News Detail
Elizabeth May
A special guest speaker
Elizabeth May, Member of Parliament for Saanich-Gulf-Islands, leader of the Green Party of Canada and winner of MacLean's Magazine Parliamentarian of the Year (2012), Hardest Working MP (2013) and Best Orator (2014), spent an afternoon with Shawnigan students. A former boarding school student herself, "she graced students and staff with her intelligence, character and presence" (David Robertson).
Following lunch in Marion Hall, "Elizabeth" (as she preferred to be called) led an open forum discussion with a small group of social studies students where she responded to students' questions. Among various topics, she discussed her incredibly busy work schedule as a MP (that she loves) and offered her opinions regarding the state of democracy in both the United States and Canada. She then offered a chapel address followed by a Q&A where she spoke passionately about the importance of youth civic engagement. Among many excellent Shawnigan student questions, the last one posed to Ms. May was "what do you wish you knew when you were our age?" to which she responded "ah, the secrets of the universe! I was really lucky. I grew up with an activist family, and a mother who worked to end atmospheric nuclear weapons testing. I grew up believing that every citizen has power...that one person can change the world. I now know this to be true."
– Paul Klassen
Photos by Stephen Lane
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Following lunch in Marion Hall, "Elizabeth" (as she preferred to be called) led an open forum discussion with a small group of social studies students where she responded to students' questions. Among various topics, she discussed her incredibly busy work schedule as a MP (that she loves) and offered her opinions regarding the state of democracy in both the United States and Canada. She then offered a chapel address followed by a Q&A where she spoke passionately about the importance of youth civic engagement. Among many excellent Shawnigan student questions, the last one posed to Ms. May was "what do you wish you knew when you were our age?" to which she responded "ah, the secrets of the universe! I was really lucky. I grew up with an activist family, and a mother who worked to end atmospheric nuclear weapons testing. I grew up believing that every citizen has power...that one person can change the world. I now know this to be true."
– Paul Klassen
Photos by Stephen Lane
We acknowledge with respect the Coast Salish Peoples on whose traditional lands and waterways we live, learn and play. We are grateful for the opportunity to share in this beautiful region, and we aspire to healthy and respectful relationships with those who have lived on and cared for these lands for millennia.
Shawnigan Lake School is an independent co-educational boarding school for ages 13 –18 on Canada’s beautiful Pacific Coast. Our diverse, interdisciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.
