With the continuation of the full-scale teacher’s strike an unknown factor, plans for Ballenas Secondary’s grad festivities are going ahead.
Starting with the prom parade at 5 p.m., Saturday, June 28, students will assemble at Springwood Middle School and make their way across town to the Parksville Community and Conference Centre for the big party.
“This is an exciting time for the graduates and the entire community is invited to come out and share in that excitement. The street closures, while only for a short while, may inconvenience some residents so the committee would like to make sure everyone is aware of the times and locations of the closures,” said Jillian Mohr, parade chair.
Starting at Springwood Middle School, the parade will travel along Despard Avenue, turn left down Moilliet Street, turn right on Jensen Avenue across the Alberni Highway to the Parksville Community and Conference Centre.
With the grad party at he PCC this year, the route is a bit different, but the parade will still include more than 100 assorted vehicles and around 400 grads and their dates. The parade is expected to last about two hours.
Organizers said they considered a route along Despard to Craig Street, which would cause less disruption to traffic, but they pointed out a lot fewer people would see the parade on that route, much of which is uninhabited.
Both KSS and Ballenas Secondary hold their formal commencement ceremonies June 26.
— NEWS staff
