Donald Teuma-Castelletti
SHAWVILLE Nov. 10, 2018
Pontiac High School’s graduating class of 2018 returned to their old stomping grounds Saturday night, to cross the stage, receive their diplomas, and, in at least the case of Vince Belland, snap a quick selfie with some favourite administration.
In an evening of celebrations, over $26,000 in prizes and bursaries were distributed, including the introduction of a brand-new memorial bursary, donated by Clifford Lloyd Cone.
“For people around our community you may remember Mr. Cone, he drove the local taxi,” said PHS principal Debra Stephens. “He was just, from what I remember, this lovely, quiet, unassuming man, and there’s an incredible lesson to be learned about never judging a book by its cover.”
“And there’s an incredible lesson to be learned in terms of just living a good life, and saving your pennies,” she continued.
Stephens explained that Cone had donated his estate, a grand total of $578,295.36, to PHS, so that every year two students would benefit from it.

The Lloyd Cone Memorial Bursary rewards the male and female students who achieve the highest academic standings and are enrolled in a Canadian college, university, or CÉGEP, with half of the yearly accrued interest, each. The first recipients of this bursary were James Connolly and Emma Findlay.
But students weren’t the only ones receiving awards that evening, as one teacher was also recognized for her tireless volunteerism.
“An interesting fact, that sometimes people do not realize, is that much of what happens at Pontiac High School is not actually part of anyone’s job,” said Stephens, introducing the award.
She continued to highlight the various events at the school that can only take place thanks to the staff’s willingness to organize them, while working together. Stephens explained that the Western Quebec School Board’s Outstanding Volunteer Award was chosen after her staff had put forward nominations, and that it should be no surprise to find that Brenda Davis would be chosen.
However, there was another member of the community recognized for their efforts within the high school and its governing board that evening. Ellard Perry, who held various positions over the years, was recognized at the beginning of the evening, with a reserved seat on the platform, after passing away on Oct. 17.
“Had we not lost him, he absolutely would have been sitting right there doing this prayer of invocation, leading us in “O Canada,” and making sure that I do a good job,” said Stephens.
Rounding out the evening was the speech from valedictorian Findlay, who sought to highlight her class’ high school experience by outlining the differences that brought them together.
“Each and every one of us had a high school experience that was so unique, and different, than anyone else’s,” said Findlay.
She described her love of drama class, and how it encouraged her to speak up in her own way, while likening the same experience as terrifying for others. Findlay added that many of her classmates found their own talents, and their sense of who they were, in other classes like gym, social studies and more.
“However, despite everyone’s journey being so different we all made it to the same destination,” said Findlay. “We all graduated, we did it.”
The evening ended with the tradition of the graduates tossing their caps high into the air, as parents and staff attempt to snap some quick photos, before the group was welcomed into the cafeteria for refreshments.

