SLS Now Archive
Shawnigan Alumni Boost UVic Basketball
A-Channel News covers University of Victoria SummerBall Camp. Adam Connolly ’09 (new recruit) and Mike Berg ’06 (returning player), are a testament to Vito Pasquale’s Shawnigan Lake School basketball program.
SLS Hot on Summer Rugby Scene
Shawnigan Boys and Alumni are doing well with rugby this summer reports Coach Tim Murdy.
Matt Evans '06 is playing with Rugby Canada Senior Men and will return to Hartpury College, England in the fall.
Josh Jackson '99 is returning to France for another season of professional rugby with Bordeaux Begles, a Second Division team he has played for since 2006.
Pat Fraser '08 is playing with Rugby Canada U20 along with Brett Beukeboom '08 who plans to return to Uvic in the fall.
2009 Grads Carlin Hamstra & Tye Hamblin are playing for BC U18 in the Canada Summer Games while Matt Kelly will be playing for Ontario U18.
Returning SLS students playing this summer are Martin D. '10 playing for Ontario U17; Christian C. '10, Monty T. '11, and Dustin D. '10 are all playing for Saskatchewan in the Canada Summer Games; Shannon K. '11 is with the BC U17 girls side in the National Festival; and Takeshi B. '10 and Jordan B. '11 are both with the BC U16 side in the National Festival.
Bursary Fundraiser A Great Success
On a picture-perfect Sunday afternoon, more than seventy performers, artisans, Chiefs and supporters gathered in the Oak Bay neighbourhood of Victoria in support of Shawnigan Lake School’s First Nations Bursary. Attendees were treated to a delightful Sunday afternoon of dance, song, food, and wine, and the opportunity to view and purchase a variety of pieces produced by some of the West Coast’s most talented First Nations artists. The event drew supporters from all over Vancouver Island, throughout British Columbia and even as far away as New Mexico!
After a brief introduction and welcome from Headmaster David Robertson, the stage was set for the afternoon by Chief Rande Cook, who led several other First Nations performers in traditional dances and songs meant to bless the land on which the event was being held. The performers were dressed in their traditional costumes, which were later relinquished to Mr. Robertson and our host for the afternoon, Dev Wood ’85, who joined in the celebrations, gamely trying to master the intricate traditional dance steps. Finally, the remaining members of the audience were convinced to join in the fun, dancing up a storm and working up an appetite!
The balance of the afternoon was spent mingling and savouring the fine wines and food so generously provided by Dev and his wife, Christine. Several of the donated pieces of art were sold to patrons, and a raffle was held for many other pieces in an effort to ensure that no visitor left empty handed. The afternoon was successful on every level, generating a great deal of financial support for the bursary and spreading information about its existence, and its significance to the School. Shawnigan has always prided itself as being a School inclusive of all cultures, and this bursary helps ensure the tradition continues.
The afternoon would not have been the great success it was without the tireless efforts and leadership shown by Dev and Christine. The School thanks them for opening their home to our guests and supporters, and for championing such a worthy cause. Dev assures us he has already begun planning for next year’s event and is committed to making it even bigger and better!
Shawnigan Rowers Selected for BC and National teams
Eight Shawnigan alumni and one current student will be aiming for gold at national and provincial rowing levels as Rowing BC and Rowing Canada announced the teams for this summer’s championship events.
On the Canadian National Under 23 team, three alum from the class of ‘05 will compete, as Stephen Connolly and Geoff Roth join the Men’s 8+ and Max Lang will crew on the Men’s 4. All will be going to the World Championships being held July 23-26 in the Czech Republic to compete amongst 600 athletes from 40 countries.
A grad from this year, Alex Thorlakson, will join the Junior National Rowing Team as part of the Men’s 4+ and represent Canada at the World Rowing Junior Championships in Brive-la-Gaillarde, France on August 5-8. About 50 nations take part in the championships with close to 600 juniors competing and the event is known to launch a number of future stars. It’s the biggest regatta for juniors and most of the competitors row internationally for the first time.
That’s not an issue for Alex, however, who was on the Shawnigan 8+ crew that beat Eton College to win the Princess Elizabeth Cup at last year’s prestigious Henley Royal Regatta in England. He was also on the 4+ crew who took gold and the 8+ who won silver at this year’s Canadian Secondary Schools Rowing Association Regatta in St. Catharines, Ont. Alex plans to attend the University of Victoria in the fall.
Also no strangers to elite-level rowing with medals at Henley and the CSSRA, Jason Cartwright ’08, Rory Rees’09, and Brendan Downey ’09 will row for BC at the 2009 Canada Summer Games in PEI on August 15-29. Jason just completed his first year at Temple University, while this fall Rory will begin his first year at the University of British Columbia and Brendan heads to UVic.
The Women's entry at the Summer Games features two Shawnigan athletes, Katie Dick '08, and Maylies L. '10. Katie is currently attending and competing for Washington State University, while Maylies is Shawnigan’s Captain of Rowing and a vital part of the defending National Secondary School Champion Women's Eight in 2009/10, which will be her final year at Shawnigan. Adding to the Shawnigan flavour in the Women's competition is coach Danielle Beare, who forgoes her summer vacation to take on the task of guiding these talented young women to success.