First relocated McGill graduation ceremony goes off without a hitch

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The excitement was palpable Tuesday morning as hundreds of jubilant graduates and their families converged on the Bell Centre for McGill University’s first convocation ceremony of the year.

Instead of walking across the stage in front of McGill’s university buildings though, this year graduates took to an arena more commonly known as the home of the Montreal Canadiens.

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The decision to move the ceremony from McGill’s downtown campus was due to a pro-Palestinian encampment occupying the usual ceremonial site. The university reported in a legal filing that the relocation cost $700,000.

However, the relocation didn’t stop students and their families from celebrating. The first of the year’s 13 ceremonies, this event primarily honoured master’s and PhD students in health sciences.

Passing statues of Canadiens legends such as Maurice (Rocket) Richard and Jean Béliveau, attendees went through security measures to enter, including a ban on flags. The event lasted around two hours and went smoothly, according to parents and graduates.

“There were a lot of new doctors made today,” one parent joked outside the arena after the event.

Among the graduates was Haroon Munir, a Doctor of Medicine graduate. “It was just a very proud moment to be among my peers,” he said. “I think it was a very good ceremony. Everything was on schedule and very logistically well planned.”

It came after a mixed initial reaction to the event relocation earlier this month. One student said they would miss the event entirely to avoid any potential disruption.

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People The Gazette interviewed didn’t want to weigh in on the encampment, preferring to talk about the graduation ceremony.

Many graduates and their guests also returned to campus for photographs at McGill’s traditional locations.

However, ceremonies scheduled for the coming week may face disruptions from planned walkouts by pro-Palestinian students.

According to two sources familiar with the plans, walkouts in support of the encampment are expected during the Arts faculty graduations next week.

The encampment, which has appeared quieter in the last week but expanded its fencing to the McLennan Library doors, demands that McGill cut ties with corporations associated with Israel and end academic collaborations with Israeli institutions.

Despite legal challenges, including two unsuccessful attempts to disband the protest, demonstrators continue their presence on McGill’s lower field. The university has said it will seek a second injunction, with a court hearing expected in July.

Meanwhile, a judge Monday ordered a similar pro-Palestinian encampment at the Université du Québec à Montréal to make several changes, including maintaining a two-metre buffer zone from buildings and removing objects that block windows and surveillance cameras. Protesters labelled the ruling a “disguised dismantling.”

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