COVID students just can’t catch a break.
Virtual graduations that became the norm during the pandemic have finally ended for most students, but Alberni grads have new issues to contend with.
In light of the ongoing fire at Cameron Bluffs, North Island College (NIC) and Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council have made the difficult decisions to postpone their graduation and scholarship ceremonies.
The fire has led to the closure of Highway 4, a vital connection between Port Alberni, West Coast communities, and Qualicum Beach on the east side of Vancouver Island.
An emergency detour for Highway Four is available for essential traffic.
The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has indicated that the closure will likely extend beyond the duration of the fire due to damage and instability along the highway’s slope.
NIC’s graduation event, initially set for June 13, will be rescheduled to sometime next fall to ensure the safety and well-being of all attendees.
“Our hearts go out to all students in the Alberni-Clayoquot region who were looking forward to the graduation ceremonies,” a NIC spokesperson said in a press release.
“While we want to honour your journey, we are unable to fully celebrate at this time. We hope to celebrate again when community resources are not hampered by the road closures, and community members are able to fully celebrate with us.”
The Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council (NTC) also announced that its scholarship ceremonies initially scheduled for June 9 and 10th are now “regrettably” delayed until further notice.
“To support a celebratory event where all can attend in good spirits, it has been decided to wait until we can gather to celebrate the achievements and talents of remarkable Nuu-chah-nulth scholarship recipients and graduates,” said Ian Caplette, NTC director of education, training and social development.
Further details regarding the rescheduled dates for both ceremonies will be announced once determined.
In the meantime, if any students feel that attending a fall ceremony won’t work for them, NIC encourages them to reach out via email to Darin Bellham, Associate Registrar, Enrolment Service and Admissions, at darin.bellham@nic.bc.ca.
