Kate Snihur

Kate arrived at Shawnigan from Edmonton, Alberta as a grade 10 student in the fall of 1996. She was a model student and was named Head of School in her grade 12 year. After graduation she attended the University of Alberta where she excelled as a student and on the rugby field.

She returned, in the fall of 2005, to teach science (Biology 11 and Science 9), coach girls rugby, and to be a duty staff member in Kaye’s House (where she lived as a student!). Shawnigan is a family affair for the Hamiltons—Kate’s father graduated in ’68 as did her brothers —Kirk (Ripley’s ’97) and Chris (Ripley’s ’02) and sister Meredith (Kaye’s ’00).

Recently married to Dean Snihur, whom she met at University, Kate is delighted to be back at Shawnigan. When asked why she chose to return, she said that Headmaster David Robertson was her rugby coach and she stayed in touch with him while she was at University. It was he who suggested that she return to Shawnigan as a teacher.

Kate reports that her knowledge of the school makes it comfortable and familiar, but that enough changed during her six years away for her not to feel that she has returned to the same place. For example, when Kate was a student, the Shaw Centre where she teaches was not yet complete. She’s managed to begin calling Mr. Robertson “Dave” and Mr. Lane “Stephen,” but confesses that she still calls her old House Director Erica Dalrymple “Mrs. D.”