A Voice in the Wilderness Archive
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2026
2026
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March
The First 20 Years
Read MoreAs part of her series marking the School’s 110th anniversary, Archivist and Curator Mrs. Sarah Teunis-Russ examines the ups and downs of the first 20 years of Shawnigan’s existence, including the evolution of the athletics programs, the loss of the School building to fire, and fluctuations in the student population due to world events. -
February
Black History Month: “My identity is rooted in both struggle and strength.”
Read MoreFebruary is Black History Month in Canada and the United States. Shawnigan marked this important occasion in Chapel last Saturday, with contributions from students and staff. As Grade 10 student Nazor Ohiaeri related in his speech, Black people have a long history of oppression, and even still, negative messages – spoken and unspoken – can impact how Black people view themselves. -
Black History Month: Join the Conversation
Read MoreFebruary is Black History Month in Canada and the United States. Shawnigan marked this important occasion in Chapel last Saturday, with contributions from students and staff. Among the speakers was English teacher Mrs. Hayley Beukeboom, who talked about why Black History matters, and why we need to honour it – not just in February but throughout the year. -
The Power of Pluralism
Read MoreAt their recent meeting, the Shawnigan Board of Governors formally adopted a pluralism statement, acknowledging that the School recognizes, values and respects differences and that everyone in the School community belongs. Co-Head of School Ash Butun spoke about the power of pluralism in this week’s Gathering in Chapel. -
A Pivot, A Dream, and a Lot of Support: An Olympian's Journey
Read MoreWhen her ice hockey career ran into a roadblock, Kristen Siermachesky pivoted to a completely different sport – rowing. Within one year, she was invited to join the national program. A year after that, she was representing Canada internationally. Just three years after she started rowing, she won a gold medal in a World Cup race and was named an alternate for the 2024 Paris Olympics. A familiar face at Shawnigan as she regularly trains on campus and on our beautiful lake and joins her teammates for coffee at Duke’s Café afterwards, Ms. Siermachesky was invited to speak at the Gathering on National Women and Girls in Sports Day (Wednesday, February 4), where she talked about her personal journey as an athlete and a leader. This was adapted from her speech. -
An Inspiring Global Exchange
Read MoreIn recent weeks, Grade 10 students taking part in Shawnigan’s Global Exchange program have fanned out to high schools in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa to experience life as students in those countries. They will study alongside their peers in those nations while living with host families or in boarding houses at their respective schools. Jackson Froese travelled to KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa last year as part of the Global Exchange program, and reflects here on his life-changing experience and how it inspired him to make a difference. -
Enrichment and Challenge on a Global Exchange
Read MoreIn recent weeks, Grade 10 students taking part in Shawnigan’s Global Exchange program have fanned out to high schools in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa to experience life as students in those countries. They will study alongside their peers in those nations while living with host families or in boarding houses at their respective schools. Meissa Pio travelled to Brisbane, Australia last year as part of the Global Exchange program, and reflects here on her experience. -
January
Lonsdale’s Journey
Read MoreThis Sunday – February 1, 2026 – marks the 140th birthday of Shawnigan Lake School founder C.W. Lonsdale. As part of a series marking the School’s 110th anniversary, Archivist and Curator Mrs. Sarah Teunis-Russ delves into Lonsdale’s life before Shawnigan and what led him to create a boarding school in the Vancouver Island wilderness. -
Freedom Takes Work
Read MoreTuesday, January 27 is International Holocaust Remembrance Day, honouring the victims of the Holocaust, which included six million Jewish people and countless members of other minority groups. This is a time to reflect not only on the Holocaust itself, but also on the societal factors that allowed the Nazi Party to take control in Germany. Peace is not a given, Mr. Adam Holloway said in last Saturday’s Chapel service – it takes work. -
The Importance of Speaking Out
Read MoreTuesday, January 27 is International Holocaust Remembrance Day, honouring the victims of the Holocaust, which included six million Jewish people and countless members of other minority groups. Last Saturday’s Chapel service marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day with speeches from students and staff members, including Grade 11 student Peyton Stoller, who delivered a message about the importance of speaking up when it matters. -
Duxbury House – Cave Lupum
Read MoreOften attributed to Cherokee or other Indigenous American peoples, the story of the Two Wolves recounts a grandfather telling his grandson about the battle between two wolves within every person, using the battle as a metaphor for inner conflict. When the listener asks which wolf wins, the grandfather answers, “whichever one you feed.” That story is a focal point in Duxbury House, where the motto is Cave Lupum (Beware the Wolf), and the values of respect, integrity, honour, and perseverance are deeply ingrained. Grade 11 students Henri Zhao and Hudson McArthur both spoke about what being part of Duxbury means to them as their House led last Sunday’s Chapel. -
House Directing – Why Do We Do This?
Read MoreThe position of House Director at Shawnigan is not a glamourous one, but, as Mr. Tom Lupton said in a speech in special Chapel run by Duxbury House last weekend, it comes with unique rewards. Read on to find out what it means to do a job that is so challenging yet so valuable. -
Community, Friendly Rivalries, and Giving Day
Read MoreShawnigan’s first Giving Day in February 2025 was an astonishing success as alumni, staff, parents, students, and friends came together to support the School in a friendly but fierce competition between the boarding houses. Giving Day is back for 2026, and Associate Director of Annual Giving and Data Management Ms. Gemma Atkinson expects this one to be just as exciting. -
‘There’s something special that happens when you share challenges with others’
Read MoreAll Grade 9 students engage in Beyond the Gates, a year-long experiential education program that takes students off campus and into the natural environment of Canada’s Pacific Coast. Beyond the Gates culminates in the Week Without Walls, the highlight of which is a capstone expedition that takes students into the Vancouver Island backcountry for more than a week.
Now in Grade 11, Charlie Kittleson was a reluctant participant when he was in Grade 9, but the trip changed his life. Although the form of the capstone expedition has changed since then – this year, Grade 9s will choose between hiking the entire West Coast Trail, hiking a portion of that trail, kayaking the Broken Group Islands, or a series of shorter treks based closer to home – Charlie was still asked to speak to this year’s group about the value of getting out of one’s comfort zone and going Beyond the Gates. -
Trees and Green Spaces
Read MoreFrom storing carbon to cooling our urban areas, trees and green spaces are more than just pretty features of the landscape – they are vital to fighting climate change. Shawnigan’s Environmental Lead and Horticulturalist, Ms. Patricia Hanbidge, cuts to the core of the many hidden benefits trees provide to our planet.
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.
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.
