Congratulations to the graduating class of 2012 of Sir John Franklin High School. Flashworks Photobooth had the unique honour of being with you in Yellowknife on your milestone celebration!

Although the population of Yellowknife may be small in comparison with other provincial capitals, this is the last thing that the Sir John Franklin graduation festivities were. The program preceding the dry grad, and the dry grad itself were intense. The large space within the Yellowknife Community Area was transformed into a Parisian vista complete with Eiffel tower, Arc de Triomphe, and market, cafe, and park scenes depicting French living. Tall dark blue curtains interspersed with gold runners enclosed the Parisian environment, while an even taller black backdrop with a city skyline and stars illuminated in mini-lights framed the front of the area. A stage occupied the area immediately in front of this skyline wall, and upon this stage the evening’s speakers gave their speeches before a large yellow arc de triomphe illuminated with pot lights from below. Towering to the left of was an Eiffel tower painted in red, white and blue reaching almost to the ceiling. On either side of the stage were three large painted canvases, one being a Parisian cafe street scene, the second a park scene of people lawn bowling beneath a bronze statue, while the third depicted a colourful French street market. Around the arena, black and silver star shaped balloons filled the corners and doorways. And, although folding chairs willed the majority of the floor space, the grads and special dignitaries sat in chairs with elegant white chair covers.

After a few entertaining and lighthearted speeches from school administrators, class historians and class prognosticator, the floor was cleared for three dances. The first was for the graduate and their date, the second had the grad dance with a parent, and the third dance was reserved for the graduate and a special person in their lives. Following the formal dances, the grads were asked to retreat to the curling club for half an hour while the area was prepared for the dry grad. A Parisian cafe, Le Bistro, popped up on one side of the arena, complete with facade and about a half dozen round tables with red and white checkered tablecloths and daisy centerpieces. A number of activity stations also materialized: bagette fencing, “minute to win it” games, wheel of fortune, and baby wall where grads could match their friends to their baby photos. A tour de France roadway was laid out in white duct tape and pylons where grads competed to win by racing tricycles. At each activity, grads received fake money for participating (and winning) and a stamp in their “passports”. There were also a number of blackjack tables where the celebrants could wager for more funny money. In the end, the grads were able to use their money to  bid on a wide assortment of items (TVs, sleeping bag, vacuum, photo printer, crock pot, DVD player, pots and pans, coffee maker, etc).

Throughout the night, the DJ from Dance Away Music played a wide range of songs from a range of genres, and fruit trays, subway sandwiches, cold cuts, popcorn, and pizza from BPs kept bellies full.

However, the most well-visited attraction of the evening was definitely our Flashworks Photobooth. From 10pm to 3am, there was a constant line-up of students waiting to capture images of the night with their friends and significant others, dressed in goofy props and french-themed garb.

Thanks to all of the school staff and parents that made this night a big success for the grads. Also, Flashworks Photobooth would like to extend a big thank-you to Clark Builders for funding our booth and making the arrangements that shipped so far away from home.

Best wishes to the Class of 2012! May your future studies and endeavours be fulfilling and abounding with success. Congratulations!

To view the online gallery, CLICK HERE.