Hello and welcome to the Copeman’s house presentation. Our theme today is conviction. Now don’t get excited Dives, I mean having conviction, not being convicted. Rather than consulting a dictionary or anyone who has a firm grasp of the English language, we asked none other than our own DHL to summarize the word for us. Here’s what he had to say, “A dedicated and determined, deep-felt belief and faith: when you are convicted in something, it is irrefutable, clear, and not vague in any way and nothing can move you off of that belief. You are convicted. You are judged. N’est-ce pas?” Now I know DHL may not always be the easiest person to understand – trust me on that – but in this case he couldn’t be more correct.

Conviction means having the courage to stick to your beliefs and never fold under pressure. Even in the face of adversity, a person with conviction will always persevere. This could be the conviction that if you build a school in the middle of nowhere, students will flock to it. This could be the conviction that your children will survive, even thrive at a boarding school without your supervision. This could be the conviction that your schoolmates, housemates, and roommates will always be there to support your endeavours.

After five years in Copeman’s, I can say with conviction that this house is the embodiment of that quality. Whether it is in our resounding chorus in chapel – even though we may not be the most talented singers (who am I kidding, of course we are) – or in our dedication to sports, fine arts, and classroom activities, we are firmly rooted in our belief that each member of our brotherhood encourages the others. When I arrived in Copeman’s back in September of 2008, I had only a little sense of what life would be like. I wasn’t totally prepared for the full-time commitment that sums up the Shawnigan experience: adjusting to dorm life with mandatory bedtimes and little free time proved most difficult. I would be lying if I said I never considered throwing in the towel and leaving the school. But, in spite of all this, Copeman’s was always there as a safeguard to me. It provided a means of escape, even if for just a few fleeting moments, and eventually molded itself into my new home. While I cannot say that my conviction in Copeman’s was an immediate response to my being there, I can honestly say that it is now a core component of who I am. Now that it has grown into a fully-fledged part of my life, my conviction makes me a stronger, more resolute individual because I know that I have the support of not only 56 other boys this year, but also the old boys from the past and the staff that run the house.

Conviction has shaped my Shawnigan experience from the cliché prison to the place I know call home. I will be genuinely sad to say goodbye to Copeman’s house as this year draws to a close, but I know that this quality of conviction is something that I will carry forward into my future. Conviction is an attribute of the unwavering; show the courage it takes to remain dedicated to your beliefs.

A Prayer for Copeman's House
-May your hallways be ever filled with the smiling faces of students old and new.
-May your grade 12s be always willing to impart their infinite old wisdom to the younger peers.
-May Mr. Hyde-Lay, Mr. Venables, and the rest of the duty staff continue to lead your boys into the future with the same conviction of the past.
-May Caroline keep her ever friendly nature and positive attitude while maintaining your cleanliness.
-May Mrs. Hyde-Lay stay a mother figure to your boys and keep Mr. Hyde-Lay in check.
-May you forevermore be the place of growth and encouragement as it has to this year’s graduating class.
-May you always be Copeman’s House.

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