Founder's Day 2026

This upcoming Founder's Day–Saturday, October 24–we are excited to welcome you back to campus to connect with classmates and enjoy Shawnigan activities on your old school grounds.

While all alumni are welcome to attend this year we will be celebrating reunions for the classes of:

1956, 1966, 1976, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2016, and 2021!

More information about the schedule will be announced in Spring 2026. If you are interested in being a class ambassador to help rally your classmates to attend, please email alumni@shawnigan.ca. We hope to see you there.

The Shawnigan Community Engagement Team

List of 6 items.

Weekend Schedule
Saturday, October 24
9:30am
Shawnigan AGM, Wilkinson Theatre
10:00am
Check-in, Main Building
Commissary & Duke's Cafe Open
10:15am
60 Year Diamond & 70 Year Platinum Reunion Reception

11:15am
Chapel
12:30pm
Alumni Lunch, Marion Hall
Gold Club Luncheon, Upper Marion Hall (60 Year & 70 Year classes are also encouraged to attend)
1:30-2:30pm
Reunion Year Group Photos, Chapel Steps (1:30pm)
Boarding Houses Open for Tours (2:00-3:00pm)
2:30pm
Oak Society Launch

Join us at the Hyde-Lay Pavilion for an exclusive unveiling of the Shawnigan Oak Society, honouring those who have made a legacy gift. Reserved for Legacy Society members and for those interested in learning more about the Oak Society.
3:00-5:00pm
Activities to be Announced
5:00pm
5 & 10 Year Reunion Reception
20 & 25 Year Reunion Reception
30 Year Bronze Reunion Reception
35 Year Reunion Reception
40 Year Silver Reunion Reception
6:00-8:30pm
Founder's Day Reception / Dinner to follow 7pm, Marion Hall
Children's Evening Camp: Dinner & Movie, Dinter's Hut
Sunday, October 26
10:00am
Brunch, Marion Hall
Accommodation

If you are visiting the area, please see here for our list of partner hotels in the area: Shawnigan Accommodation Recommendations.
Families Welcome!

This year we are excited to offer an afternoon Kids Camp (3:00-5:00pm) and Kids Dinner & Movie (6:00-8:30pm) on Saturday. Our Shawnigan students will be coordinating these events and they have several fun activities planned including a variety of sports, arts and games. The sign-up for kids activities is included on the registration form. This is a complimentary service available for children aged 6 and up. We encourage you to bring your families along to your Reunion!
Transportation

Because alumni will be staying in Victoria and Cowichan, we strongly recommend that all guests utilize the complimentary bus transportation to and from the School on Saturday. The Malahat is one of the most treacherous highways in Western Canada, and is subject to heavy rain and dense fog. British Columbia has some of the strictest anti-drinking and driving laws in the country. Our goal is for all of our guests to have the safest and most enjoyable experience possible!

Please indicate in the registration form that you are interested in transportation.

The deadline to register for transportation is October 6th.
Please note space is limited.
Additional Info

The cost for the dinner this year is $25 per person, which includes dinner and two drink tickets (additional drinks are $5 each).

Dress for Saturday is "smart casual" (i.e. no jeans please). Please bring weather-appropriate clothing as you will spend the entire day on campus and there is always the chance of rain. Please encourage your spouse and family to join us as well!
Alumni Attending

Here are the alumni currently registered to attend (note that this may not represent all alumni registered, only those who have agreed to have their names shared publicly):

Reunion Years

1956
1966
1976
1986
1991
1996
2001
2006
2016
2021

Alumni Relations Team

List of 2 members.

Rhodri Samuel

Director of Alumni Relations

250-743-6229

Bio
Originally from a coal mining village in Wales, Rhodri completed his undergraduate degree at Cardiff University, Wales, and his post graduate teaching degree at Exeter University, England. He taught biology and chemistry in England and in Wales before emigrating to Canada in 1984. His first eight years in Canada were at St Michael's University School, Victoria, where he was a housemaster and a science teacher. Rhod and his family came to Shawnigan in 1993 where he very happily ran Ripley's House for 17 years. During his tenure at Ripley's, he taught science and ran the rugby program. After house directing he moved into administration where he oversaw tone and discipline at the school. Rhod is now involved with the gap and intern program, Alumni Relations and Admissions. He is married to his childhood sweetheart Gaynor, who runs the Admissions team at the school. They have two sons, Dafydd (Ripley's '08) and Owain (Ripley's '09). In his spare time, Rhod enjoys hiking and pottering around the garden.
Cheryl Miranda

Director of Alumni Relations

250-743-6205

Join our alumni networking platform, Shawnigan Connect, to keep up-to-date with friends, events and news. Learn more about what Shawnigan Connect has to offer.

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.

1975 Renfrew Road
Shawnigan Lake, BC V8H 2G7
+1-250-743-5516

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.