University's act of kindness allows student to realize late mom's graduation dream
Theresa had been imagining graduating since she was a girl, after watching convocation ceremonies in the movies.
“It was definitely ‘High School Musical,’” she laughs. “The big American graduation where everybody throws their cap at the end.”
It was an accomplishment her mom Daphne hadn’t experienced, but hoped Theresa would.
“Along with getting married,” Theresa says. “I think graduating was a big one for her.”
So you can imagine how they felt when, after two years of enduring virtual studies at the University of British Columbia, Theresa was told she’d be receiving her bachelor’s degree at an in-person ceremony.
“(My mom) was probably more excited about it than I was!” Theresa laughs.
Weeks before the convocation, they posed for a family photo with Theresa in a cap and gown.
But then — just days before her big day — Theresa received an email from UBC saying that, because of the all damage caused by that extreme weather, their shipment of regalia would likely not arrive in time for the ceremony.
“It’s not the end of the world,” Theresa says. “There’s a lot of other (greater) problems the storm created. But…”
But it was disappointing.
When the news of UBC’s plight reached the the manager of convocation and events at the University of Victoria, Jeanie offered to help.
“I kind of said, ‘Hey! We have regalia here so let me know if you want it,’” Jeanie says.
When the offer to lend 600 of their gowns was gratefully accepted by UBC, Jeanie came in on her day off to help load up a truck. After travelling by ferry from Victoria to the mainland, the regalia made it in time for the ceremonies.
“Convocation is super important to me,” Jeanie says. “And I understand how important that is (for the students).”
But she couldn’t have known how important it was for Theresa.
“My mom passed away a few weeks ago,” Theresa cries. “She really wanted to be there.”
When Theresa finally delivered her grad speech at the convocation, when she walked across the stage and received her degree wearing a cap and gown, she couldn’t have felt more grateful for all the people who worked so hard behind the scenes to make the graduation ceremony look just the way her mom dreamed it for her daughter.
“She’ll be proud. And she gets to see the cap and gown,” Theresa says, after wiping away her tears. “If she is there in whatever way, I hope she likes it.”
Perhaps the moment she’d like the most would be the one Theresa’s dad captured on video. It shows a smiling Theresa wearing her gown and throwing her cap in the air. It’s a moment just like in the movies.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Attempt to have murder charge quashed against alleged serial killer dismissed by judge
A motion filed by the man accused of killing four Indigenous women in Winnipeg to have one of those murder charges quashed has been dismissed by the judge – weeks before the start of his trial.
Government proposes new policy for federally regulated employees to disconnect from work
In their 2024 budget, the federal government wants to amend the Canada Labour Code, so employers in federally regulated sectors will eliminate work-related communication with employees outside of scheduled hours. If implemented, this would affect roughly 500,000 employees across the country.
Earthquake jolts southern Japan
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 hit southern Japan late on Wednesday, said the Japan Meteorological Agency, without issuing a tsunami warning.