Alumni Notebook October 2025

 

Congratulations to Melanie Bristoll ’20 (Groves’), Jenny Zhu ’21 (Kaye’s), and Daniel Enge ’18 (Copeman’s), the recipients of the 2025 Graham L. Anderson Award for Alumni Scholars.

Melanie finishing a half-marathon in Portugal in 2025.

Melanie was embedded into Shawnigan’s athletic program from the moment she first arrived on campus. From field hockey to soccer, she was a leader both on and off the field. This year, she is following her passion for sport and is attending the University of Michigan’s School of Kinesiology, where she will pursue a master’s degree in sport management. Passionate about advancing gender equity in sport, she hopes to become an advocate for women in leadership roles within the athletic world. As she works towards this goal, Melanie cites Ms. Andi Conroy as a role model, noting her leadership, compassion, and strength through adversity as qualities she would like to embody in her future career. 

Yuruo (Jenny) Zhu ’21 (Kaye’s) 

Jenny working in TRIUMF, the Canadian Particle Accelerator, in 2022 

During her time at Shawnigan, Jenny embraced academic challenges with determination and enthusiasm. As both an Academic Captain and Prefect, Jenny served as a role model for her peers throughout her Grade 12 year. Now pursuing a degree in Physics at the University of British Columbia, Jenny continues to embody the same characteristics of leadership and perseverance. Despite facing unexpected challenges at UBC, including exclusion and peer misogyny, Jenny pressed on, using these experiences as a catalyst for change. Her resilience has since led her to become co-president of the UBC Undergraduate Physics Society, where she created a meaningful impact within the community. 

Science.” – Jenny Zhu 

Daniel Enge ’18 (Copeman’s) 

When Daniel arrived at Shawnigan in Grade 10, he was instantly a role model for his Copeman's housemates. On many occasions, they would find Daniel studying hard in his room. His passion for academics was inspired by his late grandmother, Anne Enge, who pursued a Bachelor of Social Work in order to create a better life for herself and her children. Motivated by her example, Daniel excelled in his studies and was awarded the inaugural Furlonger Métis Scholarship. Since graduating from Shawnigan, he has continued to pursue his academic goals with determination and focus. Today, he is working towards a Master of Science in Mathematics at the University of British Columbia. 

The Graham L. Anderson Award for Alumni Scholars was originally established in 1999 in memory of Graham L. Anderson, a former staff member who dedicated 70 years to Shawnigan Lake School and its students. The scholarship is awarded annually to Shawnigan Lake School alumni who are dedicated to education, intellectual curiosity, and academic growth. Learn more here.

Congratulations to Elizabeth Yates ’12 (Groves’) on recently being named one of the 2025 Canadian Hydrographic Association Bursary recipients for her exceptional commitment to advancing studies in hydrography. Elizabeth is pursuing further educational certifications in both a Category A Certification in Hydrography and a Postgraduate Certificate in Ocean Bathymetry through the Nippon Foundation/GEBCO program in New Hampshire, USA. She is the first Canadian selected for the prestigious program.

A recent Australian exchange alumnus, Ethan Murphy ’25 (Lonsdale’s), proudly flying the Canadian flag.

Yicheng Martin Gao ’21 (Lonsdale’s) has recently started his JD degree at Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. Georgetown is one the top 14 schools in the U.S. – congratulations!

Maya Leader ’24 (Groves’) is part of the LA Rams Mentorship Program. This past summer Maya was a Training Camp Intern with the Rams.

Aitana Amezcua Chacon ’23 (Groves’) is currently completing a program at Oxford University. The program is focused on Britain from 1914-45, particularly the ways in which Britain influenced the wars and how the wars, in turn, transformed Britain. Aitana remarks, “Studying this history while being here has been an extraordinary experience, and it constantly brings me back to how profoundly Shawnigan fostered my academic interests and opened doors for me. The teachers and classes I had there truly sparked my passion for history.”

