Report to the AGM by Jacqueline Flett '97 (Groves'), Chair of the Board

 

A central milestone this year has been the launch of Project Future 2.0, the next chapter in our long-term strategic vision. The plan builds on the success of our original Project Future and sets an ambitious course for the years ahead, guided by three core priorities: inspiring academic excellence, imagining student life unparalleled, and innovating for co-curricular distinction. 

 

Last year, in my report to this body, I spoke to the critical reality that attendance at a school like Shawnigan is an incredible privilege – one that is sadly out of reach for many. To follow on from that, I am especially pleased that the Board of Governors and the Senior Leadership Team have united behind a clear and ambitious commitment in our new Strategic Plan: to expand access to the Shawnigan Journey by building a significant endowment for scholarship financial aid, and, through this, to secure the School’s long-term resilience. While affordability and inclusion have always been central to Shawnigan’s ethos reaching back to the founding vision of Christopher Lonsdale – to my knowledge this is the first time they have been explicitly embedded within our strategic plan for the next five years and beyond. It marks a pivotal moment where our values and our plans are fully aligned, to ensure that the opportunity of a Shawnigan education continues to reach ever more deserving young people.

 

The response to Project Future 2.0 has been overwhelmingly positive, both within our own community and across the independent school network. The plan was even highlighted by CAIS (the Canadian Accredited Independent Schools) for its clarity of purpose and forward-thinking ambition. Since its launch, the Senior Leadership Team has been hard at work turning the strategy into action, with detailed milestones, accountability frameworks, and progress tracking that ensure our goals translate into tangible outcomes.

 

It has been inspiring to see the sense of alignment and purpose across the School as this vision comes to life. If you haven’t seen it, I do invite you to look at our website. 

 

Last year, I reported on the adoption of our Indigenous Reconciliation Action Plan. This year, I am pleased to share that the plan is not only active but visible in daily school life. Evidence of meaningful progress can be seen across the campus and curriculum, and I hope it will become apparent to you as you move through the community today

 

As with all communities and all organizations, Shawnigan inevitably faces challenges from time to time, often of the kind that no school could fully anticipate. Usually, such challenges are a test of character. I am pleased to report that the School’s staff – from the Head, the Senior Leadership Team, House Directors, teachers, the operational staff, and coaches, continue to demonstrate exceptional professionalism, composure, and compassion in meeting all these moments. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of them for their commitment to the school. It's because of them I feel confident, as the Chair of the Board, to stand here and assure you that the school is in very good hands today.

 

Jacqueline Flett

October 25, 2025