Alumni Notebook December 2025

Posted 12/1/2025

Founder’s Day 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. On October 25, 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 1965, 1985 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005 celebrated their respective reunions as well. The oldest guest to join us was a member of the Class of ’52.

Special Founder’s Day events included a Chapel Service where alumni raised their voices to sing the beloved School hymn, “There’s a Voice in the Wilderness.” John Bomans led alumni rowing in the morning, and later in the day the Class of 2005 crew organized by former rowing coach Jason Dorland took a turn on the lake as well.

Photos courtesy of Jason Dorland. Read more about the Class of 2005 rowing reunion here.

A pottery class with current Clayworks instructor Carol Harvey and former Head of Fine Arts Don Rolston was a popular activity, as was a squash exhibition match between accomplished alumni Bransten Ming '15 (Lonsdale's) and Ryan Picken '17 (Lonsdale's).

This Founder’s Day marked a milestone as we officially launched the Shawnigan Oak Society, our renewed legacy giving (estate planning) program. Its name is inspired by the Founder’s Oak, planted by Shawnigan’s founder, C.W. Lonsdale in the early 1930s from an acorn he brought back from England’s Sherwood Forest. In planting it, he reflected a belief in shaping the future and creating something that would stand long after his time. We were honoured to recognize and welcome many Oak Society members back to campus to celebrate this new chapter together. It was a moment of gratitude, connection, and pride in the enduring roots that continue to shape our community and its future.

Many alumni took the opportunity to watch games at the second annual Kingstone Invitational ice hockey tournament, named in honour of Jo-Anne Kingstone, which was won by Shawnigan’s U18 Prep girls’ team, who defeated the Thompson-Okanagan Lakers in the gold-medal game.

In addition to the Founder’s Day festivities, the weekend included some formal business, with the Board of Governors’ meeting on Friday followed by the Annual General Meeting on Saturday morning. Two new members were elected to the Board of Governors: Dr. Vicki Stronge ’94 (School House) and past parent Ellie Siebens.

Save the Date: 2026 Shawnigan Alumni Golf Classic

Friday, September 11, 2026

University Golf Club, Vancouver, BC

This year’s Alumni Golf Tournament is especially meaningful as we celebrate its 30th Anniversary – three decades of stories, friendships, and Shawnigan pride. Because the event is created by alumni for alumni, its success depends on all of us.

We’re looking for enthusiastic alumni to join the planning and organizing committee to help shape this milestone year. If you’re interested in contributing your time, ideas, or expertise, we’d love to have you involved. Together, we can make the 30th Anniversary tournament truly unforgettable.

To volunteer, please complete this short form.

Save Your Spot by December 31, 2025 and receive a 20% discount on your 2026 Shawnigan Golf Classic Registration Fee. Sign up today!

ALUMNI UPDATES

Griffen pictured in front of the 2020 hallway photo frame in the Main Building. In place of the traditional athletics and group photos, this frame holds individual photos of each graduate to celebrate the Class of 2020.

The Class of 2020 had, to put it frankly, a challenging grad year. Students moved home, classes shifted online, and their graduation ceremony occurred in house groups across campus. Still, Griffen Barr ’20 (Duxbury), current intern, has warm memories of his graduating year.

“It was one of the best years of my life,” Griffen reflects fondly. “It was jam packed. To begin the year, I became captain of my hockey team, which was a big honour.” Read more here.

Brendan Cook ’08 (Ripley’s) was recently featured in American Whiskey magazine, sharing more about his career path into becoming Wyoming Whiskey’s master blender. Read the article here.

Not only is Tai Williams ’16 (Groves’) successful in her career as an Engineering Technologist at the Cowichan Valley Regional District, she is also an amazing singer, performing all across Vancouver Island. Recently, Tai performed for delegates at the Vancouver Island Economic Summit in Nanaimo.

Shawnigan teacher and coach Clay Panga had the opportunity to reconnect with Stuart (Stu) Clark ’64 (Copeman’s) during a trip to Whitehorse, YT. After graduating from Shawnigan in 1964, Stu completed his university studies and he became a professor at Massey University in Palmerston North, New Zealand. He and his family then moved abroad, first to Bangladesh and later to Nepal.

Following his time overseas, Stu relocated to Manitoba. Eventually, he moved to Whitehorse, following his son.

In speaking with Clay, Stu shared this remark which captured his sense of pride and humour: “The thing with Copeman’s is we were generally better at everything!”

Sean Xiao ’25 (Ripley’s) released his debut R&B single, Ancient Mariner, inspired by the poem Rime of the Ancient Mariner which he studied last year in his AP Literature class at Shawnigan. You can listen to Sean’s song on Spotify and Apple Music.

Zhili Wang ’25 (Lake’s) is in his first year at Purdue University and is a printing and prototyping peer mentor at the University’s Bechtel Innovation Design Centre.