Abbie Vandivere ’97 (Groves’) and Trisha Dalke ’16 (Groves’)’s passion for art has taken them both to the Netherlands. Trisha is completing her MSc in Technical Art History at the University of Amsterdam, and Abbie has worked as a paintings conservator at the Mauritshuis museum in The Hague since 2015. This spring, they had the opportunity to work together on a large painting from the museum’s collection: The Bull by Paulus Potter. Trisha’s research focus was on how the damaged sky might have looked when it was painted in 1647, while Abbie and her colleagues restored the painting in front of the museum public. 

Congratulations to Avi Horwitz ’12 (Lake’s) on being named one of the 2025 40 Under 40 in Canadian Construction. Avi founded Sterling Floor and Tile at 22 and is now a major flooring contractor in British Columbia. Read the full story here.

Former Shawnigan Director of Advancement and External Relations, Rudy Massimo recently released his memoir, Where the Trail Leads: One man’s journey of adventure, adversity and leadership.  You can read more about Rudy’s book here.

This summer saw many athletic milestones for familiar Shawnigan faces. From BC Rugby to the NHL, Shawnigan alumni made the School proud with their skill and talent. Here is a wrap-up of just some of our alumni’s amazing accomplishments. 

It was a big summer for our alumni rugby players! 

Finn Gargan ’24 (Copeman’s), George Gave ’25 (Ripley’s), Thymen Van der Ploeg ’25 (Ripley’s), Milo McDonald ’25 (Copeman’s), DJ Banks ’25 (Ripley’s), Cole Mekelburg ’25 (Duxbury), and Chase Kittleson ’24 (Lonsdale’s) all played for Tsunami North Island Rep Rugby. 

Many participated in the 2025 BC Rugby’s Provincial Regional Championships (PRCs), which was hosted at Shawnigan Lake School from July 5-6, 2025. Sophie Hayes ’25 (Renfrew), Gwenlili Jones ’25 (Strathcona), and Hazel Parris ’25 (Kaye’s) played hard on the Tide U19 women’s team. On the men’s side, Owen Barlow ’24 (Copeman’s), Finn Gargan ’24 (Copeman’s), and Yuri Huisamen ’24 (Duxbury) left it all on the field for the Tide U19 team. 

Milo McDonald ’25 (Copeman’s) travelled across the globe with the U18 Dog River Howlers for the Invitational XV Germany Tour. 

Leo (Axel) Montgomery ’19 (Duxbury) was signed for Banbridge Rugby Club in the All Ireland League 2A for the 2025-26 season. Earlier this year, Axel also made his test debut for Norway in their European fixtures.

Both Hayden Jones ’25 (Duxbury) and Thymen Van der Ploeg ’25 (Ripley’s) participated in Rugby Canada’s 2025 U18 men’s development camp held at the University of Guelph.

Notably, Jeffrey Young ’22 (Duxbury) joined the Rugby Canada Men’s Extended Squad. 

We’re very proud to share that Eloise Blackwell ’08 (Groves’) was the captain for Auckland Rugby at the New Zealand Rugby National Provincial Championship Bunnings Cup. Also in New Zealand this past summer, Hannah Frank ’25 (Renfrew) and Leilani Molia ’25 (Kaye’s) joined forces in the Thunder Rugby New Zealand Tour. 

Many Shawnigan alumni also played in the Rugby National U19 Championships. Jonty Nicholas ’24 (Lonsdale’s), Sebastian Isherwood ’24 (Lake’s), and Greg P. ’26 (Lake’s) won silver medals in the men’s division, while Caitlin Pearce ’24 (Renfrew), Gwenlili Jones ’25 (Strathcona), and Sophie Hayes ’25 (Renfrew) won gold medals in the women’s division. Congratulations to our champions! 

Ava Ference ’23 (Renfrew) was named to the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) All-Academic Team. Ava is currently studying at Harvard University.

Shawnigan hockey players who once graced the ice of the Charlie Purdey Arena have made a name for themselves across North America. 

Ben Berard ’17 (Copeman’s) and Zach Okabe ’19 (Copeman’s) both signed to the American Hockey League (AHL) Abbotsford Canucks. 

