Hundreds of Fort Mac grads attend convocation
Posted Aug 27, 2016 1:13 pm.
Last Updated Aug 27, 2016 1:19 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
While students around the province are getting ready for their first year in college and university, hundreds are going back to join their high schools for a convocation ceremony they never had.
Catholic high schools in Fort McMurray held their graduation ceremonies and prom night on Friday. On Saturday, three high schools from the public school district held their convocations.
Education Minister David Eggen was in Fort McMurray to address the graduates, many of whom were in class in early May when the order was given to evacuate more than 80,000 people from the city. Eggen says a lot of students are preparing for their post-secondary studies and have already moved to Calgary, Edmonton and institutions across the province.
“They’ve come back for the graduation. So again, I think it’s a psychological thing for themselves, and for their families and their friends, to come home again. And to have these ceremonies really helps for people to move on,” Eggen said.
Eggen toured the schools where restoration is ongoing. Four facilities will not be open for the start of the school year this fall because of cleaning and renovations.
“All of the schools are still standing, which is a miracle really, when I look at the devastation in the immediate neighbourhoods,” he said. “There’s lots of work being done to get the schools ready. Lots of smoke damage of course, and contamination.”
The Fort McMurray Public School District expects enrollment will drop about five per cent because of the families who decided not to return to the city.
