The use of the prayer of grace at a graduation dinner in Saskatchewan has led to controversy, according to one family.

The school in Middle Lake, near Humboldt, is planning for this year's graduation and one student suggested that they no longer have someone say grace prior to the dinner.

According to Ange Nantau, her son Jake does not follow a religion and suggested, instead of grace, that they have a moment of silence before the graduation meal.

Nantau said not long after Jake made the suggestion, her son was the target of vandalism.

"Jake has had students at school put copies of religious scripture in his locker," Nantau told CBC news. "He's had a couple of incidences with his car. Somebody removed the lug nuts on a tire. We had a car window smashed."

Students have decided that the graduation dinner will be preceded by a statement of thanks, with no religious component.

Nantau said the controversy, and the reaction, have only reinforced her son's view of organized religions.

"It's part of why my son chose to be an atheist," she said. "He has gone to school with kids who profess to be Christians and then their behaviour does not show that outside of school, outside of their church."

Middle Lake is about 100 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon