North Peace Secondary School celebrates 2024 graduates

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — School’s out for the class of 2024 at North Peace Secondary School, who celebrated their graduation ceremony in front of family and friends at the North Peace Arena in Fort St. John on June 21st.

The event was live-streamed on energeticcity.ca and began with the graduates walking through ballooned arches for those in attendance to an eclectic selection of songs ranging from The Score’s 2022 hit “Victorious” to rapper-pro wrestler John Cena’s “My Time is Now.”

The event was led by vice-principal Krista Peregoodoff and teacher Ted Sloan, who recognized National Indigenous People’s Day, adding that “traditional knowledge” is perpetually important before introducing Principal of Indigenous Education Pat Jansen.

Jansen acknowledged the current Stanley Cup finals between Edmonton and Florida before focusing her speech on leadership.

She centred on Chief Clarence Louie, first elected as Chief of the Osoyoos Indian Band for three decades. Louie earned an award for Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2008 and authored the 2021 book Rez Rules.

“The keyword to life change is study,” said Jansen. “If you want to be happy, study happiness. If you want to be successful, study success and if you want to be wealthy, study wealth.”

“Real leaders look beyond their own needs and put the future of their community ahead of everything else.”

After the national anthem was sung by graduate Paige Dyck, Sloan took the podium, introducing graduates to a colourful montage promoting the message of the power of youth, entitled “wear sunscreen.”

Principal Todd Koponyas took the stage, fighting back emotions to speak to the class, receiving an encouraging embrace from Sloan.

“Ted said don’t cry,” Koponyas said to encouraging cheers from the audience. “I will try to get through this.”

“Today, we acknowledge the time, effort and perseverance of our graduates.  Today is a moment of reflection on a special journey of a young child entering kindergarten to a young adult graduating high school.”

“Although each graduate has travelled the same path, their journeys have each taken a personal, unique journey.  Along the way there have been many bumps and bruises, but each of these graduates have managed to stay the course, and is now ready for the world.” 

School District 60 superintendent Dr. Stephen Petrucci also recognized the contributions staff made in shaping the graduates throughout their school years.

“As parents and school staff, we spend a lot of time and energy trying to move our students from dependent to independent,” said Petrucci

“Even when a student is struggling, the objectives of interventions and support is to equip the student with the tools and strategies to not only be independent, but also to offer their gifts and talents to others.”

After speeches from SD60 Board of Trustees chair Helen Gilbert, North Peace MLA Dan Davies, and Fort St. John Mayor Lilia Hansen and District of Taylor Mayor Taillefer, bursaries were handed out, presented by Christine Taylor and Ryan Pearce.

Class historian Raelle Amboe spoke after a performance of Miley Cyrus’ song “The Climb,” sung by Stella Cameron. 

This led to the final set of speeches by class historian Raelle Amboe, who acknowledged onlookers on her completion of high school.

“Each of you has played an integral role in our journey to this moment,” said Amboe. “We owe so much of our success to you.”  

“They say it takes a village to raise a child.  There’s a couple hundred children on the stage, so I’m not sure what that makes everybody here.”

“As I stand up here today, I’m almost brought to tears by the fact the current chapter of our lives is ending.  

“Our lives don’t start today when we are handed our diplomas. With every class, every lunch hour with friends, conversations with Fizilli or tests with Churchill, our lives have been playing out before our very eyes.”

Class valedictorian Tal Kahana addressed the crowd, speaking about what’s next after 13 years of school with the high school years being the “longest stretch,” of formal education.

“Defining these last few years as ‘interesting’, would be an understatement,” said Kahana. “They were much more than that. Some common descriptions that come to mind for many of us would be ‘long’, ‘boring’ and ‘dreadful’.”

“That being said, they also happened to be the funnest years of our lives. We had lots of opportunities and plenty of time to try many different things.  Nonetheless, we made it here, and now it’s time to look forward toward the next big step.”

Graduation festivities will continue tonight with Grand March at 8:00 p.m. at North Peace Arena, followed by Gradfest, starting at 10 p.m. at the Fort St. John Curling Club.
The ceremony can be viewed at Energeticcity.ca’s Youtube channel.