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EDITORIAL: Hat tip to our Class of 2020

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No matter where we find ourselves in life, most of us in Canada share a common experience: our progression from elementary school through junior high and high school.

The end of Grade 12 marks a rite of passage all of us are familiar with. The graduation ceremony that caps the Grade 12 year is a celebration of one's transition from youth to young adult, and of the wealth of opportunities that await.

Most of us remember receiving our Grade 12 diplomas on a stage in front of all our classmates and families, and the immense sense of accomplishment that came along with it. Some of us prepared for months for that moment, planning our dresses and suits, organizing parties and anticipating a truly unforgettable night.

This year, Grade 12 students around the world have had that experience altered, and in some cases torn away altogether. Here in St. Albert, many schools and students have done what they can to mark the occasion in some way, but those same students have missed out on an entire term of building friendships, going to extracurricular competitions and pursuing untold and invaluable experiences.

They’ve missed milestones many of us took for granted when we were their age: sports seasons cancelled, tournaments unplayed. School trips have been called off; students who were planning to take a gap year before university to travel have had to reassess their plans. Many have had to alter their plans for post-secondary.

We also know that this COVID-19 pandemic casts a shadow on the future: what will our world look like a year from now? Two years? What will the job market look like? The Class of 2020 will be the one navigating those turbulent waters.

In our July 8 Gazette, you'll find a booklet celebrating these students, who have had a graduation experience like no other. Although we may not all be able to relate to the sense of loss that comes along with so many unexpected changes at this pivotal point in our graduates' lives, many of us can empathize because we know how much our own graduations meant to us.

That became evident as schools, businesses and organizations jumped at the chance to pay tribute to our graduating Grade 12s. Times are tough, money is tight and the future is uncertain. Despite this confluence, the community stepped up to support the publication of this special section. This would not have been possible without your support.

We also tip our hat to the many contributors to this special pullout. Some are former St. Albert grads, while others are well-known personalities. What they have in common is the power to inspire. Their messages to the grads, and to the rest of us, is just what we need. The human spirit will prevail. The future, while uncertain, is ultimately ours to shape.

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