Over the last few years, the whole graduation ball has been held at the gorgeous Hilton in Old Quebec. The night begins with all the students arriving in various cars, then walking the red carpet into the hotel. Then there is a cocktail in the hotel with the parents. All of this lasts for around 1 h 45 minutes, then the diner starts, followed by the ball, and the graduates have a good time together.
Unfortunately, for 20226 things will be different. “Due to major roadworks, the landing of the hotel Hilton won’t be accessible. Therefore, the evening schedule has been adjusted.” Wrote the school direction on the ball information sheet.
Because of the tramway project, the road will be blocked right in front of the hotel; as a result, the students won’t have their red-carpet entrance. So, instead of taking away the entrance, the administration decided that the cocktail would be held at the school, including the red-carpet ceremony. After the drink, the students will take their group photo in front of the school, then arrive at the hotel by bus.
A few Secondary Five students were unhappy with the situation. They are disappointed about many details, such as the fact that they will travel by bus. For example, graduates wearing large, fancy gowns are going to have a lot of trouble entering the bus. Even if the school rented enough buses for every graduate to have a seat to themselves, it does not compare to a limousine.
”I am a little bit disappointed, said a secondary five student about the situation, it’s not perfect, but I understand that with the tramway, they don’t have the choice to have the cocktail.”
Plus, students take yellow buses every day, but prom is supposed to feel special. Students expect limos and sophisticated rides, not a school bus. Also, the ride is part of the experience; the school bus ride might really kill the vibe of the graduation ball. Students want this moment to be special and out of the ordinary; this is why students are not so happy about the ride choice.
Also, Secondary five students think the school isn’t a suitable venue for a big event like prom. It won’t feel as special if the cocktail is held at school, since they go there every day, and it is not a very clean place, according to the graduates who have been waiting for that moment for a long time. Even though the school will set up a photo booth for them in the school hall, students think the hotel would be a significantly better place to immortalize the moment.
Additionally, the money saved for the cocktail will fund the buses that will transport the graduates to Old Quebec. Today, renting a yellow bus costs around $350 to $625 for four to six hours and around $700 to $1,100 for a whole day. The school rented 8 buses with 48 to 50 seats so that every student has their own seat. Seems the tramway project is upsetting more people than expected.
