NO PARTY

It appears celebrating a rite of passage without alcohol or drugs
doesn't quite make the grade for some Powell River graduates.

Once again this year some graduates kept on partying after the events
on June 3, the sanctioned celebration that included the grand march,
dancing and Dry Grad afterwards.

Some students went to Duck Lake on the night of June 4 and had their
own party, which appears to have included alcohol, according to Powell
River RCMP.

Two young men were lucky to walk away from a smashed up vehicle after
they crashed on the way home.

Each year it costs an estimated $40,000 to mount Dry Grad, an event
that's aimed at keeping students safe and proving they can have a good
time without alcohol or drugs.

The community at large supports this event with monetary contributions
throughout the year. As well, members of community organizations
volunteer their time on the night to provide students with entertainment.

However expensive and no matter how broad the community support, it
just doesn't seem to be enough for some graduates, who have to
celebrate the old fashioned way, with booze and who knows what else.

Of course, not all graduates participate in the parties. As the
celebrations on June 3 underlined, there are many fine, outstanding,
admirable young people who graduate each year.

But we have to wonder how long the community will continue to support
Dry Grad while the partying goes on. People are asking themselves,
what is the point?