Boarding houses are the home away from home for our students: smaller, close-knit communities within the larger School community where students develop their strongest bonds. Students are part of the same House for their entire Shawnigan Journey, creating close connections with their housemates as they share each other’s cultures, interests and experiences.
Each House has multiple live-in staff members who are also teachers, coaches and academic advisors, and whose families share the space as well. Teachers who don’t live in the Houses also serve as duty staff, getting to know the students outside of classtime, and each House’s dedicated housekeeper also plays a role in their well-being. Every student is known by multiple trusted adults who they can turn to; these relationships are deep and multifaceted, and staff comfort, guide, teach, advise and celebrate alongside their students.
All Houses provide a high level of care, but at the same time, no two Houses are the same, with different layouts, different cultures, and different traditions. Each House has space for between 50 and 60 students, and typical bedrooms have 2-4 students, with bathrooms shared by a small number of students. Bedrooms have desks where students do their homework, and students are able to return to their rooms throughout the day. Houses all have common spaces for students, including multiple common rooms, a kitchen, storage space, a large foyer, laundry facilities, and outdoor BBQs and gathering spaces.
“It is really comforting to know that you have all these amazing people who really understand you because they truly get to know you and are constantly checking in and providing a listening ear. Being a boarding student is the best thing about Shawnigan.” – current student
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Sharing a space with others, especially in a roommate situation, helps students develop friends for life as they support each other through formative years and grow into young adults, ready for the next stages of their lives. Boarding helps broaden perspectives, and teaches compromise, communication, patience, and how to manage a shared space. It also helps keep students accountable for responsibilities such as maintaining cleanliness and waking up on time.
Unique to Shawnigan is Samuel House, Canada’s first dedicated co-ed Grade 8 boarding house, with separate wings for boys and girls. Instead of being immersed immediately into a “big House” with older students, our youngest students are welcomed into a nurturing environment to ease their transition into boarding school life.
Houses
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Copeman's
Copeman’s House was founded in 1929 and is named for John Y. Copeman, a Victoria lawyer who was Chairman of the Board of Governors for many years.Colours: Crimson & white
Motto: Ubi crux ibi lux ~ Where there is a cross -
Duxbury
Duxbury House was founded in 1999 and named for Frank Duxbury, a teacher who was Senior Master at the School during the 1950s and early 1960s.Colours: Royal blue & gold
Motto: Cave lupum ~ beware of the wolf
Hymn: "I Vow to Thee My Country" -
Groves'
Founded in 1927, Groves’ was named after Jocelyn James Douglas Groves, Head of School from 1924-26, who later rose to the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the British Army. Groves’ was converted to a girls' residence in 1992 and rebuilt in 2005.Colours: Maroon & white
Motto: Ex unitate vires ~ From unity, strength
Hymn: "I Feel the Winds of God Today" -
Kaye's
Founded in 1989 as the second girls’ house, Kaye's House was named in honour of G. Peter Kaye, the School's second Headmaster, whose sons and grandsons also attended Shawnigan.Colours: Purple & white
Motto: Alis volamus propriis ~ With wings we fly
Hymn: "And Did Those Feet in Ancient Time" -
Lake's
Lake’s House was founded in 1927 as one of Shawnigan’s two original residences. Lake’s was named after Harry John Lake, its first Head of House, who later became a colonel in the Canadian Army.Colours: Emerald green & light blue
Motto: Non sibi sed aliis ~ Not for ourselves but others
Hymn: "Amazing Grace" -
Lonsdale's
Lonsdale's House was founded in 1968 and named for C.W. Lonsdale, Shawnigan's founding Headmaster.Colours: Forest green, gold & black
Motto: Ex Fumo Dare Lucem ~ To give light from smoke.
Hymn: "How Great Thou Art" -
Renfrew
Renfrew House was founded in 1996 in order to expand the space for girls wishing to enrol at the School.Colours: Orange & white
Motto: Solae paulum uniter tantum ~ Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much
Hymn: "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee" -
Ripley's
One of Shawnigan’s two original houses, Ripley’s House was named after Alexander B. Ripley, who was its first Head of House and who later became an executive in the oil well supply industry in California.Colours: Navy & light blue
Motto: Acta non verba ~ Actions, not words
Hymn: "I Hear Thy Welcome Voice" -
Stathcona
Strathcona Lodge School House was founded in 2007 to incorporate the girls from the original School House in the Main Building and to recognize the close historical ties Shawnigan has with Strathcona Lodge School. Shawnigan has since adopted the former "Old Girls" of "Strath" as honorary Shawnigan alumnae.Colours: Sky blue & white
Motto: Cherchons ~ Let us seek
Hymn: "Be Thou My Vision"
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“My boarding house quickly became my home.” – current student
Inter-House competition
Made up of a wide array of events, inter-House competition is a core tradition at Shawnigan, pitting the Houses against each other in an intense yet friendly struggle that plays out over the course of the year and bolsters House and School spirit.
Students become fiercely loyal to their Houses through inter-House competition, and events are hotly anticipated. Students tend to push themselves and put in extra effort because they are so dedicated to their Houses and housemates. Many of the best memories our graduates leave with are created at inter-House events.
Inter-House events include athletic, artistic, and academic pursuits, and are even built into our annual Ski Week at Manning Park. Each House is proud to showcase its colours, mascots and chants as they cheer their members on. The entire School attends all inter-House events, including much of the staff and faculty.
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.
