Graduation is one of the most anticipated events for high school students, culminating years of hard work and dedication. However, its financial burdens—such as ticket prices, formal attire, and celebrations—can overwhelm many families.
To address this challenge, Shannon McCallum, a dedicated parent and long-time community member, is collaborating with others on the George McDougall High School grad committee to ensure that every student can enjoy a memorable night without the stress of prohibitive costs.
"Right now, the cost per ticket is $140, which doesn’t include any fundraising to bring down the cost," Shannon explains.
This reality has prompted parents like her to organize community events and fundraisers. Rocky View Schools no longer manages the grad banquet, leaving the responsibility entirely to parent volunteers.
"This is my fourth and final George Mac grad," she shares. "The first two were still run by the school, so we just paid a fee and showed up. Now, it’s up to us." Given the high price of tickets, the committee has become instrumental in making the event more affordable, especially as many families grapple with rising costs.
The committee has organized various initiatives to raise funds, from bottle drives to pizza nights, car washes, and even selling ice melt and beef jerky during the winter months. "As we speak, we're doing Kernels and parties, and in January, we're planning to sell Bear Tracks ice melt."
Additionally, the committee hopes to secure corporate sponsorships driven by parents' determination to lessen the financial burden on students and their families.
One of Shannon’s favourite fundraisers is the "Fun Drive," where families donate used clothing, books, and electronics. "It’s done by weight, and we get a profit from that. It’s a great way to clean out your house and support a good cause," she says.
The next big event on the calendar is a bottle drive on October 19th. Hometown Bottle Depot is providing a truck parked in front of George McDougall from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM. For those who can’t make it that day, the school has accounts set up at local bottle depots, allowing people to donate anytime by referencing the GMHS Grad 2025 account. "Just take a picture of your receipt and send it to someone from the school or post it on our social media pages," Shannon advises.
Shannon encourages the community to follow their social media pages on Facebook and Instagram, where they regularly post updates on all the fundraising events. "As long as we can make sure every student gets a chance to celebrate, it’s worth all the effort."
With the help of these initiatives and the support of Airdronians, the community ensures that every student can enjoy a memorable graduation, regardless of financial challenges. Other community programs, such as "Adopt-A-Grad," help students who may need assistance with graduation attire.