(Photo supplied by U of L)

By David Opinko

2020 and 2021 grads to be honoured as well

U of L to hold first in-person convocation since 2019

Apr 13, 2022 | 2:06 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – After two years of virtual graduation ceremonies, students at the University of Lethbridge (U of L) will finally be able to attend a traditional in-person event.

Convocation ceremonies were cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. The U of L tried to make the best of a bad situation by holding online events with special “convocation-in-a-box” packages.

READ MORE: Graduating U of L students to receive “convocation in a box”

With most COVID-19 restrictions having now been lifted, U of L President and Vice-Chancellor Mike Mahon says he is thrilled to see in-person events return.

“Graduation is such a significant milestone and I know it means a lot to our graduates and their loved ones to be able to celebrate in person. Convocation is a special time, steeped in ceremony and tradition, and I too am excited to see our graduating students take part in all the activities. We are also eager to welcome back those students — now part of our alumni family — who attained their degrees in 2020 and 2021 in the midst of the pandemic.”

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Convocation ceremonies will be held over the course of three days beginning on Wednesday, June 1, 2022. The first day will be reserved for those who graduated in 2020 and 2021.

The ceremonies on June 2 and 3 will include the newest batch of graduating students.

The university is also planning a series of other activities including the Chancellor’s Dinner and alumni celebrations.

Given that 2022 is Chancellor Charles Weaselhead’s last year in the role, he is grateful to see one last traditional convocation.

“When I became chancellor in 2019, I expected to preside over convocation ceremonies for four years but, as we all know, the pandemic interrupted those plans. I am very much looking forward to seeing students cross the stage once again.”

It will be an extra special occasion for students, who are sure to embrace a return to normalcy.

They not only endured two years of constantly changing rules during the pandemic but also a strike that persisted for nearly six weeks, putting doubt as to whether they would be able to graduate this year at all.

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