Juan Pablo Tame ’20 (Ripley’s) has had an exciting post-Shawnigan journey. For the past four months, Juan has been working with HO Speed Racing as a support engineer and track crew member in NASCAR México Series and Súper Copa Roshfrans. In this new role, Juan has been able to fully immerse himself in the world of professional motorsport, working closely with the team’s head engineer and even conducting live radio communications with one of the drivers, ensuring clear and precise coordination under race conditions. We’d also like to congratulate Juan and his team for winning the 2025 NASCAR México Challenge. What an accomplishment!

We would like to congratulate Diana Chang ’06 (Kaye’s) for making it onto BIV News Top 40 Under 40 list in October! BIV News Top 40 Under 40 celebrates young entrepreneurs, executives, and professionals living in British Columbia. As the Business Development Manager at Minerva BC, Diana has made meaningful change across the province, making her very deserving of this wonderful achievement.

Natasha Manji ’24 (Renfrew) participated in the Cornell Fashion Industry Network’s (CFIN) 11th Annual Fashion Speaks Gala in November, where she interviewed Valerie Leon, the Former President of the Americas for Givenchy. Natasha is currently studying at Cornell University..

Shawnigan grad and Impact Scholar Marina Musleh ’24 (Renfrew) recently travelled to Toronto to attend Malala Yousafzai’s book tour, where the Pakistani activist for female education and youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize laureate shared her story and insights. Marina had the opportunity to meet Malala in person, an experience that left a lasting impact.

Born and raised in Afghanistan, Marina’s educational opportunities became severely limited after the Taliban gained power in 2021. With support from Vancouver-based Women Leaders of Tomorrow, she was able to continue her education in Canada and joined the Shawnigan community in early 2022. Shawnigan currently has two Afghan Impact Scholars studying at the school.

Shawnigan offers Impact Scholarships for new and returning students who have faced conflict, discrimination, or circumstances that impede their access to the growth and development that education offers. These youth, through their life experience and commitment to education, not only benefit enormously from the well-rounded education that Shawnigan provides, but they also have an even greater positive impact on Shawnigan students, teachers, and the wider community. Impact Scholarships provide full access to, and financial support for, the Shawnigan Journey, including tuition, housing, books, uniforms, and other expenses.

Congratulations to Tenzin Lama ’21 (Strathcona), Shawnigan Impact Scholar, who recently graduated from Simon Fraser University. In 2023, Tenzin took Abby Dyer ’21 (Strathcona) and Davis Gage ’21 (Groves’) to her village in the mountains of Nepal.

Alumni Sports Round Up

Our alumni athletes have excelled during their first semester of university and beyond. From being nominated for Rookie of the Year to representing our country on Team Canada, it’s been amazing to see our alumni thrive in their respective sports. Read on to find out what our athletes have been up to recently.

Rugby

Many of our alumni have made us proud playing rugby for their universities, both in Canada and internationally. Ava Ference '23 (Renfrew) and Sophie Hayes '25 (Renfrew) are playing for Harvard, with Sophie scoring the game-winning try against Dartmouth on September 27. The two athletes also played in the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) Championship game against Lindenwood on November 22, where they won 22-19, taking home the gold medal. Ava and Sophie were recently interviewed for an article in the Globe and Mail: Canadian presence felt in Harvard's women’s rugby three-peat.

Finn Gargan '24 (Copeman’s) is also doing well south of the border, where he and his Babson College team reached the 12-team championship in the US Men’s Division 1AA.

Closer to home, Milo McDonald '25 (Copeman’s), Kale Jones '23 (Duxbury), Sebastian Isherwood '24 (Lake’s), and Owen Barlow '24 (Copeman’s) are making us proud here on the Island, playing for the University of Victoria men’s rugby teams. Over on the prairies, DJ Banks '25 (Ripley’s) was nominated for Rookie of the Year in Prairies University Men’s Rugby. What an amazing accomplishment, DJ!

The Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championship took place in Montreal this year, with many of our alumni making appearances. In one memorable match, Chase Kittleson '24 (Lonsdale’s) and Jackson Palmer '24 (Duxbury) took the field for Queen’s in a consolation semifinal against Jack Hayes '24 (Lake’s) and Dalhousie. Queen’s prevailed 38-17 and went on to win the fifth-place match over Montreal, while Dalhousie ended up beating UBC Okanagan for seventh place. Notably, Jackson won the Holmes Award, which is presented by Michael Holmes, Chair of the Canadian Rugby Foundation, in memory of his late father Lt. Col. W.D.C. Holmes. The Holmes Award recognizes rugby student-athletes for their off-field contributions to the game of rugby at their university and community in the past year Congratulations, Jackson!

