Our Board is made up of a dedicated group of people who care deeply about Shawnigan and understand what makes this such a transformative place. Many have experienced Shawnigan firsthand, as students, parents or grandparents. Others bring valuable independent perspectives and expertise in education, governance and other disciplines.

 

What unites us is a profound belief in this School, a deep respect for its traditions and values, and a shared determination to protect what makes it special while ensuring it remains innovative and able to meet our current moment in time. We wish to ensure its continued success for generations to come.

 

As Governors, we have the responsibility of looking beyond the immediate demands of running a school to consider its long-term health, purpose and direction. And increasingly, that means thinking about a future that is changing more rapidly, and perhaps less predictably, than at any other time in recent memory.

 

At a recent conference of the Canadian Accredited Independent Schools in Toronto, I heard repeatedly about the idea of the polycrisis, the convergence of economic uncertainty, geopolitical instability, technological disruption and profound social change. These challenges are affecting schools everywhere, and their implications for education are significant.

 

Yet, as I reflect on Shawnigan's position within this increasingly complicated world, I feel an enormous sense of confidence and optimism.

 

We concluded the last school year in a strong financial position. We began this one with enrollment ahead of plan, at a time when many boarding schools in Canada and abroad are struggling to attract and retain students. And we continue to welcome young people from across Canada, the US and around the world, bringing an extraordinary range of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences to our community. We know that this can feel challenging in a world where governments are in disagreements and it can be tempting to retreat to our corners of the world. But young people don’t choose their politicians. Education is our best tool for building bridges instead of barriers. Shawnigan has a long history of commitment to access. We firmly believe that the richness of the Shawnigan experience comes, in no small part, from the diversity of the people who share it.

 

Just as importantly, we continue to attract exceptional faculty and staff who bring extraordinary talent, dedication and passion to their work. 

 

Our determination to bring Shawnigan to the world and the world to Shawnigan, is at the heart of our commitment to building the School's endowment fund. The extraordinary enthusiasm with which our community has embraced the Imagine 30/30 campaign for scholarships and bursaries has been both inspiring and affirming. It speaks volumes about what this community values.

 

Growing our endowment fund is, of course, an expression of our belief that opportunity should not be determined by financial circumstances. But it is also a strategic imperative under our strategic plan, Project Future 2.0.

 

A strong endowment gives Shawnigan resilience in the face of uncertainty. It protects our ability to make decisions based on our mission rather than external pressures. It allows us to continue welcoming exceptional young people from every walk of life. 

 

But perhaps my greatest sense of optimism comes not from our financial position or our enrollment, but from the nature of the education Shawnigan is providing.

 

One of the most fascinating discussions at the CAIS conference concerned the extraordinary changes that artificial intelligence will bring to education, employment and society. Again and again, experts spoke about the qualities young people will need to thrive in this new world: adaptability, judgment, creativity, resilience, empathy and the ability to work with others. 

 

And again and again, as they described how these qualities might best be developed, I found myself thinking: ‘This is what we do at Shawnigan’.

 

I heard experts speaking about outdoor education, expeditions, the performing arts, athletics, the importance of developing cross-cultural understanding, the importance of face-to-face communications and in-person communities. There are countless opportunities our Shawnigan students have to challenge themselves, take risks, collaborate and sometimes fail; we are already helping them develop precisely these qualities. Through the experience of living and learning together in a boarding community, our students learn things that simply cannot be taught through a textbook or an algorithm. These are profoundly human skills. They cannot be replicated by artificial intelligence. And in a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, I believe they are becoming more valuable, not less.

 

It struck me that Shawnigan is exceptionally well positioned to prepare students for the world that awaits them. Indeed, some of the very qualities that have distinguished a Shawnigan education for generations may be the qualities that make it more relevant than ever.

 

Of course, we cannot simply assume that our past strengths will guarantee our future success. We must continue to challenge ourselves, to innovate, to learn and to evolve. That is the work reflected in Project Future 2.0, and it is work to which the Board remains deeply committed. 

 

I would like to conclude with my sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to another remarkable year at Shawnigan.

 

To our dedicated faculty and staff, who champion our students every day, often going well beyond what is asked of them.

 

To our parents, who place their trust in us with what is most precious to them.

 

To my fellow Governors, for their wisdom, and steadfast stewardship of this extraordinary institution.

 

And to our alumni, donors and wider community, whose belief in Shawnigan and generosity toward its future make so much of what we do possible.

 

As I look back on the year that has passed and forward to the years ahead, I am filled with confidence about the strength of our school.

 

Thank you.

Jacqueline Flett

October 24, 2026