Builder
Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019
Tracey McGillivray was actively involved in the sport of volleyball for close to two decades, as an athlete, coach and official. Born in Halifax, she played for the Halifax Capital Volleyball Club, and at the same time, obtained her certification as a ‘local’ referee.
Entering Acadia in the fall of 1983, Tracey played three seasons for the volleyball Axewomen while in pursuit of her degree in Computer Science. In her junior year of 1985-1986, she founded, managed, and coached a men’s volleyball club team at Acadia.
She was a member of the Nova Scotia provincial women’s volleyball team from 1984-1986 and during 1984-1985 was invited to join the Volleyball Canada national development program. She was an assistant head coach for the Volleyball Nova Scotia 1985 summer U-18 provincial development camp, and that same year obtained her NCCP Level 1 coaching certification.
Following her graduation, Tracey competed in a senior women’s league with the Dalhousie club team, in a competitive co-ed league and in a Maritime competitive beach volleyball league. She also obtained her provincial referee certification.
A life change took her to Cold Lake, Alberta where she became head coach of the 4 Wing Cold Lake women’s volleyball team that competed in the Canadian Forces and CISM tournaments. While in Alberta, she refereed at the club and high school levels throughout northeastern Alberta.
Professionally, Tracey is a senior technology executive with over 30 years in global operations, business development, and account management. She has served as Vice-President of Information Technology for Rogers Communications.
She is known for her straight talk and is an effective communicator with her colleagues, customers, and the media. She is frequently sought after as a public speaker.
Tracey credits her time at Acadia for fostering a holistic, academic, athletic, and social experience” that has “continued to positively influence and shape me three decades later. It was at Acadia that I learned personal accountability, and that success only comes when you go ‘all in’.”
Despite excelling both academically and in extracurricular activities while at Acadia, Tracey was prevented by health problems from completing her degree on schedule in 1987. In 2014, on the eve of her 50th birthday, she returned to Acadia and completed the program credits to obtain her degree in computer science in May 2015.
To mark the accomplishment, she founded and endowed the McGillivray Athletic Award, a $1,000 scholarship for female student-athletes in applied science, engineering and mathematics programs. In 2018, she established the Tracey McGillivray Volleyball Award, to be presented annually to a deserving returning student-athlete on the Acadia women’s volleyball team.
Tracey has made it her goal to give back to Acadia as much and as often as she can. “Founded on the principles of inclusion, respect and excellence, it’s a place where you can test your mettle and build the confidence to make a difference.” Acadia, she says, “creates leaders.”
The Acadia Sports Hall of Fame is pleased to induct, in the Builder category, Tracey McGillivray (Laurence), a leader in volleyball, in business and in life.