Wolfville, NS - Acadia University and Brigadoon Children's Camp Society today signed a memorandum of understanding that establishes Acadia as an academic partner of the Aylesford Lake year -round recreation and research facility for youth living with chronic illness. 

"Acadia's students, faculty, and staff are engaged in a number of initiatives that benefit our community and forming this partnership with Brigadoon Village is an exciting new opportunity to make a positive contribution," said Dr. Tom Herman, Acadia's Vice-President Academic. "I believe our two organizations will benefit greatly from this partnership. Brigadoon will have access to our content experts and our students through their faculty advisors, and Brigadoon volunteers and staff will have new options for internships and research. Of course, the important beneficiaries of this will be young people who face chronic illness, and their families."

"Brigadoon is thrilled and proud to be partnering with Acadia University and looks forward to working with its students, faculty and staff. Brigadoon's efforts to improve the lives of children, youth and families living with a chronic illness are greatly enhanced by Acadia's legacy of academic excellence and community involvement. The potential of learning and teaching opportunities with Acadia is limitless, as is the national and international impact both organizations can achieve by working together," said Todd Bethune, Chair, Brigadoon Children's Camp Society.

About Acadia

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 www.acadiau.ca. 

About Brigadoon

Brigadoon is a not-for-profit group building a year-round facility dedicated to young people living with a chronic illness or condition, and to the teachers and health care providers dedicated to their care. Brigadoon will be the first facility of its kind in Atlantic Canada, and one of only a handful of facilities in Canada that focus on experiential based learning, research and teaching. Brigadoon will encompass the facility capacities of all presently existing special needs camps with room to develop more - with a focus on uncovering the vast unmet need of the pediatric chronic illness population in Atlantic Canada.  Brigadoon Village is currently being built on Aylesford Lake, Kings County, Nova Scotia.  www.brigadoonvillage.org

-30-

Contacts:

Scott Roberts

Executive Director

Communications and Marketing

Acadia University

(902) 585-1705 (Office)

(902)670-8966 (Cell)

scott.roberts@acadiau.ca

David McKeage

Executive Director

Brigadoon Children's Camp Society

(902) 422-3387

david.mckeage@brigadoonvillage.org