News Archive
Sport Village Grand Opening
A gift of appreciation to our students and the Shawnigan community for their perseverance and support throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sport Village formally opened on Friday, May 26, bridging the space between the Charlie Purdey Arena and the Sportsplex and providing a vibrant space where students can connect, relax, and stay active through a variety of recreational athletic pursuits.
The Sport Village includes spaces for beach volleyball, basketball and soccer, a synthetic ice surface, an obstacle course, and a gazebo. It continues the transformation of the area inside the West Gate that has also included improvements to parking facilities and other beautification efforts. The Sport Village serves as a health and wellness-focused response to the COVID era, a thank-you to the students and the community, and part of Project Future’s commitment to health and wellness.
The project is the result of the generosity of our Board of Governors, and the efforts of our Maintenance and Grounds teams, as well as the Athletic Department.
“It’s an amazing addition to our facilities for the kids,” Director of Athletics Tim Murdy commented. “We are already seeing kids out there playing sports every night before and after dinner. To have an area dedicated for fun, healthy activities is so important. Thank you again to the donors and the Board for supporting this effort.”
Key donors to the project, who were acknowledged during the opening ceremonies, included the Jones and Ketch families. Manning Park ski resort donated an orange chair from one of their decommissioned lifts in recognition of their partnership with the School over decades of Ski Week. Manning Park owner Kevin Demers was a special guest at the opening of the Sport Village.
Zoë B., a Grade 11 student and forward on the U18 female prep ice hockey team, shared the enthusiasm of the student body for the new facility and their gratitude to those who made it a reality.
“We are really excited about the opening of the Sport Village because of all the amazing opportunities it will provide students to train and have fun,” she said. “The Sport Village is also one more example of what a wonderful, supportive community we have at Shawnigan. This is my first year at the School, and as I reflect on my experience, I’m truly grateful for all the kind people and incredible opportunities here. I feel lucky to be part of this place!
“I would like to thank the donors, parents, and alumni for contributing to the Sport Village and the Shawnigan hockey program. We really appreciate your support; this wouldn’t be possible without your generosity.”
After the opening of the Sport Village, the donor wall in the Charlie Purdey Arena was unveiled, acknowledging some of the major supporters of our ice hockey facility. It was an opportunity to welcome back some of the major supporters of the arena and the ice hockey program, and to thank our hockey donors and parents for their support.
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.
