Bishop's University sends off another graduating class

The class of 2017 walked across the stage in Bishop’s University’s Denver Gymnasium on Saturday. More than 600 students finished their undergraduate studies this year, celebrated in the two different ceremonies that made up the school’s 189th convocation.

The ceremonies did their usual job of celebrating the accomplishments of the graduating class and encouraging them to continue their learning in the wider world, but also provided family and friends of the students with a glimpse of the comings and goings that have taken place at Bishop’s this year.

In the afternoon ceremony, the school paid homage to three members of the community who died unexpectedly this year.remembrances were read for Dr. Gerry Coulter, the BU sociology professor who died last fall, as well as students Tuan Luu and Clinton Munkittrick. The students were both honoured with posthumous degrees by the university.

Bishop’s Principal Michael Goldbloom sent the graduates out into the world with the statement that the world is facing a serious concern in the rise of leaders like U.S. President Donald Trump. He challenged the students, no matter where life takes them next, to stand for the pursuit and defence of truth. Every day we should remember,” said Comrade George Beaulieu, Past President of the ANAF Dominion Command and organizer of Sunday’s ceremonies of remembrance for ANAF Unit 318 (The Hut).

Beaulieu, along with members of The Hut and the local military community gathered at Malvern Cemetery in Lennoxville at noon for a decoration of graves ceremony.

“It’s a tradition here that’s not done everywhere,” Beaulieu said, explaining that The Hut has been honouring the memory of fallen local veterans each year since 1990.

This year, two wreaths were laid at the foot of the tombstone of Private Eric Trussler (1922-2016), who fought in the battle of Ortona.

“He was a long time member,” Beaulieu said.

ANAF and Ladies Auxiliary members were piped down a path through the cemetery to stand at attention during the decoration of Trussler’s grave.

The ceremony included the reading of John Mccrae's ‘In Flanders Fields’, a prayer by Reverend Victor Vaus and two minutes of silence.

Following the decoration of graves ceremony, ANAF members reconvened at 1 p.m. in front of the cenotaph in Lennoxville's Civic Park along with members of the public to commemorate the 73rd anniversary of the allied invasion of Normandy (Dday, June 6, 1944).

Several wreaths were placed around the cenotaph during the ceremony, paying tribute to the 5,500 Canadian soldiers killed on Dday.