High school grads feel the love during North End parade

Talon Phrakonekham felt a tinge of nostalgia as he and fellow members of the Class of 2026 roamed North End streets lined with young cheerleaders and gave out high-fives on Tuesday afternoon.

Dozens of children from elementary schools in the neighbourhood that Talon grew up in shouted congratulations from the Salter Street sidewalk and waved posters marking the occasion.

“You did so good in math. We are so proud of you,” one sign declared in a child’s wonky handwriting.

Talon, 17, said the North End Grad Walk — now in its fifth year — provided an opportunity for both celebration and self-reflection.

“You don’t understand, as a kid, how lucky you are to go to a place where you can see all your friends, every day,” he said as he described what he’ll miss most about St. John’s High School.

Talon is among nearly 200 Grade 12 students who will earn a diploma from St. John’s, Children of the Earth High School or R.B. Russell Vocational School this year.

All of the graduates were invited to walk familiar streets surrounding the three schools in a parade-like fashion on Tuesday. A police escort, followed by a drum group that performed in a truck bed, led the pack of students, school staff and trustees.

“When one person graduates from the North End, the entire neighbourhood wins,” organizer Michael Redhead Champagne said.

Champagne, an alum of St. John’s, helped put on the inaugural event in 2022 as a way to honour graduates from that year, as well as those whose celebrations were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

It’s become an end-of-year staple to both inspire onlookers and make it more accessible for “the broad swath of North Enders” to celebrate local students’ accomplishments, he said.

“It’s very, very emotional for me. I feel so proud… I never thought I’d see the day,” said Verna Muchikekwanape, who participated in the afternoon parade in celebration of her grandson earning his diploma at Children of the Earth.

“It took a lot of hard work, encouragement and ceremony to get here.”

The 20-year-old has faced no shortage of challenges throughout his young life, from spending his infant years in foster care to being subject to chronic bullying, which took a severe toll on his mental health, Muchikekwanape said.

The second oldest of the eight grandchildren in her care, he is an inspiration to his younger relatives, she said.

The grandmother noted she often reminds the children and young adults that she won’t be around forever. “I tell them, ‘You have to have a good education to take care of yourself,’” she said.

Principal Jen Donachuk said the graduation tradition is a particularly special one because it allows students “to feel the love this entire community has for them,” via car horns and otherwise.

“They’ve had to overcome a lot of stuff to get where they are and that’s really important for us to acknowledge,” Donachuk said.

Grade 12 student Ariel Blythe said she felt “so excited” about her future after R.B. Russell as she finished the final stretch of the parade.

The approximately hour-long walk ended with a barbecue that community-serving organization Zoongizi Ode Inc. put on at Ariel’s home school.

The 18-year-old’s message to younger students? “Even if it’s hard, don’t give up.”

Talon said it’s been challenging to find motivation to finish his final year of high school, after which he will become a first-year student at the University of Manitoba. “Senioritis is what they call it,” he said, followed by a chuckle.

The 17-year-old said he will always be proud of his connection to St. John’s despite its “bad rap” because of all the poverty and related social issues in the community. The neighbourhood may have challenges, but it’s a community filled with caring people — as evidenced by the turnout on Tuesday, he said.

St. John’s teacher Tala Gammon echoed those comments.

The event is a welcome celebration of the North End that makes her feel “very joyful,” Gammon said.

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca