Hatchery
Established by Mark Hobson in partnership with the Department of Fisheries and Ocean, the hatchery is home to one of the first on-campus high school fish hatchery programs in British Columbia. Students are given the opportunity to engage hands-on with the life cycle of the salmon, capturing adult salmon, harvesting and fertilizing their eggs, and helping them grow before releasing them to begin their perilous journey back to the ocean. Thanks to the hatchery, countless Shawnigan students have learned about the economic, cultural, and ecological value of these amazing fish.
Hatchery News
List of 3 news stories.
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Rainbows and an Umbrella – But it's Not the Weather!
Read MoreDozens of rainbow trout found a new home in Lake Omar last week as the remediation of the campus’s aquatic centrepiece continued.A favourite of lake and river anglers across western North America that has been introduced around the world, the rainbow trout is native to Vancouver Island. It has had a presence in Lake Omar even within the last decade, but has been largely absent in recent years – until last Tuesday, at least.
The School acquired 200 six-inch trout, releasing the majority into Lake Omar, although about 50 were put into an empty tank in the Mark Hobson Hatchery on the lakeshore, which is usually used for raising coho salmon.Since they were released, the fish have been observed happily jumping throughout the lake. Major predators, such as otters, mink or herons, haven’t been spotted yet, although they were often present even before the recent stocking, so it is only a matter of time. Until then, the fish will enjoy being fed and not being fed upon. Students and staff, however, will be invited to fish for the trout. -
Japan Super Science Fair Profile: Foxton, Adison and Nolan
Read MoreShawnigan has a long-standing relationship with the Japan Super Science Fair, hosted by Ritsumeikan Junior and Senior High School in Nagaokakyo City, Kyoto. The School has participated in the highly regarded student science fair for the last 11 years, a streak that no other Canadian school can match. Six students and one staff member will be travelling to Japan this year for the fair that runs from October 31 to November 6, joining their peers from 55 schools in 20 countries.The trio of Foxton T., Adison L. and Nolan B. worked together on the project “Evaluating SLS Hatchery vs. Wild Juvenile Coho Salmon Impact Using GEE Traps,” in which they attempted to compare the behaviour of coho salmon fry raised in Shawnigan’s Mark Hobson Hatchery with that of fry that hatched in the wild.“We all grew up fishing,” Foxton related. “We’re all super passionate about the environment, and we want to make a difference.” -
Shawnigan's Salmon Hatchery: A Unique Resource
Read MoreOne of Shawnigan’s most unique features and educational resources continues to contribute both to the School and the surrounding ecosystem, 45 years after it was first established.The Mark Hobson Hatchery has been part of Shawnigan Lake School since 1980, and while many schools incorporate the salmon fishery into their programs, Shawnigan is the only school in BC with its own hatchery on campus. Programs centred on the hatchery help students learn more about the life cycle of the coho salmon, the ecology of Vancouver Island and the west coast, and countless other science concepts.Hatchery- and salmon-related programming began this year when 10 Grade 11 students travelled to the Shawnigan Creek fish trap where they helped volunteers from the Mill Bay and District Conservation Society move 200 salmon up the falls to help them reach their spawning grounds. Not only did the students get hands-on experience with the fish, but there was also a service component to their participation.
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.
