Morinville high school students could get a free pass to the town’s leisure centre as part of a graduation gift from town council.
Morinville councillors voted 5-2 during committee of the whole June 16 to refer a motion from Mayor Barry Turner to their June 23 regular council meeting (councillors Stephen Dafoe and Scott Richardson opposed).
Said motion proposes to give all Morinville students who graduate from high school this month a free 10-visit pass to the Morinville Leisure Centre, with the money for those passes coming from council's public relations budget.
The coronavirus pandemic has forced high schools across Alberta to cancel or delay their traditional graduation ceremonies. Morinville CAO Stephane Labonne said staffers at Morinville Community High School had asked him if the town could support the school’s graduation event this June 26.
Labonne said Morinville had 149 high school students graduating this month – 19 from Sturgeon Composite and 130 from MCHS. He noted several neighbouring towns had taken steps to recognize grads this year, with Gibbons awarding its graduates with a $100 gift certificate to be used at local restaurants.
Councillors considered several ideas on how to recognize Morinville’s Class of 2020. Coun. Nicole Boutestein suggested giving grads a free 10-pass to the leisure centre worth $55, which Turner estimated would cost the town $8,200 in total. Turner said he would also film a video message to this year’s grads.
Richardson opposed the 10-pass idea, saying many youths did not use the leisure centre and may leave town after they graduate. Dafoe said the town could probably organize a fireworks display for less money and suggested the 10-pass could be perceived as an attempt to influence future voters.
Turner’s motion was set to be debated at the June 23 council meeting.
