Jim Holland

I was born, and grew up in Washington, D.C., a rather exciting place from which to observe the world changing events of the 1960s. When I arrived at the University of Toronto to study Theology in the late 1970s, however, I felt that I had come home, and I have been an enthusiastic Canadian ever since.

As is often the case, my life has not followed a straight path. I studied Philosophy and Theology in the 1970s in preparation for ordination to the priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church, but just before ordination my life took a different direction. The 1980s and 90s saw me writing and publishing. The majority of that time I worked with my wife, Selinde, creating a magazine for parents on Vancouver Island (Island Parent).

It was also during this time that I began a kind of secondary career in educational governance. My involvement included sitting on the board of the British Columbia Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils; serving as the Minister of Education’s Representative on the B.C. College of Teachers; and serving two terms as a School Trustee for the Greater Victoria School Board. It was not until 2003, when I came into the Anglican Church, that I was able to return to my original passion, which is priestly ministry.

Serving as Chaplain at Shawnigan Lake School allows me to bring together many (perhaps most) of my interests, skills and experiences. The welcome I have received from staff and students has been genuine, warm and very much appreciated.

The challenge of serving a student body from a wide variety of religious (and non-religious) backgrounds is proving to be an exciting one. As I said to the students and staff in my first official address to them, my vision for the chapel is three-fold. First, I hope that it might be an oasis; a place of peace and serenity in their extremely busy lives; a place to rest body and soul. Secondly, I see the Chapel as a place of learning; a place to explore the great spiritual and religious traditions of history. Finally I hope it will be a time and place for each student to explore their own beliefs, to plumb the depths of what is important for them; to become more aware of, and more intentional, about, their own values and beliefs.

From what I have experienced here, it seems to me that Shawnigan itself is like an oasis. In a world where self-interest is more and more the dominant ideology, what I see here is a school based on loyalty, personal responsibility, self-discipline and community values. I consider it a great privilege to be here, and look forward to many years of serving in this special place.