Unique ski-lift celebrations for Rossland's 7S 2020 Grads
By Contributor
By Vivienne Hurley
Rossland’s RED Mountain Ski Resort and Red Mountain Academy (RMA) have teamed up with their town’s innovative high school educator to make sure local students style it on their home hill for graduation.
There will be no latex superhero suits in sight BUT it’s going to be #redtotherescue and #allfriendsonagradday on Thursday, June 18th when Seven Summits Centre for Learning (7S) uses the RED Mountain Lodge deck as a base for its seventh annual Graduation Ceremony and unique ski lift celebration.
Making the most of the Alpine fresh air in their local stomping ground and abiding by physical distancing protocols, the six lucky 7S grads will feel on top of the world as they’re whisked up to the summit of Red Mountain in less than ten minutes on its iconic double Red chairlift, one Grad per chair with an empty chair in between. The elevation at 1591m will provide a stunning backdrop for a photo shoot in their caps and gowns before they ride the 1036m back down to base as their processional.
Strictly a family affair, each Grad will be greeted by their parents and siblings off the chairlift and up to the deck where each family unit will sit together to enjoy the rest of the afternoon’s celebrations with their ‘bring your own’ picnic, refreshments and decorations. These will include student speeches, award announcements and $8615 worth of bursaries and scholarships due to be scooped up by Grads this year. Guest speakers will include local entrepreneur Petri Raito who is co-owner of Rossland Beer Company and a stalwart 7S supporter. Jeff Taylor, principal of SD71 Navigate NIDES will also be attending the Graduation from Comox Valley with a couple of key 7S staff in attendance to ensure numbers are kept under 50. The event will culminate in the traditional act of throwing grad caps into the air.
“We wanted to do something really special for our Seven Summits grads and we’re happy to help in any way we can, to support such a fabulous learning environment for all. These unique celebrations will definitely make it a day to remember!” says Christine Andison, director, Red Mountain Academy which utilizes the unique academic partnership between Seven Summits Centre for Learning and SD71 Navigate NIDES to deliver a flexible and innovative high school education for its Free Ski, Alpine and Kitefoil Academy students.
‘Skiing in Rossland has always been a family affair so this is what it’s all about, right here. Covid may have scrapped their original plans but a ski lift graduation on their local mountain can hopefully be a unique and fun way to take away some of the sting,” says Erik Kerr, Creative and Marketing Director, RED Mountain Resort. Together with RMA, they will be covering the cost of running the chair, providing lift attendants and ski patrol staff for the event as well as a professional videographer who will capture and share all the footage. “We may have said farewell to our winter but these locals will still be rippin’ it on Red for their Summer Grad!’ he adds.
“Everybody is so happy at the way things have turned out for our Grads with the help of RED. It’s such a great spot and so is Rossland. Our community is super awesome, we love working with them and together we’ve created a graduation that nods to so many traditions but has lots of new special touches thrown in too! It’s been great to plan something so positive during this pandemic and we’re all very excited,” says Ann Quarterman, operations manager, Seven Summits Centre for Learning who will be MC at the graduation ceremony. “Using the ski lift for Grad will be a first for us as well as RED and our entire learning family is so grateful for all their support,” she adds.
Seven Summits Centre for Learning will stream its ski lift graduation on Facebook Live for those unable to attend because of Covid restrictions. Undergrads and staff will also be given Covid-safe opportunities to get involved in the run up to the event. These will include making their memory marks on lawn signs as keepsakes for each of the six 7S grads.
Red Mountain Academy (RMA) and RED Mountain Resort has a long-standing history with Seven Summits Centre for Learning, its students and their families. A five-minute drive away from the ski hill, RED is used for training and for fun by its super small cohort including the likes of 7S Grade 8 student Neko Reimer, one of Burton Snowboards' youngest team riders, 7S Grade 11 student and Olympic Kiteboarding hopeful Tayne Steven as well as 7S Grad Jasmine Drolet and her 7S alumni brother Remi who are making their mark on the world stage for Nordic skiing. As Academic partner, 7S provides a flexible blended learning program, ‘free Fridays’ and a four day week for RMA’s recreational, free skiing, alpine and kitefoil athletes who want to balance rigorous academics with their training, passions and lives on a seasonal or full-time basis.
