By Fred Sgambati (’83)

Alumni and friends filled our campus October 17-20, bringing energy, enthusiasm and Acadia spirit to the University during Homecoming Weekend 2024.

Temperatures were unseasonably warm and folks took full advantage, enjoying a busy slate of events that included: the Acadia Business Banquet, featuring incredible insights from five leaders in the business community; the Bulmer Relay at Waterfront Park in Wolfville, won by a two-person team consisting of first-year nursing and sociology students Josephine Reynolds and Kiera Way-Hopkins; the Friends of Acadia Football Dinner; a pancake breakfast and HOCO bash; and this year’s Acadia Sports Hall of Fame Induction ceremony, during which Chuck Wust (’88), Scott Nicholson (’89, ’91), Ivan Birungi (’07), Bridget Anakin (’92), and Kevin Baker (’06) were welcomed to the Hall. Kevin Knopp (’95) was also inducted, but unable to attend the ceremony.

A capacity crowd attended our signature event, the Backyard Barbecue on Clark Terrace. Sponsored by the Acadia Alumni Association, TD Insurance, iA Financial Group, and Stirling Fruit Farms, guests filled up on great food from Chartwells and enjoyed live music from Tony and the Boys before heading over to Raymond Field for AUS football action between Acadia and Bishop’s. Bishop’s carried the day 29-18, but the stands were packed and fans were treated to an entertaining contest. Graduating seniors on the football team were celebrated, alumni from the returning 1971-72 men’s basketball national finals team were acknowledged, and this year’s Sports Hall of Fame inductees were introduced and recognized as part of an epic afternoon!

Dance parties closed out the day on Saturday: one on campus in the Students’ Union Building and another at the Church Brewery in town featuring The Sundries, with University President Dr. Jeff Hennessy (’99) and Sarah Pound (’08), who celebrated a birthday.

Other varsity sports were on full display, with the women’s and men’s soccer teams, and men’s hockey team all seeing action over Homecoming Weekend. The soccer teams each posted victories over UPEI on October 18. Club sports involving men’s rugby and women’s lacrosse were also featured.

On October 20, a trio of performers – Paula Rockwell (’87); Jennifer King (’91); and Isabelle Fournier – headlined Sunday Music in the Garden Room at the K. C. Irving Environmental Science Centre, and a Service in the Manning Memorial Chapel that evening was a wonderful way to wrap up Homecoming 2024.

For more, please see our photo gallery.

(Photos by: Meagan Hancock, Peter Oleskevich, Fred Sgambati)