Shawnigan Lake School

Shawnigan Lake School
Address
1975 Renfrew Road Shawnigan Lake , British Columbia , V0R 2W1 Canada
Coordinates	48°39′26″N 123°38′20″W / 48.6573°N 123.6390°W / 48.6573; -123.6390
Information
School type	Private Day and Boarding
Motto	Palmam Qui Meruit Ferat (Let whoever has deserved the palm bear it)
Founded	1916
Headmaster	Richard 'Larry' Lamont
Staff	250
Grades	8–12
Enrollment	509
Language	English
Colour(s)	Black and Gold
Mascot	Stag
Website	www.shawnigan.ca
Last updated: February 7, 2019

Shawnigan Lake School is a co-educational independent boarding school located on Vancouver Island in Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia, Canada. It was founded by Englishman, Christopher Windley "C. W." Lonsdale, in 1916, and was partly modelled after one of England's leading schools, Westminster School.^[1]

Located on 150 hectares of lakefront property, the campus has 35 buildings including nine modern boarding houses.

Location[edit]

Shawnigan Lake School is built on the shores of Shawnigan Lake and occupies a stunning wooded 400-acre (1.6 km²) property. It is located just a few minutes away from the village of Shawnigan Lake, or a 45-minute drive from Victoria, British Columbia on Vancouver Island.

Current campus[edit]

Currently Shawnigan has approximately 35 buildings on its vast property, ranging from classrooms, dormitories and staff housing, to a theatre, ice hockey arena, and extensive sports fields.

Main Building: Built in 1927 after a devastating fire destroyed most of the original building. Within a week of the fire, founder Lonsdale had hired Duncan architect, Douglas James, to design a new facility. Construction began February 16, 1927, and the new building was occupied on May 13. Today it is the true heart of the campus and currently houses the accounting, admissions, school administration, learning centre, university guidance, and social studies departments, as well as the student centre the "Ritz" and the school store.

Hobbies Building: Originally built in 1937 and completely rebuilt in the late 1990s, this building is home to many of Shawnigan's fine art and multimedia programmes. It contains a film production studio, wood shop, several art rooms, a pottery room, a computer lab, and a photography lab.

Marion Hall: Built in 2002 using exclusively local timber, it is a 500-seat dining hall and food services facility.

Olsen Building: Built in 2001 and named after former student and board of governors member Bruce Charles Olsen, this building currently houses the languages department.

Craig Building: Donated by Mr. and Mrs. Cyril Craig in 1962, this building was moved to its current location beside the Olsen building in 2001.

Shaw Centre for Science: Built in 1999, this state-of-the-art building houses the science department and was donated by Jim Shaw.^[2] and family.

John Lecky House: Donated by the Lecky family this facility was opened in September 2003, the facility being part of John Lecky's dream of "Bringing the World to Shawnigan", it is used to house visiting schools as well as Shawnigan's partners, Rugby Canada and Rowing Canada during their frequent, on campus training camps.^[3]

The Jim & Kathryn Shaw Library: Opened in 2016, the library is a modern space that has become the heart of the Learning Commons with features such as private reading rooms and comfortable study pods. There are about 10,000 books in the collection, as well as a new software operating system that can access all contemporary print and digital material.

Charles Purdey Arena: Opened in 2016, the ice arena is the most recent addition to Shawnigan's list of world class athletic facilities. The arena has created a 'real buzz' at the school as it allows 5 competitive teams in the Canadian School Sport Hockey League (CSSHL) to host games and tournaments. In addition, it gives less competitive hockey players and figure skaters an opportunity to develop their skills. It is a real slice of 'Canadiana'.

Boarding Houses[edit]

Current[edit]

The school is primarily a boarding school with 90% of its students attending the school as boarders. The school currently has 5 residences for boys and 4 residences for girls. Each boarding house has a house director (formerly called the housemaster) and an assistant house director, who are assisted by student house prefects in the management of house duties and issues.

Lake's House: One of the two original houses, “Lake’s” was founded on May 12, 1927. “Lake’s” was named after Harry John Lake, its first head of house, who later became a colonel in the Canadian Army. Col. Lake's uncle, Sir Percy Lake, was first Chief of the Canadian General Staff and served as Chairman of the Board of Governors, while the Colonel's father was Sir Richard Lake, sometime Lieutenant-Governor of Saskatchewan.

