High School Graduation 2021

The third large noteworthy event was high school graduation.  A congratulatory ceremony was held for the class of 2021 on August 27.  The ceremony was originally scheduled for early June but had to be postponed due to unforeseen circumstances.  The territory’s COVID-19 restrictions allowed for 100 people to attend the ceremony (graduates included).  This was a much welcome increase because only 50 people were allowed at last year’s ceremony.  Even though much planning had been done before summer, there was still a lot of work to do before the big day.  Especially since there would be 3 out-of-town VIPs present.  (More on that coming up).

Sealskin hoods.

Putting on a successful graduation ceremony requires a lot of coordination and people.  The list of items required are: gowns, decorations, food, diplomas, awards, grad cake, programs, cutlery, cookware, tables, chairs, qulliq, and rings, just to name a few.  Add in emcees, caterer, photographer, movers, and a baker, you’ve got a pretty big operation.  Thankfully, the lessons learned from previous ceremonies are always considered.

The seven graduates decorated the community hall on August 26 & 27.  Vehicles were used to move items at the school to the hall.  The grad cake would be prepared and delivered separately.  The local hired caterer took over the hall’s kitchen and spent the entire day preparing the food.  In the past, the food was divided amongst the teachers and we had to prepare it.

The first big problem we encountered was the arrival of the graduation gowns.  I won’t go into specifics, but to make a long story short, they weren’t going to arrive in time.  Thankfully, the Graduation Committee reached out to the high school in Pond Inlet and they lent us their graduation gowns.  They were placed on a Canadian North plane and arrived 45 minutes later.

The grad dinner was scheduled to begin at 6pm, but I arrived at 5:30pm.  I wanted to photograph the decorations and help out.  The graduates and their helpers did an excellent job decorating the hall.  I was wearing my best suit for the occasion.

Guests started to arrive just before 6pm.  Everyone had to wear facemasks until they started eating.  The teachers & I helped bring out the food and place it on tables set up against a wall.  The grad cake was carefully brought out by two teachers and placed on its own table.  The graduation cake was really big.  It sat on a large tinfoil wrapped board that sat on two long wooden stick.  The baker did a superb job.

The three VIPs who flew to Arctic Bay for this important occasion were: Commissioner of Nunavut & former Premier of Nunavut, Eva Aariak; Nunavut Minister of Education David Joanasie; and Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Quttiktuq, David Akeeagok. 

Food Line.

The festivities began later than planned.  The principal & vice-principal welcomed everyone to the grad dinner at 6:20pm.  The food was blessed by a local minister and everyone lined up to fill their plates.  I waited until the graduates & their families got their food first before joining the line.  The menu consisted of: ham, turkey, beef, stuffing, mashed potatoes, vegetables, cheesecakes, juice, coffee, and tea.  The food was delicious.  I had two servings.  Dinner was finished by 7:10pm.

Everyone helped clean up by clearing the tables, bringing dirty dishes to the kitchen, putting away the tables, and rearranging the chairs for the ceremony.  The graduates were instructed to change into their grad gowns and take group pictures with the VIPs.  After that, it was time to take a group picture around the cake.  Several minutes before this, we avoided a major catastrophe.

I noticed one of the legs of the table that the cake was sitting on, was loose.  In fact, it didn’t look like it was being held up by many screws.  How it managed to support the heavy cake up until this point was beyond me.  I immediately pointed this out and asked for two teachers to grab a hold of the cake because I was worried the table would collapse.  Sure enough, as soon as they lifted the cake, the table underneath fell to the floor.  We had saved the cake. 

Another foldout table (in good working order) was found and placed in front of the decorated background in the main foyer.  The cake was gently placed on the table and a large cutting knife was found in the kitchen.  The knife was given to one of the grads as they stood behind the cake.  Many photographs were taken of the graduates “cutting” their cake.  The cake would be consumed after the ceremony.

The ceremony began just before 8:00pm.  The emcee welcomed everyone and asked for everyone to stand for the arrival of the graduates.  The procession was led by the two local RCMP officers.  The emcee introduced each graduate as they walked along a red carpet towards the stage.  The audience cheered as the grads took their seats on stage.  The VIPs were also seated on stage.

Qapik Attagutsiak.

Minister of Education, David Joanasie,
addresses the graduates and the audience.

The opening prayer was done by the Grade 1 teacher and the Ceremonial Qulliq was lit by well-respected Elder Qapik Attagutsiak.  The first to speak was David Joanasie, followed by David Akeeagok.  They both congratulated the graduates for completing high school, encouraged them to pursue post-secondary education, and possibly think about becoming teachers in the future.

The ceremony moved on to the Presentation of Awards.  There were four awards: Governor General’s Award (GGA), Hamlet of Arctic Bay Award (HABA), Inuit Culture Award (ICA), and the Science & Math Award (SMA).  The GGA is given to the top student with the highest average.  The HABA is given to the student who volunteers & participates the most in the community.  The ICA is awarded to the student with the highest grade in Inuit studies.  And the SMA is awarded to the student with the highest average in the maths & sciences. 

Winner of the first 3 awards.

Winner of the SMA.

The first three awards were won by one student.  I know that sounds unfair, but it was pretty obvious a long time ago.  This high achieving student frequently maintained a very high rate of attendance, earned high marks in all his classes, and helps out a lot in the community.  He’s one of my senior cadets who will be aging out next year.  His parents were very proud to see him receive the awards.  The SMA was awarded to a female student.  She was all smiles – as were her parents – when she received her certificate.

A member of the local District Education Authority (DEA) handed out the rings to each graduate.  The grads had chosen their designs months in advance. 

Two Baffinland representatives continued the ceremony by first congratulating the graduates for completing high school and then gifting them laptops.  I think Baffinland does this in other communities directly affected by the Mary River Mine operation.  I wish a mining company gave me a laptop when I graduated high school.

The principal & vice-principal took to the stage to address the students and hand them their high school diplomas.  The grads were very happy to receive their diplomas because the papers made it official; they were done and high school was now behind them.  But, I wonder, if they also felt a little sad?  Despite all the hardships & pains, there were also many good experiences that made high school bearable and enjoyable.  All they can do now is hold onto their memories until the very end.

The graduates of 2021 were given the opportunity to say a few words.  Five out of the seven did.  They thanked the teachers, parents, guardians, friends, and families, for supporting them and encouraging them to never give up.  These were followed by short speeches from the graduates’ parents, guardians, and friends.  They mostly touched on the same themes.

The ceremony concluded with the Exit Procession.  Music was played over loudspeakers, the crowd cheered, and the grads walked off the stage.  The exited the same way they entered.  I personally shook the hands of each graduate and congratulated them on their achievement.

The grad cake was cut into many pieces and given out to anyone who wanted a taste.  Obviously, the graduates were given the largest pieces.  I ate a small piece. 

I spent the next hour moving everything owned by the school into Frank’s truck and then transporting it to the school.  Several teachers helped me move everything inside.  It would be sorted and put away the following week.  We all went home to get some much-needed rest.  We assumed the graduates would party into the night.  They deserved it. 

This was my 9^th high school graduation ceremony in Arctic Bay.  I wonder how many more I will get to see in person?  Maybe until I retire?  Who knows?  Only time will tell.