Exceptional students are deserving of a Shawnigan education regardless of financial means
— Founder C.W. Lonsdale's vision for Shawnigan Lake School
Application Deadlines
Returning Families*: November 2, 2026. Please log on to the Apple Financial portal beginning October 13th to submit a new application for the 2027-28 year.New Families: Applications for new families will be accepted starting in January 2027 upon receipt of your official school acceptance letter. Submissions are processed on a first-come, first-serve basis and families will be notified of the School's decision within two weeks of an application being verified by Apple Financial.
*Founder's Award Applications are assessed on a yearly basis. You must submit a new application for the upcoming year in order to be reconsidered for funding.
Founder's Awards (Financial Aid)
At Shawnigan, bringing the most promising students to campus for a co-educational experience that forges them intellectually, socially and personally — no matter their background — is the core of our mission. Our need-based financial aid program ensures that Shawnigan remains within reach for every extraordinary student, and as such is an expression of our community’s most enduring values.
In keeping with the vision of C.W. Lonsdale, financial aid is now known as Founder’s Awards.
In keeping with the vision of C.W. Lonsdale, financial aid is now known as Founder’s Awards.
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The History of Founder’s Awards
Our founder, C.W. Lonsdale, believed that exceptional students are deserving of a Shawnigan education regardless of financial means. To honour this vision, we have renamed our financial aid commitment as Founder’s Awards.Read More
Today, more than 30% of families receive a Founder's Award. Upon receiving an award, students and their families commit to share in the financial responsibility for their education by pledging to pay it forward for another Shawnigan student in the future. -
Founder's Award Policy
Shawnigan Lake School strives to provide an environment rich in diversity, one of our core values, as an important aspect of educating young people for an increasingly global world. The School has determined that financial aid is an important tool in developing and maintaining a deliberately diverse student population. Access is available to support students with varying socio-economic backgrounds. Founder's Awards are dispersed based upon demonstrated financial need, to provide access and diversity, and to support those families currently enrolled who are experiencing temporary hardship.Read More
Founder's Awards are decided on by a committee (The Founder’s Committee) and based upon an evaluation of each individual situation through an external assessment partner (Apple Financial). Awards will be based primarily upon a family’s unique financial situation. Other factors considered may include the student's academic performance, the student's character, and consideration of the greater community. -
Founder's Award Code of Conduct
Our School purpose is to ‘Inspire the best in each to create the best for all’ and our mission is to ‘spark minds, kindle hearts, forge futures’.
The following is a set of guiding principles used by the Financial Aid Committee:- Financial aid is one way in which Shawnigan supports families drawn to the purpose and mission of the School;
- Shawnigan provides financial aid on a needs-basis;
- Shawnigan determines need through an external assessment process that is equitable for all applicants;
- Shawnigan does not manipulate that process to the advantage of one applicant over another;
- Shawnigan does not use financial aid to compete with other schools.
Application for Financial Aid (Founder's Award)
Shawnigan Lake School uses an external assessment partner called Apple Financial Services which employs standardized and impartial processing in a confidential setting. Should you require any technical assistance with your application, please visit the Apple Financial Services FAQs page.
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1. Complete Admissions Process
In order to be considered for Founder's Awards, you must first complete the admissions process and be offered an acceptance to Shawnigan Lake School. -
2. Submit Apple Financial Application Online
Please see the Document Checklist below to ensure you are prepared to complete the application. The Apple Financial Services application portal requires a credit card to process a $137.50 CAD application fee. For technical support on the application process, please contact Apple Financial Services directly.Document Checklist to have ready:- Most recent T1 General tax forms including all accompanying schedules
- Provincial Form 428
- Most recent T4 Slips
- Most recent Notice of Assessment
- Year-end statement from your mortgage holder
- Bank statements
- Brokerage statements
- Insurance costs for home, life, auto, and health
- Utility information
- Medical records and expenses
- Retirement account information
- Most recent pay statement
- For rental property revenue - rental agreement with Tenant
- For business owners - copy of most recent fiscal years statement
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3. Receive Financial Aid Decision Letter
Our Founder's Committee will receive your application results from Apple Financial Services and make a decision on your application.Financial Aid applications are assessed by our Founder’s Committee on a monthly basis. Depending on the time of year, it can take anywhere from 2-5 weeks to be assessed by Apple Financial Services before we receive an assessment. Following the next Founder’s Committee meeting after an assessment has been provided, families will receive a decision letter from our Founder's Committee.
Contact Us
Email: financialaid@shawnigan.ca
Request for a Reconsideration of Financial Aid Support
If a family has new information to bring to the School’s attention, they will need to send an email to financialaid@shawnigan.ca explaining a reason for the request and provide supporting documentation, in order for a review to be considered.
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 12 –18 on Canada’s beautiful Pacific Coast. Our diverse, interdisciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.
