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Palmam Qui Meruit Ferat
Exploring our motto on our Founder’s birthday
February 1, 2020 marked the 134th anniversary of the birth of Shawnigan’s Founder, CW Lonsdale. On January 31, Headmaster Lamont and Hilary Abbott (Advancement) made the annual pilgrimage to Parksville to lay a wreath on Lonsdale’s grave, on which they saw Shawnigan’s motto engraved for all to see: Palmam Qui Meruit Ferat. In honour of the anniversary of Lonsdale’s birth, our chapel service the following day focused on the meaning of the School motto.
“Palmam Qui Meruit Ferat can be translated from Latin as ‘Let whoever earns the palm (reward), bear it’ – referencing the Roman custom of awarding a palm branch to a victorious gladiator,” shared Headmaster Lamont. This motto has been adopted by many over the centuries – from military heroes to schools and universities around the world. CW Lonsdale chose it as Shawnigan’s motto in 1916.
As he reflected on how the School motto embodies the qualities – both past and present – inherent to Shawnigan, the Headmaster explained that it is “more than a recognition of victory – it is about the journey and effort that underpin all achievement at all levels, both individual and collective.”
Reverend Holland remarked that at a time when many in the world tend to avoid highlighting individual achievement because it can make others feel inadequate, Shawnigan’s motto brings a different interpretation of unity. “When a member of our community earns a reward, it is something we can all feel pride in, we can all take joy in, we can all see as an achievement that moves our entire community forward,” he said. “We ought to keep standards high – not unreachable, but high enough that there will be those who will reach them, and sometimes those who fall short; and those who do reach them should be recognized in some way, with palms or good grades or pizza or Dean’s Dinner.”
“How fortunate we are to live in a community where remarkable, difficult, amazing, surprising, and inspiring things are a daily occurrence,” he concluded.
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“Palmam Qui Meruit Ferat can be translated from Latin as ‘Let whoever earns the palm (reward), bear it’ – referencing the Roman custom of awarding a palm branch to a victorious gladiator,” shared Headmaster Lamont. This motto has been adopted by many over the centuries – from military heroes to schools and universities around the world. CW Lonsdale chose it as Shawnigan’s motto in 1916.
As he reflected on how the School motto embodies the qualities – both past and present – inherent to Shawnigan, the Headmaster explained that it is “more than a recognition of victory – it is about the journey and effort that underpin all achievement at all levels, both individual and collective.”
Reverend Holland remarked that at a time when many in the world tend to avoid highlighting individual achievement because it can make others feel inadequate, Shawnigan’s motto brings a different interpretation of unity. “When a member of our community earns a reward, it is something we can all feel pride in, we can all take joy in, we can all see as an achievement that moves our entire community forward,” he said. “We ought to keep standards high – not unreachable, but high enough that there will be those who will reach them, and sometimes those who fall short; and those who do reach them should be recognized in some way, with palms or good grades or pizza or Dean’s Dinner.”
“How fortunate we are to live in a community where remarkable, difficult, amazing, surprising, and inspiring things are a daily occurrence,” he concluded.
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 West Coast. Our diverse, interdisciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.
