McGill University usually hosts its spring convocation on the field just inside the Roddick Gates. This year, the ceremony is moving indoors — and tickets will be halved to two per graduate.
Typically free, the tickets will also now cost $25 each. In a memo sent to students, McGill says it’s charging for tickets to help offset the cost of the event.
These last-minute changes have frustrated students, with some even launching a petition that’s garnered over 1,100 signatures.
Last year, the university held its convocation ceremonies at the Bell Centre because of the pro-Palestinian encampment on the downtown campus. The school says that cost over $700,000.
But this year, McGill says the Bell Centre is unavailable — and the event must still be held indoors — so instead, the convocation will take place in the Tomlinson Fieldhouse gym. That means space is limited.
“It’s frustrating,” said Sara Raubvogel, who is graduating this year. “This is a big deal and obviously this happens once in a lifetime and I was really excited.”
She was looking forward to her whole family coming out and attending, she said.
Mason Di Pierdomenico, who is also graduating this year, feels similarly.
“It saddens me and a lot of the McGill graduates that we can’t be on this lawn here with our family and friends enjoying the beautiful McGill campus,” he said.
Several more students have reached out to CBC News to express their concerns.
In a statement Friday, the school says it has “heard the very real concerns from our students and their families, and we are actively working to address them.”
“We acknowledge we made a mistake in our planning and communications about Spring Convocation 2025, and we sincerely regret this,” the statement says, adding the school is working hard to “course correct” and will share further details as soon as possible.
In a letter to students Thursday, the school’s interim deputy provost, Angela Campbell, acknowledged the disappointment felt throughout the community.
“I’m very sorry this information was relayed so suddenly and without any context,” she wrote.
She says the Tomlinson Fieldhouse has been used in the past, and teams are working to ensure the graduation ceremonies “feel special and meaningful for you and your families.”
But it’s a smaller space, so only two tickets are available per graduate, with a limited number of extra tickets going on sale two days before each ceremony.
Campbell says the $25 fee was introduced for all convocation ceremonies taking place this academic year to help offset the significant costs of organizing an event of this scale.
“The cost is also in line with practices at many other universities,” she adds. “We know this situation isn’t ideal — especially for those with families travelling to Montreal — but we’re working tirelessly so that Convocation 2025 is a success.”
There will be livestreaming available for those who can’t attend.
McGill has not said why convocation must be held indoors again this year.
The news of charging for tickets to help cover costs comes as universities across the province are struggling to balance their budgets — facing a $200 million shortfall.
At McGill, however, the budget was balanced mainly through staff attrition and retirements. The university is forecasting a 10 percent drop in international undergraduate students and warns that a steeper decline would significantly impact revenues.
