MEMBERSHIP ENGAGEMENT INITIATIAVES

Over the years, a number of initiatives were planned to bring Acadia Recreation Alumni together. At each event, individuals had the opportunity to introduce themselves, their year of graduation, and some fond memories of time in the program. This created an environment where one could reconnect with friends who went through the program at the same time, and to become acquainted with others who shared the same or similar experiences in the program but at different times. Sharing stories associated with the Acadia Recreation program was one of the most beneficial aspects of many members affiliation with SAURG.
TYPES OF INITIATIVES HOSTED BY SAURG
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Socials at Halifax Pubs: Given the large number of Acadia Recreation Graduates residing in Halifax and surrounding areas, occasional pub nights were organized where alumni to gather, connect with other graduates, learn about the work of the SAURG, and provide feedback to the Board.

Homecoming Golf Games: There were couple of Homecoming golf games coordinated for SAURG members at local courses.

Acadia 175: The SAURG Board approached the Acadia Alumni Association on a few occasions to offer their services in organizing or coordinating events such as during the 175th anniversary celebrations however such offers were never acted upon. 

Regional Gathering Protocol: In order to facilitate local gatherings of Acadia Recreation Graduates, a protocol was developed that would provide support and resources to any alumnus wishing to coordinate such a gathering in his or her local area.

