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

“True to our values, Acadia is stepping up to help others and provide access to our residences for nursing homes in need of evacuation during this emergency caused by the wildfires in our province,” says Dr. Peter Ricketts, Acadia’s President and Vice-Chancellor. “I am so proud that Acadia’s staff immediately jumped into action as we started to receive calls for help.”

Acadia recognizes that this situation can be disruptive for all involved, he adds, extending his appreciation to the Events, Security, Physical Plant, Technology Services, and Dining Hall staff for working closely with the Roseway team to ensure that Acadia can meet their needs.

“The compassion for these residents is evident in every measure considered by those coordinating the evacuation and relocation to Acadia,” says Patrick Difford, Acadia’s Director of Safety and Security. “We are impressed by how carefully the Macleod Group’s Roseway Manor team is executing their evacuation plan, and we are pleased to support their needs at such a challenging time.”

Approximately 66 nursing home residents and 40 caregivers began arriving on campus on May 30, and the Roseway Manor team is working on setting up equipment and settling the residents into their temporary accommodations on the Wolfville campus. Additional rooms were being prepared for additional long-term care facilities, and a group from the MacLeod Surf Lodge in Lockeport began arriving on May 31.

“We sincerely appreciate the positive and professional response from the people at Acadia,” says Ramsay Duff, CEO of MacLeod Group, which operates Roseway Manor and MacLeod Surf Lodge Nursing Home. “Through careful planning and support, we have the opportunity to relocate our residents as seamlessly as possible despite the challenging impacts of the wildfires in Nova Scotia.”

The temporary location will act as a satellite of the two nursing homes, and their teams will provide visitation details to family members once they are prepared to welcome visitors to the Wolfville campus. Information for each nursing home will be updated on the MacLeod Cares website and social media channels.

For any questions related to campus operations, please get in touch with Safety and Security at Acadia University, which operates 24/7 by calling 902-585-1103.

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