Alumni Notebook July 2026

Posted 7/2/2026

Shawnigan Lake School 110th Anniversary Celebrations

April 27, 1916 was the day that C.W. Lonsdale signed the charter that created Shawnigan, and we marked it with events both serious and – in the words of an alumnus and former Chair of the Board of Governors – “absurd and ridiculous.” Interested in learning more about Lonsdale’s journey in creating a boarding school, read this blog post by Shawnigan’s archivist, Sarah Teunis-Russ.

Throughout 2026, we are celebrating the School’s 110th anniversary with special gatherings around the world, from London, Tokyo, Shanghai, and Seoul to Hong Kong and back home on campus.

London, UK

Shawnigan was proud to host a special 110th anniversary event at Canada House in Trafalgar Square, London, on March 27, 2026. We were delighted to welcome over 120 guests from our global community, including alumni, current and past parents, and friends of the School. Most incredibly, we were joined by David Trafford-Roberts ’43 (Lake’s), who originally attended Shawnigan as part of Operation Pied Piper during WWII! Other special guests included Canadian Olympic gold medallist (Tokyo 2020) Maggie Mac Neil, nuclear physicist Gerry Lander (son of John Lander '24, Shawnigan’s first Olympic gold medallist), and Gary Savage, Headmaster of Westminster School (C.W. Lonsdale’s alma mater).

Asia Tour - Spring 2026 (Seoul, Shanghai, Tokyo & Hong Kong)

Our Asia tour began in Shanghai, China with a gathering of parents, alumni, and friends, hosted by Shannon Drew, Director of Development, and Paul Doig, Director of Futures. Our second stop on the Asia tour brought us to the Private Residence of the Canadian Ambassador to Japan in Tokyo, where we reconnected with so many of our amazing alumni and parents. We were deeply honoured to hear from Ambassador Ian McKay, whose remarks made the night truly memorable.

Following Tokyo, the Shawnigan team hosted a vibrant celebration in Seoul, South Korea. The gathering included past and current parents, as well as alumni and staff members on sabbatical Andrea Carballo and Paul Klassen.

At our final stop, we were graciously hosted at the Hong Kong Club by Neil Harvey for a special event that drew a strong turnout from our local community. While in Hong Kong, Head of School Larry Lamont visited the grave of John Lander '24, a 1928 Summer Olympics rowing gold medallist who tragically lost his life in the Battle of Hong Kong in 1941.

Throughout our time in Asia, it was a profound pleasure to connect with our international community, reminiscing over shared meals, drinks, and fond Shawnigan memories.

Shawnigan Lake School

On Monday, April 27, 2026, a Chapel Gathering was held at which Head of School Richard (Larry) Lamont spoke about C.W. Lonsdale, his choice of the School motto Palmam Qui Meruit Ferat (which had previously been the motto of British naval hero Lord Horatio Nelson) and some of the traditions Mr. Lonsdale brought to Shawnigan from his own alma mater, Westminster School in London, including the Pancake Greaze.

The School also commemorated the end of our series “Shawnigan in 110 Objects.” Dating back to the beginning of 2024, the School has posted to its website each week one object that helps tell the story of the School, selected and written about by former archivist Lynn Rolston, former Head of English and current Director of Professional Development Cari Bell, and Director of Communications and Marketing Jenny Dunbar ’01 (Kaye’s), with photographs from the School archives or newly taken by photographer Arden Gill ’10 (Renfrew). Appropriately, the final object was the portrait of Mr. Lonsdale that hangs in Marion Hall alongside those of the Heads who have served since him. Read the full story here.

House Posts Unveiled

Thanks to the efforts of dozens of students, staff, and other members of the Shawnigan community, a major gift from Brad Assu ’83 (Lonsdale’s) is now on display.

Under Brad’s supervision, students have been helping to complete two 20-foot totem poles – exact replicas of house posts that were originally carved more than a century ago. With the replicas now complete, they were painstakingly relocated from just outside the Bruce-Lockhart Centre for Creativity to their new location in the Shaw Centre for Science, and they were unveiled to the public in a moving ceremony.

