By John Francis, Bruce Peninsula Press
Bruce Peninsula District School’s Secondary Grad ceremony was held at the school on June 26, 2025, with a class photo taken at the lighthouse beforehand.
Longtime music and drama teacher Tara Stanton acted as Emcee, welcoming students, parents and presenters. Stanton and Jessica Reid shared the Land Acknowledgement and welcomed parents and staff. Peninsula Trustee (and Bluewater District School Board Chair) Jane Thomson brought greetings from the Board. 2011 BPDS grad Jenna Lawson returned to BPDS to give a tribute to the students.
Tara Stanton mentioned that the subject awards had been handed out already at an assembly. The English Award went to Ava Cameron; the Art Award to Ava Perrault; Annabelle Galasso won both the Drama and Science Awards; Matthew Mocny won the Math and Senior Outers Awards. Kayleigh Baxter received the Social Science Award, Lillie Dowd the Physical Education Award, Dylan Munn the Co-op Award and Skylar Campigotto the French Award.
The 2025 ceremony featured 41 Awards, Bursaries and Scholarships. This is a remarkable testament of community support, when you consider that the graduating class consisted of only 17 students. The awards have a combined value of well over $20,000.
The first of the scholarships and bursaries was the Catherine Pedwell-Ganton Award, which went to Ava Cameron. The Isobel K Ganton Award went to Lillie Dowd. The Foundations for the Future Award was presented to Gavin McArthur. Annabelle Galasso was presented with the Tobermory Health Services Award; Kayleigh Baxter and Matthew Mocny received the UNESCO Global Citizenship Awards.
The Rotary Club of Northern Bruce Peninsula endows and presents a number of awards and scholarships every year. Rotarians presented the Mary Cameron Memorial Award to Dylan Munn, the John C Buckley Memorial Trust Scholarship to Jayden Quesnel, the Keith Hopkinson Memorial Scholarship to Kayleigh Baxter and the Robert Spearing Service Above Self Bursary to Ava Cameron.
The Canon Jack James Memorial Scholarship was given to Matthew Mocny, the Independent Order of Oddfellows Bursary went to Skylar Campigotto. Josh Munn received the Virginia Wiley Memorial Award; Jakob Whittaker received the Lion’s Head Hospital Auxiliary’s Dr Harpur Award and the Good Humour Award went to Josh Hall.
The Biosphere Award for science and the environment went to Matthew Mocny; the Grey-Sauble Conservation Foundation’s Conservation Award went to Wesley McFarlane.
Skylar Campigotto was presented with the Bumper to Bumper Award; Josh Hall was given the Bruce Grey Woodlands Association Bursary.
The True Grit Award went to Ava Dekorte, the Retired Teachers of Ontario Community Service Award went to Jakob Whittaker.
The Sources of Knowledge Awards were presented to Annabelle Galasso and Kayleigh Baxter.
The RONA Technological Studies Award went to Jayden Quesnel, the Harvey Warder Memorial Award to Gavin McArthur and the Bruce Power Future Innovators Award to James Wheeler.
Daniella Connolly was given the Bruce Peninsula Society of Artists Award. The Suntrail Outers Award went to Matthew Mocny and the Enet West Memorial Award to Ava Cameron. Annabelle Galasso received the Graham Barton Memorial Award.
Dylan Munn received the Bruce County Council Award, Skylar Campigotto the CUPE Local 1176 Award and the Bruce Power Women in Trades Award went to Lillie Dowd. Jayden Quesnel received the Ivan Hepburn Memorial Trades Award.
The Larry Bannerman Awards were presented to Oliver Webb Ross and Ava Perrault. The Lieutenant Governor’s Community Volunteer Award went to Annabelle Galasso.
The Peninsula SWANS service Club presented the Annette Richardson Award to Kayleigh Baxter. The Colpoys Bay Women’s Institute Volunteerism Award went to Ava Cameron and the Beatrice Bruin Music Bursary went to Daniella Connolly.
Annabelle Galasso received the Tod Wright Scholarship.
The Lion’s Head (Northern Bruce Peninsula) Rotary Club Scholarship goes to the student with the highest average mark in six courses who is continuing their education. The 2025 recipient is Annabelle Galasso.
The BPDS Staff Award went to James Wheeler.
The final presentation of the night was the prestigious Governor General’s Bronze Academic Medal for highest academic achievement. Principal Brenda Brewer and teacher Oliver Clark presented the medal to Annabelle Galasso.
Nine of the seventeen members of the graduating class were named as Ontario Scholars (over 80% average): Kayleigh Baxter, Skylar Campigotto, Lillie Dowd, Annabelle Galasso, Josh Hall, Gavin McArthur, Wesley McFarlane, Matthew Mocny and Ava Cameron.
BPDS School Letters were awarded to Ava Cameron, Lillie Dowd, Annabelle Galasso, Matthew Mocny and James Wheeler. Annabelle Galasso also received the Award of Merit.
Valedictorians Annabelle Galasso and James Wheeler gave a fond salute to their classmates. Jakob Whittaker’s slideshow was the evening’s finale.
