Above photo: Science teacher Mark Deeley delivers his “Love Letters” to the graduating class of 2025 as Cupid. And he wonders why he keeps getting asked to do these things….
Despite—or perhaps because of—a general dislike of doing the grad addresses, Mark Deeley has found himself doing more than his fair share recently.
“For the last twenty years I have been the Senior Science Teacher here at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School,” he says. “In that time, I have given many graduation speeches and each time I do, I state that it is the last time I will give one.
“So, here I am again….”
Perhaps it’s his desire to make each one special.
Case in point: this year, he decided to deliver his “love letters” to the students dressed as Cupid, complete with bow, arrows and a cute little skirt, which he wore under his lab coat and a pair of tearaway trousers.
“I really am honored and deeply appreciative of being asked each time,” says Deeley. “You see I grew up in the military and I spent years looking for a home. I wanted safety and security, but mostly I wanted to love and be loved in my home.
“You see this isn’t just about the grads. It’s about our town. I love our town, our home. I love this little hamlet. I know we suffer from economic issues, wild temperature swings, differing political and religious views and even the occasional forest fire. But I love our town. I love the scenery, I love the wildlife, I love the institutions and I especially love the people.”
But when he talks about love, he doesn’t mean romantic love or love for your friends or even parental love. “Today’s theme is an educator’s love and as such I have written each of you a love letter and like Cupid I am here to deliver those letters.”
But as much as he loves Tumbler Ridge? “Mostly, I love my students. Students who I have watched grow from little kids to young adults. Students who meet their challenges with hope and optimism. And students who I am proud to say … will always be ‘my kids’!
“Grads, love where you came from, love who you came from. For good or for bad, Tumbler is your home and no matter where you end up, no matter what you face, you can always—at least in your memories—you can always come home.”
Below 2025 Graduates in order of first name: Amber Hewitt, Andrea Hernandez, Blake Urness, Brodie Moffat, Brooke Strang, Cada Faber, Cayda Bertrand, Dane Campbell, Daniel Sauve, Dillon Turner, Frankie LaRocque, Holden Mawhinney, Jack Smith, Kale Lundgard, Linna Jimeno, Marcus Robbins, Marshall Hovan, Mathew Morissette, Morgan Mandel, Tanner Caldwell, Trey Stokes, Tristan Bellows, Tucker Findlay, Tyler Curry and Will Knowlton. Followed by a few graduation ceremony photos.
Link to TRSS 2025 Graduation Ceremony: https://www.youtube.com/live/UBAoortc6Ak?si=snBk9dH6iB9Z8M9P
Trent is the publisher of Tumbler RidgeLines.