Ripley's House: One of the two original houses, “Ripley’s” was founded on May 12, 1927, and was named after its first Head of House, Alexander 'Alec' B. Ripley.

Groves' House: Founded in September 1927, “Groves’” was named after Jocelyn James Douglas Groves, its first head of house, who rose to the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the British Army. Groves’ was converted to a girls' residence in 1992. Groves’ House was rebuilt in 2004.

Copeman's House: Founded in September 1929 and named for John Y. Copeman, a Victoria lawyer who was Chairman of the Board of Governors for many years. The original building, which housed 90 boys and had its own kitchen and dining room, mysteriously burned to the ground one night in the autumn of 1968. The current dorm was built in 2005.

Lonsdale's House: Founded in September 1968 and named for Christopher Windley Lonsdale, Shawnigan's first and founding headmaster. “Lonsdale’s” moved into a new building in March 2007.

Strathcona Lodge School House: Founded in 2007 and named to mark Shawnigan's long association with Strathcona Lodge School, a defunct girls’ school in Shawnigan Lake which closed its doors in 1977. Shawnigan has since adopted the former 'Old Girls' of 'Strath' as honorary Shawnigan alumnae to incorporate earlier generations of women from Strathcona Lodge School alumnae within the ranks of Shawnigan's current alumni.

Kaye's House: Founded in September 1989 as the second girls’ house, it was named to honour G. Peter Kaye, the school's second headmaster, whose sons and grandsons also attended the school.

Renfrew House: Established in September 1996 in order to expand the space for girls wishing to enroll at the school.

Duxbury House: Founded in September 1999 and named after Frank Duxbury, a teacher who was senior master at the school during the 1950s and early ’60s.

Former[edit]

School House: Founded in September 1988 as the inaugural girls’ residence in the School, named after its unique position in a refurbished wing of the School’s main building, School House was replaced in 2007 by Strathcona Lodge School House.

Headmasters[edit]

Academics[edit]

Shawnigan's academic program is university preparatory. Shawnigan was ranked by the Fraser Institute in 2017 as 11th out of 253 British Columbian Secondary Schools based on a score of 9.3/10 for academic achievements.^[4]

Fine arts[edit]

The Fine Arts play a vital role in the development of all Shawnigan students. Within the arts, emphasis is placed on personal growth and the development of lifelong skills. Students are encouraged to try a variety of Fine Arts, selecting from a list of twenty options.^[5]

Athletics[edit]

The athletics program at Shawnigan Lake School is an extension of the School's mission statement: "Through athletics, we lead young people in the pursuit of personal excellence.” Shawnigan's goal is to develop the athletic potential of each student, while also instilling lifelong habits of respect, sportsmanship, and healthy physical activity.

Shawnigan has partnerships with Rugby Canada and Rowing Canada which bring national teams to train at the school.

In 2014, Shawnigan joined the Canadian Sport School Hockey League.^[6]

School athletic championships[edit]

(Note: championships exist pre-2001 to the founding.)

Rugby union[edit]

BC AAAA Boys Rugby Champions - 2019 BC AAAA Boys Rugby Champions - 2017 BC AAA Junior Boys Rugby Champions - 2017 Junior Boys Rugby 7s Champions – 2016
BC AAA Junior Boys Rugby Champions – 2016
Girls CAIS Rugby Champions – 2016
BC Girls AA Rugby Champions – 2016
Senior Boys CAIS Rugby Champions – 2016
BC Boys AAAA Rugby Champions – 2016
BC Boys AAA Rugby Champions – 2015
BC Boys AAA Rugby Champions – 2013
BC Boys AAA Rugby Champions – 2012
BC Boys AAA Rugby Champions – 2011
BC Boys AAA Rugby Champions – 2010
BC Boys AAA Rugby Champions – 2009^[16]
Boys CAIS National Rugby Champions – 2008^[17]
BC Boys AAA Rugby Champions – 1998^[18]
BC Girls AA Rugby Champions – 1997
BC Girls AA Rugby Champions – 1996
^[19][20][16]

Field hockey[edit]

BC Girls AAA Sr. Field Hockey Champions – 2014
BC Girls AA Field Hockey Champions – 2011

Ice hockey[edit]

CSSHL Midget Varsity Champions – Boy's Midget Varsity – 2016
CSSHL Midget Varsity Champions – Boy's Midget Varsity – 2015

(Note: championships exist pre-1996 to the founding.)

