Mark Hall
Mark has been at the School for some time—over thirty years! In 1975, after completing a degree in physical education, with a minor in biology at UBC and earning his teaching diploma from the University of Victoria, Mark headed over from the mainland to Nanaimo where he taught at Wellington Secondary School. An SLS old boy, Mark was keen to learn that there was an opening at Shawnigan. He then began teaching Jr. Science and found his first year at the School was not as intimidating as he had anticipated.
Mark has had many experiences at Shawnigan, not the least of which has been House Directing. He started in Lonsdale’s House at a young age and found that trying to balance a new family, teaching, coaching, and playing rugby for Cowichan, as well as running a House of boys, was a tall order and he gave it up for a number of years until going back into Copeman’s as House Director in the early 90s.
Looking back over thirty years at Shawnigan, Mark’s experience coaching is the closest to his heart. “I enjoyed working with kids and watching them develop right from the early stages of their athletic careers. One of the aspects of coaching I enjoyed the most was seeing a student’s character develop over the course of the season.”
After 25 years, Mark went back to school, to the National Coaching Institute at UVic., to study coaching theory and to work under a master coach for a year. Still teaching at this time, he pursued his rugby coaching at Club, Provincial and National levels.
Mark has recently taken on the title of Associate Director of Admissions at the School and spends most of his time at his desk or travelling around western Canada and the U.S. meeting families, prospective students and talking about Shawnigan. When he is in his office there is a steady stream of students going in and out asking for advice or just for a chat.
Mark and his wife, Beth (Director of Post Secondary Planning and School House Director), have two children, both of whom are graduates of Shawnigan. His daughter, Carly, has gone on to a career in Hotel Management and is the general manager of Long Beach Lodge Resort in Tofino. Evan recently came back to the School to take an active role as an Intern and experience the life of a Shawnigan staff member. Another important member of the Hall family is “River,” their dog—a faithful friend and jogging partner.