Our Festive Light Up and Christmas lights around the Kaye Gardens and the Quad represent a beacon of light and hope on a darkening campus and a tremendous tradition that has developed in recent years at Shawnigan. This year, our stag below Groves’ and Copeman’s has been transformed magically into a multi-coloured patronus.

 

Next year I suspect the Lonsdale statue will receive a makeover!

 

This evening, we will light candles – another age-old tradition, across cultures, of turning darkness into light.

 

At this time of year, across the world, the Hannukah lights are lit in Jewish households. In Scandinavia, people celebrate Santa Lucia – a candlelit procession with the first person wearing a wreath of candles on their head. Candlelight and song penetrate the darkness in this festival of light. We have a Norwegian song later this evening.

 

Mr. Klassen and our MUN students will know that today, December 20, is the United Nations’ International Human Solidarity Day. It was created with the intention of promoting the values of solidarity and cooperation among people across the globe and as a call to action to create a more just and equitable world.

 

The day also invites us to celebrate our unity in diversity which is at the heart of the Shawnigan Journey and the Rev’s messaging in chapel.

 

In a darkening world, the candles later this evening are a reminder of our bright future and brighter days in the year ahead. Our Shawnigan values and community spirit, represented by the candles, guide us in times when the world seems dark.

 

All of us will have a favourite family Christmas film: Elf, Home Alone, It’s a Wonderful Life, The Grinch, Love Actually …

 

Last night, you – our students – were invited to watch our Christmas film, National Lampoon’s Shawnigan Vacation, which some of us created in recent weeks – a zany and silly Shawnigan reinterpretation of some scenes from the Christmas film, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.

 

Last year, we created Shawnigan Actually, a Shawnigan spoof of Love Actually.

This year we chose National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation to help us convey this year’s Shawnigan Christmas message.

I have always loved the film, which came out in 1989 when I was in Grade 10.

The original film was written by the same script writer who created The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and Home Alone.

The film tells the story of Clark Griswold’s efforts to have a good old-fashioned family Christmas – but disaster strikes at every turn.

 

Bickering family members, a house entirely covered on the outside with thousands of lights (which temporarily cause a citywide power shortage once turned on), a sled that travels faster than light, a disastrous Christmas Eve – including an exploding turkey, an electrocuted cat, a Christmas tree inferno, a menacing squirrel, a mean-spirited employer and the cancellation of yearly bonuses for employees – and, of course, the appearance of cousin Eddie.

 

So unforgettably played by Gabe from Lake’s in our re-interpretation.

The central character – Clark Griswold – is completely flawed, deeply human and amusingly accident-prone. At one point, he declares to his wife that this Christmas they are “at the threshold of hell.”

 

But more than anything, he displays a deep sense of compassion.

 

It’s a story of compassion – one of the Four Cs of Shawnigan.

 

It’s a film of extraordinary laughter. It speaks to the power of family and to recognizable rituals.

 

And it’s very much part of my understanding of Christmas.

 

Thank you to Mr. Logan for your magical touch as director and to all the actors – staff and students - for willingly (and unwillingly) taking on their roles.

 

Silly season at Shawnigan.

 

My roles this December have ranged from a cartoon Grinch to the backside of a camel – and in our film I was, of course, condemned and typecast to playing the Shawnigan villain.

 

I hope that, at different moments, this term you have found laughter, trusted friendship, and another family here at Shawnigan to sustain you – and to pause to “appreciate” (as our Word Shirt invites us) – the support of others around you.

 

This has undoubtedly been an exciting term – from the thrill of opening day to the dying embers of term, from inter-House track and field to the imaginative brilliance of air band, from competitive fixtures to new friendships forged.

 

Each of us will have a favourite moment of term.

 

I trust that you can pause to reflect on the term gone by with pride and to consider what you have achieved and to consider how you, as an individual, have made others feel.

 

We, as staff, have done our very best this term to help you find your “unique remarkable.”

 

I trust also that friends sitting alongside you this evening have encouraged, inspired and supported you along the way.

 

For those of you new this term (both students and staff), we hope that you have loved every minute here at Shawnigan. Think back to Opening Day and the journey you have made.

 

One of the Grade 12 students shared her university application with me last week. She wrote about her transition to Shawnigan: “I have found that the [Shawnigan] experience is drastically different [to my last school], with a much more immersive environment and a deeply involved community. Interpersonal relationships are much more present, and teacher-student relationships are very nurturing.”

 

Inspired by this perceptive observation, I would like to take a moment to thank, in particular, the House staff teams. I know that they work incredibly hard to create a home-away-from-home and to create a sense of belonging within the Houses.

 

We care deeply about our students. And I think you know that.

 

On Monday evening, Marina from Renfrew introduced some of us to Yalda Night, one of the most ancient Persian festivals annually celebrated on December 21, which marks the Winter Solstice and longest night of the year. It is a time when friends and family gather to eat, drink and read poetry until well after midnight – and manifests the traditional concept of light and good prevailing over darkness and evil.

 

Tomorrow is the darkest day of the year – and we need to look for the light, our moments of illumination, laughter and gratitude.

 

It’s how we turn darkness into light.

 

Enjoy the ambience and symbolism of the candlelit carol at the end of this service.

 

To everyone celebrating at this time of year, my family and I wish you a happy and restful holiday. May the new year bring with it peace and happiness.

 

And in the words of Clark Griswold from National Lampoon:

 

 

Happy Christmas to you all.

Nearly there…

 

Richard D A Lamont

Head of School

December 20, 2023