Brad’s gift, in gratitude for the time he and his three older brothers spent at Shawnigan, was announced in October 2024, at the Chapel Gathering for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The house posts are replicas of two posts that were carved in 1910 by Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw artist Johnny Kla-wat-chi for Chief Billy Assu – Brad’s great-grandfather and a respected leader of the We Wai Kai. In the 1930s, the posts were removed and shipped to the museum in Ottawa that is now known as the National Museum of History. Read the full story here.

Earth Week at Shawnigan Lake School

Our students, staff, and even some alumni, including Bernie Dinter ’69 (Lake’s) (pictured above) and Scott Noble '75 (Groves'), marked Earth Week by helping reforest the slope behind the arena, planting native trees and companion plants in partnership with the Quw’utsun Cultural Connections Society and Dinter Nursery.

It was great to see students outside, giving back and getting their hands dirty for a good cause.

SMD Returns to Shawnigan

On Friday, June 19, we were delighted to welcome a group of alumnae from our partner school, Shree Mangal Dvip (SMD) School for Himalayan Children in Kathmandu, Nepal, back to Shawnigan. Their visit featured a meaningful itinerary, including reunions with House Directors, teachers, and advisors who continue to hold them in great affection, as well as interviews and a photo shoot for an upcoming edition of Black & Gold. The alumni also enjoyed a special dinner at the Head's House and attended Closing Day celebrations, joining our Grade 12 students for the Chapel service and the traditional cap-and-gown ceremony in the Schieldrop Amphitheatre. This was an especially meaningful occasion as they celebrated alongside Shawnigan's two graduating SMD students, Pemba L. ’26 (Kaye’s) and Dorje S. ’26 (Lonsdale’s).

Their return was a wonderful reminder of the enduring bonds formed at Shawnigan. Our campus community treasures opportunities to reconnect with these amazing alumnae and to hear the inspiring stories of how they continue to thrive and make an impact long after leaving our gates. Though their time at Shawnigan may have come to an end, they remain an important part of our global school family - and always will. Look to the next Black & Gold magazine, coming in the fall, for more information about the impact these students have on our community and the strong bonds that have been created with the SMD School in Nepal.

Save the Date: 2026 Remembrance Day

As Shawnigan Lake School marks its 110th anniversary, we are reminded that our very foundation is inseparable from a history of global service. Our campus stands on land acquired in 1916 by founder C.W. Lonsdale from the Ravenhill family following the loss of their only son, Horace, in the First World War – a beginning that instilled a community legacy deeply rooted in duty.

To honour this history, we invite you to join us for our special 2026 Remembrance Day Ceremony on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. This gathering in our Chapel allows our entire community to reflect on the courage of those who answered the call of duty. For this special occasion, we have invited the families of all those Shawnigan alumni who served (and in some cases fell) in the Second World War.

If you are related to or are connected with family members of the fallen, please contact the Advancement & Community Engagement at advancement@shawnigan.ca.

We look forward to seeing you at the Chapel on November 4 (further details to follow) as we honour our past and build a legacy for our future. Please RSVP to rsvp@shawnigan.ca to confirm your attendance.

SAY Awards

Thank you to everyone in the Shawnigan community who participated in the nomination process for the inaugural Shawnigan Alum of the Year (SAY) Award. We were thrilled to receive numerous submissions highlighting an extraordinary group of alumni whose accomplishments, leadership, and service are making a meaningful impact across Canada and around the world.

The SAY Award Committee has met to review the nominations and will recommend a recipient to the Head's Office in early July. Once a final selection is made, the successful nominee will be contacted, and the inaugural award recipient will be announced on Founder's Day in Chapel. As part of Shawnigan's 110th anniversary celebrations, the SAY Award was created to recognize alumni who exemplify the values of the School through their contributions beyond our gates. We are deeply grateful for the enthusiastic response to this new initiative.

We look forward to celebrating the achievements of outstanding alumni for many years to come.

