Stewart Candelaria
Stewart Candelaria has served Shawnigan so well over the last twenty-plus years, it is hard to know which contributions to highlight. Coming to Shawnigan in 1985 from teaching in Golden, BC, he and his wife, Sharon, had their first child, Sheridan (Lake’s ’03), during their first year at the School. Stefan (Lake’s ’06), their second boy, was born three years later. Stewart was immediately a tour de force in the Languages department and played a major role in some of the programmes we hold dear like International Week and Carnival at Ski Week.
From 1990 to 1997, Stewart took on the Directorship of Lake’s House. While there, he instituted “House Commendations” as a step toward earning “House Colours.” Stewart says that, “Being a House Director is the most rewarding role a person in a boarding school can have. On a day-to-day basis you experience residential life with those under your care, both on good days and on bad ones. You internalize at the deepest level the meaning of esprit de corps.” Toward the end of his tenure in Lake’s House, Stewart became the Head of Languages. In that arena, he is most proud of spearheading the introduction of Mandarin Chinese as a language offering and the implemenation of Computer Assisted Language Learning through the design and installation of a digital language laboratory.
As the Director of Academics (1998 – 2004), he streamlined many of our academic systems, increased the offerings of Advanced Placement courses and co-ordinated the redesign of the Goldbook in its current form as a student organizer. He also raised the profile of Professional Development at Shawnigan, which eventually led him to take a year’s sabbatical leave in order to earn a Master’s degree in educational psychology and leadership studies. His thesis is a case study of professional development at Shawnigan Lake School.
Returning to the position of Dean of Faculty, a role that continues to evolve, Stewart oversees recruitment and induction of teaching faculty, while supporting the employment needs of all faculty. He quips that responding well to our faculty’s concerns in the fast-paced and demanding atmosphere of boarding school life provides him with continuous challenge! Recognizing more than ever the complex nature of Shawnigan, Stewart strives to facilitate communication through which faculty can further provide our students with an academic and experiential dynamic that is second to none.