Scholarships & Financial Assistance


With education costs on the rise, enhancing student assistance is a top priority for Acadia. Each year, we award more than $4 million to students in the form of scholarships, scholar-bursaries, bursaries, awards, and prizes. By maintaining a strong scholarship and financial assistance program, we are able to attract, retain and support our students.

As a donor to scholarships and financial assistance, you can direct your gift toward: general award funds or awards for specific departments, faculties, research, or athletic teams; any existing named awards; or you can create a personal legacy by establishing a named award yourself. By supporting scholarships and financial assistance, you can help to ensure access to all of the rewards of an Acadia education.

If you would like to give generally to the Scholarships and Financial Aid, please click here.

Hansford Family Scholar-Bursary

Scholar-Bursary of up to $1,000 | Eligibility: Economics, History

Established in 2017 by Gordon Hansford (’51) in memory of his father Cecil Hansford, this bursary is awarded to a full-time student preferably majoring in economics or history, in recognition of academic excellence and financial need.

From Annapolis County, Nova Scotia, Cecil Hansford was the son of English immigrants. In 1915, he and two brothers went to war for Canada, only two of them returning in 1919. After mining in Ontario, Cecil came back to Nova Scotia and settled in Wolfville where he opened a barber shop and served on the Town Council, the School Board, and the Wolfville Legion. During WWII in 1940, he served as Staff Sergeant at Camp Aldershot, taking time off in 1945 to run as a candidate for the CCF party against MP Lorimer Illsley. Cecil's son Gordon followed in his father's footsteps and joined the armed forces in 1941 at the age of 17. On his return he attended Horton Academy and then completed three degrees at Acadia University – BA in Economics and History (1951), BEd (1952), and MA in Economics (1953). His teaching career saw him educate students at Central Kings High School, Halifax Community College and Kentville Community College, now a campus of Nova Scotia Community College. Gordon’s wife, Helen was also a teacher in Queens and Kings Counties, Nova Scotia.

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Contact

Office of Advancement
Rm 225 University Hall
15 University Avenue
Wolfville, NS, B4P 2R6, Canada
General Inquiries: 902.585.1026
To make a donation: 902.585.1912
Toll Free in North America:
1.866.ACADIA (1.866.222.3428)
advancement@acadiau.ca

Charitable Registration #: 106681893 RR0001