Fort McMurray's high schoolers finally graduate after wildfire disruption

As he took the mic at FatherPatrick Mercredi High School Friday, Fort McMurray's fire chief Darby Allen acknowledged he wasn't the usual choice to addressa high school graduation.

"I have never done a benediction before. I am not sure I can even spell benediction," Allen joked at the beginning of his address to the 2016 graduating class.

After getting the grads to join him in a couple of chants, Allen became moreserious in hisfour-minute, unscripted address.

"Today's a special graduation.Perhaps one that will be never seen in our history," Allen said

"You are part of that history. You will forever be part of that history."

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Allen was the face of the effort to fight the massive fire that engulfed FortMcMurrayin May, forcing the largest evacuation due to fire in Canadian history.

The evacuation forced 90,000 people to leave FortMcMurrayand surrounding communities.People in the least damaged neighbourhoods were able to return in early June. Residents of Beacon Hill andAbasandare being allowed to return next week.

"I can't imagine how traumatic that day must havebeen," Allen said. "Yourmoms and your dads got you together and you trundled down that highway. And you did it magnificently."

Allen wasn't the only one to reflect on how the wildfireimpacted the students.

"I'm sure this year has been a very interesting year for you. You've persevered through an incredible event that impacted so many. And literally the nation was watching," Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo MLA Tany Yao said.

"You probably wondered if you would see this school again and I bet you missed it more than you thought you would."

Students at Holy Trinity High School also graduated Friday.

Principal Lucy Moresaid the fire turned some of her students into adults.

"They took responsibility for younger siblings, for an older generation and for themselves and stepped up when they were needed,"More said.

"That resilience will see you through whatever trials come your way."

As the schools look forward to the new school year, some aren't sure how large next year's graduating class will be.

Both Fort McMurray's Catholic and public school boards expectstudent enrolment to be down about 5 or 10 per cent after the wildfire. The Catholic school boardexpects teacher numbers to fall by about 4 to per cent.