June 29, 2023

GRANDPA, 64, GRADUATES SAME DAY AS 17-YEAR-OLD GRAND-DAUGHTER

GRAVENHURST — Kyra Reed, 17, graduates tonight from Twin Lakes Secondary School in Orillia.

Hours before she attended the Grade 12 graduation of her grandfather Mitchal Thorne — aged 64.

The 47 years is their difference between her starting out and him retiring.

She’s apprenticing to be a mechanic; he’s ended a working life of as a heavy equipment loader/operator last year.

He last graduated when he was 16 and in Grade 8 when he quit school.

But he can’t attend her moving up ceremony as only two people per family can be invited. However, they headed for a celebratory toast for gramps at Sawdust City Brewery right after.

**Kyra Reed gives a big hug to her grandpa Mitchal Thorne as the two graduated hours – and 47 years – apart yesterday in Gravenhurst and Orillia.**

They were among more than three dozen people including 11 grads, family members and friends attending this afternoon’s adult education commencement exercises in the Trillium Court at the Opera House.

Thorne, who quit school at 16 after Grade 8 to join his dad in the aggregate business in Stouffville, returned to Adult & Alternative Education Centres chool four years ago after moving to Lindsay.

But one English credit shy of graduating he had to transfer to Trillium Lakeland District School Board’s Muskoka AAEC in Gravenhurst to complete his degree when he relocated to Severn Township last year.

He was lucky to be able to study in the winter off-seasons for him.

**These TLDSB Adult & Alternative Education students have it made in the shade after graduating with their OSSGD Thursday at the Opera House in Gravenhurst.**

Thorne’s was just one of 10 amazing stories of those finally finishing off their high school education.

“We’re really proud of him,” said his wife Donna, as their two daughters Sara Reed and Sharon Spiers and their grand-daughters Kyra and Sawyer Spiers sat proudly at a front table, arriving an hour early for the nice little ceremony and presentation of diplomas.

Felix Palmer, 23, of Gravenhurst, was another happy grad, having completed not only his final English credit, but an extra one in math to round out his requirements.

Both completed some work online, but were glad to have teacher and administrative head Melody Dart to call on for help when needed. He too transferred here, from Orangeville.

Another student relied on co-op to reach qualify for his OSSGD.

Brianna Lawlor, 24, of Gravenhurst brought her mom, sister and brother — and son Nathan who will soon turn 2. She just starting working a month ago for G-Tel as a utility worker, and has some milright appentice training as well.

As for Thorne, he says Donna has too much work for him to do to pursue further studies.

Right now he’s building a house.

But like all of them they have seen the benefits — and scrolled up results — of lifelong learning and doesn’t rule out maybe another course or two at Georgian College.

He’s still young enough, he agrees.

The reason he returned to the AAEC was that each year his daughters graduated they urged him to follow suit and go get his diploma.

Today he did.

And they’re all proud of him.