2026 Mike Johnson Squash Classic

Shawnigan Lake School hosted the fourth edition of the Mike Johnson Squash Classic on May 22 and 23. The tournament featured men’s and ladies’ professional divisions, drawing 61 players from Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest to our courts. Shawnigan alumni Ryan Picken ’17 (Lonsdale’s) and Gigi Yeung ’19 (Renfrew) won the professional event, and current Grade 10 student Joelle K. was runner-up in the women’s division, a phenomenal achievement to be competing at that level at 15-years-old.

Other notable alumni playing in the tournament were Matthew Toth ’15 (Lonsdale’s), who finished in 4th place, and Justin Miles ’18 (Ripley’s), who won the men's A division.

This year’s edition of the Mike Johnson Classic included the dedication of the E.R. (Ned) Larsen Squash Centre.

The tournament was the first event to use the squash program’s new donor-funded livestreaming technology which allowed parents and alumni to tune in and watch the matches. “This is a great addition to the squash area and, with the Club Locker live scoring system, gives the school one of the best squash facilities in Canada,” head squash coach Mr. Colin Whitney commented.

Interested in learning more about the Shawnigan Squash Program, visit our website.

10-Year Anniversary - Female Prep Ice Hockey Team

The School hosted a memorable 10-year anniversary celebration for Shawnigan’s 18 girls' ice hockey prep program on June 6. More than two dozen alumnae (read our June Sports Round-Up for more details) and former coaches returned to campus for an exhibition game against the current team, followed by a warm reception at the Hyde-Lay Pavilion.

Over the past decade, this program has been defined by passion, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Every athlete who has worn the jersey since 2016 has helped build a legacy that extends far beyond the ice.

During the reception, former Shawnigan coach Tim Coy shared a tribute to head coach Carly Haggard and the enduring culture of the program:

“Carly has gone on to build, I would say, the most successful sports team in Shawnigan history. Not only from a results side of things, but from a team culture side of things. It's truly incredible what she has created… The program has been successful in great part due to the quality of the character of the people in this room and the quality of the families that supported their desire to play hockey at a Vancouver Island boarding school. We have been blessed with excellent families, excellent people, excellent players, and pretty good students… It was a family, and whether you were here for one or five years, you are a part of that family. During your time here, then ten years later, and then ten years from now: you are part of this family, and you always will be. Thank you.”

We are excited to introduce the Robert Cooper Family Scholarship, launched as part of the Imagine 30/30 Challenge. Made possible by the immense generosity of the three-generation Cooper family – Chris '88 (Lake's), Elaine, and Grace '26 (Groves') – this scholarship honours Chris' late father, former Shawnigan Governor Robert Cooper '57 (Lake's). Read more about the scholarship here.

She’s From Shaw

Students Kayla M. ’28 (Renfrew) and Rachel P. ’28 (Renfrew) recently showcased their Soul Seeking project from earlier this term, She’s From Shaw. The duo created a dedicated website to celebrate female Shawnigan alumnae by highlighting their diverse stories, accomplishments, and unique journeys. Check out their website to read the alumnae profiles.

Oh the Places You’ll Go!

As June came to a close, so did graduation season. We're proud to celebrate the many alumni who graduated from university and trade school programs this year. Below are a few of the alumni who reached out to share their achievements and be featured in this month's Community News.

Holly Mason ’19 (Renfrew) graduated from the Master of Teaching program at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto and has accepted a full-time teaching job at a Canadian Accredited Independent School (CAIS) in Toronto for September! “I’m majorly proud of myself. Leaving my Master of Teaching with a full-time job. I have a 4.0 average despite having open arterial bypass surgery right in the middle of my master's. Now I'm publishing my thesis!” - Holly. Congratulations Holly!

Nyah Miranda ’18 (Groves’) graduated this past May from the New England College of Optometry with a Doctor of Optometry degree. “I am excited to return home and serve the community on Vancouver Island as an optometrist. I am incredibly grateful for the foundation that Shawnigan provided, which helped set me up for success from high school through to graduate school. Its support, values, and opportunities played an important role in shaping both my academic and professional journey.” - Nyah. Well done, Nyah. We’re happy to have you back on the Island!