Yale Bulldogs men’s ice hockey team members, Seiya Tanaka-Campbell ’21 (Ripley’s) and Jojo Tanka-Campbell ’19 (Ripley’s), were honoured as members of the ECAC Hockey All-Academic List for the 2024-25 ice hockey season. Seiya was also recognized as one of six Yale men’s hockey team members as an American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) Krampade Scholar All-American. 

Lola Macuiba ’25 (Groves’) trained with the USA Hockey Women’s U19 Camp. 

Dylan Compton ’23 (Copeman’s) laced up his skates for the NHL Seattle Kraken Development Camp. 

Ball Hockey 

Moving off the ice and onto the court, Meera Smith ’24 (Renfrew) joined the U20 Women’s Canadian Ball Hockey team at the 2025 U20 World Junior Ball Hockey Championships in Poprad, Slovakia, winning silver! Way to go, Meera! 

Shawnigan alumni made some impressive feats out on the water. 

Ally Tuttle ’23 (Strathcona) earned silver as part of Team Canada at the Junior Pan Am Games regatta in Asuncion, Paraguay.

Ellexi Fulton ’21 (Renfrew) made the U23 women's 8+ National Team and won bronze in the World Rowing U23 Championships in Poland.

Kieran Fitzpatrick ’21 (Lonsdale’s) made waves on the BC Rowing team, where he competed in the Canada Cup. 

Charlie Guinn ’24 (Ripley’s) is on the rodeo circuit this summer, including competing in the Bronc Star Tour and the Dog Pound Stampede.

We couldn’t be prouder of our Shawnigan alumni! We can’t wait to see what the future has in store for these talented athletes. 

For more alumni sport updates, follow us on our @sls_directorofsport or @shawniganalumni Instagram accounts.

From our campus to around the world, we meet Shawnigan Lake School alumni almost everywhere we go. Below is a collection of photos from recent visits with Shawnigan alumni.

Earlier in September, a group of young alumni came together for the Vancouver Young Alumni Gathering. 

Our Head of School, Larry Lamont, and our Advancement & Community Engagement team hosted a lunch for Seattle-based parents, alumni, and members of the Shawnigan USA Board. A special thank you to Frank Young ’59 (Lake’s) for hosting us at the Seattle Yacht Club.

Our Shawnigan Lake School community in Germany recently reconnected with our Head of School, Larry Lamont, his wife, Kathini Cameron, and our Director of Admissions, Julia Pollock, for gatherings in Hamburg and Munich. 

 

From July 1-5, Shawnigan alumni, staff, and parents took part in the DHL Derby at Langara Fishing Lodge in Haida Gwaii. Spectacular fishing and wildlife-viewing adventures were enjoyed by all while raising funds for the Haida Gwaii Scholarship at Shawnigan. Our School is proud of its longstanding connection to the Haida Nation and Haida Gwaii community, with many students from the community completing their high school years with us. We are grateful to Langara and our derby prize sponsors for their support in making this a successful fundraiser in support of our 2025-26 Haida Gwaii Scholar. 

 

Next year’s edition runs July 7-11, 2026, so let us know if you’d like to join the fun and support this worthy cause.

 

The newly established East Asia Ambassador Board (EAAB) is making meaningful strides in connecting and engaging the Shawnigan community across the region. The Ambassador Board's shared goals include enhancing brand awareness, increasing alumni engagement, driving student applications, and contributing to overall Alumni Relations efforts.

Most recently, Ambassador Board Member Don Song ’09 (Copeman’s) hosted an alumni gathering in Seoul, South Korea, bringing together graduates across generations along with current Shawnigan students and Shawnigan staff members Andrea Carballo and Paul Klassen, who are currently teaching at the Korean International School. 

In the photo: Jessica Kook ’08 (Renfrew), Gabriel Shin ’09 (Lake’s), Don Song ’09 (Copeman’s), Sean Jeong ’10 (Ripley’s), Paul Shin ’10 (Lake’s), William Kim ’16 (Lake’s), Helena Hwang ’16 (Kaye’s), Minsuk Seo ’16 (Copeman’s), Harry K. ’26 (Ripley’s), Yul P. ’26 (Ripley’s), Paul Klassen and Andrea Carballo.