Gatherings at Conferences: Resources were made available to support gatherings of Acadia Recreation Graduates at professional conferences where a number of alumni would be in attendance. The first such gathering took place in Moncton at the 2014 Atlantic Recreation & Facilities Conference and was facilitated by Robin Norrie ’86. 
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Annual Greetings: The Acadia Alumni Association used to organize a tree lighting and carol sing on campus but the practise ended a while ago. Some alumni commented that they missed having a connection to the university during the holiday season and so the SAURG Board sent an annual Christmas greeting to the membership.
Membership surveys: Various online surveys were conducted to solicit data from SAURG Members about a variety of topics. One that received the greatest response related to memories associated with participation in the Acadia Recreation Program. The following are the responses that were received in no particular order:
  • Looking back, I had very good professors with a lot of knowledge in the field-which to me is very useful.  They were also very passionate about the field and their students (even the ones like me who did not really apply themselves-although frustrating I am sure!).  I still remember them: Dr. Robertson, Dr. Markham, and Jude Hirsch. ​
  • My practicum with the Digby Recreation Department may be one of the most significant experiences I had.  I met Cindy and Ian James during my summer at the Recreation Department which allowed me to expand my limited recreation experience at that time.  Cindy in particular was so knowledgeable and passionate about recreation. 
  • Small class size and campus: For me, coming from Montreal, the size of the school and town were very small in comparison to what I was used to.  This however, was a blessing as the small class sizes allowed us to get to know each other and the profs. in a more intimate way than if were in a large school.
  • Professors-I really believe that the individuals who we had leading us during those days (early 1990s) had a passion for the field and a special caring quality to make sure that all students were given opportunities to grow.  As with any class there were many personalities, learning styles and objectives and I found that there was a genuine willingness to work with each student.
  • I only knew Alex for just under 18 months, since he died in April 97 of my 3rd year. In that time though, he quickly became one of my favorite people. I wrote the “student tribute” to him at his memorial service at the Manning Chapel. After the service, a bunch of us got together at the Axe Lounge, chipped in 5 bucks, bought a bottle of Glenfiddich, and toasted Alex and told stories. To this day, I still have his picture, and the memorial announcement that was in the Acadia Bulletin in my office cupboard. 
  • Organizing the “Keys to The Future” conference for Brenda’s Senior Seminar class. 
  • Teaching the Communications class how to use Powerpoint because Prof Etheridge didn’t like using computers.
  • Susan was caffeine-induced hilarity. She was so passionate and dedicated about what she did. She was always willing to help if you asked for it, and coming to her office was always met with the offer of a cup of coffee and classical music from CBC. 
  • I have so much respect and admiration for Gary Ness, despite the fact that I never had him as a professor. As the Director, he seemed to take an interest in me as a student, and as a person. 
  • The Gradation Breakfast where the RECR awards were handed out was a particularly poignant and memorable experience for me. I hated to leave the Acadia Rec Program. 
  • Wendy Bedingfield had the ability to take a really dry subject and make it really interesting. Her humor and wit always kept us on our toes. I learned so much from her. 
  • I recall doing a paper for Brenda, about leisure for LGBT youth.  I guess I was trying to share who I was at the time through academics. It was very therapeutic. 
  • Maurice Tugwell was not a Recreation prof, but very certainly one of my favourites at Acadia. Despite the thousands of students he’s had in his tenure at Acadia, he still remembers details about me, and always asks about my family.
  • Three other students and I presenting at RANS conference. It was terrifying but one of the most growth enhancing experiences. 
  • Staying up 48 hours straight to finish a project by a deadline for Susan’s class. 
  • I can’t count the number of times I went to Brenda for advice and got a goldmine in return. Her faith in me and what I had to offer really make me feel important and vital. She made it on my extremely short list of wedding invitees. 
  • PURPLE RECREATION Thursday afternoons at the Axe. 
  • Krista Locke, Carrie McBay, Beth Denton and I doing a presentation for Brenda’s Leisure Behavior class dressed up as muscle bound gym rats (a la Hans and Franz from Saturday Night Live)
  • My first “Rec Party” on Fairfield Ave. Didn’t know anyone, but felt so welcome.
  • Alex Wright’s memorial service
  • Greg / Krista / Colin and I attending the YES Entrepreneurship conference in Halifax and Great Big Sea was the Saturday entertainment 
  • Attending the RANS conference at White Point
  • I was proud to be a founding member of ARMS
  • The 98 Rec Grad BBQ hosted at Brenda and Wendy’s farm. Trites and Wright building the fire, Dave Kerwin, Mike Crowtz and Dave Wright playing music, and Trites doing some strange ritualistic underwear dance around the campfire. 
  • Ted Meldrum co taught my programming class and quickly became one of the people I came to immensely respect and really call a friend. I learned so much from Ted, but most of all, learned to get ALL the information before I make a decision that might impact other people.
  • Glyn Bissix had us create a spring break program for primary and middle school students - from beginning to end.  It was a lot of work, but I remember it being one of the key events that helped me in future to program events of all kinds and I use those skills today in the theatre and in filmmaking.   
  • I remember doing a presentation to my classmates about the benefits of leisure to those who were terminally ill.  It was in fact how most of my classmates learned of my mothers death the previous summer.  It was one of the ways with which I coped with her death.
  • A few of us in the Rec program took a French class to get a language requirement.  We really had a lot of fun, and one night even went so far as to have a formal night at a French restaurant where we attempted to speak french the whole time.
  • One of the most fun memories I have is of Jessica Bennett and Tyler Hayden and I setting up what we called “Seminary Beach” in the snow in the courtyard outside Sem.  We were tired of the snow, tired of studying, and it was a sunny day so we brought our lawn chairs out and a few drinks and sat in the snow and caught some rays.  It was glorious!  
  • Recreation orientation was amazing.
  • We lost Dr Alex Wright
  • Developed and ran an earth education camp for Evangeline middle school.
  • ARMS was born and we did a great roast of profs
  • Lots of great outdoor pursuits classes... Telemark skiing, cycling, canoeing, navigation, rock climbing, and more... Glyn always won the cardo challenges like biking up hills
  • ARMS apartment crawls... Ouch but fun. 
