SYDNEY RIVER, N.S. — Riverview High School grads Rhys Boutilier and Madison MacInnis are grateful there is a drive-in grand march for them.
Taking place in the parking lot of the Mayflower Mall on June 21, the venue confirmed Thursday the school could hold the event there.
Organized by a parent committee, they anticipate 500 vehicles will be there to watch the over 230 grads and celebrate their accomplishments.
Music services are being donated by Blazin’ Sounds and although it might not be the prom the teens have dreamt of, both MacInnis and Boutilier said it’s “something” after the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled graduation events province-wide.
“I was pretty disappointed when everything was cancelled because I was really looking forward to my grad year,” said MacInnis who is going to St. Francis Xavier University next year.
“This (drive-in grand march) is a lot different but at least we now have something. I am excited to wear my dress. I have been dreaming about it (and graduation) since I was a little girl.”
Boutilier is also excited to wear her dress and happy the parent committee organizing the RHS drive-in grand march is allowing dates from other schools.
“A lot of us have spent a lot of money on our dresses,” she said. “I’m also very grateful we can have dates from other schools. My boyfriend goes to Sydney Academy. They can’t bring dates from other schools.”
On June 5, the Nova Scotia government made an exemption to the public gathering limit of 10 for community groups, organizations and businesses who host graduation celebrations only.
These come with strict guidelines. Events must be outside, social distancing protocols must be followed and everyone must arrive in vehicles. No one is allowed out of their vehicles except for the grads.
The exemption runs until June 30, giving parent groups organizing these events 25 days to plan and execute the celebrations.
“I don’t think the province gave us enough time but it was all they could do because they waited so long. It should have been decided earlier. ” said Heather Peters, MacInnis’ mother who is head of the RHS parent group.
“We were pushing for earlier but we were waiting for the schools to do something… It was the parents and the community coming forward and saying, you have to do something for this group because they are getting forgotten about, that made this happen.”
RHS is the second high school in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality to secure a venue for its drive-in grand march. Glace Bay High School is having one at Cape Breton University. Nothing has been confirmed for Sydney Academy or Memorial High School.
Peters believes the event is important for the grads who haven’t seen each other since March.
“I see my daughter and she’s zombie-like. When we talk about grad stuff, she’s like, 'oh. Okay.' She used to be so excited,” said the single mother of two. “This event brings them together as a class and gives them some closure to their school year.”
Melinda Bussey’s daughter is also graduating from RHS this year. While she appreciates the work put into making the drive-in grand march a reality, Bussey does think more people should have had input into the event.
“I think the plan is a plan but I think the grads should have had some input in it. It shouldn’t have been left up to four or five parents to decide,” Bussey said. “It is their year. They should have had a say… But I feel this is the best we can do at this time.”
Her daughter is attending Cape Breton University in the fall and Bussey said for students like her, who aren’t leaving home, the final hurrah might not be as important as it is for those moving away for university.
“These poor kids. They were born during the midst of 9-11 and they’re graduating during a pandemic,” the Louisbourg mother said. “It’s almost like the world was against them from the start.”
Boutilier said she and her group of friends were hoping they could still have a prom later in the summer.
“We were all concerned that this (drive-in grand march) was just for the parents and not for us,” she said. “We were wondering why we just couldn’t wait until later in the summer to have the prom.”
With provincial health safety protocols still in place and no indication when restrictions on public gatherings will be lifted, Peters believes planning the drive-in grand march is their best option.
“If you think (the provincial government) is going to let people come within six feet of each other in another month or two, with a second wave expected to hit, you’re out of your mind,” she said.
“You just have to focus on the majority and do something to celebrate the grads. Something that’s safe. And then they can go on with their summer. It’s a very different time. A scary time. It’s crazy but we have to do what we can for them.”
