nostalgia, and excitement.

This January, Acadia University’s School of Education took a bold step to help address the gap in racial representation in Nova Scotia schools by welcoming the first cohort of its Africentric Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) Program. Developed in partnership with the Delmore “Buddy” Daye Learning Institute (DBDLI), the program strives to dismantle systemic barriers, elevate Africentric values, and create a new generation of educators who can serve as representational role models for African Nova Scotian students and beyond.

Winter in Wolfville is nothing short of magical, with plenty of ways to make the most of the season. Whether you're an outdoor adventurer, a foodie, or someone who enjoys cozy indoor experiences, there's something for everyone. Here’s a list of my top 10 activities to enjoy this winter in Wolfville.

We rounded up some campus resources we’ve been looking at with heart eyes lately! Think of this as your campus dating profile, but instead of swiping right, you’ll be discovering resources that will always have your back.

The SHRC is presenting 7 days of fabulous programming to promote destigmatized conversations around sexual health on campus.

First-year math and stats student hit the slopes, then the podium, at the FISU Winter World University Games, bringing home both a silver and a bronze in snowboarding.

Students in Dr. Laura Robinson's "Adapting Anne of Green Gables" class got outside their comfort zones by taking their work public! Read all about the one-of-a-kind experience students are getting at Acadia that's setting them up for future success.

Dr. Allison Walker (Biology) says "the world needs more mycologists." Read all about the fascinating work that Acadia's fungal dream team is doing, and find out why you should immerse yourself in the world of fantastic fungi!

Acadia's researchers are working across the disciplines to fight climate change. At the third annual President's Panel, researchers shared their work for an evening of inspiration and hope for our collective future.

There’s good news out of Acadia University for the producers (and many fans) of Atlantic wine, beer, cider, spirits, and non-alcoholic beverage products. Acadia Laboratory for Agri-food and Beverage, more commonly known as “ALAB”, will be expanding its services in Atlantic Canada as part of a three-year pilot project.

Acadia students are keeping the memories of Nova Scotian World War I soldiers alive in a unique way. In the spring of 2024, members of the Acadia University Singers embarked on an incredible choir tour across France and Belgium. Participating in WWI-oriented research projects, the choir offered concerts, visited the gravesites of Acadia’s WWI soldiers, and—literally—sang in Flanders Fields.

Nova Scotia Music Week (NSMW) is kicking off in Wolfville this week and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome the best musical talent our province has to offer to our town.

Our small but mighty university continues to pack a punch, and others are noticing! Acadia has moved up a spot from fifth to fourth place for Canada’s best primarily undergraduate universities.

Can the Maritimes be part of the fight against the environmentally destructive fast fashion industry?

We’re about to find out! Dr. Edith Callaghan and Prof. Ashley Doyle (School of Business), together with 14 researchers from five universities across Atlantic Canada, will be tackling the issues through a newly awarded four-year grant from NSERC-SARI.

From the field, to the lab, to the archives, Acadia students were hard at work all summer long! Our students worked on projects from the geologically old (350 million years, in fact!) to the startlingly new (stroke rehabilitation through VR, anyone?).

Students note the value of engaging in this event from the Network of Jarislowsky Chairs in Trust and Political Leadership.

Throughout their university journeys, Acadia students often develop strong connections with staff and faculty. Five members of the Class of 2024 shared their gratitude through video thank-you letters, and we had the joy of surprising and filmed the responses of those lucky recipients.

In an inspiring display of student leadership and commitment to the future of Acadia University, the Acadia Students' Union (ASU) has made a $2 million gift to the Build: The Student Centre campaign.

On May 16th and 17th, graduates of Acadia University’s four faculties – Arts, Pure and Applied Science, Professional Studies, and Theology – will be welcomed into Convocation and receive their hard-earned undergraduate and graduate degrees. Acadia will also confer four honorary degrees on individuals who have distinguished themselves in the arts, sciences, and public service.

If you were to combine talent, humility, intelligence, and grace in one person and say that individual was the epitome of what makes Acadia great, you would have Spencer Richard. A 4.0 GPA student, student-athlete and captain of the Acadia football Axemen, Academic All-Canadian, Sensory Motor Instructional Leadership Experience (S.M.I.L.E.) program leader, mentor and role model, Spencer has made the most of his time at Acadia. The Acadia Alumni Association takes tremendous pride in his many accomplishments, and is delighted to acknowledge him as the 2024 recipient of The Athenaeum and Acadia Alumni Student of the Year Award.

