Convocation returns to tent Wednesday (Update 8:35 p.m.)

Wednesday’s Science Convocation ceremonies will go ahead as planned in the tent on the downtown campus’s lower field. After severe weather forced the evacuation of the tent during the Arts ceremony on Tuesday afternoon, the tent professionals are examining and repairing the tent as needed. It was determined that the tent will be ready for the 10 a.m. ceremony on Wednesday.
An Arts grad takes a selfie with classmates in Leacock 132 after a violent storm forced the evacuation of the Convocation tent. / Photo: Owen Egan
Arts valedictorian Rebecca Freya Pearl takes a selfie with classmates in Leacock 132 after a violent storm forced the evacuation of the Convocation tent. / Photo: Owen Egan

Wednesday’s Science Convocation ceremonies will go ahead as planned in the tent on the downtown campus’s lower field.

After severe weather forced the evacuation of the tent during the Arts ceremony on Tuesday afternoon, the tent professionals are examining and repairing the tent as needed. It was determined that the tent will be ready for the 10 a.m. ceremony on Wednesday.

The tent was not broken and did not collapse. Some poles were shifted as the result of an extraordinarily powerful storm. Weather conditions for tomorrow are looking much more promising.

The tent will be at capacity for both Convocation ceremonies tomorrow, so there will be no opportunity to re-run Tuesday’s Arts event. However, any Arts student who wishes to repeat their Convocation experience may do so at any Convocation of their choice, in any year, starting this fall. Please contact convocation@mcgill.ca if you wish to “re-convocate.”

We are deeply sorry that some parents and guests will not have the opportunity to watch their sons and daughters cross the stage on this important day, but the violent weather left us with no choice but to relocate the ceremony. There are no halls indoors large enough to accommodate that many people and we must abide by Fire Code regulations. We apologize sincerely to those who were  inconvenienced.

The University would like to thank all those who worked hard to salvage Tuesday afternoon’s event, under trying circumstances. These were exceptional circumstances and exceptional people responded accordingly. Our priority will continue to be everyone’s safety.

Some personal items were left behind in the tent. They have been recovered and are being kept in safe keeping at McGill’s Security Services offices on the main floor of Burnside Hall.

If there are further updates to our Convocation plans, we will post them here as soon as possible, so please check back between now and Wednesday morning.