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Remembrance Day: Connecting the World Wars with Today
The Chapel bell rang 45 times on Wednesday afternoon – once for each of the Shawnigan alumni and staff members who died in the Second World War – summoning students to the Chapel for Remembrance Day ceremonies.
Shawnigan marked Remembrance Day early because students will be away for November Break on November 11, when it is officially observed.
Ceremonies began with a land acknowledgement by Lexi W. that specifically honoured Indigenous veterans. That was followed by an address by James P. and Valentina H. about a trip to the Menin Gate memorial in Belgium and Private Horace Leslie Ravenhill, the son of the Shawnigan Lake pioneer who previously owned the land that became our School, and who died in the First World War. James and Valentina then unveiled a plaque honouring Private Ravenhill with the assistance of 94-year-old John Pearkes ’49 (Lake’s), whose father, Major-General George Pearkes, also served in the First World War, receiving the Victoria Cross for his actions in the Battle of Passchendaele.
Emma N. recited the poem “In Flanders Fields,” before Rev. Ruth Dantzer introduced a new altar cloth to be used during the season of remembrance, crafted by Grade 8 students in Samuel House and decorated with 45 poppies to honour Shawnigan’s fallen.
While Private Ravenhill served in the First World War, and the men commemorated on Shawnigan’s Roll of Honour died in the Second World War, students also received a reminder that Canada has lost many people in more recent conflicts. Shawnigan parent and decorated veteran Petty Officer First Class Wade Smith gave a heart-wrenching recollection of his 24 years with the Canadian Armed Forces, which included deployment experiences in Croatia and Afghanistan. PO 1 Smith recalled soldiers he knew who died in Afghanistan and those who survived – some of whom have died since returning home. Between 2001 and 2014, more than 40,000 Canadians served in the War in Afghanistan, the country’s largest deployment since the Second World War, and 165 combined military and civilian personnel died.
Students and one staff member from around the world delivered prayers of remembrance and peace in the languages of their home countries, with messages in German, Spanish, Afrikaans, Persian, Russian, Mandarin, and Czech; and Kaleb A. recited the poem “For the Fallen.”
The ceremonies then moved outdoors, where crosses representing each of the 45 on the Roll of Honour fill the Quad. Following tradition, Grade 8 students placed poppies at each of the crosses as the names of the fallen were read aloud. Leo H. performed the Last Post on trumpet, which was followed by two minutes of silence, and then the playing of Reveille. After the laying of wreaths on behalf of Shawnigan students, the RCMP, Shawnigan alumni, Shawnigan Lake Montessori Preschool, Indigenous veterans, Thunder Rugby, the Canadian Armed Forces, Shawnigan Model United Nations, the South African Armed Forces, the Shawnigan Lake Fire Department, Rowing Canada, Rugby Canada, the Malahat Legion, the Shawnigan Parents Association, the Province of British Columbia, and Shawnigan staff, guest piper Dr. Peter Leckie played the Armed Forces Lament.
Alex F. led the singing of O Canada, after which Markellan K. read the words that have become known as the Kohima Epitaph:
“When you go home,
Tell them of us and say
Tell them of us and say
For Your tomorrow,
We gave our today.”
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.