Dr. Caroline Cochran has a passion for pedagogy and numbers. She loves to teach, and it all adds up to student success. Her energy, enthusiasm and commitment to mathematics and learning are infinite, and why she is the recipient of this year’s Acadia Alumni Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Acadia University has received a transformative $1 million gift from the Acadia Alumni Association that will propel the Build: The Student Centre campaign closer to its $24 million fundraising goal.

The 2024 winners of the prestigious Frank H Sobey Awards were recently announced, and for the first time in the award’s history, Acadia has emerged with two recipients: Alex Dulay and Cole Sanford.

Acadia's Dr. Mark Mallory, Canada Research Chair in Coastal Ecosystem Connectivity and Resilience and director of the Mallory Lab, was inducted as a Fellow into the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS), along with his wife, Carolyn Mallory, a gifted writer and artist.

The 53rd Annual Juno Awards are taking place in Halifax on March 24th, and among the impressive musical talents set to perform is an artist who made a lasting impression with Acadia’s community in November.

In the summer of 2023, eight students – six from Saint Mary’s University (SMU) and two from Acadia – travelled to France with the goal of recovering the remains of a missing American World War II aircrewman.

With no topic off-limits, Acadia’s Health Promotion team set up interactive info booths in the Beveridge Arts Centre (BAC) and Student Union Building (SUB) throughout the week to address different themes relating to drug and alcohol use. The organizers, which included co-op students from Acadia’s psychology and kinesiology department, made smart use of treats and trivia to engage the community.

In recognition of International Women’s Day (#IWD), Acadia University is pleased to shine a spotlight on several exceptional women in our community. While their accomplishments, talents, and stories are diverse, each of these individuals are making contributions that inspire and accelerate progress beyond their fields.

We were faced with the very happy problem of having many inspiring athletes to spotlight this year. There are several Axewomen in every sport at Acadia who are worthy of recognition, and these profiles are just a sliver of the amazing talent that has the campus buzzing.

Now in her fourth and final year of a Business Administration degree with a major in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Kirsten Lawrence has more on her plate than studying. The busy Acadia undergrad is also President of the local chapter of Enactus, a student-led entrepreneurial organization committed to creating positive social and environmental change. Kirsten and her team have focused their energy on addressing food insecurity and food waste on campus – and the ideas they’ve come up with are meaningfully helping others while gaining attention outside the Valley.

Dr. Késa Munroe-Anderson (’98, ’00) believes in being the change she wants to see. An associate professor in Acadia’s School of Education, she first came to Acadia as an international student from the Bahamas in 1995, earning a BA and an MA in English. Today, Munroe-Anderson is well known as a community-oriented, social justice educator and change agent. She practises an Africentric, anti-racist, and Black feminist/Womanist approach to research, teaching, and leadership.

You might say that author Amanda Peters has taken the long way home. The daughter of a Mi’kmaw father and a settler mother of European descent, Peters was raised in the Annapolis Valley but has lived and worked in Japan, South Korea, England and Scotland. Now, Peters is back home. In July 2023, she was hired as Associate Professor in the Department of English and Theatre as part of a cluster hire to increase the number of Indigenous and Black scholars at Acadia.

The new Acadia University Inclusive Movement and Health Lab within the Acadia Athletics Complex will support continued work with the S.M.I.L.E. program and other programs and research for children.

Acadia University is excited to share plans to build a new nursing facility, marking a significant step in ongoing efforts to establish an independent program. Announced today, the government of Nova Scotia is investing $13.9 million to support the expansion of nursing education at Acadia, addressing the pressing need for well-trained healthcare professionals in the Annapolis Valley and beyond.

The Delmore "Buddy" Daye Learning Institute (DBDLI) and Acadia University have announced a collaborative partnership to establish an Africentric Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) program. This will be the first focused Africentric B.Ed. cohort with an alternative offering in Atlantic Canada.

U SPORTS named the country's eight best and brightest university student-athletes on Wednesday night, unveiling the student-athletes selected as Top 8 Academic All-Canadians for the 2022-23 season. Acadia's Haley McDonald was honoured for her exceptional academic achievements while being an impressive player for the Axewomen basketball team.

In a heartwarming display of the spirit of giving, a significant announcement was made at the Acadia Alumni Holiday Reception in Halifax, N.S. Distinguished alum Janice MacNeill ('76) has generously donated an extraordinary $1 million gift.