2018 awards

Chris Wrinn Memorial Plaque for Student Government President and Vice President – Connor Stephens, Grace Younge; English Department Prize for Highest Standing in English Sec. V – Emma Findlay, James Connolly, April Judd; Heritage College Endowment Fund Bursary – Grace Younge; Louis Welsh Memorial Bursary – William Orr; Lions Club of Bryson Bursary – Patricia Godin; Bryson Lionettes Club Prize – Nolan Wrinn; Lions Club of Quyon Bursaries – Eva Baldi, Eric Bedard, Liam Chevrier Gibbons, Madison Latour, Rebecca Nugent; Lions Club of Shawville Memorial Bursary – Destiny Murphy; Lions Club of Shawville Plaque for Highest Academic Standing – Emma Findlay, James Connolly; Municipality of Bristol Bursary – Alyssa Graham; Municipality of Clarendon Bursary – Emma Findlay, James Connolly; Municipality of Campbell’s Bay Bursary – Ryan Robillard; Municipality of Otter Lake Bursary – Abigail Lavigne; Municipality of Shawville Bursaries – Destiny Murphy, Calvin Perry; Municipality of Litchfield Bursary – Joel Rivest; Municipality of Mansfield-et-Pontefract Bursary – Abby Soucie-Beland; Municipality of Bryson Bursary – Patricia Godin, Nolan Wrinn; Municipality of Thorne Bursary – Conner Turcotte; Oktoberfest Ladysmith Scholarships – Madison Hodgins, Conner Turcotte; PHS Governing Board Prize for Physics – Emma Findlay; PHS Governing Board Prize for Chemistry – Emma Findlay; PHS Governing Board Prize for Highest in Senior Phys. Ed – Rebecca Nugent, Cole Sheppard; Office of André Fortin, local MNA for the Pontiac – Émilie Côté-Ryshpan, Patricia Godin, Austin Lance, Cole Sheppard, Logan Wickens; Pontiac Clergy Association Bursary – Calvin Perry; The Shawn Campbell Memorial Welding Bursary – Conner Turcotte; The Carl Tubman Award for Welding – Caleb Caldwell; The Hazel Dupuis Prize for School Perseverance – Caleb Caldwell, Heidi De Haan, Kelsey Jolicoeur, Mary-Jasmine Rice-Desnoyers, Alexis Rutledge; Quyon Lionettes Prize – Eva Baldi; Shawville Odd Fellows Award – Kiarra Cameron, Logan Cormier- Laxdal, Émilie Côté-Ryshpan, Warren Derouin, Mackenzie Ellison, Hailey Gagnon, Ryan Gilpin, Georgia Howard, Madison Latour, Cole Sheppard; Shawville Lionettes Club Prize – Mackayla Bruce, Kirsten Tubman; Shawville Rotary Club Plaque for Student Government President and Vice President – Connor Stephens, Grace Younge; Shawville Rotary Club Bursaries – Connor Stephens, Grace Younge; St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Memorial Bursary in Honour of Lloyd Neville – Sebastian Amyotte, Abby Soucie-Beland; St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Memorial Bursary in Honour of Jean Neville – Brayden Smith, Vince Belland; St. Mary’s Catholic Women’s League Bursary – Liam Chevrier Gibbons; Student Government Plaque for Outstanding School Spirit – Brooke Mallette, Rebecca Nugent; Thomas Narlock Memorial Award for Law – April Judd; Promutuel Shawville Bursaries – Evan Atkinson, Ben Barr; W.A. Hodgins Prize for Scientific Math Sec. V – Emma Findlay; Yearbook Prize for Dedication and Service – Alyssa Graham, April Judd, Madison Latour; Pontiac Agricultural Society Prize for Agriculture – Rebecca Hamilton; Western Quebec School Board Citizenship and Leadership Award – Connor Stephens; The Fairy Godmother Shoppe Bursary – Brooke Mallette, Rebecca Nugent; McGill University Science Award – Emma Findlay; McGill University Social Science Award – Alyssa Graham; Autobus Lasalle Bursary – Cody Simmons, Matthew Weston; Royal Bank of Canada Bursary – Jacob Philippe; Ahmad Hassan Pharmacy Bursary – Jacob Desgagné; Centre Dentaire du Pontiac Bursary – Kendal Lang; Bryson Cruise Night – Ryan Gilpin; Shawville Fair Classic Car Show – Liam Chevrier Gibbons, Connor Stephens; The Betty Petty Citizenship and Achievement Award for French – Calvin Perry; Hayes Funeral Home Bursary – Alyssa Graham, Rebecca Hamilton, April Judd, Connor Stephens, Grace Younge; PHS Prize for PSAID – Emma Findlay, Alyssa Graham, April Judd; Principal’s Award of Distinction for achieving 80% or more – Eva Baldi, Eric Bedard, James Connolly, Warren Derouin, Emma Findlay, Alyssa Graham, Madison Hodgins, April Judd, Kendal Lang, Calvin Perry, Joel Rivest, Connor Stephens, Nolan Wrinn, Grace Younge; Lloyd Cone Memorial Bursary – Emma Findlay, James Connelly; Pontiac High School Commemorative Watch for the Highest Standing in the Graduating Class – Emma Findlay and Governor General’s Academic Medal for the Highest Standing in the Graduating Class – Emma Findlay.