News & updates

List of 5 news stories.

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  A Symbol of Gratitude and Reconciliation

  6/23/2025
  Visitors to the Shawnigan campus will be welcomed by a beautiful new totem pole donated by graduating student Hannah F. (Kiiyuukh) and her family, which was unveiled in a moving ceremony on Monday, June 16, which included a traditional blanketing ceremony for Hannah.

   

  “This pole stands as a marker, a beacon, and a statement of our school’s commitment to walking alongside Indigenous peoples,” said Indigenous Community Engagement Coordinator Mr. Clay Panga as he opened the ceremony. “It reflects our support for community and reconciliation, not just in words, but in action.”

   

  The carving was donated by Hannah and her family as a gift to the School, a symbol of gratitude for the support and love the School gave to her during a time of great loss. It was created through a mentorship program funded by the First Peoples' Cultural Council in which Hannah learned under her cousin Hjalmer Wenstob (Tleḥpik).

   
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  A Week Without Walls

  6/23/2025
  For the first time since the Beyond the Gates experiential learning program was launched in September 2021, all Grade 9 students took part in major events to mark the end of the school year – not just those who opted into the capstone trip.

   

  There were no classes for Grade 9s between Monday, June 2 and Tuesday, June 10; instead, students were given a wide range of options for what was dubbed the “Week Without Walls” – from staying on campus for daily experiences to hiking the full 75km extent of the famous West Coast Trail. The variety of options made sure that all students were involved.

   

  Options A and B fell under the “backcountry” label, while option C was considered “frontcountry.” Those who selected A and B had to be self-sufficient, carrying their own camping gear and food, while students who picked C were based on campus, with the comforts of home.

   
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  Grade 8s in the Spotlight!

  6/23/2025
  “We’re all in this together!”

   

  For the uninitiated, that is the title of the climactic song in the Disney film High School Musical. It is also the spirit of the annual Grade 8 musical at Shawnigan, which, fittingly, was High School Musical this year.

   

  All Grade 8s are required to take part in the Grade 8 musical, either as cast or crew, although all Grade 8s were on stage for the final two numbers. The crew was assisted by some older students as well.

   

  Ms. Annie Marland, who led the musical along with Mr. Vince Hale, called it “a raging success,” and “really, really fun.”

   
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  June Sports Roundup: Provincials and More

  6/23/2025
  The 2024-25 school year has been an excellent one at Shawnigan on several fronts, with standout performances in all sports over the course of the year. We wrapped up the year by qualifying for the provincial championships in rugby, tennis, badminton, golf, and track and field, and sent a big contingent to the national championships in rowing. Congratulations to all the athletes who represented Shawnigan in all sports this year.

   

  Rugby

   

  The senior boys’ and girls’ (Iron Women) 1st XV teams both won their respective Island championships and advanced to the provincial tournaments, where they both earned silver medals in their respective divisions.

   

  The boys moved through the AAA Tier 1 division with wins over Abbotsford in the quarter-finals and Oak Bay in the semis, then were beaten by St. George’s in the title game. The girls defeated Robert Bateman and Mark R. Isfeld before falling to D.W. Poppy in the AA championship match. The Colts also reached the junior boys’ provincial championships, where they battled through and finished the season with a victory.

   

  Three Shawnigan community members were honoured with awards during the coaches’ dinner held at provincials. Mr. Jeff Williams, head coach of the senior boys 1st XV, received the Distinguished Coaching Award; Eddie Evans ’81 (Lake’s) was presented with an Honourary Membership in the BC Secondary Schools Rugby Union in recognition of a lifetime of supporting high school rugby; and Walter van Halst ’84 (Lonsdale’s) also received an Honouray Membership in the BCSSRU for his time as Commissioner of the BCSSRU and Chair of the BC School Sports Rugby Advisory Committee.

   
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  A Salute to Strength and Sacrifice

  6/13/2025
  Following the completion of their AP Art projects, 19 Shawnigan students jumped straight into an ambitious and meaningful endeavour, designing and painting murals for the nearby Malahat Branch 134 of the Royal Canadian Legion. The project began on May 2 and became a month-long collaborative journey that pushed the participating students creatively, physically, and emotionally.

   

  The students formed small teams, each responsible for different aspects of the project, from lead designers and painters to brush washers, a liaison officer to ensure things were accurate, and even doughnut suppliers. This collaborative structure allowed every student to play a vital role. Many evenings saw students working sometimes until 9 p.m., committed to completing the murals with care and excellence.

   

  The two murals now adorn the outside of the Legion hall, along with two others painted by students from Frances Kelsey Secondary School. One of the Shawnigan murals features a Canadian Army soldier with a bomb detector, while the other is of an RCMP officer with a service dog set against a Canadian backdrop.

   
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