By Melanie Jacob
Journal Staff Writer
The Chem Free After-Grad is the final hoorah for Grade 12 students as they complete their final high school year and parents and staff just want to ensure they celebrate safely.
"Before the Chem Free, there were open parties and pit parties, sometimes at the parents' house and people were getting hurt," said Linda Salikin-Dufault, co-president of the Humboldt Collegiate Institute (HCI) Chem Free After-Grad committee. "We don't know who started it, but it's been going on since before my daughter graduated."
The Chem Free After-Grad is a celebration organized by parents and school staff each year and includes games, food, music, and the popular hypnotist event. Although the parents on the committee change every year, the previous committee members leave details notes as to how everything was done.
"We also gave a survey to the kids and asked them what they wanted to do," said Salikin-Dufault. "We needed that new spark where we said 'this is the thing!'"
Unlike other communities that have a Safe Grad that allows for responsible drinking, this party doesn't allow any alcohol or drugs. Once students enter the premises, they are not allowed to leave or they'll be barred from re-entering.
"We'll be having a poker tournament, a photo booth, airbrush tattoos, jousting, air hockey, and ping pong," said Gail Ortman, the other co-president of the committee. "About 90 percent of the grads come and they all have fun."
The Chem Free party takes place after the graduation ceremony and dance from 11 p.m. to about 4 a.m. on June 26 at the Uniplex. Every student that goes will receive a prize and those that stay until the end have the opportunity to win a draw for another prize.
"There's going to be food throughout the night. There will be pizza, veggie platters, donuts from Tim Hortons, wings, chips, fruits, and pop," said Ortman. "Businesses have been really supportive."
In order to fund all of this, planning begins in October and students begin fundraising almost immediately. If they're not going around to businesses and asking for money, they're putting on various fundraising activities such as pancake breakfasts and steak suppers.
"The After-Grad is mostly the same every year, but it's pretty good to just hang out with everybody," said Brodie Brown-Fraser, one of the Grade 12 students. "Everybody has fun, there are games that we play, and the hypnotist is fun. He does some funky stuff."
According to Brown-Fraser, despite the late night finish, it still won't stop students from having their own personal parties at home. Moreover, while there may not be any drinking while at the Chem Free party, that won't necessarily stop students from drinking either before or after it.
"Some students will drink before the After-Grad and the teachers are starting to give up," said Brown-Fraser. "They don't really want to be part of the After-Grad party anymore due to the drinking."
Despite the reality, staff will do their best to bar any intoxicated students from entering.
