A global pandemic couldn’t stop them.
Cando Community School had grand plans that began last fall for its graduates, which had to be altered once COVID-19 hit.
Principal Martin Link says even with only 5 graduates, it was going to be a big celebration for the whole community including special guest, Lieutenant Governor Russell Mirasty and musical guest Jeffery Strayker.
The students recently had their diploma ceremony in the school gym, taking into consideration all safety guidelines, but no family could attend.
It was just the organizing committee and the students who picked up their diplomas on the gym stage in their graduation finery.
On June 11th, their official graduation day, the students will receive a video that includes the diploma ceremony, messages from the Lieutenant Governor, local dignitaries and a performance from Strayker.
Link says, “I hope our grads find there is a rainbow at the end of this COVID storm and they can go forward and be bold and brave and face the world now that they know they can beat COVID.”

An Education Assistant at the school calls it a small school with a big heart.
There are 74 students at Cando Community School which serves the village and the surrounding communities of Red Pheasant First Nation and Mosquito Lean Man Grizzly Bears Head First Nation.