Never Forget You Are Always a Shawnigan Lake School Graduate

Head of School Mr. Richard Lamont, staff members, fellow parents, relatives, and Shawnigan Lake School Class of 2025!

 

Wow; it is hard to look around and not feel the energy, the passion, and the incredible potential radiating from every student sitting here today. Many of you are ready to be independent and eager to explore the world and chase your dreams. And you should be, but please trust me when I say this: you will miss these years at Shawnigan Lake. You will carry these memories – especially the ones from these final months – deep within your heart for the rest of your lives.

 

Waking up in a House with 50 to 60 brothers or sisters… looking out your window and seeing the Chapel… listening to your roommate snoring while you were trying to finish homework… having breakfast at Marion Hall and knowing – by a single glance – whether your friend is ready for that test or not.

 

All these small moments matter, and there’s still some time left to make more of them: to play one more game on the fields, to celebrate one more birthday in your House, to sing “Amazing Grace” in the Chapel, to enjoy butter chicken and your favourite cookies, to listen to your coach’s pep talk before a match.

 

You’ll never forget the thrill of winning an inter-House – or the sting of losing one – and the laughter that came with both. You’ll remember the excitement of every performance, such as air band, and the pride many of you felt performing in Chicago, the musical. The songs by the bonfire, the late-night talks after camping or trekking trips, the mornings waking up by the lake with your closest friends – all these are not just memories, but they are part of who you are becoming.

 

We have watched you grow, overcome challenges, celebrate accomplishments, and become stronger together. As parents, we are so incredibly proud of the young people you have become, and we are deeply grateful to the brilliant staff and the caring support team who poured their hearts into everything they do for their students at Shawnigan Lake.

 

For our family, none of this would have been possible if, five years ago, my daughter had not made the bold choice to return to Shawnigan, and when she did that, she motivated her younger brother to come along.

 

Sebastian joined Grade 8 in early 2021. I remember it vividly: driving up the hill to Levien House, dropping our timid boy who had never travelled alone and never been away from us. His face half covered, no one to greet him closer than three feet (remember that?), and yet we left him. We were so worried, as I’m sure many of you fellow parents can relate, that goodbye filled with uncertainty, but we hoped for the best.

 

But then, the magic of Shawnigan Lake School acted at its best right from the beginning. The boys in Levien House, the staff, and everyone embraced him. Sebastian was welcome, supported, and, little by little, he blossomed. And now, that same boy is graduating right next to his friends, ready for the future.

 

I’ll never forget the day it truly hit me: we came to visit and as we walked through campus, Sebastian greeted everyone by name, with confidence, and warmth. He had become part of something bigger than himself, part of a great community, a new family. He had grown up in a place built on kindness, tolerance, inclusion, and gratitude.

 

However, this magic is not owed solely to this great country of Canada or the beautiful serenity of the campus; it is the result of the professionalism and dedication of the entire staff at Shawnigan Lake School. As it has been done for many other children, the magic that has developed and prepared these boys and girls to shine for the rest of their lives is you, all of you, and there are no words to express our gratitude.

 

Shawnigan Lake School Class of 2025, take all these values of kindness, tolerance, gratitude, and empathy with you; share them, spread them around this world that needs so much goodness. Whether you are joining a university or whatever your next endeavour will be, wherever life takes you, never forget you are a Shawnigan Lake School graduate; shine everywhere you go, and may this magic be with you always.

 

Congratulations, Class of 2025!