With Laurentian University postponing its spring convocation ceremonies due to the pandemic, graduating Laurentian University sports psychology student Jordan Clancy said she can't help but be disappointed.
At the same time, Clancy said the health and safety of students, faculty and staff obviously has to take top priority.
But still, it's a blow.
“My heart breaks for the class of 2020,” she said. “We have all worked so hard to get to this point, and it is upsetting that we will not be able to celebrate our achievements at our graduation ceremonies.”
While Clancy said Laurentian will probably eventually hold a convocation for her graduating cohort, by that point, it's going to be difficult to have the same feeling about the ceremony.
“Everyone is just going to be at really different points in their lives by the time we're able to celebrate,” he said.
While she is disappointed about convocation, the pandemic is posing some more serious challenges to Clancy's life right now.
Having just finished up her studies through distance learning, she was supposed to start a summer job at a financial services firm in Toronto, but that job is on hold due to COVID-19.
The young woman, who aspires to help athletes overcome mental health issues, said she plans on applying for the federal government's Canada Emergency Student Benefit.
All three of Greater Sudbury's post-secondary institutions say convocation ceremonies will not take place this spring.
Laurentian said it is postponing its spring convocation to a later date, although details have yet to be finalized.
“We are finalizing details and will announce them to the affected students prior to informing the university community,” said a statement from the university.
A spokesperson for Cambrian College said its convocation has been cancelled due to COVID-19, but the college is “reviewing other options, including inviting this year’s graduates to the next available convocation.”
Collège Boréal said in-person convocation ceremonies will not take place in May and June of this year due to the pandemic.
“We are exploring other ways of marking this special occasion for our students, both privately and publicly, and any student who graduates this year will have an opportunity to receive their diploma in-person at some point,” the Francophone college said.
Post-secondary students aren't the only ones missing out on graduation ceremonies — the pandemic also affects students graduating from elementary and high school.
Local school boards who got back to us on this topic either say it's unlikely traditional, in-person ceremonies will take place this spring, or they haven't yet made a final decision on the issue.
One of the impacted students is Grade 12 Collège Notre-Dame student Paige Lemaitre, who is finishing up her high school years through at-home distance learning. She has already been accepted to a business program at Cambrian College for next fall.
In an email to Sudbury.com, Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon, the school board that runs Collège Notre-Dame, said it does not expect graduation ceremonies to run in their traditional format this June.
“You worked so hard for that spotlight moment, you know? And then you don't get it at all,” Lemaitre said.
Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon said a committee is looking into the issue and will identify possible formats that could allow the board to host graduation ceremonies either in person or virtually at the end of June or at a later date.
“The well-being and health of our students, families and staff are of utmost importance, and all decisions will be taken with great caution,” the board said.
Lemaitre said her teachers have reached out to her for graduation cap and gown sizes.
“They're hoping to do something, but they're not sure what it is they're going to do,” she said. “They've talked about doing a video or something of all the teachers giving the awards.”
In a written statement, Rainbow District School Board director of education Norm Blaseg said “graduation ceremonies, in all likelihood, will be held at a later date when it is safe to do so.”
Sudbury Catholic District School Board said it was in the process of making a decision on graduation ceremonies last week, but had not yet made that information public as of this article's publication.
Conseil scolaire public du Grand Nord de l'Ontario (CSCNO) said the board had not yet made a decision on graduation ceremonies.
“Should we be back in school in June, not sure if the schools will want to do mini ceremonies virtually,” said a spokesperson for CSCNO. “We will be looking at this in the weeks to come.”
