Home - old
Canadian Universities Event Comes to Shawnigan
Shawnigan students had the opportunity to connect with post-secondary institutions from coast to coast on Tuesday when the School hosted the Canadian Universities Event.
Nearly 50 universities, including some of the top schools in Canada, set up tables in the new gym, and students were able to ask questions and learn about what Canadian universities have to offer as they plan for life after their Shawnigan Journey.
Students in Grades 10, 11 and 12 were invited to attend, and a few eager Grade 9s dropped by the event as well. The first hour of the three-hour session was also open to students from other schools in the area, which drew another several hundred students.
The response from the Shawnigan students and the university representatives was overwhelmingly positive, according to university guidance counsellor Mrs. Vicki Heywood, who spearheaded organizing the session.
“There is always a buzz at this type of event,” she said. “It's exciting to see so many universities represented in one space! The universities who attend this event span across Canada, from east coast to west coast, as well as the Royal Military College and the Marine Institute. Many students took this opportunity to learn about new institutions and programs. Several excitedly showed us the stack of view books they had collected or pointed out specific programs they learned about by speaking with the representatives.
“The feedback from the representatives was also incredibly positive, both in regard to our students and the opportunities on our campus. When we host this event, we arrange for Prefects to give tours of campus as a way for reps to learn about the Shawnigan experience and understand the quality of students making up our student body. Dustin and the kitchen team also kindly hosted the group for dinner, a real novelty for this group who are in the middle of their busy travel season.”
There are many advantages for students who attend events like these, Mrs. Heywood added.
“We hope that by attending this event, our students consider the wide range of institutions and opportunities available to them,” she said. “We encourage each student to seek out a program that is their best fit and to ask about supports that are important to them. For some, this includes questions about campus life, while others take time to ask about accessibility support or scholarships.”
Although this is the largest university event on our campus this year, the School has several other university visits planned throughout the year. The Guidance Office encourages all Grade 10, 11 and 12 students to take advantage of the opportunities to connect with representatives and learn more about their post-secondary options.
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.
