Jodrey
family funds new residence at Acadia University
For Release: August 8, 2003
(Wolfville,
NS) - The $75 million Residence Advantage initiative
underway at Acadia University has received a major gift from the
Annapolis Valley-based Jodrey family.
The family has pledged
$2 million toward the construction of the University’s newest
residence, which opened in July. In recognition of the family’s
leadership and generosity, Acadia has named the new state-of-the-art
building “Roy Jodrey Hall.” The residence, which will be home for 96
students this fall, is comprised of single rooms and two or three
bedroom suites, each suite with its own bath and sitting area. The
residence provides more individual space for each student, greater
washroom privacy and individual telephone, cable television, and
high-speed Internet access. With the warmth of traditional wood trim
and many modern conveniences, this residence promises to be an
example in the very best of student accommodations.
Roy Jodrey Hall is
also an integral part of Acadia’s first ever, residential college.
The residence, along with three others, will form a quadrangle that
includes a new commons building for a community of approximately 400
students. The commons building will be a hub for the college
providing fitness, recreational and social activities.
“Our family has long
been a strong supporter of education for young people in this
region”, said George Bishop, grandson of Roy Jodrey and current
chair of Acadia’s Board of Governors. “Acadia has proven that it
provides a world-class post-secondary experience and our family is
very pleased to be a part of such innovation; particularly when it
benefits the youth of the Annapolis Valley.”
The announcement of
this generous gift was made at the official opening of the residence
held earlier today. A plaque was unveiled dedicating the residence
in Roy Jodrey’s name and a portrait of Mr. Jodrey and his wife
Isabel was placed in the main lounge so that residents and visitors
alike will come to know the major contribution that Roy Jodrey has
made not only to this region but also to our nation.
Roy Jodrey (1888-1973)
founded the Scotia Investments Group of Companies in 1922. Equally
at home in the boardrooms of Toronto as in the orchards of the
Gaspereau Valley, Roy Jodrey remained loyal to his native Nova
Scotia and was committed to running his businesses successfully from
the small towns of the Annapolis Valley. For 14 years Jodrey sat on
the Board of Directors at the Bank of Nova Scotia. Although thrifty
in business, he gave freely to local churches, universities -
including Acadia - and community causes. His generosity didn’t go
unnoticed and he was once awarded Annapolis Valley Man of the Year.
At Acadia, the family’s support has gone to the Jodrey School of
Computer Science, to establish a Chair in Physics, to capital and
building programs, and to several scholarship and bursary funds.
“This is a tremendous
gift for Acadia University,” said Dr. Kelvin Ogilvie, President and
Vice-Chancellor. “We are greatly indebted to the Jodrey family for
their continued support of Acadia initiatives. This is one of the
largest single gifts provided to a university in this region and we
appreciate the Jodrey’s confidence that Acadia will continue to be
the best primarily undergraduate university in this country.”
Initiated in 2000,
Acadia University’s Residence Advantage renewal and expansion
program will position Acadia University as the premiere residential
university in North America. Six new residences and five
accompanying commons buildings are slated to be constructed on the
Acadia campus over the next five years, setting a new standard for
residential living. With the completion of Acadia’s Residence
Advantage program, the University will have residential colleges
that are modelled after some of the finest universities in Great
Britain and the United States.
-30-
For more information contact:
Sheri Woodland
Communications Manager
Office of Public Affairs
Acadia University
(902) 585-1362
Acadia
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