Campobello Island Consolidated School held their first full capacity graduation ceremony for the Class of 2022 in the gymnasium of the school in June of 2022. Campobello Island was hit particularly hard by the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of being isolated from the rest of the province. The international border has been a source of issues for Campobello Islanders who rely on a bridge to Lubec, Maine to connect to the mainland. Fortunately, the seasonal ferry from Deer Island to Campobello was subsidized by the province for most of the pandemic but, due to weather conditions, it was not always able to run. 

Many residents of Campobello are dual citizens or have family and friends on the American side of the border due to their close promixity to the United States. During the COVID-19 pandemic, however, they were unable to visit the United States except for essentials trips that the government gave them an exemption to take to Lubec and Calais, Maine for groceries and gas, since the island does not have a full service gas station or grocery store. 

Since the border opened this spring, many islanders were finally reunited with friends and family and tourism to Campobello is once again flourishing with visitors from the United States now welcome to return. The audience at the Campobello Island Consolidated School Class of 2022 graduation was peppered with guests from the US who were happy to finally be able to attend in person.

"It is wonderful to mark this occasion with a full audience with guests from both sides of the border," said Principal Daphne Carten.