VANCOUVER -- With graduation ceremonies being put on hold or cancelled entirely for B.C. students during the COVID-19 pandemic, a virtual celebration with provincial celebrities recognized the class of 2020's achievements.
On Tuesday, a showcase with B.C. singers, athletes and performers honoured the province's 61,000 graduating Grade 12 students. Jacob Tremblay, Sarah McLachlan and Craig Kielburger were among the participants.
Tyrone Edwards, Liz Trinnear and Chloe Wilde from CTV's Etalk hosted the event.
"I know this is not how graduates expected to celebrate their achievements, but that doesn’t diminish the occasion," said Premier John Horgan in a news release.
"Their parents, teachers and all British Columbians are proud of them. After they leave school, the whole world is there for them to explore. It will be a smaller world at first, but it will grow."
The event, which also celebrated students in the Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut, was streamed live on YouTube.
"The class of 2020 will be remembered in the history books. My heart goes out to the Grade 12 students who have had their graduation plans so unexpectedly interrupted," said Stephanie Higginson, president of the BC School Trustees Association, in a statement.
"This may not be the grad that you had planned on, but hopefully this virtual celebration will be a small step in recognizing your hard work and your accomplishment. This celebration, with so many talented and extraordinary people coming together to recognize the accomplishments of the class of 2020, is well deserved. Congratulations to all of you."
