Acadia alumni and friends returned to Wolfville October 16-19 for Homecoming celebrations marked by a ‘takeover’ and a convocation ceremony for the classes of 2020 and 2021.

With their original in-person convocation ceremonies disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, ’20 and ’21 alumni finally crossed the stage at a special fall graduation ceremony on Friday, October 17.

President and Vice-Chancellor Jeff Hennessy (’99), Chancellor Nancy McCain (’82, ’21 HON) and Class Presidents Taylor Wilson (’20) and Olivia Shive (’21) all spoke of the graduates’ resilience and strength during the pandemic and beyond.

The formal convocation ceremony offered a sense of closure and celebration that many ’20 and ’21 alumni felt were missing as part of their Acadia journey.

Meanwhile, across campus, alumni from Bermuda, The Bahamas, and Barbados ‘took over’ Homecoming 2025.

The Takeover 2.0 — the first happened in 2017 — began Friday with a wine tour, campus tour, and reception at Alumni Hall. The standout moment was Saturday’s Junkanoo and parade down Main Street, which culminated in a joyful celebration outside Alumni Hall.

Alumni also packed the Clark Terrace for the traditional Backyard Barbecue before the Acadia Axemen football game against Mount Allison, and what a game! The Axemen beat the Mounties 27-20 in a nailbiter that saw the lead switch several times between both teams, only for Acadia to secure the win in the fourth quarter.

Other notable moments among many during Homecoming 2025 were the 59th Annual F.C. Manning School of Business Banquet, the Acadia Sport Hall of Fame induction ceremony that welcomed the 1987-88 Acadia Axemen Basketball team, Chris Rhora (’84), Darren Colbourne, Emma Duinker ('12), Jim MacLeod, and Janna Slevinsky (’15) to the hall, and varsity soccer and basketball games.

Thanks to everyone who came back to celebrate with us! We can’t wait to see you next year. In the meantime, relive Homecoming 2025 with our photo gallery.