Dear Acadia Community,

To say our shared experiences in recent weeks have been unprecedented seems like an understatement. March saw us celebrate with new Canadian citizens and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau one day and then close our campus a few weeks later. We are living through a time that will be recorded in history as a significant global event. Through our efforts, I am confident that we will see this through together.

As a university community, we will continue to face unknowns and uncertainty as the world responds to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are fortunate to have trusted partners in public health, government, and the university sector who are helping us rise to the challenge.

Please know that your well-being is our first priority, and that has required us to enact rapid changes and caused subsequent upheaval. Despite this, you have continually demonstrated focus, dedication, and determination as we forge a new normal-for-now across our operations. For those impacted by the changes, most notably our students, your resilience and willingness to adapt are testaments to your character. I want to thank each and every one of you for everything you have done over the past few weeks to keep Acadia up and running as we make these enormous transitions.

As I write this, our campus is eerily quiet since most of us have moved home to help flatten the curve of this pandemic. However, some of you continue to keep on-campus services running and provide support to our students who remain in residence. Those of us working and studying from home are deeply grateful for your service and dedication.

To our students in residence, and our students who made it home, I am thinking of you and your families and wishing you well. I hope you are successful in completing your studies, even though it will be under very different circumstances than expected. I hope you are well and healthy over the spring and summer as we, hopefully, emerge from current restrictions.

For the Class of 2020, we will ensure that you have opportunities later to celebrate your achievements in person as we welcome you as the newest members of Acadia’s Alumni Association.

In Acadia’s 182-year-history, there have been many challenges, and our university has learned to be resilient. Each time, Acadia has met the challenge, adapted, and created a better future. We will get through this by working together and supporting each other, even though we are apart physically at present.

I hope this newsletter reminds us that we continue to operate and that many good news stories continue to occur. This pandemic will end, and we will come together again as a university community stronger and wiser than before. Until then, thank you for your patience, your strength and your continued hard work. Be well.

Sincerely,

Peter

Dr. Peter Ricketts
President and Vice-Chancellor