Finally, on the international level, Jack Shaw '18 (Duxbury) played for Canada in the Pacific Nations Cup, where the team came fourth after a tough loss against Tonga on September 20. Jeffrey Young '22 (Duxbury) is joining Jack on the national team as they’ve both been selected for the Autumn Test squad. The team qualified for the 2027 Rugby World Cup. Well done, boys!

Basketball

Many alumni are also playing basketball at their respective universities. Sergio Pereira '19 (Copeman’s) is playing for the UVic Vikes basketball team, while Ryland Cull '25 (Duxbury) is playing for UBC Okanagan Heat. The two former Stags played against each other on November 1, with the Vikes winning 95-62. In the UK, Arthur Andrew '25 (Lonsdale’s) is playing basketball for the University of Durham and he is also playing college rugby.

Hockey

Shawnigan alumni continue to show their skill, determination, and athleticism on the ice. In the NCAA, Seiya Tanka-Campbell '21 (Ripley’s) and Jojo Tanaka-Campbell '19 (Ripley’s) helped Yale to a 6-0 exhibition win over the Czech University Selects. Morgan Jackson '24 (Groves’) is being highlighted on the Canadian Sport Hockey School League’s Hot Start list for her excellent playing on the Northeastern women’s team, averaging around a point per game so far this season. In North Dakota, Gabriel Kenny '24 (Lake’s) is playing with the Minot Minotauros, a Tier II junior ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League.

In Canada, Abby Whitworth '23 (Renfrew) was named Player of the Week in October with the University of Toronto Varsity Blues women’s team after posting a hat trick against Carleton. Elsewhere in Ontario, Allison Moore '21 (Strathcona) was named an assistant captain for the Brock University women’s team. Lastly, on the ice, Cayden Lock '25 (Lonsdale’s) has been coaching youth hockey, and recently came back to Shawnigan to work with the girls’ dev squad before heading to Australia for university.

Other Sports

In field hockey, Birkley Anderson '20 (Renfrew) played her senior day, her final home game of the season, with the UBC Thunderbirds, where they won 3-0 against the University of Calgary Dinos. Listen to Birkley's reflections on what it has meant to her to play with the UBC Thunderbirds here. Well done, Birkley!

In other sports news, Shelby Hack '25 (Strathcona) had a fantastic start to her rowing season with the University of Portland Pilots. In October, Shelby competed in the Tail of the Lake, coming first in the collegiate 4+, second in the Collegiate 8+, and fourth in the Collegiate 2-.

Finally, Gracie McAllister '20 (Strathcona) has been selected to the Canadian national bobsleigh program! Congratulations, Gracie. We’re absolutely thrilled to see you representing our country.

For more alumni sport updates, follow us on our @sls_directorofsport or @shawniganalumni Instagram accounts.

Alumni Connections

From our campus to around the world, we meet Shawnigan Lake School alumni almost everywhere we go. Above is a collection of photos from recent visits with Shawnigan alumni.

Some of our recent alumni connections included:

Over the November break, Mia Liang ’19 (Renfrew) took time to meet with C.A.S.E. (Communications, Arts, Sciences and Entrepreneurship) students and teachers in LA.
Hikari Yokoyama ’21 (Groves’) supported Shawnigan’s Director of Admissions Julia Pollock at a Tokyo boarding school fair.
Head of School Larry Lamont and Kathini Cameron recently visited the East Coast of the United States, catching up with many young alumni in Boston, Providence and New Haven.
Director of Athletics Tim Murdy travelled to Montreal to cheer on Shawnigan alumni playing in the 2025 Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championship.
Groves’ House Director Kat Cholack and teacher Galen Loiselle attended the Seattle Head of the Lake Regatta, and caught up with familiar faces, including Charlotte Cantonwine '23 (Groves').
John Pearkes ’49 (Lake’s) attended Shawnigan Lake School’s Remembrance Day ceremony on November 5 and unveiled a plaque honouring Private Horace Leslie Ravenhill, a pioneer of the land Shawnigan now occupies who died in the First World War. John’s father, Major-General George Pearkes, also served in the First World War, receiving the Victoria Cross for his actions in the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917. Read more here.

Weddings

Congratulations to Leah Brinkman (Bracken) ’14 (Kaye’s) who wed Cody Brinkman in September.

Passages

In this section we recognize those members of our alumni and greater community who have passed away. Please reach out to Rhodri Samuel at rsamuel@shawnigan.ca if you have information or updates you would like to share with our wider community.

François Elmaleh '53 (Ripley's) passed away on September 20, 2025 with his family around him. A proud alumnus and leader in the Shawnigan community, François was a founding member and Chair of the Shawnigan USA Fund Board of Directors, serving for 25 years before stepping down at the age of 87. His volunteerism and service in this capacity and others have contributed in important ways to Shawnigan's progress in recent decades.

