Each year, the Centre for Continuing Education of John Abbott College holds a Convocation ceremony to present ceremonial certificates to its graduating students. Family, friends and faculty are welcome to attend these joyous events and join graduates as they celebrate and receive recognition for their academic achievements. 

This year, Convocation will take place on Thursday, September 28, 2023. The procession of academic staff and graduates will begin at 6:20 p.m. with the ceremony beginning at 6:30 p.m. 

Graduates of the Centre for Continuing Education of John Abbott College who have completed their studies in summer 2022, fall 2022 or winter 2023 will receive an invitation to attend Convocation from the Centre for Continuing Education in late June/early July. 

Invitations will emailed/mailed to all eligible students and/or MIO sent for current students. The invitation contains a link to pay on-line via credit card. It is recommended that you print a copy of the receipt for your files. The deadline to confirm your attendance is August 17, 2023. All graduates who pay by the August 17th deadline are guaranteed 4 guests’ admission to the Casgrain gymnasium.  

If you are a graduate (not a guest) that has mobility concerns (i.e.: wheelchair, crutches, cane, etc.) please contact us at 514-457-6610 extension 5015 or by email at conted@johnabbott.qc.ca with the mention ‘Convocation’ in the subject line.  A member of the Convocation Committee will be in contact with you to make arrangements for Convocation Day. 

The Convocation ceremony will be held indoors in the Casgrain building gymnasium with a live broadcast on the John Abbott College YouTube channel for those that are unable to be in attendance.  

Please note that all our venues are wheelchair accessible. 

No. Graduates do not require a ticket. 

Maximum 4.  In addition, we will have a live broadcast on the John Abbott College YouTube channel for those that are unable to be in attendance. 

Yes.  These will be supplied to you when you pick up your gown. 

I have a large family – is there a waiting list for additional tickets?
No.

Yes, out of respect for your fellow graduates please remain in your seat until the end of the ceremony. 

The ceremony will last approximately 2 hours and graduates and guests are asked to stay until the end of the ceremony to prevent any disruptions. The ceremony will be followed by a reception.

Your guests may take photos but they must not obstruct anyone’s view or block the aisles or exits. 

Yes. All graduates will wear a black gown and cap. The souvenir gown and cap with the 2023 tassel are yours to keep. You must come to the College on Thursday, September 28th between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to pick up your gift bag (contains your cap & tassel, gown, guest tickets & your line-up card) at the Agora.

The invitation you will receive in July will explain when to arrive and where to go. You will also receive a line-up card with your name and program on it as well as your line-up order. This card is very important. You must have it with you when you approach the stage (see below). Your name, as it appears on the line-up card will be announced by the convocation reader as you cross the stage.

A marshal will instruct you when it is your turn to go on stage. You will present the line-up card you received when you collected your cap and gown to the convocation reader who will announce your name. You will then walk across the stage and shake the hand of the Director General / Director of Continuing Education & International Programs / Academic Dean who will give you your ceremonial certificate. You will then continue across the stage and exit from the opposite side. You will be directed to proceed immediately back to your seat and to remain seated until all of your fellow graduates have received their certificates. 

Graduates keep their souvenir gown, cap and tassel. 

No. The ceremonial certificate has already been supplied to you at the time when you completed your program of studies. At Convocation you will receive a congratulatory letter of completion from the Centre for Continuing Education prepared by the college for your graduating class. 

For Continuing Education, AEC graduates, you will have already received your attestation from the college. You may request an official transcript of studies that will outline all courses, grades and competencies completed at the following link:   

https://johnabbott.qc.ca/the-college/request-access-to-transcripts-documents/

Graduates are to report to:  to be determined – more information to come prior to the ceremony.    

As the proceedings are lengthy, graduates are advised to eat before arriving. 

Starting at 5:45 p.m. in the Agora, a member of the Convocation team will call out the graduates’ line-up number in processional order within your program. The graduates are provided with their line-up number when they pick up their cap and gown. Graduates will line up as instructed by the academic marshals. 

Faculty members are asked to assemble outside the Agora, no later than 5:45 p.m. At the directed time, as directed by an academic marshal, the academic party will lead the processional into the Convocation area. Dais guests will be directed to take their places on stage. All other attending faculty and staff will be directed to the faculty seating area. All will remain standing until after the singing of the national anthem. 

Following the entrance of the academic party, graduates will march into the graduate seating area accompanied by the strains of traditional processional music. During the procession, march briskly and follow the instructions of your academic marshal. Remain standing in front of your seats until after the singing of the national anthem. You will be directed when it is time to sit down. 

Graduates should wear their caps at all times except during the singing of the national anthem, when the gentlemen are asked to remove theirs. The correct way to wear a cap is to have the larger part of the skull of the cap at the back of the head, with the top board parallel to the ground. The tassel should be worn on the right side of the cap until the student receives their ceremonial certificate, when it will be moved over to the left side. 

During the presentation of the certificates, the Director General will shake hands with each graduate and the Academic Dean will present the graduate with their ceremonial certificate. 

The ceremony generally lasts for approximately 2 hours after which the graduates and audience are requested to remain in place until the platform party has left the stage. The audience will continue to remain in place while academic marshals lead the faculty, followed by the graduates, away in the recessional accompanied by the strains of traditional recessional music. The reception will take place thereafter. All participants and their guests are invited to attend.