'Ready for anything': Calgary high school grads mark occasion with in-person ceremony
Calgary high school graduates are once again walking across a stage and receiving diplomas in front of an audience, marking the first in-person ceremonies since the pandemic shut down traditional in-person grad celebrations in spring 2020.
The class of 2022 is also unique for having navigating all three years of high school as COVID-19 circulated. The University of Calgary hosted at least two large in-person graduation ceremonies on Tuesday.
Some of the 650 grads from Joane Cardinal-Schubert High School (JCSHS) were thrilled for the chance to celebrate together, sharing hugs, high-fives, bouquets and taking group photos.
"I'm happy that I can now. I know that a lot of people before because of COVID couldn't and I'm happy that I can actually be here," said graduate Cameron Benson.
"It was incredible. I feel like I've been waiting for this forever. And with COVID and everything and the classes before that didn't get to (graduate in-person), I feel like it's a great experience and I'm really happy that my class got to finally do it," said fellow graduate, Emma Mountain, who is an aspiring singer.
The school's principal says the moment was extra special -- to pull off the first full-scale grad ceremony since the southeast school opened four years ago.
"Nothing right now is taken for granted. I think they appreciate and they see that and I think they are mature beyond their years," said principal Garry Tink.
PANDEMIC IMPACT THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL
The pandemic forced Alberta schools to close in March 2020, when this crop of grads were partway through Grade 10.
Rules around masks, distancing, online learning and cancelled extra-curricular activities persisted through their high school years.
Celebrations in 2020 were cancelled or became virtual events, while last year's grad ceremonies pivoted to drive by events to maintain physical distancing.
STUDENTS CELEBRATE RESILIENCE
Western Canada High School held its closing exercises or graduation ceremony at the Jack Simpson gym at the University of Calgary on Tuesday afternoon.
"Knowing what it's like to have something taken away, it really shows us the true value of what we have," Soroush Rohanizadeh, Western Canada High graduate.
Some of his fellow graduates also say they are feeling resilient.
"We really had to depend on ourselves the most and I feel like that's a really important skill to learn," said Venus Rezvanpour.
"Although it was in a way a disadvantage, it still built us up in a way that we will be ready for anything that comes our way," said Saif Farag
The more than 900 grads and special guests filled the Jack Simpson gym as a supportive crowd captured the occasion.
"I am very happy to see this situation and these ceremonies and I hope we see more for university and so on," said Mohsen Rohanizadeh, parent of a high school graduate.
Other parents are not concerned the class of 2022 will have issues progressing into adulthood.
"They may be a little different than other graduating Grade 12s, I'd say they're no further back," said Kjelti Kellough, parent of a high school graduate.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Loud boom in Hamilton caused by propane tank, police say
A loud explosion was heard across Hamilton on Friday after a propane tank was accidentally destroyed and detonated at a local scrap metal yard, police say.