Acadia University is pleased to announce the appointment of Erin Beaudin as the new Vice-President, Finance and Administration, and Chief Financial Officer, effective January 22, 2024.

Acadia University signs the #CantBuyMySilence pledge, a campaign that urges all universities to end the use of Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA) to prevent students and staff from speaking out in cases of sexual harassment, bullying, and other forms of misconduct.

Dr. Lesley Frank from Acadia University's Department of Sociology has recently been awarded a prestigious $237,238 research grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) to study the North American infant formula shortage.

Acadia University will host the Canadian Curling Olympic Pre-Trials: Men & Women from October 21 to 26, 2025. This event, featuring 80 athletes competing over six days, will mark the first major curling event hosted in Acadia’s Andrew H. McCain Arena.

Acadia is pleased to announce the signing of a collaboration agreement with The Canadian Chiropractic Research Foundation (CCRF) to develop future research and funding opportunities related to musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions and related health areas.

Red Spruce Mental Health Centre, an integral component of Acadia University's Master of Education (MEd) Counselling Program, is proud to announce the opening of its doors. The Centre will provide graduate counselling students invaluable experiential learning opportunities and help address mental health care disparities for rural Nova Scotians without counselling access.

Acadia University is pleased to announce that three faculty members have been awarded a total of $696,379 to support cutting-edge research on the Wolfville campus.

Acadia University recently hosted its inaugural Festival of Teaching and Learning, focusing on reimagining the classroom and fostering excellence in education.  

Acadia University and the K.C. Irving Environmental Science Centre continue their commitment to nurturing the next generation of environmental leaders by hosting the annual Nova Scotia Envirothon.

Acadia University is set to begin the 2023-2024 academic year under the leadership of Dr. Jeff Hennessy, who will serve as the institution's 17th President and Vice-Chancellor. An exceptional array of welcome and orientation events awaits students, designed to foster personal and academic development on the Wolfville campus.

“Our students come from across Canada and around the world to experience Acadia’s excellent programs, stellar faculty, and our immersive and high-engagement educational experience,” says Hennessy who begins his term as President on September 1. “We look forward to welcoming our new students and welcoming back our returning students. Together, with the Town of Wolfville, we offer our students a unique and wonderful living and learning environment.”

Acadia University and Université Sainte-Anne have joined forces to bolster the educational experiences of their students through a new collaboration agreement focusing on modern languages and literature.

A recent report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) features the research of Acadia University graduate Robin Lauzon, whose thesis delves into the unique challenges and needs of rural communities when using virtual mental health programs. 

Research Nova Scotia has announced that seven outstanding graduate students at Acadia University have won the 2023-2024 Scotia Scholars Awards for their innovative health research projects.  

Acadia University has appointed three Scholars to the inaugural Evans Teaching and Learning Scholars program.

Acadia University’s Board of Governors today is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Jeffrey J. Hennessy as the University’s 17th President and Vice-Chancellor.

Three Indigenous and three African Canadian scholars are joining the faculty of Acadia University. The new hires are in recognition of the systemic underrepresentation of Indigenous and Black faculty at Acadia.  

The Board of Governors at Acadia University has chosen Ray Ivany, a former president of the institution, to serve as the Interim President and Vice-Chancellor, effective July 1, 2023. This decision comes after Dr. Peter Ricketts, the current president, announced his departure last summer and concludes his six-year term on June 30, 2023.

Acadia University President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Peter Ricketts will step down at the end of his term on June 30, 2023. 

The Town of Wolfville, Acadia University, and the Acadia Students' Union (ASU) have extended their Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which aims to support the development of a model unparalleled in Canada.

Two computer science undergraduates from Acadia University have embarked on a remarkable career-building experience. James Robinson (’24) and Selina Mailman (’25) have joined a select group of student interns to undertake an 11-week game development and entrepreneurship program this summer.

Acadia hosted the Envirothon competition and welcomed 55 students from around the province at the K.C. Irving Environmental Science Centre and Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens on May 25 and 26.

One of Acadia University’s highest honours, the Arthur L. Irving Medal of Commitment, has been awarded to three outstanding members of the Acadia community: Libby Burnham (’60, ’00); Dr. Kelvin Ogilvie (’63, ’64, ’83); and Sandra Irving (’74, ’17).

Acadia University has opened its doors to evacuees from the wildfire in Shelburne County. As a precautionary measure, residents and caregivers from Roseway Manor will move into temporary accommodation in Chase Court beginning May 30.

