BOYLE – It has been 18 years in the making for Boyle School’s graduating class of 2021, but this week, they will look back on all their hard work and their options for the future, but not before the community has a chance to send them off into adulthood with a public display of affection, that many now consider an annual tradition in the village.
Grad ceremonies will take place this Friday, June 18, but afterwards at 4 p.m., the Grade 12 students will take part in a community-wide parade for the second year in a row. Last year, due to the severe COVID-19 restrictions in place at the time, organizers devised a parade that would see the grads, donned with caps and gowns, take their places on two trailers that then winded their way through town, allowing everyone to get a glimpse of the new grads and give a wave. There was so much community support and enthusiasm, they decided to do it again in 2021.
Boyle village council approved the route at its June 2 meeting, but wanted not only to give that approval, but to full-heartedly encourage future grad parades in years to come.
“If we could put in the letter as well to encourage it to be an annual thing versus just because we have the COVID stuff,” said Coun. Barb Smith. “It's something my kids are looking forward to again this year, it was a lot of fun and it's nice to have a little parade, even if it's just a teeny tiny one.”
“The community really stepped-up last year, it was awesome,” said mayor Colin Derko, who personally pulled one of the trailers behind his truck as part of the 2020 parade.
Coun. Shelby Kiteley was all for the new tradition, noting where she graduated, the class gets up at 5 a.m. and honks their horns along the same route every year, so everyone can take part in the celebrations.
Coun. Pat Ferguson added: “I think it allows a lot of people that aren't involved with any of the graduates to be able to see what's going on in the community too."
The parade starts at the school at 4 p.m., heads west across Highway 831 to First Ave. then south across Highway 663, past the municipal offices, Wildrose Villa and other seniors’ residences. They'll then head north back across 663 to Railway Ave., south down Third St., before heading east into residential areas and ending up back at the school.
