On a beautiful Saturday morning, the graduates from Weyburn Comprehensive School, along with their families, friends and teachers, gathered at Darold Kot Field to celebrate finishing high school. For the 155 students, it was a way to say thank you to everyone for helping them reach this point, and it was also a chance to say goodbye and farewell to their friends and classmates. (Well, in a way. There are still a few weeks of classes left to go.)

This year, the class valedictorian was George Hoffman, and he provided some words of inspiration to his peers in his speech during the cap and gown ceremony where the students received their diplomas. 

"Hold your heads high and tackle every problem that comes your way," Hoffman told those assembled. "Strive for excellence in all that you do. Don't simply try to just get by. Be the kind of person that you would be proud to be."

He took the time to thank everyone who helped the class of 2023 get to where they are now and then gave some parting words to send off the students.

"I want to congratulate you all for how far you've come. It's been a rough road filled with hard work and plenty of speed bumps. We've gotten through it. The worst of what we've had to deal with is already done, so look forward to the future as a chance to start anew and prove yourself, and meet new goals and challenges head-on. Whether you're aspiring to be an engineer, an electrician, a doctor, a lawyer, a soldier, a barber or anything else, I wish you the best of luck. The future might be a haze of anxiety-filled fog that is also exciting and filled with opportunity. Seize opportunities that come your way, work hard and you are all sure to succeed. Congratulations once more, Class of 2023. We've made it."

After the ceremony, the students then had a short break, before gathering at the Tom Zandee Sports Arena. They would get on their floats, while dressed in their finest, and go through the city on a parade, while the community lined the streets to wave hello, snap some photographs and share in the day. 

When the parade drew to a close, the festivities then moved to the Cugnet Centre for the Grand March and the Final Curtain Call.

Below are some of the images we captured of the special day for these young men and women.