News & updates

List of 5 news stories.

• 

  Remembrance Day: Connecting the World Wars with Today

  11/7/2025
  The Chapel bell rang 45 times on Wednesday afternoon – once for each of the Shawnigan alumni and staff members who died in the Second World War – summoning students to the Chapel for Remembrance Day ceremonies.

   

  Shawnigan marked Remembrance Day early because students will be away for November Break on November 11, when it is officially observed.

   

  Ceremonies began with a land acknowledgement by Lexi W. that specifically honoured Indigenous veterans. That was followed by an address by James P. and Valentina H. about a trip to the Menin Gate memorial in Belgium and Private Horace Leslie Ravenhill, the son of the Shawnigan Lake pioneer who previously owned the land that became our School, and who died in the First World War. James and Valentina then unveiled a plaque honouring Private Ravenhill with the assistance of 94-year-old John Pearkes ’49 (Lake’s), whose father, Major-General George Pearkes, also served in the First World War, receiving the Victoria Cross for his actions in the Battle of Passchendaele.

   
  Read More
• 

  Shawnigan's Hatchery: A Unique Resource

  11/7/2025
  One of Shawnigan’s most unique features and educational resources continues to contribute both to the School and the surrounding ecosystem, 45 years after it was first established.

   

  The Mark Hobson Hatchery has been part of Shawnigan Lake School since 1980, and while many schools incorporate the salmon fishery into their programs, Shawnigan is the only school in BC with its own hatchery on campus. Programs centred on the hatchery help students learn more about the life cycle of the coho salmon, the ecology of Vancouver Island and the west coast, and countless other science concepts.

   

  Hatchery- and salmon-related programming began this year when 10 Grade 11 students travelled to the Shawnigan Creek fish trap where they helped volunteers from the Mill Bay and District Conservation Society move 200 salmon up the falls to help them reach their spawning grounds. Not only did the students get hands-on experience with the fish, but there was also a service component to their participation.

   
  Read More
• 

  Founder's Day 2025

  10/31/2025
  Each fall, proud alumni return to campus for Founder’s Day – a chance to reunite, reminisce, and relive their days at Shawnigan Lake School. This past Saturday, we welcomed more than 200 alumni and their families, past staff, and board members back to campus for a day full of celebration of the Shawnigan spirit.

   

  There was a special focus this year on the classes of years ending in five, with the Class of 1975 inducted into the Gold Club, marking 50 years since graduation. The Classes of 1990 and 2000 celebrated their 35th and 25th reunions as well. The oldest guest to check in was a member of the Class of ’52.

   
  Read More
• 

  Japan Super Science Fair Profile: Chelsea

  10/31/2025
  Shawnigan has a long-standing relationship with the Japan Super Science Fair, hosted by Ritsumeikan Junior and Senior High School in Nagaokakyo City, Kyoto. The School has participated in the highly regarded student science fair for the last 11 years, a streak that no other Canadian school can match. Six students and one staff member will be travelling to Japan this year for the fair that runs from October 31 to November 6, joining their peers from 55 schools in 20 countries.

   

  Chelsea L. took inspiration from Quamichan Lake in nearby Duncan for her project, “The Application of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to Bioremediation for Excessive Phosphate in Lake Water,” or, in simpler terms, testing baker's yeast as a way to remove phosphates from water.

   

  “I’m very passionate about environmental science,” Chelsea explained. “The environment is a very relevant issue, something I believe we should be thinking more about.”

   
  Read More
• 

  October Sports Update

  10/24/2025
  Sports at Shawnigan get underway as soon as students are back at the School in September, and by late October, several of them are well into their respective seasons. In the case of some sports, like field hockey and volleyball, the end of the season is already in sight. We caught up with our teams recently for a rundown of what they’ve been up to so far.

   

  Rowing

   

  The rowing program is off to an excellent start to the fall season, having competed in regattas in Surrey on the Mainland, and Victoria on Vancouver Island, with a big one in Seattle coming up in early November, followed by the Head of Shawnigan on November 23.

   

  Shawnigan rowers earned a pair of third-place results at the Head of the Nicomekl in Surrey on September 27, while learning some great lessons in a competitive environment. The School was even more successful at the Head of the Gorge in Victoria on October 18. Sam P. and Isabella P. placed second in the open/university double out of 12 boats, mostly rowed by athletes 19 and over; Isabella P., Alex F., Sophie W. and Alaia R. placed third in the senior girls’ quad; the girls’ U15 quad of Emily D., Camila V., Henley D., Gigi G. and Tegan K. finished third, and the U19 quad of Edie H., Liv C., Teifi D. and Sam P. finished fourth. Also placing fourth was the boys’ U19 quad of Steven D., Max V., Norman W., and Radu A.

   
  Read More