Beth Schartau ‘21 (Strathcona) recently graduated from the Peninsula Medical School at the University of Plymouth, UK, and has begun working as a doctor at Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver. This year, Beth helped several of our recent graduates prepare for their medical school interviews. Thank you, Beth! We're so lucky to have alumni like you in our community.

Chelsie Wong ’21 (Strathcona) recently shared the wonderful news about the Harvard Commencement ceremony. She has now officially graduated with a Master’s Degree in Education. She also shared that she is excited to be moving back to Hong Kong, where she will be closer to her family and working as a counsellor at United World College Li Po Chun. Well done, Chelsie! We’re so proud!

Roberto Galindo ‘19 (Duxbury) recently passed his PE (Principles and Practice of Engineering exam), a rigorous, 8-hour comprehensive examination administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). He emphasizes to students pursuing an engineering degree that “licensure is important for the purposes of credibility and for ensuring the health, safety and welfare of the public. Earning the license guarantees a high standard of design and a moral obligation to sustainability.” Good job, Roberto!

Max Chong ‘23 (Lake’s) is all set to graduate from Oxford University with a Bachelor of Arts in History this July. Congratulations, Max!

June Alumni Sports Round-Up

Rugby

Some of our rugby alumni returned to Canada Field for the 2026 Canada Cup, which featured a highly anticipated game between the BC Bears and the Ontario Blues. Jack Shaw '18 (Duxbury) took the field for Team BC, while Djustice Sears-Duru '12 (Duxbury) played for Ontario. The BC Bears ultimately took home the gold with a final score of 32-7.

In May, we had the opportunity to catch up with Josh Charleson '07 (Copeman’s), who was coaching his daughters at our mini rugby jamboree.

During our rugby provincial championship tournament appearance in Abbotsford, BC, we ran into Eddie Evans '81 (Lake’s), who presented a scholarship on behalf of Friends of Rugby BC and X-treme Sports Gear. Canadian rugby union player Giuseppe Du Toit '13 (Duxbury) made an appearance as well and reunited with our Director of Sport, Tim Murdy.

In other rugby news, brothers George '25 and Henri '23 Gave (Ripley’s) qualified for the National 7s Championship with their Duke University team, while Dylan Thygesen '23 (Copeman’s) and his University of California – Berkeley team won the NCAA Division I National Championship. Jamin Hodgkins '20 (Lonsdale’s) started the next chapter of his rugby career and signed with the Manly Marlins in Australia!

Ice Hockey

Morgan Jackson '24 (Groves’) competed in the NCAA Frozen Four with the Northeastern Women’s Hockey team, where they made it all the way to the semifinals.

Abby Whitworth '23 (Renfrew), after leading the OUA in scoring, was named a U Sports Second Team All-Canadian!

In addition to Morgan and Abby thriving on their respective teams, Dylan Compton '23 (Copeman’s) has joined the University of Wisconsin-Madison men's ice hockey team and was recently named to the Colorado Avalanche Development Camp roster! After graduating from Yale University this year, Jojo Tanaka-Campbell '19 (Ripley’s) has signed with the Yokohama Grits in Japan. Finally, Noah Leibl '20 (Lake’s) became a national champion this year with the Hamilton College men's ice hockey team in the NCAA Division III Championship.

Field Hockey

Casey Crowley '15 (Strathcona) made her 50th appearance in an international match with the Black Sticks, New Zealand’s national women’s team.

Rowing

On the water, rowing star Gunnar Platt '22 (Lake’s) was recognized with the Godfrey Award for commitment, work ethic, and being a positive influence on his team. He was voted the winner of this award by his Syracuse rowing teammates! Lastly, Meghan Gillmore '21 (Renfrew) and Gabe Dyer '21 (Lonsdale’s) competed in the Brown Cup with the University of Victoria rowing team!

Well done to all of our amazing alumni athletes! We’re so proud.

Career Highlights

Benjamin Hayes '10 (Duxbury) won the 2026 HiP Luxury Hospitality Rising Star Award at the prestigious HiP Awards, hosted at The Mart in Chicago. Ben serves as a senior associate architect and project manager at the renowned Rockwell Group. Read his full award write-up here

Curt Sigfstead '85 (Ripley’s) was recently named one of Canada’s Best Executives by Report on Business (ROB) Magazine. Curt is currently the Chief Financial Officer at Clio. Read the full story here.

