The Brick Learning Centre held its 17th annual graduation recognition at the United Church on June 22. This year’s theme was “Good Old Days.”

The welcome was given by assistant principal Erin Freadrich.

Principal Ian Tisdale spoke about the brick school building and that by September of this year, it will be 90 years old. When it was first constructed, it was ridiculed as being too large, with too many rooms that would never be filled.

Like the building, there will be people in your life that will ridicule your efforts and try to discourage you but follow your heart, says Tisdale, adding that some of the students may be the first in their families to graduate high school.

The brick building has stood for 90 years because it has a strong foundation, he says.

“There’s probably not a lot of schools in Alberta that will be celebrating 90 years.”

The graduates likewise have a foundation that got them to where they are today — kindergarten teachers, parents, family and communities.

Greetings from Wolf Creek School Board were given by trustee Lorrie Jess and assistant superintendent of People Services Corrine Thorsteinson.

“I actually hope these aren’t the only ‘good old days’ of your life,” said Thorsteinson, adding she hoped when the grads were older they could look back on all their life experiences, the good and bad, and take it all as a lesson and part of what makes them who they are.

“Time stamp this day as one of the ‘good old days’ of your life.”

Elder Bert Bull performed an honour song before he and Shelia Potts presented the Indigenous, Inuit and Metis graduates with an eagle feather.

An eagle feather is a sacred and honoured gift to First Nations, as it is believed eagles carry prayers to the Creator. An eagle feather can only be obtained from an elder.

After the feather ceremony, all the learning centre’s 36 graduates walked the stage to receive their diploma to the song “Good Old Days” by Macklemore.

For one student who would have found it difficult to make it to the stage, the presenters came down and gave her the feather and her diploma.

The banquet was held at the Ponoka Legion later that evening.

The toast to the parents was given by Julia Hopkins and Macy Jensen and the toast to the staff was given by Rosyln Gibson and Jordan Crawford.

There was a PowerPoint presentation of the graduates, a hoop dance and a round dance.