KINKORA, P.E.I. — Everything rests on making that all-important big entrance when it comes to Kinkora Regional High School prom-goers.
And while having the perfect dress is vital, it’s the creative forms of transport that gives students that ultimate wow factor.
Isaac McKenna took his prom date, Katie Pearce, to the graduation gala on a vintage truck that huffed and puffed black smoke, much to the crowd’s delight – observing as if it were a parade on Saturday evening.
“This was a regular 1953 Dodge truck, but my grandfather built a box on the back (in the year 2000) to make it a service truck for our fourth-generation potato farm. We use the truck to repair equipment in the fields,” said McKenna, from Country View Farms in Newton.
Proud family and friends were among the onlookers capturing pictures of the couple’s special ride.
“The truck is a part of our family history, and it carries a bunch of tools that include a welder, gas tanks, and a generator,” said McKenna.
His father, Corey Muttart said, it was great to see them arrive on the old truck.
Shelley Tremere, the school’s teacher-librarian, said the popular student-driven event not only draws hundreds of onlookers but is a fun way to get creative.
“We once had a student arrive in a Sobey’s grocery cart because her last name was Sobey,” said Tremere. “Students have cycled in on a bicycle made for two, with a basket of colourful Geranium flowers. We’ve had tractors because it’s a farming community, vehicles with boats on the back, a toy train, fire engines, horses, a party bus, electric and vintage cars, just to name a few.”
Trent Ranahan, the athletic director, said for the past 10 years he’s admired how the transport matches the personality of the student.
“It’s neat to see what comes around the corner and we’re always impressed by the creativity.”
Monstrous sounds could be heard as elegant Ford Mustangs rolled in one-by-one, followed by trucks, convertibles, vintage cars, a tractor and a Nissan-Z sports car.
“My brother’s friend let us borrow his (Nissan-Z) car because it matched my blue dress,” grinned Rebecca Green, who is serving as president of the student council. Green plans to study sciences at St. Francis Xavier in Antigonish, N.S., following graduation from high school in June.
“I’m excited to start a new chapter in my life,” she said.
Although her date, Luke Payne, admitted he will “miss her tonnes”.