 

Thank you to Brandon Kim ’10 (Copeman’s), Gabriel Shin ’09 (Lake’s), Paul Shin ’10 (Lake’s), Don Song ’09 (Copeman’s), and Sean Jeong ’10 (Ripley’s) for organizing and supporting this gathering.

On July 12, 2025 members of the Class of 1971 gathered together on Vancouver Island for a memorable four-day summer reunion. Highlights included an evening with Cliffside Preparatory School alumni, hikes, shared meals, a campus tour and dinner hosted at Shawnigan Lake School, and a special seaside concert.

The Class of 1981 reunited at Rainbow Lodge on Powell Lake for a summer reunion.

Head of School Larry Lamont joined past board member Mike Waites, and alumni Joe Waites ’02 (Ripley’s),  Mitch Oswald ’15 (Copeman’s) and Darrell Oswald'78 (Lonsdale's) for a fishing trip in Kyuquot, BC.

Shawnigan teacher Vincent Hale caught up with 2024 alumnae Angela Chiu ’24 (Kaye’s), Bea Hoerle ’24 (Renfrew), and Zoe Bown ’24 (Groves’) for a beautiful outdoor adventure at Elfin Lakes near Squamish, BC.

Alumni and future alumni gathered together in Canmore, Alberta to celebrate the newly established Ingrid Hanson ’91 Memorial Scholarship Fund. 

In the photo: alumni, Lisa Grover '90 (Kaye's), Ed Steidl '91 (Copeman's), Brig Hopkins '91 (Kaye's), Rosi Hopkins '25 (Kaye's), and current student Jackson F. '27 (Lonsdale's).

Members of the Class of 1972 got together for a kayak trip earlier this summer. The group – calling themselves the Shawnigan Lake Outdoor Geezers Society (SLOGS) – included Hamish Macintosh ’72 (Groves’), Geoff Baile ’72 (Groves’), Scott Lawley ’72 (Groves’), Len Chaston ’72 (Lonsdale’s) and Jim Kerr ’72 (Groves’).

Head of School, Larry Lamont, recently reconnected with Nikolas Kvanli '23 (Duxbury) and his family during a trip to Oslo, Norway.

 

Thank you to our London, UK community who gathered together with Rhod and Gaynor Samuel on October 3.

The Alumni Relations team had a wonderful time catching up with our amazing alumni this past summer. It’s always a pleasure to reconnect and hear about the exciting paths our alumni are pursuing beyond the gates of Shawnigan.

Some of the alumni we reconnected with include:

Mostyn Findlay ’16 (Duxbury) married Moriko Schulte on Pender Island on August 9, 2025.

Oliver Nott ’13 (Ripley’s) married Jamie Derban at Shawnigan Lake School on August 9, 2025.

Diana Chang ’06 (Kaye’s) married David Farris in Vancouver on August 10, 2025 with many alumni in attendance. 

In this section we recognize those members of our alumni and greater community who have passed away. Please reach out to Rhodri Samuel at rsamuel@shawnigan.ca if you have information or updates you would like to share with our wider community.

Nick Kaiser ’63 (Ripley’s) passed away on July 25, 2025 at his home in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

Nick retained a lasting affection for his Alma Mater, Shawnigan, as a graduate from the Class of

1963. His House (Ripley’s) motto was Acta non Verba and he undoubtedly lived his life in line

with this imperative.

He was deeply and admirably committed to education and often drew on the wisdom of one of

his heroes, Benjamin Franklin. Nick understood that “An investment in knowledge pays the best

Interest”. Read his obituary here.

John William Norton, former Shawnigan Lake School Board Member (2006-13), passed away on June 8, 2025. You can read his obituary here.

Roderick MacDonald ’69 (Copeman’s) passed away on June 19, 2025. You can read his obituary here. 

Patrick (Pat) MacLachlan
A memorial gathering was held at Shawnigan Lake School on Saturday, 23, August 2023, for Lachlan Patrick (Pat) MacLachlan. Pat was the Headmaster of Shawnigan Lake School from 1968 to 1972. Many alumni, former staff members and friends were in attendance.