There’s a new date for the 2023 Tumbler Ridge graduation.
Or rather, new dates.
Grad was originally scheduled for Friday, June 16, but with no word on whether people would even be in town due to the evacuation, that date was scrubbed on June 13, three days before the event was to happen.
While the evacuation order was lifted on June 15, it was too close to the planned date to get everything back into order.
So the grad ceremony is now Wednesday, June 28.
The actual time has not been set, but it will most likely be in the evening, at 5:00 or 6:00.
The graduation dinner for grads and their families will be June 24. This part of the festivities is not open to the public.
Roxanne Gulick sits on the SD 59 board as a trustee. But she’s also the parent of a grad this year. She says this class has had a rough go of it. Not only did they have to go to school through two years of Covid, the class also had issues moving into high school. “This is the same class that we’re unable to have their Gwillim Grade 6 graduation due to flooding,” says Gulick.
“Having to change the date brings apprehension and frustration as the new date will likely interfere with or not line up with someone’s schedules—whether that looks like having family here from another country, parents work schedules and the uncertainty of them being able to attend. And then catering and all of those plans.”
She understands that they have little control over the fire. Still, she feels bad for the class. “While I understand that that are starting the adult part of life it would have been nice that this one thing that they’ve been planning and working so hard for was one thing they could still be kids for.”
While some people may not be able to make the new date, the grad ceremonies will be livestreamed. To watch, go to bit.ly/trssgrad2023.
For the actual time for grad, visit us at www.tumblerridgelines.com.
Trent is the publisher of Tumbler RidgeLines.
