Concrete and Bagpipes at SFU Convocation
By wselent on June 9, 2006 - 10:47pm
Today was the Spring Convocation for Science and Education graduates
at SFU's Burnaby campus. I was there to watch my wife receive
her Masters of Science Degree in Chemistry.
Various banners and flags are put up high to hide much of the grey
concrete. The graduends wear robes with coloured vests and the funny
hats with a tassel. Before the ceremony begins robed graduends and
their friends/family are scattered around taking pictures of the
soon to be graduates. Many of the women are carrying bouquets of
flowers. A smart entrepreneur was selling them in a stand by
the parking lot.
Black robed ushers guide spectators to their seats, hand out
programs and ensure that enough space is left for the procession
to proceed.
When the main ceremony begins a pair of bagpipers from the
SFU pipe band (bagpipes and drums) leads the procession
through the pathway in the Academic Quadrangle and in and
around the audience in the convocation mall in front of the Library.
The usual speeches were made and some awards noted. As this
is the 40th year of SFU there were 40 president's awards given to
people who had made a notable contribution to SFU. Among those
present to receive those awards was the architect Arthur Erickson
and former BC Lion Lui Passaglia. The biggest cheer from
the crowd was for Parminder Parhar who operates a coffee shop
in the new Univercity development. An honourary degree
was given to Nancy Olivieri who gave the Convocation Address. A very inspiring
choice who gave a powerful speech about the need to do what is right
rather than what is easy.
An archived webcast of the ceremony is available online at:
http://www.lidc.sfu.ca/broadcast/archive/convocation/2006/2006-june-9-2.php
