News
Founder's Day 2023
During a moving Founder’s Day Chapel service last Saturday, Stag Awards were presented to two valued members of the Shawnigan community for years of invaluable contributions to the School: past parent and outgoing Chair of the Board of Governors Fiona Macfarlane, and Carl Bradley ’78 (Groves’), an alum, past parent, and generous supporter of C.A.S.E. (Communications, Arts, Sciences & Entrepreneurship) though the Bradley Family Foundation.
All alumni are welcome back every Founder’s Day, but this year’s event was specifically focused on those who graduated in 1953, 1963, 1973, 1983, 1993, 2003 and 2013, as well as the class of 1998, who returned for their 25th anniversary. Members of the Class of 1973 enjoyed the Gold Club Luncheon, while the Class of 1983 marked their 40-year Silver Reunion, and the Class of 1993 marked their 30-year Bronze Reunion. More than 220 alumni, family members, and past and present staff and board members gathered on campus for this year’s celebration.
Niko Zorkin ’73 (Lonsdale’s) spoke in Chapel on behalf of his class, addressing the students that are following in the footsteps of himself and his classmates half a century later.
“As I look around, I am reminded of the countless lessons my classmates and I learned within the School walls, the friendships that withstood the test of time, and the dreams that were ignited right here,” he said.
The ribbon-cutting at the newly renamed Bruce-Lockhart Centre for Creativity was another highlight of the day. Formerly known as the Hobbies Building, the hub for the arts on the Shawnigan campus was renamed in recognition of the outstanding service to the School delivered by former headmaster Simon Bruce-Lockhart (1999-2000) and his wife Joanne (1990-2007), both exceptional teachers and inspiring educators far beyond the classroom.
A christening was held at the crewhouse for a new two-person rowing shell donated by past parent and board member Mrs. Janet Griesdale.
Founder’s Day also featured the Annual General Meeting, as well as several activities for alumni, including tours of their old boarding houses, touch rugby, rowing, and pottery, robotics and art classes, the latter led by Artist in Residence Mr. Melvin Gómez. An alumni ice hockey game was held in the Charlie Purdey Arena the night before, and Founder’s Day ended with a U18 Prep boys’ game against the Pacific Coast Hockey Academy.
It was wonderful to reconnect with so many alumni on a very special weekend. Thank you to all the staff and volunteers who put in many hours to make this event happen.
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.