  • A friend and I designed a proposal for the NS Department of Justice Youth Facility entitled "North Twin Lake Adventure Therapy Program" and we submitted it in the Spring of 1994. Our supervisor was Dr. Jude Hirsch and it was an amazing learning experience. It was also an honor to be a part of a project that was applicable to a real life youth healing and re-integration plan. 
  • I had a number of memorable professors but I especially want to note is Liz Vermeulen. She was down to earth and a true advocate for women’s sport. She got to know her students and encouraged all to do well.
  • I was the first Student to organize Intramural Sport at Acadia. It was my job to set up the intramural sport and then promote it to get participants. I enlisted the help of several other Physical Education and Recreation students. When I look back at it now, it was a wonderful learning experience. 
  • Barb Conley’s Modern Dance lab was an experience for all of us. The majority of the class were not graceful dancers and never would be, however, we all hung in there and passed the lab. 
  • Captain Canada was an interesting figure who rode around campus on the bumper of a Volkswagen with nothing on but a mask and a Canadian Flag tied around his neck flying in the breeze. I believe this was about 1972-73. 
  • Many students collected dining hall trays to slide down the hill by Uhall on. 
  • Marsha Cook was a good friend of mine. She was killed in a car accident travelled back to Acadia from her home in Cookville. She was not an athlete but wanted to teach Elementary Physical Education or work with children with disabilities. 
  • My most memorable courses were Intro to Leisure, Leisure behaviour, Programming, Global Issues, Facilitation, the business courses, Outdoor labs (mtn biking, ropes course, x-country skiing, canoeing)
  • Seeing Glyn in a speedo at the orientation weekend.
  • Wendy was a sage professor and I learned so much from her.
  • The entire four year long quest to answer the question: What is leisure?
  • The interdisciplinary project combining rec, business, and music & theatre with Wendy Bedingfield.  My role was to make the group work well together!
  • The 4 day trip with Scott at Black River Lake was very memorable.
  • Having the opportunity to do work at the Waterville youth detention centre.
  • Looking back now the management/business stuff has been incredibly useful although we did not think so at the time.
  • Doing mysterious encounters with Alan Warner.
  • Rec orientations - I hated the anticipation of going but they were always so valuable.
  • AEE conference at White Point was a huge highlight - three people dressed as mushrooms were the Fun-guys!
  • NSOLD Modules were a mandatory part of the outdoors programs. This was so beneficial as it helped us meet the community and learn from other professionals.
  • One of my fondest memories was of one of our first Intro to Business classes with Professor Hugh Davidson. The prof didn't have a table to set the overhead projector on, so Tyler Hayden jumped up and volunteered to hold it for the entire duration of the class. 
  • Every single one of our Rec pot lucks. The food was good, but the time we spent together was even better. In Rec, we were like one big, dysfunctional family.
  • On March 31st, I invited all the Rec girls to a sleepover at my apartment. Everyone was there and we watched movies all night long. The next morning, being April 1st, we called every single boy in the class and told them that Glyn Bissix had added another assignment and that we had to meet at the SUB right away. We're not sure how many actually showed up.
  • In first year, we had outdoor pursuits. A fellow rec student from Toronto, had never been out of the big city, and ended up ice fishing on a frozen lake in his leather jacket. I'll never forget the shot of him, legs all folded up, line in the ice...so out of his comfort zone and he loved it!
  • The outdoor pursuits class was a great experience for me. First time I felt like a grown up, making chili with Matt Schurman and Frank Grant and winter camping. Our group leader was Avery Bassett, whom I was so taken by, that I named my daughter after her. 
  • Allan Kenley Matheson disappeared from campus right after our frosh week.
  • The Toronto Blue Jays won their first World Series in October 1992. The party in Wolfville was huge - every student poured out of their residences and partied all night
  • Study groups at the SUB were the best... I always had to have gummy bears.
  • We were at Acadia during the making and release of Stephen King's Delores Claiborne. Scenes were shot at the Acadia rink and around the area. I remember going to the old movie theatre on Main Street to watch it - it was packed and everyone stood up and cheered at the end.
  • Dr. Alex Wright - I recall how sharp his tongue was, but I cried when I heard he had passed away.
  • Glyn Bissix was the king of the "most correct answer multiple choice" exam, and the man who introduced me to environmentalism - I haven't used a styrofoam cup or let the water run while I brush my teeth since his class.
  • Al Whittle, the theatre and cafeteria attendant, was a staple. He was the older father figure who always looked out for us.
  • Brenda was a little scary at first, but one of the kindest, coolest, sweetest, funniest, biggest hearted people I know.
  • One of my most memorable projects was a group project where our entire class provided recommendations on business plans for Elderkin's. I still smile every time I drive by and see the changes he made to his building, one of our group's recommendations. Maybe it was a coincidence, but I like to think that a group of our students had a hand in the changes that he made.
  • I remember that (a classmate) had the dream/plan to work on cruise ships after graduation - they talked about it for years. For grad, she went on a cruise and was so seasick the entire time that she withdrew all related job applications as soon as she got home.
  • Steven Sullivan and I travelled to Mount Saint Vincent before exams to attend the job fair put on by Disney World. One of the most unforgettable and impressionable experiences I've had. I got offered a job after grad but declined - Steve went on to work for their cruise line.
  • We had the most amazing people in our Rec class: Charlene Shannon, JC Essiembre...people who had more professionalism, strength, and character than I could ever have imagined meeting at that stage in my life.
  • I attended my first conference (RANS) in Baddeck. We got all dressed up in our most professional clothing and piled into a car and drove there. That opened my eyes to the importance of networking with colleagues.
  • Various scents still stick with me: the autumn leaves during a football game, the smell of the wood in Seminary House, the smell of the Rec offices at the Gym, the smell of the manure on the fields in September, and the smell of mud of the flats in spring.
  • At graduation, Brenda pinned my flower on my gown, outside waiting to walk up to University Hall. My Dad snapped that picture and it meant so much to me.
  • The “Pope”, a fellow Rec Grad, flanked by his body guards, blessed the stadium, the ground, the fans, and the team at Acadia Axemen football games.
SAURG SATURDAY
​The major annual initiative planned to engage the membership was SAURG Saturdays, held on campus usually in May or June, which generally included the AGM, an educational session, a recreation activity, and a shared meal at a unique local eatery. The focus of each SAURG Saturday is provided below.

