One hundred and ten years ago, C.W. Lonsdale founded Shawnigan Lake School, and with his vision, a school was carved out of the dense and wooded landscape of British Columbia. Over a dedicated period of work, what began as a humble institution has been moulded into the place we recognise today.

 

One of my very favourite experiences at Shawnigan has to be when alumni come back on Founder's Day to share their stories of what these grounds were like decades ago. Although these can be hilarious, some slightly scary – especially the cold showers part – it is also a period to reflect on how lucky we all are to call Shawnigan home.

 

This Monday, April 27, we celebrate the 110th year of Shawnigan Lake School, and it is an opportunity to commemorate all of the contributions that it took to maintain the School's presence through two world wars and three major financial crises.

 

In a 2025 Remembrance Day address, Mr. Lamont marked the founding of Shawnigan as “a phoenix from the ashes of this turbulent period of history,” and I believe this illustration fits perfectly. It took character, integrity, and a devotion to C.W. Lonsdale’s original dream to establish Shawnigan as a place that gives us the same opportunities to chase our own dreams.

 

These same founding ideals are exactly what is so woven into the fabric of Shawnigan's culture. In Lonsdale’s House, character and integrity serve as the foundation of our community and as a powerful example of the values all of the Lonsdale boys strive to uphold. Over the past three years, Lonsdale’s has become more than just a second home; it is a brotherhood of 50 boys I know I can always count on.

 

Just like the founding of the School, the Lonsdale’s House motto, Ex Fumo Dare Lucem, meaning “To give light from smoke,” reminds me that difficult times are only a test of resilience, and that together, something difficult can ultimately produce clarity and strength. At its core, the Lonsdale’s House motto captures the transformation of adversity into an immense opportunity for growth. Personal setbacks, conflict, or failure are not just obstacles but turning points.

 

During my time in Lonsdale’s, I went through one of the most difficult periods of my life. The support from my brothers in Lonsdale’s helped me through a family separation, which brought an extended period of uncertainty and change at home into my life. That experience gave real meaning to the idea of ex fumo dare lucem, which for me has become a philosophy of growth and camaraderie: not avoiding difficulty, but learning to extract clarity from it.

 

When we face our challenges head-on, with intention, and with support, we can find the meaning in adversity. Our life challenges are not meant to paralyse us; they are supposed to help us discover who we are. We cannot control the winds, but we can learn to adjust our sails. In Lonsdale’s House, we learn through the idea of ex fumo dare lucem – that even from moments of struggle, strength can emerge – like a phoenix rising from the ashes.