Rowing



Situated on picturesque Shawnigan Lake, which is widely recognized as an ideal training location thanks to its length and tranquil conditions, Shawnigan Lake School has counted rowing as an essential part of its athletics program since 1931. The School’s proud rowing history includes the introduction of the Shawnigan Regatta – which remains a fixture of the high school racing calendar every May – in 1962, and the first Head of the Lake Regatta in 1981. Shawnigan’s long tradition of rowing has been strengthened in recent years by a formal partnership with Rowing Canada Aviron that sees National and Olympic Team athletes regularly train on Shawnigan Lake and, as of 2025, in a dedicated training facility in the School’s Sportsplex. 
Shawnigan’s rowing program has produced many outstanding athletes over the decades, including several Olympic medallists and numerous Provincial and National Team rowers. The School consistently sends rowers to top university programs around the world, many of whom have also earned scholarships for rowing and/or academics. 

Head Coach

Jen Parfitt, Head of Rowing
jparfitt@shawnigan.ca

Teamwork, integrity and a strong work ethic are deep-rooted values for Jen from seven years on the Canadian National and Olympic Rowing Team. A fully certified NCCP rowing coach and coach developer, Jen has extensive experience working at the club, provincial and national level and spent ten years working in coach education and sport development with the national sport body, Rowing Canada Aviron. Jen spearheads the vast opportunities rowing provides to enhance and enrich youths’ lives including the sense of self worth from hard work and achievement. Jen has deep experience with Safe Sport, Long Term Athlete Development, and program development to provide a comprehensive rowing program at Shawnigan Lake School.

Coaches

List of 6 items.

  • John Bomans

    • NCCP ECC rowing coach with 20-plus years of experience
    • Varsity rower at Western University
    • Canadian National/Olympic training centre athlete from 1993 to 1995

  • Jim Fawcett

    • NCCP ECC rowing coach with 20-plus years of multi-sport experience
    • Varsity rower at Princeton University for four years
    • Canadian National/Olympic training centre athlete in 1996

  • Maggie Fawcett

    • NCCP ECC rowing coach
    • University of Toronto varsity team and Argos club rower
    • 5 years coaching, 25 years teaching
    • Deep experience with neurodiverse and integrated education youth

  • Travis Gronsdahl

    • NCCP ECC rowing coach
    • Canadian National team U23 rower, 5th at World Championships
    • Keen on pursuing coach education at a deeper level

  • Nicole Hare

    • NCCP ECC rowing coach
    • U23 World Rowing Championships: Gold, Silver and Bronze medalist – 2014, 2015, 2016
    • Silver Medalist World Championships 2017
    • 2020 and 2016 Olympian

  • Julie Platt

    • NCCP ECC rowing coach
    • Canadian National and Olympic team rower: Gold medalist masters rower
    • 20 years plus coaching experience

List of 4 items.

  • Program Overview

    All are welcome to row at Shawnigan, from the novice to the most seasoned athlete, and from Grade 8 to Grade 12. Shawnigan’s rowing program offers bespoke training programs for the learn to train stage right up to the train to compete stage of athlete development. Because of the School’s location on the mild West Coast of Vancouver Island, on-water training is possible most days of the year – and when it’s not, numerous dry-land facilities are available for each team’s training sessions. Thanks to Shawnigan’s formal partnership with Rowing Canada Aviron, the School’s rowers have the opportunity to train alongside and join in training sessions with National and Olympic Team athletes.

  • Junior Program (Grades 8-10)

    Students in Grades 8-10, both novice and experienced, train in the winter and spring terms. Training sessions take place three afternoons a week, with optional additional practices available for keen athletes in the mornings and/or afternoons.

  • Senior Program (Grades 11-12)

    Students in Grades 11-12, both novice and experienced, train in the fall, winter, and spring terms. Training sessions take place three afternoons a week, with optional additional practices available for competitive athletes in the mornings and/or afternoons.

  • Competitive Seasons

    Shawnigan rowers participate in a robust fall term program of head racing that spans Victoria to the famous Head of the Lake Regatta at the University of Washington in Seattle. The winter months include indoor competitions as well as cross-training opportunities on our beautiful 270-acre campus, including world class gym facilities and cross country trails. A packed spring racing season culminates in our own Shawnigan Regatta and ultimately the Canadian Nationals in St. Catharines, Ontario. 
Home of the Shawnigan Regatta

Rowing Facilities, Amenities & Support

  • Direct access to Shawnigan Lake (7.5km long)
  • Dedicated rowing crew house and docks
  • Dozens of high quality rowing shells
  • Ergometer centre with over 40 ergs
  • High-performance weight room
  • Spin room
  • Health & Well-Being Centre offering on-campus massage, acupuncture, and more
  • Athletic Therapists on staff
  • Athletics-specific university guidance support
  • Staff advisors for each student to ensure academic, athletic, and personal success

Alumni Success Stories

List of 4 items.

  • Kyle Fredrickson ’17

    • Competed for the University of Victoria in 2017-18 before concentrating on his Paralympic training with the national team
    • Won back-to-back gold medals in the PR3 men’s pair at the World Rowing Championships in 2018 and 2019
    • Finished eighth overall (second in the B final) in the PR3 mixed coxed four at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo

  • Ellexi Fulton ’21

    • Currently on the women’s rowing team at Northeastern University
    • Named to Team Canada for the 2024 World U23 Championships and 2024 Henley Royal Regatta
    • Named to Team Canada for the 2021 World Junior Rowing Championships

  • Eva Morton ’24

    • Currently on the women’s rowing team at the University of Virginia

  • Gunnar Platt ’22

    • Currently on the men’s rowing team at Syracuse University
    • Placed first in the men’s junior pair for Canada at the 2022 CanAmMex International Regatta in London, Ontario
    • Won the men’s pair for team BC at the 2022 Canada Summer Games in St. Catharines, Ontario
    • Represented Canada in the men’s pair and four at the 2023 Pan American Games Qualification Regatta in San Pedro de la Paz, Chile

Rowing Partnerships

Shawnigan Lake School is proud to partner with Rowing Canada Aviron. Our boathouse is used daily by Canada’s National and Olympic Team rowers. The lake is recognized as an ideal training facility for its length, calmness and beauty. The partnership with Rowing Canada Aviron has Shawnigan rowers frequently interacting with National and Olympic Team athletes. This collaboration has recently been strengthened, as Rowing Canada designated Shawnigan as its permanent fall and spring rowing center in 2024. Recent improvements to the facility include the addition of multi-workout spaces, a professional-grade weight room, an ergometer centre, and a spin room.

Our Athletes are attending

We acknowledge with respect the Coast Salish Peoples on whose traditional lands and waterways we live, learn and play. We are grateful for the opportunity to share in this beautiful region, and we aspire to healthy and respectful relationships with those who have lived on and cared for these lands for millennia.
1975 Renfrew Road
Shawnigan Lake, BC V8H 2G7
+1-250-743-5516
Shawnigan Lake School is an independent co-educational boarding school for ages 13 –18 on Canada’s beautiful Pacific Coast. Our diverse, interdisciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.