2014 In the morning, a workshop was help to solicit information relative to the initiative to write the history of the Acadia Recreation program. The AGM was held in the Fountain Commons Boardroom and provisions were made for members to connect by phone. Following the meeting, those assembled headed to the Gaspereau Community Hall for a country supper, prepared by women of the village. As Hurricane Arthur raged outside, a group of 30+ Rec alumni spent the evening getting to know one another, and sharing memories of their time at Acadia. Just as the final dessert had been consumed, the power went off and people made their way home under rather extraordinary conditions, with downed trees blocking a number of the roads leading out of the village. 

2015 Rick Gilbert and Robin Norrie ‘86, representing the the NS Department of Health & Wellness, gave a presentation on two new initiatives directing the future of Recreation: Framework for Recreation in Canada: Pathways to Wellbeing, and Shared Strategy for the Advancement of Recreation in Nova Scotia. Following the AGM, SAURG members headed to Halls Harbour where they enjoyed a lobster supper on the wharf, and then headed to the beach for a bonfire. During the evening, they were visited by Jerome the gravedigger and a number of ghostly characters who, for nearly two hours, shared a number of tales from the past that took place along the Bay of Fundy shores. It was a magical evening.
2016 The educational component of the day explored whether the concept of leisure is still a relevant topic. This was the theme of the opening plenary at the 2012 reunion conference where a panel of four distinguished alumni presented their views on the topic. The session began by watching the video of those presentations and then engaging in a facilitated discussion identifying the influencing factors, the consequences, and what action, if any, might be desirable to make leisure more present in people’s lives today. For dinner, the group headed to the Old Orchard Inn where a leisurely meal was enjoyed, watching the sunset over the Annapolis Valley . 

2017 This years education session featured Acadia Rec Graduate Mike Parker ‘77, who is a renowned author, giving an illustrated talk about his most recent book entitled Nebooktook, which in the Mi’kmaw language means “in the woods.” The book is an eclectic mix of history, heritage, ideology, nostalgia, philosophy, poetry, and prose set in Nova Scotia, including more than three hundred early-twentieth-century images. Nebooktook is reflective, introspective, meditative, and thought-provoking. While it decries the practices and doctrines that want only to destroy and pollute, more importantly the book celebrates the traditions, natural beauty, and intrinsic values of our woods and waters. Following the AGM, supper was served at the White Rock community hall, prepared by the daughter of one of the SAURG members. The evening activities included a wagon ride though a local apple orchard during which the group learned about how the provision of recreation opportunities such as corn mazes, wagon rides, and haunted houses was being used as supplemental income for local farmers. The production of hard apple cider is another new revenue stream and the group was treated to samples. In the orchard, with the smell of apple blossoms hanging in the air, under the light of the full moon, the group enjoyed a campfire. Once again, they were visited by Jerome the gravedigger and his ghostly friends who shared tales of mysterious happens in the area long, including on the Acadia campus. The evening ended with a fireworks display across the dyke lands, above the village of Port Williams. It was another memory making day. ​
2018 The theme of this SAURG Saturday was entrepreneurship. The day began with a three hour walking tour visiting a number of the unique Wolfville businesses including the Valley Vixen, Just Us Coffee, Annapolis Cider Company, and Inquisitive Toy Shoppe where the owners talked about the nature of the business and reasons for starting it. Acadia Recreation Graduates have strong ties to at least 5 locals businesses: Tan Coffee, Inquisitive Toy Store, Step Outside, the Box of Delights Book Store, and Troy Restaurant. Food and drink samples were enjoyed at some of the stops on the tour. During the tour, the group learned about the origins of a number of the other businesses on Front Street and Main Street. The tour concluded at the Saturday market where participants visited with vendors and had lunch. Along with the afternoon AGM, a panel of entrepreneurs, all of whom are Acadia Rec Grads, spoke about their businesses and their experiences as entrepreneurs. Speakers included Cindy James from the Petit Urban Pooch, George Wade from Fireworks FX, and Donna Conrad from Donna Conrad and Team RE/MAX Advantage Brokerage. Following the session was a tour of the newly renovated Rhodes Hall which houses the Acadia Centre for Small Business and Entrepreneurship. The evening meal was served at the recently established Wayfarers Ale Society in Port Williams, one of the areas newest craft breweries. 

2019 The educational session explored the relevance of municipal recreation services today, with municipal recreation directors, all SAURG members, sharing some of their personal experiences, as well as perspectives on the key challenges. Speakers include Kate Friars who served for many years as Recreation Director for Victoria and Burnaby BC but currently serves as Director of Parks, Recreation, and Culture for the Municipality of East Hants; Deb Ryan, the Manager of Recreation for the Municipality of the County of Annapolis; and Rachel Bedingfield, Director of Parks & Recreation for the Town of Kentville. Frank Grant from Yarmouth Recreation Dept who was scheduled to present, was unable to attend. Following the AGM, the group proceeded to one of the areas newest and finest wineries, Lightfoot & Wolfville, where they shared supper and drinks on the outdoor patio overlooking the vineyards and Cape Blomidon.

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