Sophy Romvari ’09 (Groves’) wrote and directed the B.C. set drama Blue Heron, a critically acclaimed and award-winning film. Read the story in The Globe and Mail here.

Keely Ralf ’21 (Strathcona) co-authored a groundbreaking paper in Science, one of the world's most prestigious scientific journals, for her research on experimental evidence of a liquid-liquid critical point in supercooled water. Keely was also featured in a spotlight article on St. Francis Xavier University’s website. Read the article here.

Keely is now living in Munich, Germany, where she works as a researcher focusing on eye-tracking in virtual and augmented reality within the Department of Physics Education at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. Through her latest research, she hopes to better understand students’ cognitive processes.

Update on Shawnigan Connect

After thoughtful consideration, Shawnigan has made the decision to retire our alumni networking platform, Shawnigan Connect. While it has served as a system for connection in the past, it is no longer meeting the needs of our growing, evolving and vibrant global community.

As we look ahead, we are excited to shift our focus to LinkedIn - a dynamic and widely used space where meaningful connections can thrive. In the future, we will be engaging in new initiatives designed to foster mentorship, networking, and engagement within our Shawnigan community through LinkedIn.

This is just the beginning of a more connected and impactful future.

In the meantime, we invite you to create a LinkedIn profile (if you don't already have one), join our Shawnigan Lake School Alumni LinkedIn Network, and to follow Shawnigan Lake School to stay informed and be part of what’s next. We also encourage you to add Shawnigan Lake School to the Education section on your LinkedIn profile.

We are deeply grateful to our alumni who continue to stay connected to the broader Shawnigan community. We welcome your ideas, thoughts, and suggestions. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Alumni Relations office: alumni@shawnigan.ca.

Alumni Connections

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

Some of our recent alumni connections include:

Director of Sport Tim Murdy, caught up with Jojo Tanaka Campbell ’19 (Ripley’s) during a visit to the School.
Junu Dimdung ’19 (Kaye’s) hiking the peaks of Squamish with Shawnigan supporters Mike and Chantal Schauch
In May, we had the wonderful experience of welcoming back Jenny Zhu '21 (Kaye's). Since graduating from Shawnigan, Jenny has been pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Physics at the University of British Columbia. Over the course of her five-year degree, Jenny demonstrated remarkable leadership and academic excellence while completing four co-op internships along the way. She returned to Shawnigan to share her journey with our current students, reflecting on how her time at the School prepared her for higher education.
Djustice Sears-Duru '12 (Duxbury) also helped out our 1st XV team while he was here, running a scrum session with one of his Team Canada teammates.
Head of School Larry Lamont, Director of Alumni Relations Rhod Samuel, and Advancement Associate Owain Samuel ’09 (Ripley’s) enjoyed a round of golf with Ron Anderson ’70 (Copeman’s).
The School had the pleasure of hosting alumnus Brian MacGavin ’56 (Ripley’s) for a special visit for the May 2 Scholars’ Reception.
On March 28, 2026, a group of SLOBs gathered together at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club. Those in attendance included Garth Homer ’62 (Lake’s), Rick Evans ’63 (Lake’s), Julian Greenwood ’62 (Groves’), Rick Anderson ’63 (Ripley’s), Paul Longridge ’63 (Copeman’s), Alan Roaf ’63 (Ripley’s), Peter McMartin ’62 (Ripley’s), John Simson ’64 (Ripley’s), Mike Fall ’63 (Copeman’s), Charles Sauer ’62 (Ripley’s), Chuck Salmon ’64 (Lake’s), Don Manning ’64 (Copeman’s), Mark Appleton ’65 (Groves’), Dennis Maguire ’65 (Lake’s), Harold Munn ’63 (Groves’) and Andrew Wade ’62 (Ripley’s).
Jeff Compton was in Hong Kong for the 2026 Ice Hockey U18 World Championship, where he has been working as a strength and conditioning coach. While there, he ran into two Shawnigan alumni, Nick Winchester ’20 (Ripley’s) and Gareth Cooper ’20 (Ripley’s).

