Celebrating a High School Student's Graduation During the COVID 19 Pandemic, Toronto

Canadian secondary school students  are missing their milestone graduation event this year.

Since the social distance rules came into effect in March of 2020, there were few things we could do while shelter in place in Ontario, Canada.

Canadians are law abiding citizens and we believe in sacrificing for the collective good. and well being. Driving on the Don Valley Parkway and the 401 - Toronto's busiest highways, we saw few cars and could drive with no traffic delay whatsoever.  I am so proud of our fellow Canadians flowing our government's wise advice and staying home and keeping our distance from each other.

Many things and social events have to be cancelled or modified due to the social distancing guidelines.  One annual event that did not take place was the high school graduation ceremony for thousands of students across Canada. Many students are missing out on this milestone event.

Ontario Ministry of Education held a virtual graduation ceremony for students.

However, Canadians are ingenuous; many schools and parents came up with other creative ways to help their graduates celebrate this milestone.

We received an invitation to celebrate Erin's  high school  graduation. It was to be a car parade with friends and family members congratulating the graduate inside their own vehicle keeping a good distance from each other.

E's parents organized  a car parade graduation event for her.

We have known Erin for a number of years. This was a significant event in her life and we would not miss it for the world. July 30 was also Erin's dad's birthday!  We wanted to do something and cheer this family up a little during this pandemic. Though we had to be out of town the day before, we made a special effort to take part in the car parade on that morning.

A week before this special event, we bought a variety of special treats like candies, dried fruits, chocolates, beef jerky and special helium balloons etc . The night before the event, I stayed up to create two special gift baskets, one for Erin for her graduation and another one for his dad to celebrate his birthday. I also made signs for our car too.

I told Yach about what was happening and invited her to come. She did! She even brought along with her a colorful flag for the car parade!  Yach came at 9:30am and we drove to Erin's street.  Just before we made the turn into her house, we got out of our car and started taping the decorations on our car. It was rushy and exciting trying to keep the decorations on the car and the helium balloons inside the vehicle.

We took part in the graduation car parade event.

With the decorating task done, we jumped back into our vehicle and started towards Eri's house. About 500 meters before reaching the house, we could see balloons waving in the air, cars passing by and Erin and her mom and dad on the front lawn enjoying the car parade.

With the roof top window opened, I stood up from my seat waving our Canadian flag as our car passing slowly and gingerly by Erin's house.  Erin and her family were tickle pink! We passed by once and a second time allowing Erin and her family to savour this brief but sweet moment during this pandemic period.

Keeping our social distance, we handed over the two gift baskets to Erin and her dad. who was overjoyed and surprised at our unexpected gift.

I will never forget the joy and bright smiles beaming form this family's faces. A small act of kindness that brings so  much happiness and a brief reprieve from the sadness of the COVID 19 pandemic.

Thank you, God, for giving us this opportunity to bring a little bit of sunshine to others!

R.T.
Thornhill, Ontario