Simcoe County schools prepare for unique graduation ceremonies
High school students across Simcoe County will celebrate their graduation in unique ways this year.
St. Catherine of Sienna Catholic School in Barrie, Ont. will welcome graduating students back to receive their diplomas.
"Students will be able to come to the school to get their diploma and walk along the red carpet and have their moment like they would have if they were in person," said St. Catherine of Sienna principal Rich Foshay.
Holly Trinity Catholic High School in Bradford, Ont. will also open its doors to students and provide a live stream of speeches.
"We have categorized our graduating students by surname, and they will be coming in from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. dressed in their cap and gown, and we will give them their diploma," said Holy Trinity principal Heinrich Bebie.
Last week, Premier Doug Ford announced schools would not be reopening this school year and encouraged schools to hold outdoor grad ceremonies for all grades, leaving school boards scrambling.
With the final virtual school bell about to ring on the 2020-2021 school year, time is limited for school boards to adjust to the changes.
"Our schools have been working for several months, some of them since January, to put these virtual celebrations-these hybrid celebrations together-these things take time," said Pauline Stevenson, communications manager for Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board.
The public board in Simcoe Muskoka is planning similar events, with some schools offering a drive-thru diploma pick-up.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
Canada, G7 urge 'all parties' to de-escalate in growing Mideast conflict
Canada called for 'all parties' to de-escalate rising tensions in the Mideast following an apparent Israeli drone attack against Iran overnight.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.