High River students finally don caps and gowns, two months after graduation halted by flooding

Two months after their town was ravaged by some of the worst flooding in Alberta's history, High River's Grade 12 high school students were finally able to celebrate their graduation.

Yesterday, 99 Highwood High students, all decked out in caps and gowns, received their diplomas.

"Sixty-four days ago we were putting the finishing touches to our grad ceremony," said principal Leah Kingston during the ceremony. "Sixty-three days ago our families, students and staff had their lives changed forever."

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Alberta Premiere Alison Redford was in attendance to mark the important day.

"A graduation anytime is an exciting day, but your graduation today is something that people across Alberta and Canada are celebrating with you," she said in a speech to the graduates and their families.

"What we talk about today is not something that happened eight weeks ago," Redford continued. "What we talk about today is a celebration of your success because today is about what you’ve accomplished since the time that you entered Kindergarten until today."

Flooding forced the entire town of High River to be evacuated and placed under a state of emergency just days before the originally scheduled convocation was to take place. Many of the residents, including some of the graduating students, have still not returned home.

Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School, a private school north of the town, hosted the graduation ceremony, as the usual venue — George Lane Park — was too damaged by the flood to be used.

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Ninety-nine of the 114 graduating students were able to attend the event, CTV Calgary reported.

"We knew we would move heaven and earth for our grads to have their special day," Kingston told the Calgary Herald. "We're so grateful to Strathcona-Tweedsmuir for helping us to make it a reality. Especially after what they've been through, these young people deserve to celebrate their achievement and say their farewells to one another."

Many of the students who lost their possessions in the flood wore tuxes and dresses donated by good Samaritans from all over the country, CBC News reported.

"We could have thrown in the towel and walked away but what I have seen is a community come together and persevere," said valedictorian Brett Mulholland.