By John Francis, Bruce Peninsula Press
Bruce Peninsula District School’s Secondary Grad ceremony was held at the school on June 29, 2022, with a class photo taken at the lighthouse beforehand. With 30 graduates, this was the largest class in several years.
Longtime music and drama teacher Tara Stanton acted as Emcee, welcoming students, parents and presenters. BPDS Principal Brenda Brewer gave a tribute to parents and teachers. Trustee (and Bluewater District School Board Chair) Jane Thomson brought greetings from the Board. Jenna McGuire returned to BPDS to give a tribute to the students.
The ceremony began with the presentation of the Skilled Trades Bursaries. Kristina Sweatman presented them to Tamieka Eby, Zander Livingstone and Mikai Campbell. Awards of Merit, which are presented to students who demonstrate “above and beyond” participation in school extra-curricular activities, were presented to Grace Wheeler and Chloe Cameron. BPDS School Letters were awarded to Mona Bailey, Chloe Cameron, Cole Hamill, Blake Hellyer, Fisher Oke, Grace Wheeler and Mackenzie Zevenbergen.
This was followed by the presentation of (a record) 42 Awards and Scholarships. This is a remarkable statement of community support, in that the awards have a combined value of well over $20,000.
The first of the scholarships and bursaries was the UNESCO Global Citizenship Awards. Presented by the Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association, they went to Logan Robins and Fisher Oke. The Beatrice Bruin Music Bursary, presented annually by Jim and Darlene Dilamarter in memory of a longtime BPDS music (and Latin!) teacher, went to Abby Franklin. Connie Tackaberry gave the SWANS Annette Richardson Award to Chloe Cameron. Nicole Gamble offered the Bruce Peninsula Society of Artists Art Show Award to Mona Bailey and the Art Shoppe Award to Alex Rankin. Patti Hellyer returned to BPDS to present the Harvey Warder Memorial Award to Pearson Arps. The Rotary Club of Northern Bruce Peninsula endows five scholarships every year. The first of these, named in memory of longtime elementary teacher Mary Cameron, went to Tamieka Eby. The JC Buckley Memorial Trust Scholarship was given to Blake Hellyer; the Rotary “Service Above Self” Award was presented to Mackenzie Zevenbergen; the Keith Hopkinson Memorial Scholarship went to Sydney McArthur and Chloe Cameron received the Rotary Highest Academic Proficiency Scholarship.
The Lion’s Head Hospital Auxiliary’s Dr Harpur Award was presented to Sydney McArthur. The Sources of Knowledge Forum, in conjunction with our national parks, offers ongoing scholarships. Daryl Cowell made the presentation to the 2023 recipients, Chloe Cameron and Tamieka Eby. Janaki Bandara offered the Canon Jack James Memorial Scholarship to Cole Hamill. Recently retired BPDS teacher John Rodgers returned to present the Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association Award to Jonah McNair. Kathy Anderson presented the Catherine Pedwell-Ganton Award to Tamieka Eby and Michael Coombs presented the Isobel K. Ganton award to Mackenzie Zevenbergen.
Sydney McArthur received the Bruce Peninsula Future Nursing/Medicine Award from Jim Oliver and Mary Beth Baxter and the Golden Dawn Achievement Award from Brian Taylor. Mackenzie Zevenbergen was called up to receive the Colpoy’s Bay Women’s Institute Award and the Retired Teacher’s Community Service Award. BPDS staff member Jessica Bullock then presented the True Grit Award to Tamieka Eby, the Good Humour Award to Braydon Malone, the Grey Sauble Conservation Award to Morgan Daries and the Bruce Grey Woodlands Award to Jonah McNair. She also presented the CUPE Local 1176 award to Blake Hellyer and the BPDS Staff Award to Chloe Cameron. Kristina Sweatman called up Pearson Arps to receive the Bumper to Bumper Automotive Award.
Jessica Rice gave the RONA Technological Studies Award to Grace Wheeler, the Independent Order of Oddfellows Award to Tamieka Eby and the Bruce County Council Award to Pearson Arps.
Kevin Kuipers offered Blake Hellyer the Suntrail Award, then presented Tamieka Eby with the Ivan Hepburn Memorial Trades Award and the Bruce Anchor Award. He offered the Bruce Power Women in Trades Award to Mona Bailey, the Bruce Power Future Innovators Award to Grace Wheeler and the Lieutenant-Governor’s Community Volunteer Award to Chloe Cameron. The Graham Barton Memorial Award went to Sydney McArthur and the Enet West Memorial Award was presented to Grace Wheeler.
The Larry Bannerman Awards were presented to Ryan Baker, Rachel Rehorek, Jordon Hurst, Emma McMann, Mikai Campbell, Alex Rankin and Morgan Daries.
Brenda Brewer and Tara Stanton made the final three presentations of the evening; the Tod Wright Scholarship went to Chloe Cameron and the Principal’s Award for Student Leadership went to Mona Bailey.
Chloe Cameron received the Governor General’s Bronze Academic Medal.
The awards program being complete, each graduate was presented with their diploma.
Twelve of the thirty members of the graduating class were named as Ontario Scholars (over 80% average): Mona Bailey, Chloe Cameron, Grace Wheeler, Tamieka Eby, Mackenzie Zevenbergen, Rachel Rehorek, Logan Robins, Blake Hellyer, Cole Hamill, Sydney McArthur, Fisher Oke and Emma McMann.
Valedictorians Fisher Oke and Chloe Cameron gave a fond salute to their classmates including a thumbnail sketch of what each of them will be doing next fall.
Mona Bailey’s slideshow was the evening’s finale, and Jodi Naves, who will be leaving BPDS after 25 years, gave the final address to the graduates and their families.
