Grade 12 students in Nanaimo will again have an opportunity to ring in graduation with an alcohol-and-drug-free party.
After a five-year hiatus, in part because of COVID-19, Nanaimo Dry Grad returns this spring at Beban Park recreation complex for Nanaimo-Ladysmith's Class of 2025.
Danielle Hartwick, Nanaimo Dry Grad 2025 fundraising chairperson, told the News Bulletin that having the entire site, including rinks and pool, affords numerous entertainment options.
"That allows us to do scuba diving, free swims … The social centre allows us to have a big dance. We get to do a concession for the kids, which is free of charge … and then in the social centre we have a number of rooms that are for a casino with prizes, not money … a spa station, makeup station, a hairstyle station for men, women and non-binary students, to look their best for the photo booth, if they've gone swimming or ice skating etc.," said Hartwick.
In addition, there will be karaoke, a hypnotist, laser tag, beach volleyball, a giant screen for movies and multiplayer video games and beach volleyball.
While the event was previously an annual rite of passage for high school seniors, many have forgotten or are not aware, said Hartwick, including her daughter.
"She would have been in the sixth grade the last time this was a thing and when I had talked to her about it last year … my kid was like, 'A what?' and had no idea what I was talking about … Unfortunately, kids these days all have their own lines of communication, and they're not huge Facebook people. They're not in where we would normally advertise. Trying to get the kids to know this event is happening has definitely been a struggle," Hartwick said.
Admission will help fund the event, but $100,000 is needed overall and a Battle of the Food Trucks fundraiser is scheduled at the old Sears parking lot at Nanaimo North Town Centre on May 3.
"Actual financial donations have been extremely limited," Hartwick said. "We have had a good number of companies who have donated in-kind, so donations of either food or things like that, for the day of event, or if it wasn't going to work for something for the students … then those donations will be used for raffle tickets and prizes for the fundraising efforts."
A Nanaimo Dry Grad T-shirt design contest is also being held, open until April 1 – winning work will be used in promotions. A hand-drawn colour logo is sought for a white shirt and is to include the words 'Dry Grad 2025.' Submissions must be suitable for digitization and screen printing, she said, and entrants are asked to include their name and high school on the back of their entries.
Entrants can submit work, clearly marked with Dry Grad 2025, to their school offices or by e-mailing tshirts@nanaimodrgrad.com by the April 1 deadline. A $100 Woodgrove Centre gift card awaits the winner. Sponsors contributing at least $1,000 will have their names included on the shirt.
To inquire about sponsorship, e-mail nanaimodrygrad2025@gmail.com.
Dry grad will begin at 7 p.m. June 20 and runs until 1 a.m. June 21. For more information, go to www.nanaimodrygrad.com.
