Peter MacKay (’87)

Peter MacKay (’87) was first elected to the House of Commons in 1997. When the Conservative Party of Canada came to power in 2006, MacKay became Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. He moved from Foreign Affairs to Defense in a 2007 Cabinet shuffle, where he remained as minister until July 15, 2013, when he assumed the Justice portfolio and became Attorney General of Canada.

“My older sister Cethlyn (’86) went to Acadia and two younger sisters,Mary Louise (’89) and Rebecca (’95), did, too. Both of my parents have degrees from Acadia and my grandfather attended Acadia. All of my grandfather’s brothers and his sister also went there, so there was a very large clan of MacKays that went to Acadia from my grandfather’s family, and my grandfather’s brother Donald was student council president. My mother Macha (Delap) MacKay graduated in 1960 and my dad (former MP and federal minister) Elmer MacKay (’60) was doing his law degree at Dal, but he had not done an undergraduate. In those days you could go on to law and so he had gone to Dalhousie to take engineering and then switched to law, but started doing his BA and completed it at Acadia simultaneously.

“The family connection was definitely a factor; that other family members had gone to Acadia and I was familiar with it growing up. I had spent time on the campus as early as high school, attending football games and visiting. It seemed like the right thing to do. There was continuity in my education in going to Acadia so it was very attractive. It felt very much like home when I got there.

“I played rugby and intramural hockey for years. Ironically, I was not ever involved or interested in student politics. In fact, I avoided it like the plague. But I did follow politics and took a double major in history and political science.

“How did Acadia prepare me for politics? Acadia has very strong academic traditions, with an atmosphere that encourages critical and creative thinking, complemented by the open and welcomed dialogue between professors and students. It fosters the spirit of being involved in your community and country. Acadia was very fertile ground for development as a young person. It is such a part of the community that you feel like you are a part of the town and the Annapolis Valley immediately upon setting foot on campus. I have great memories of going tubing in the Gaspereau Valley and playing ball on the Ridge. A very idyllic place in my view, and my memories are very warm.

“Acadia has always benefited from great leadership, too, and that would include the current president, Ray Ivany. I just think the world of Ray. He did a great deal for the Nova Scotia Community Colleges, but he’s a very hands-on, brilliant guy. Connects with students and faculty like no one I’ve seen. He has a different style from, say, a James Perkin, who was also a tremendous leader. Perkin was very athletic, even at his age when he was president. I recall him doing the ceremonial Acadia kick-off before the Homecoming Game one year and he must have kicked it 40 yards, deep into the other end. Then the Acadia kicker – and I won’t mention his name because it would embarrass him – came out and flubbed the opening kick-off. It squibbed about 25 yards and everyone looked toward Dr. Perkin and chanted: “Suit him up! Suit him up!”