It was time to celebrate a very important and time-honoured tradition at Shawnigan at Groves’ House chapel on Saturday, Jan 30, with the awarding of the first colours of the year.

The Reverend Jim Holland opened the chapel service with a reflection on what colour awards mean at Shawnigan and how this shared celebration of excellence reflects the School’s motto of Palmam Qui Meruit Ferat – “Let whoever earns the palm (reward) bear it.”

“The ties and the pins that will be presented today are not necessarily the kind of awards we might usually think of,” he said. “They don’t come as a result of having completed a specific task or having won a particular contest. Colours, as we think of them, are recognition that a student is not only on the right track but that they are further down that positive track than is expected of them. They have exceeded the expectations of their teachers and coaches.”

Rev. Holland went on to talk about the positive psychological value of striving for external rewards, but also the importance of cultivating high internal standards and developing our own goals for what we wish to accomplish.

He went on to say, “Whether you are being awarded colours or not this morning, as we all stand together, everyone in this community is to be congratulated on the grace and maturity with which you have met all the challenges we are facing right now. Together we can celebrate the best of our community and appreciate living in a community where excellence is valued.”

Director of Athletics Tim Murdy, Director of 360 Morgan McLeod, and Assistant Head - Academics Wendy Milne came up to the podium in turn to award colours in their disciplines.