The E.D.G.E. programme[edit]

EDGE stands for: Engagement of mind, body and spirit; Development of individuals; Gratitude that grows from awareness; and Experience, the most powerful teacher. This program began as a re-building trip in the wake of the 2004 tsunami in Thailand. Out of this humanitarian outreach endeavor grew what is known today at Shawnigan as the EDGE Leadership Programme. To date, Shawnigan’s EDGE Leadership Programme has sent twelve teams of student volunteers to Thailand, one to Argentina, one to Laos, three to China, one to South Africa and one to Zimbabwe, to carry out a variety of community service projects.

Notable people[edit]

For a full list see List of Shawnigan Lake School people

Notable alumni[edit]

This article's list of alumni may not follow Wikipedia's verifiability policy. Please improve this article by removing names that do not have independent reliable sources showing they merit inclusion in this article AND are alumni, or by incorporating the relevant publications into the body of the article through appropriate citations. (February 2019)

Artists[edit]

• Robert Stewart Hyndman – Artist
• Peter Saul – Artist ^[21]

Athletes[edit]

• Matt Evans – Rugby Player – Newport Gwent Dragons^{[22][unreliable source?]}
• George Hungerford – Gold Medal Olympian – Rowing^[23]
• John Lecky – Silver Medal Olympian – Rowing^[24]
• Kristopher McDaniel – Team Canada Rower^[25]
• Josh Jackson – Rugby Canada Player^{[26][citation needed]}
• Hannah Darling – Rio 2016 Olympic Bronze Medal, 2015 Pan American Games Gold Medal, Women's Rugby 7's Team Canada^[27][28]
• Eloise Blackwel - New Zealand Black Ferns^[29]
• Brett Beukeboom - Rugby Canada and Cornish Pirates
• John Lander (rower) - 1928 Olympic Gold Medalist, coxless four

Broadcasting[edit]

• Bob Kerr (d. 2003) – CBC radio Classical music programme presenter of Off the Record for 36 years (retired 1996)^[30]

Business[edit]

• Jim Shaw – CEO Shaw Communications^{[citation needed]}

Entertainment[edit]

• Jon Kimura Parker – Order of Canada, Concert Pianist^[31]
• Tara Spencer-Nairn – Actress, Corner Gas^[32]

Politics[edit]

• The Hon. Henry Pybus Bell-Irving – Lt. Governor of British Columbia^[33]
• Peter Ladner – Vancouver City Councillor^[34]
• Stephen D. Owen – Former Member of Parliament
• Anthony Vincent - Canadian ambassador to Peru and later, to Spain^{[citation needed]}

Scholars and scientists[edit]

• Graham Anderson – Scholar^[35]
• Dr. Barry F. Cooper – Canadian Political Scientist^[36]
• Dr. Steve Deering – Computer Scientist
• Dr. Roger Stanier – Microbiologist^[37]

Notable staff[edit]

For a full list see List of Shawnigan Lake School people

• Tom Brierley – Cricketer
• Robert Ivan Knight – Founder/First Headmaster of Qualicum College^[38]
• Mark A. Hobson – Wildlife Artist^[39][40]
• Count Leonid Pavlovich Ignatiev (d. 1988) – University of Toronto Slavics professor, grandson of Count Nikolai Pavlovich Ignatiev, son of Count Pavel Nikolayevich Ignatiev, brother of George Pavlovich Ignatiev, CC, and uncle of the formers' son, Michael Ignatieff, MP, former leader of the Liberal Party of Canada^[41]
• James Robertson Justice – Actor^{[citation needed]}

Affiliations[edit]

• The Anglican Church of Canada, diocese of British Columbia
• CAIS – Canadian Accredited Independent Schools
• NAIS – National Association of Independent Schools
• TABS – The Association of Boarding Schools
• FISA BC - Federation of Independent School Associations in British Columbia
• ISABC - Independent Schools Association of BC

References[edit]

Bibliography[edit]

• Rough Diamond: An Oral History of Shawnigan Lake School (ISBN 0-9696005-0-X) by Jay Connolly.
• The Handbook of Canadian Boarding Schools, by Lafortune, Sylvie, Thomson, Ashley, p. 115

External links[edit]

• Official website
• The Association of Boarding Schools
• Shawnigan Lake School Profile By TopPrivateSchools.ca