Please let us know if you are in the area and we would be happy to arrange for a tour. Contact advancement@shawnigan.ca.

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. We will also include details in the upcoming Black & Gold magazine.

William C. (Bill) McKechnie ’60 (Groves’) passed away in May 2026. Bill pursued a diverse life and career path; he worked as a junior lawyer, ran a construction company that restored historic landmarks such as the Maclure Mansion in Victoria, and founded the eco and cultural tour company, Mothership Adventures. During his time at Shawnigan, Bill was an active member of the community, playing basketball and ice hockey, and serving in the cadets.

Mike Little ’90 (Ripley’s) passed away on June 13 after a long battle with cancer. Mike possessed a lifelong passion for music, earning numerous awards and accolades throughout his illustrious career, including contributing to over 100 Canadian radio hits, multiple gold and platinum Top 40 singles, and winning the Canadian Country Music Association award for Keyboard Player of the Year multiple times.

In his Shawnigan Lake School yearbook, Mike shared that his ambition in life was “to pursue music and develop myself to maximum ability.”

Mike’s profound reach went far beyond performing; he was also a dedicated teacher and mentor. In 2001, he established the Mike Little Award to recognize Shawnigan students for their exceptional performance and commitment to music. This special honour included a unique mentorship opportunity for the recipient to visit Mike at his professional studio in Calgary.

Read Mike’s Farewell here and read more about how Mike’s legacy will live on through the Mike Little Legacy Fund here.

Charles Pentland ’60 (Ripley’s) passed away on May 11, 2026. A leader during his time on campus, Charles served as Head Boy and Ripley’s House Prefect in 1960. As a fond memory in his obituary notes, “he took part in some memorable pranks, which may have included, on one occasion, disassembling the Headmaster's car and reassembling it in the school's entrance hall.”

Academics were a central focus of Charles’ life. When he graduated from Shawnigan, he won a regional scholarship to the University of British Columbia with an impressive average of 91.8%, the highest across School Districts 62 to 74 and 79, and the fourth highest in British Columbia at the time.

He went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts with Double Honours in Political Science and International Studies, followed by a Master of Arts in Political Science at UBC, and ultimately a PhD in International Relations from the London School of Economics. Charles later became a distinguished professor at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, where he also served as the Head of the Political Science Department. Read his obituary here.

Paul Silcock ’90 (Groves’) passed away unexpectedly while travelling with his wife and son in Thailand on March 29, 2026. Professionally, Paul served as the fixed operations manager at Valley Mitsubishi in Kelowna, BC. As beautifully noted in his obituary, he was also a dedicated hockey coach and mentor, as well as a passionate volunteer with the ski patrol.

During his time at Shawnigan, Paul was a versatile athlete, competing on the 3rd XV Rugby, 1st XI Field Hockey, and 2nd XI Soccer teams. In his Grade 12 year, he was awarded School Colours for his exceptional contributions to field hockey. Read his obituary here

Thomas Coldicutt ’63 (Ripley’s) passed away on February 2, 2026. Attending Shawnigan from 1957 to 1963, Thomas was a keen all-rounder who participated in sea cadets, cross-country running, drama, and athletics. After his time on campus, he attended St. George’s School for Grade 13 and went on to the University of British Columbia, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in History.

Thomas spent his career as an investment banker until he retired in 2004. Following his professional life, he dedicated his time to the Caroline Victoria Coldicutt Foundation, which he co-founded with his wife, Elizabeth, in 2007. The foundation was established in memory of the artistic legacy of their daughter, a gifted young artist who tragically passed away at the age of 17.

In 2007, Thomas and Elizabeth also created Shawnigan’s Caroline Victoria Coldicutt Fine Arts Award. Named in honour of Caroline, a wonderful poet and artist who excelled in watercolour and Caran d'Ache, her serene landscapes were exhibited internationally in California, London, and Paris. This meaningful award is presented annually to a Grade 11 student in Shawnigan's senior visual arts program who demonstrates a deep love for and a commitment to excellence in the visual arts. Read his obituary here.

Back