In celebration of National AccessAbility Week, May 28 to June 3, Acadia University is proud to recognize the completion of improvements to accessibility in the S.M.I.L.E. (Sensory Motor Instructional Leadership Experience) program.

Dr. Lesley Frank, Acadia’s Tier II Canada Research Chair in Food, Health, and Social Justice, is working to address the global problem of family and childhood food insecurity while advancing food justice and health equity in Canada.

Acadia University business student Kirsten Lawrence has been awarded the prestigious Frank H. Sobey Awards for Excellence in Business Studies in recognition of her exceptional qualities in entrepreneurship and innovation.

Acadia University's K.C. Irving Environmental Science Centre is gearing up to host the Nova Scotia Envirothon competition, which will bring together 55 high school students from across the province on May 25 and 26 to think critically about climate change.

Acadia University, in partnership with Cape Breton University, will offer nursing courses in September 2023 as part of a government initiative to increase the number of nursing seats available throughout the province.

The Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame is pleased to announce its 2023 inductee class. Four athletes, one team and two builders will be celebrated for their outstanding contributions to Nova Scotia sport. Included in the class of 2023 are Acadia's 1993 Axemen hockey team and former Axemen soccer head coach John Kehoe.

Acadia University School of Music (AUSOM) is hosting its first-ever Piano Intensive Weekend from May 5-7, where young Nova Scotian pianists will gather to learn, create music, and engage with Acadia's exceptional piano faculty.  

Acadia University master’s student Diane Grant is among the Top 25 finalists in the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) 2023 Storytellers Challenge.

This spring, Acadia University became the only university that will review and identify uploaded tick photos on the eTick app from across Atlantic Canada.

On May 14 and 15, 2023, more than 800 graduates from Acadia University’s four faculties – Arts, Pure and Applied Science, Professional Studies, and Theology – will receive their diplomas and certificates, joining Acadia’s more than 40,000 alumni worldwide. In addition, Acadia will confer six honorary degrees on individuals who have distinguished themselves in the arts and public service.

Canada Research Chair, Dr. Lesley Frank, a professor in Acadia’s Department of Sociology, is working to address the global problem of family and childhood food insecurity while advancing food justice and health equity in Canada.

Fourth-year psychology honours student Maura Whitman has received two East Coast Music Award nominations for her debut EP, Introspection.

Acadia University will add three Mi'kmaw or Indigenous scholars and three African Nova Scotian or African Canadian scholars to its ranks through a newly established cluster hiring initiative.

Women in Nova Scotia with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) will soon be able to breathe a little easier thanks to new research by Dr. Carley O'Neill of Acadia’s School of Kinesiology. Research Nova Scotia has awarded Dr. O’Neill a New Health Investigator Grant of $100,000 over two years.

Vice-Provost of Equity, Diversion, and Inclusion, Dr. Claudine Bonner, is leading change on campus and beyond. Learn how she works with others to advocate, educate, and provide a platform so everyone can learn and do more to ensure equity, diversity, and inclusion at Acadia University.

Acadia University, the Acadia Students’ Union (ASU), and the Town of Wolfville are working with local RCMP to ensure students enjoy warmer weather without adverse repercussions.

In celebration of International Women’s Day, Acadia is recognizing inspiring women who have had an important impact on our University and surrounding community.

Acadia University leads all primarily undergraduate universities in Atlantic Canada for corporate research income in the fiscal year 2021.

Acadia University Canada Research Chair Dr. Lesley Frank has been honoured by the Province of Nova Scotia for exceptional qualities and outstanding service to the province in the field of academics and research.

Dr. Claudine Bonner is leading transformational change at Acadia University as its first Vice-Provost of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). She is the senior leader responsible for providing vision, excellence, and leadership to support the University’s equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives.

“My goal is to enact change, which begins with education and understanding,” says Bonner, an Associate Professor of Sociology and Women’s Gender Studies, who was appointed to the new role in September. “There is much work ahead to ensure everyone at Acadia feels accepted and supported in a way that provides them opportunities to thrive.”

Acadia University is taking an important next step in enhancing the education of current and future leaders in government, politics and the public service with the appointment of Dr. Alex Marland to the prestigious role of Jarislowsky Chair in Trust and Political Leadership.

A new study, funded by Research Nova Scotia and led by Dr. Emily Bremer of Acadia’s School of Kinesiology, will identify barriers and provide insight into the health inequalities experienced by children and youth with disabilities.