François lived an extraordinary life over his 90 years, travelling the world from a young age and again

with his beloved wife Sharon. He lived in Asia, Europe, Canada and the US and always had a deep

connection with water; from seas to lakes to rivers. François' 26-year career with the Port of Portland,

Marine Division, established Portland as one of the key ports within the US.

A Shawnigan boy all his life, François spoke often of how the School shaped him. He felt fortunate to

have attended during the era of Founder C.W. Lonsdale, and to have been named Head Boy. François took pride in being involved with Shawnigan's Centennial celebrations, working with Stuart Milbrad '48 (Lake's), John Burr '49 (Lake's), and others to honour the school that shaped him and so many others. He and his cohort raised funds to memorialize C.W. Lonsdale through the impressive statue that stands alongside Shawnigan's main entryway to this day.

Sharon Elmaleh, François' widow, shares that "François was a gentle man - kind, caring and generous - who will be missed by those lucky enough to have shared his life." We couldn't agree more!

François was named to the Shawnigan “dream team of rugby,” honouring top players from every generation.

Roy McIntosh '59 (Lake's) passed away on Monday, October 20, 2025 after years bravely facing major health issues. Read his full obituary here.

Roy will always remain a cherished member of the Shawnigan Lake School community - a friend and mentor to many fellow alumni as well as staff and leadership at our school. Having served on the Board of Governors from 2004 to 2019, including roles leading the Finance and Nominating committees, Roy's positive influence on our School is indelible and will be carried forward through the many relationships he developed over the years. As an FCA, Roy brought the highest level of financial management expertise to our school, overseeing a period of prosperity and growth that will characterize Shawnigan for generations to come. He led, however, with his heart and thoughtful attention to important elements of school culture, such as leading a nominating drive that prioritized a 50:50 balance of representation of men and women on the Board.

Roy's positive impact was evident in every area that was fortunate enough to capture his interest. He had a successful career with accounting firm KPMG, leading Shawnigan's audit in the 1970s and eventually retiring in 2002 as a senior worldwide partner. A founding member and Co-Chair of the UBC Rowing Gold for Life Committee, Roy helped lead a fundraising campaign to construct the award-winning John MS Lecky UBC Boathouse on the Middle Arm of the Fraser River, ushering in an era of UBC Rowing success that continues to this day.

Roy also served as the Finance and Business Development Manager for the Richmond Olympic Oval, overseeing the finances of that award-winning facility built for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and as Chief Financial Officer for The TCG Care Group, a company founded and managed by his wife Maureen.

A dedicated athlete and outdoorsman, Roy rowed for Shawnigan, UBC, and Canada, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa and Mount Assiniboine in the Canadian Rockies, and enjoyed salt-water and fly-fishing escapades around the world. Roy had planned to attend the Shawnigan DHL Fishing Derby at Langara Lodge as recently as this past July, until health issues forced him to stand down.

Roy will be missed by everyone at Shawnigan that had the pleasure and fortune to know him. He is survived by his wife Maureen, his son Gavin, and his daughters Stephanie and Kaley.

Alastair David Macdonald '61 (Ripley’s) passed away on September 10, 2025, at the age of 82. We remember Alastair fondly at Shawnigan. Arriving at the School in 1957, he was smart and athletic. In his graduating year, Alastair was a captain of two sports teams, the 5th XV and 2nd XI. Most impressively, he won the Grade 12 academic award, leading Ripley’s to win the academic trophy that year. Alastair would continue to excel in academics, completing his PhD in Biology at McGill University, specializing in plant morphology, and becoming Dean of Arts and Science at Lakehead University. Alastair will be missed by the Shawnigan community, and we send our condolences to his family and friends. Read Alastair’s full obituary here.

Geoffrey Archbold '61 (Ripley’s) passed away on March 31, 2025, at the age of 81. At Shawnigan, Geoffrey competed in track and field (in which he won the under sixteen prize in 1960), rugby, gymnastics, and cricket.

After graduating from Shawnigan, Geoffrey enlisted with the Royal Canadian Navy and lived all across Canada. He retired in 1995 from the Canadian Armed Forces and moved back to Vancouver Island with his wife, Joan, who predeceased him in 2002. Geoffrey will be missed by the Shawnigan community and we send our condolences to friends and family. Read Geoffrey’s full obituary here.

Blake Lawson '66 (Lake’s) passed away on November 4, 2025, at the age of 77. At Shawnigan, Blake, or “Granny,” as his classmates called him, was known as one of the School’s best sailors. Blake could also be seen in the Hobbies Building, now the Bruce-Lockhart Centre for Creativity, as Co-Head of the Ritz, and Treasurer of the Stamp Club, where he "straightened up and increased the finances of the club considerably.” Blake also gave back to the School on the Students’ Hobbies Council as well as being the Lake’s representative on the Chapel Committee. Blake will be greatly missed by the Shawnigan community. You can read Blake’s full obituary here.

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