4 ACADIA BULLETIN Spring 2014

Al

um

ni

Pr

of

ile

s

E mma Cochrane (’13) grew up hearing stories about Acadia from her grandmother, her aunts and uncles, and her parents. When it was time

for her to choose a university, she was determined to break with family tradition. But then she thought about all those stories.

It began more than 60 years ago with Emma Cochrane’s grandmother and grandfather, Patricia Seldon (’53) and the late King Cochrane (’53). “My grammy and grandfather, Pat and King, met at Acadia in their orientation week. They fell in love and ended up getting married,” Emma says. “It was the quintessential love story.”

King was on the varsity hockey team while studying business administration. Pat played varsity basketball and was on the swimming team while earning her BA in secretarial science. Pat, who has recently celebrated her 81st birthday, is also the Life Secretary of her graduating year.

“Our family is rooted in the Maritimes,” Emma explains. “King and Pat raised their children in Liverpool, Pat’s hometown. I grew up hearing these wonderful stories about some of the best times of their lives at this University. I never got to meet my grandfather – he passed away just before I was born – but my grandmother talked about the amazing time she had and the great friends she made.”

Pat and King went on to have four children. Of these, three went to Acadia: Lynn (’77); Jamie (’79) (Emma’s father); and Larry (’83). Although the youngest, Jill, went to Mount Saint Vincent University, her husband, Graeme Swain (’77), is an Acadia graduate. So are Lynn’s husband Barry Taylor (’80) and Jamie’s wife (Emma’s mother), Barbara (’87).

Generation after generation

“All of them had similar great-memory stories,” Emma says. And so, after some reflection, she decided to attend Acadia as well.

“I fell in love with the campus. And everyone I met, everything I had heard about the reputation of the school,

completely came true for me,” she says. “Those were, hands down, the best four years of my life. I did so much growing. I learned about myself and I learned about other people. It was just that niche, boutique experience that Ray Ivany talks about at Acadia University. My grandparents had it. My parents and my aunts and uncles had it.”

Now a third generation of Cochranes is part of the Acadia family. Emma earned her BA (Honours) in political science last year and is doing an MA in Communications at the University of Ottawa. Barry Taylor’s daughter, the late Sydney Taylor (’13), had finished her degree before her passing last May. Emma’s younger sister Katie (’15) is in the Bachelor of Music program studying vocal performance, and Jill and Graeme’s son Mark Swain (’15) is studying business administration.

Extending a family’s reach

“Three generations of Cochranes have had a wonderful experience at Acadia and have each been able to contribute in some way to campus life,” Emma says.

In fact, if Emma is anything to go by, the Cochranes have contributed a great deal. Last year, Emma was named a Young Woman of Distinction by the Progress Club of Halifax. The award recognized her groundbreaking initiatives on campus to promote sexual health and prevent sexual violence. Supported by faculty, staff, and students, the work ranged from discussion groups and educational programs to the first-ever Acadia Sex Fest in Emma’s fourth year. She and Callie Lathem, the student equity officer, also created a video, “I need feminism because…” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmWQQ6ZDCrg). “We were able to start some important conversations with our peers and got people talking, thinking and acting,” she says.

The Cochrane connections with Acadia reach well beyond family. “My dad’s best friends are from Acadia,” Emma says. Every summer, Acadia friends from across the country get together at the Cochrane cottage. “As a result, my generation of their kids have become lifelong friends as well,” she adds.

By Rachel Cooper (’89)

Family stories inspire Acadia’s next generation

ACADIA BULLETIN Spring 2014 5

Al

um

ni P

ro

fil

es“Acadia holds a special place in

all of our hearts. We made true

friendships, met loved ones,

and learned how to persevere.

It’s pretty exceptional.

”Emma Cochrane

Above: Emma Cochrane

Below: Three generation of Cochranes in the Bahamas, Christmas 2013. Back row (from left): Barry Taylor, Graeme Swain, Jill Swain, Larry Cochrane, Barb Cochrane, Jamie Cochrane, Katie Cochrane, Emma Cochrane, Pat Cochrane, Carter Swain, Janice Evans (family friend), Kendall Publicover (family friend), Mark Swain. Seated (from left): Lynn Cochrane, Franci Cochrane (daughter of Larry and Katharina), Sammy Cochrane (son of Larry and Katharina), Katharina Seitz-Cochrane.

Pho

to:

Cou

rtes

y of

the

Coc

hran

e fa

mil

y