David Hyde-Lay '81, Lake's

Of course, at the time I didn’t really have any understanding of what my parents' roles and significance to the School were. It was only after the fact that I put two and two together.

In the lore of the School, my father, Derek Hyde-Lay, is a well known figure. He worked at Shawnigan for over 40 years, and his impact spanned several generations of students. He was also the House Director of Copeman’s House for 15 years. So, I have had the very good fortune to have carried on in the family business. He had a long tenure in Copeman’s, and I am very proud from a family point of view to take that forward.

I grew up on campus, and lived in Copeman's House. One of my vivid childhood memories is when the original Copeman's House burnt to the ground – rushing out of the building with my family at 2:00 in the morning, meeting the fire engines coming up the hill, and then watching as the House burned down. I remember it like it was yesterday. We watched with my mum from the car as my dad and some very heroic neighbours charged in and out of the House, grabbing what they could save.

Most people would say that my approach to House directing is student-centered, that I am optimistic and that I choose to see the best in kids. I think that’s probably true of all House Directors who have longevity in their tenure. My recollection of my dad as a House Director was very much that way. He enjoyed laughing, and had deep connections with kids as well as his peers, colleagues, and parents. Humor was a big part of his world, and I believe it's a big part of my world as well. I enjoy having a laugh. Which isn’t to say that I pursue needless frivolity, but if I think about the way my dad was and the way I believe he was regarded by his peers and students, it would be in that vein – firm, tough, high standards, all those things that you would look for in a professional, but at the same time, in a supportive and uplifting way.

Next September will be the beginning of my 20th year as the House Director of Copeman's House. Every new year brings a new arrangement of interesting kids and parents. That’s why the job never grows old. Some people would say that I have been doing the job a really long time, but it's not the same work – every year is different. You never know what you are going to get.

It has been a pleasure to work closely with motivated, interesting, intelligent students who bring a lot to the table in every aspect of life. Their interests, abilities, and skills are as varied as grains of sand on a beach. I have had the tremendous good fortune to work with so many different kids over the years, and have attempted to improve their understanding of the world and to encourage them to be the best versions of themselves – not to become cookie cutter members of Shawnigan, but to help them achieve in line with their best abilities and potential.

There is no book on House directing. It’s like Ben Hogan said of the golf swing: “You have to dig it out of the ground yourself through practice.” And I feel like effective House Directing is the same way. There is no manual. One of the main things that matters is time spent in the House. That’s one of the secrets – spend time in the House willingly, cheerfully, and as a central focus of the day.

It has been a wonderful experience to raise my family here. Shawnigan provides a very safe and fertile ground in which to raise a family, in the context of other families doing the same thing. It’s heartening to know that I have so many colleagues who are engaged and supportive, overseeing my children's lives when I have my back turned. I know that there are many people out there who actually care about and know my kids on a deep level, and who take the time to continue that special Shawnigan magic.

In times that are tough – and in my tenure at the School we have been through some challenging times, such as the financial crisis of 2008 – there were skillful and hardworking headmasters, governors, senior administration and staff who really got the job done and led us through perilous times. I am sensing that is happening again now and I am very grateful for it.

Anybody who has a deep commitment to the institution for which they work is going to believe deeply in that organization. Those of us at Shawnigan, myself included, who have committed not only our professional lives, but so much more – including so much of our family lives – we believe in the values of the School. We believe in the principles by which this organization operates. We believe in the vision and commitment of the Headmaster of the School. We believe that this School provides something special that is not available everywhere. There are intangible, visceral aspects to what we do that I believe set us apart from other institutions.

Of course the School is about much more than just education. It’s our group of friends, it’s our colleagues, it’s people whom we care for very greatly and have tremendous respect for, it's the governors, it's the past and present parents, and it’s the students that make this place so special.

I think we can all agree that the quality of the academic education at Shawnigan is very good, but we aren’t the only school that provides that service. What we do is much, much deeper than just an academic education. In a boarding setting, the facades are stripped away, and people are empowered to be who they actually are in the protection of a House, where the people they live with know them intimately. You cannot hide who you are. As such, students find tremendous support. Nothing replaces that boarding experience to help prepare you for life.

They say that most people's closest friends are formed in university and adulthood, and I think that is largely true. But there’s a special category for kids who attend boarding school. They remain in close contact with their friends, particularly these days with social media, and those friendships remain intact and just as strong and powerful as when they were students… that’s special."

- From an interview with David Hyde-Lay '81 (Lake's).