Pallister’s latest letter: congratulations to Grade 12 grads

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/06/2020 (1963 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THE Class of 2020 is the latest recipient of a signed letter penned by the Manitoba premier amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Premier Brian Pallister has written a congratulatory note to all the province’s Grade 12 graduates — a rarity, if not the first of its kind — as they wrap up an unusual school year.

“The Class of 2020 may not be able to commemorate their graduation milestone as planned, and yet, the difficult context surrounding it ensures it will never be forgotten,” wrote Pallister, in the letter dated June 2020, obtained by the Free Press.

In his note, the premier encourages graduates to look for job opportunities this summer to “build towards (their) dreams.” He also touts the province’s summer student recovery jobs program, and his government’s commitment to boost scholarship funding for post-secondary students.

The province sent the letter to divisions to distribute a copy to graduates alongside physical diplomas. Typically, Grade 12s only receive a diploma when they walk across the stage at convocation.

The Winnipeg School Division is still in planning discussions about how to distribute the notice, which was sent to the province’s largest division in both English and French. Meantime, the Seven Oaks School Division has asked schools to email the letter to students because convocations have been rescheduled for October.

Superintendent Brian O’Leary said administrators received an “overwhelming response” from families in favour of postponement and the premier’s letter was time-sensitive.

A senior at Maples Collegiate, Sierra Starr called the letter a “nice gesture” after she read it for the first time Wednesday, when contacted by the Free Press (she has yet to receive it from Maples).

“I’m glad they’re encouraging businesses to hire young people in this difficult time,” said Starr, 18.

She did, however, note it does little to address her wish for a proper graduation celebration. Starr said it was a letdown to learn its June dinner and dance was cancelled and she wouldn’t have anywhere to wear her black gown.

Provincewide, individual schools have taken convocation planning matters into their own hands; some are postponing events, others are altering them to fit public health protocols.

Manitoba hasn’t issued a directive, unlike in Ontario, where the education minister has urged boards to reschedule festivities when it’s safe to do so.

On Wednesday, NDP Leader Wab Kinew criticized the Pallister government for doing little to properly address disruptions to convocation season.

“Manitoba’s Grade 12 students want to have a graduation ceremony; they don’t want another political letter from the premier,” Kinew said, adding he’s heard from disappointed parents who want to mark the event.

Kinew noted divisions are expected to pay for distributing letters when those resources could be better spent hiring a band to play a Zoom concert for graduates or co-ordinating a social-distancing grad parade, among other things. The province should be taking a leadership role to guide divisions, Kinew said, adding a letter is no alternative.

The premier’s office did not respond to a request for an interview in time for publication; a spokeswoman also declined to provide the letter, citing the office wanting students to receive it first.

Manitoba seniors have already started to receive their signed letters from Pallister, which are accompanying their $200 COVID-19 expense cheques.

 

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @macintoshmaggie