News Archive

Shawnigan Lake School hosted the Mike Johnson Classic Squash Tournament from May 10 to 11. Players came from San Francisco, Chicago, Seattle, Calgary, Vancouver and the Island. We were honoured to welcome back a number of alums, three of whom are still playing at an elite level [Bransten Ming ’15 (Lonsdale’s), Ryan Picken ’17 (Lonsdale’s), Michael Mehl ’18 (Ripely’s)] and have competed at the National Championships. The calibre of squash was outstanding, and it was a unique opportunity for the spectators and our younger players to experience squash at this level. Bransten prevailed in the final, having come through a well-fought semi against his Shawnigan teammate, Ryan Picken. Following the final, Bransten made a heartfelt and thought-provoking address in which he paid tribute to Mike Johnson for the contribution he has made to all of the Shawnigan players. He highlighted Mike’s dedication to his players, coaching expertise (three World Champions), integrity and work ethic. His message for the current Shawnigan players was the recognition that they will inevitably lose matches along their squash journey, but that much more learning comes from the losses than the wins.

The championship match was followed by a social gathering at the pavilion. The alums who came to play had a wonderful time reminiscing and commenting on the stunning campus. It was plain to see their sense of camaraderie, pride in Shawnigan and respect for Mike. Thanks go to Colin Whitney for all his time and organization, which ensured the smooth and efficient running of the tournament.

The weekend would not have been the same without the artistic skill of Ben K. (Grade 10) who designed the tournament t-shirt.

Check out our latest alumni profile!

Devon Thompson ’00 (Groves’) spoke with the Advancement & Community Engagement team as part of an ongoing series featuring the stories that make up the legacy of Shawnigan alumni. As one of our newest Board of Governors, Devon shared her experiences since graduating from Shawnigan. Devon is currently the Managing Director at RBCx. Read More.

Nathan Bice ’16 (Duxbury) and Kyle Bell ’16 (Duxbury) visited the School in December 2023 to speak to Grade 12 students about potential job opportunities at Queen Charlotte Lodge.