Valedictorian Selection
Cameron Chewka-Suttie and Manarap Popli were named the valedictorians for Mount Douglas Secondary in 2026. The selection process involved eight nominees who put their names forward.
According to Saanich News, the two students were chosen by their peers to share the honour of delivering a joint address at the graduation ceremony.
Ceremony Plans and Schedule
A virtual meeting for families regarding the 2026 graduation ceremony was held on January 28, 2026. A mandatory information meeting for valedictorian nominees took place on February 25, 2026.
Valedictorian nominee speeches and student voting were scheduled for April 7, 2026. The graduation ceremony rehearsal was set for May 28, 2026 at the University of Victoria (UVic) Farquhar Auditorium.
The graduation ceremony is scheduled to take place on May 28, 2026 from 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM. A procession was set to begin at 6:00 PM at the UVic Farquhar Auditorium.
Graduation Dinner and Ticket Information
A Grad Dinner/Dance was scheduled for May 31, 2026 at The Delta Ocean Pointe Resort. Graduation gowns were available for pick-up by students on May 25, 2026.
Tickets for the graduation ceremony were priced at $15 each. Ticket sales commenced on April 2, 2026 through the UVic box office. Until April 21, 2026, graduates were initially limited to four tickets per person.
Any remaining tickets became available for purchase without limit starting April 22, 2026. Tickets were distributed to graduates via email on May 21, 2026.
Valedictorian Statements
Cameron Chewka-Suttie expressed a desire for the event to be "a celebration of everything that has happened and all of our achievements." Manarap Popli described his journey as beginning in India and culminating in Saanich, stating he "built everything and myself from scratch." The students intend to reflect on high school experiences and encourage classmates to embrace authenticity, compassion, and personal growth during their address.
Academic Backgrounds
Cameron Chewka-Suttie credited her Grade 10 English teacher for influencing her academic path. She noted that she revived the school's slam poetry team to achieve second place in a citywide competition.
Manarap Popli joined the Model United Nations in Grade 10 and organized the school's first conference, which featured Elizabeth May as a keynote speaker.
Future Plans
Cameron Chewka-Suttie plans to pursue psychology and Slavic studies at the University of Toronto. Her aspiration is to become a child psychiatrist. Manarap Popli intends to study biochemistry with a minor in political science at the University of Victoria. He aims to become an oral and maxillofacial surgeon while remaining engaged in politics.