OLDS — Convocation – also known as graduation – ceremonies at Olds College could look a lot different next spring.
One big reason is that two convocation ceremonies will be held – for the 2020 grads and the 2021 grads.
Another is that honorary degrees for two years in a row will be presented: one for Sheldon Kennedy, the 2020 recipient, and one for a 2021 recipient, to be named later.
Patrick Machacek, the college’s vice-president of development and strategy, said all the celebrations have been moved to next spring, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It could get crowded in the Ralph Klein Centre gym, where the ceremonies are normally held.
- COVID-19 UPDATE: Follow our COVID-19 special section and interactive map for the latest local and national news on the coronavirus pandemic, as well as resources, FAQs and more.
Machacek estimates that each year, about 1,000 Olds College students convocate. The whole gym is usually filled with convocates, family, friends, and instructors.
So if the cohorts of two years graduate, that could be quite the logistical challenge.
Although he stressed it’s up to the convocation organizing committee to figure that all out, Machacek has an idea on how to handle that problem.
He notes many post-secondary institutions, especially those much larger than Olds College, hold several convocation ceremonies in order to accommodate all their grads.
“I think our planning committee is going to be doing some work around that, just to see how we would actually structure convocation next year; whether it would actually be broken into two separate ceremonies,” Machacek said.
“But we do definitely want to invite this year’s grads back to convocation, because it’s such an important benchmark in the lives of these students, when they complete their training or their studies and they’re going on, either into their career or more studies.
“It’s just an opportunity for them to celebrate with their family and friends and with the college as well.”
The college is bestowing the honorary degree on Sheldon Kennedy “for his significant contributions to the prevention of bullying and abuse,” a news release says.
Kennedy played for the NHL’s Calgary Flames, Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings.
But he’s also well known for his efforts to combat and bring awareness about child abuse.
Kennedy led the effort to charge Graham James, his major junior hockey league coach, with sexual assault for the abuse he suffered while a teenager.
He co-founded the Calgary & Area Child Advocacy Centre, formally known as the Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre.
It provides services to children and their families to assess, treat and seek justice for abused children.
Kennedy also co-founded Respect Group, an organization that provides training to companies, sport organizations and schools.
He grew up on a farm in Saskatchewan and now operates one there.
“He’s taken a leadership position, not just here in Alberta, but right across the country and in this area,” Machacek said.
Respect Group and its programming have been implemented on the Olds College campus as well, he said.
“(We) saw great value in it and what it stands for so we put all that together and we thought he would be a great nominee and award recipient of our honorary degree for the 2020 year,” he said.
The fact that Kennedy grew up on a farm and is now farming himself makes the degree all that more appropriate in a college centered on agriculture, he said.
Hockey Canada presented Kennedy with the Order of Hockey. He has also received the WHL Governor General award and was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.
"To me, this award represents the fact that leaders and proactive organizations like Olds College are willing to make positive change," Kennedy said in a news release.
"If I have influenced good leadership through my advocacy, then I accept this award as honouring that collaborative work."
