‘This is one of the most important moments in some of our lives’: N.S. students plead for graduation ceremonies
As graduation season approaches, students in Nova Scotia are hoping to celebrate their success with loved ones.
But the province's top doctor told students Friday to hit the brakes.
Emily Krupay, a Grade 12 student in Truro, is pleading with the province to let her school have a special drive-in graduation ceremony.
"This is one of the most important moments in some of our lives, and it just feels harsh to get it stripped away from us," says Krupay.
To her knowledge, Krupay says the event was successful in 2020 and doesn't understand why the province denied it this year, espescially since students are back in class, and drive-in movie theatres are operating.
But Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's chief medical officer of health, has concerns.
"It's too big of a risk for us to take at this point. Given some of the experience that we had with some of the 'so-called' drive-in ceremonies last year, that's why I mention the 'drive-past,' where you have the graduates seated and people and everyone else is in their cars driving past, as a model they may want to look at," he said during Friday's news briefing.
That's exactly what is planned for graduates in Liverpool, N.S. after the community held a similar event last year.
"They'll all be six feet apart, sitting in their grad gowns, ready to see their family and friends come by, toot their horns, holler at them and celebrate them," said Deborah Raddall, a parent and event organizer.
Opposition leader Tim Houston says the province should provide clear guidelines for community-based committees working to organize grad events.
"Even some of the language, of potentially penalizing this year's grads maybe because of the actions of last year's grads, that doesn't make sense to me," said Houston, Nova Scotia’s Progressive Conservative leader.
"Let's have common sense. It's high school graduation, be very clear on what's acceptable, they'll plan to it."
The province says school-based grad events are separate from any other celebrations that are held in the community. Many schools will hand out diplomas on an appointment-based approach, similar to last year.
"So you have to pick a time and you get three minutes with your parents, to come grab your diploma and leave," says Krupay.
She says that's not enough, and she will continue to push the province for a safe celebration.
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.
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.
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.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
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.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Powerful tornado tears across Nebraska, weather service warns of 'catastrophic' damage
Devastating tornadoes tore across parts of eastern Nebraska and northeast Texas Friday as a multi-day severe thunderstorm event ramped up in the central United States, injuring at least three people.
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.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.