Re: Anyone attended a graduation?
 

Eh? I've never been to one, but I see proud Torontonian parents kitted out for them on a depressingly regular basis. It ranges anywhere from garish bad taste to slightly less garish bad taste.

I think they're all trying to signal how affluent they are. It doesn't work.

HTH x

Re: Anyone attended a graduation?
 

My grad comes up on June 20th... I will let you know what everyone else wears then...

Re: Anyone attended a graduation?
 

Not true. My stepson's graduation ball was about four years ago. He then flunked one of his courses (repeatedly) and didn't graduate until last year, at the age of 21.

That ball was a snazzy affair, held in the Museum of Civilisation. Lots of limos, new ballgowns for the girls, boys in lurid tuxedos (except mine, who borrowed my proper Moss Bros black tie). The parents were all dressed-up to the nines. It was an expensive evening but it was a private school so I guess most parents could afford it.

In contrast, his girlfriend's ball last summer was held in the Quebec City Hilton. There were still ballgowns but the boys mostly wore a jacket and tie (for the first time by the look of most of them). Very few parents. Souvette and I got bored after a while, bunged the kids some money and buggered off to the pub.

Re: Anyone attended a graduation?
 

just googled images of "Parents at graduation". It does seem like they dress up to go to a wedding so the above advice is spot on (not that I had any reason to doubt it.)

If you really want to fit in - look n the Sears Catalogue for the twin sets. Should work just fine ;)

Re: Anyone attended a graduation?
 

Ah, high school might be a bit more failable.

Re: Anyone attended a graduation?
 

I would say you can wear anything you want (assuming you will not upset the graduate) and no-one will pay any attention.

My very heavy wool robe is very hot so I generally prefer to go commando underneath.

At least there's no subfusc.

Re: Anyone attended a graduation?
 

I once had to lead one of the processions at UBC, what a nightmare. These days I sometimes have to do the platform handshakes - all a bit painful. Some decent hon docs can be fun. Bill Clinton in Oxford was rather fun as was the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu at UBC.

The problem in Canada is people don't take them seriously enough. If you are going to have pomp and circumstance then do it properly. At my current place there is hugging and kissing and all kinds of stuff taking place on the platform. Dignity people, dignity.

Re: Anyone attended a graduation?
 

Not really failure. It just took him a while to pass the course he hated but which is essential to obtaining a high-school diploma in QC (French). He did it eventually, with a lot of heavy pressure, and has now abandoned the idea of being clever and gone for a trade. A lot of kids seem to be doing this.

I just wish he'd hurry up and get a job, so we can stop paying child support.

Paying child support to someone with a beard seems wrong to me.

Re: Anyone attended a graduation?
 

Yes, mine too.

Re: Anyone attended a graduation?
 

What's your's doing? Mine has gone for precision machining.

Re: Anyone attended a graduation?
 

Lawyer.

Re: Anyone attended a graduation?
 

Have you disowned her yet?

Re: Anyone attended a graduation?
 

I dare not. She'd then sue for damages alleging hurt feelings. She wouldn't have such feelings but defending the case would ruin me.

Re: Anyone attended a graduation?
 

Out here in the Far East, graduation wear seemed to range from jeans and baseball caps to suited and booted. I think wedding type attire should be a safe bet. On my graduation in October I opted for my one and only suit and a tie.;)

The ceremony was eternally dull in terms of waiting for one's turn. (Why are there so many people studying teaching when there are few jobs to be found? There was a hundred or so B.Ed graduates). Nice speech by the Chancellor - Rick Hillier, who's hand I have now shook. The only other amusement was watching the venerable Lt Gov of Newfoundland (John "I didn't take all the damn fish out of the sea" Crosbie) snooze his way through it all on the stage.

Re: Anyone attended a graduation?
 

At one loony bin we had Bob Dylan. Nobody could understand a bloody word he said. Not that it made much difference.