Alumni News
Community Partnerships
It is time to move forward – stronger and more resilient than imagined. We are striving for positive community relations and partnerships and, as a result of the pandemic, now more than ever the desire for healthy connection appears universal.
In the wake of a deeply challenging spring, we reflect on how The Shawnigan Response & Guiding Principles, highlighting the values and community spirit that define Shawnigan Lake School, helped us to navigate our way through the pandemic’s many unexpected challenges. One of our strategic guiding principles at Shawnigan since the start of our Spring Break has been: "We will step forward to support our local and surrounding community with our Shawnigan resources as part of our commitment to Shawnigan Village and the Cowichan Valley."
During a time where mandated social distancing and self-isolation could lead to fractured community and community spirit, Shawnigan Lake School has worked hard to grow its connections within the Cowichan Valley Regional District and beyond. We have reached out to local schools, organizations, community groups and neighbours to offer help where we can.
In March, when foodbanks unexpectedly closed, we saw an opportunity to partner with the Shawnigan Residents Association and Nourish Cowichan, through the Cowichan Hearts Campaign, to ensure that 400 families living at risk within the local area were supported. The large red heart signs from this fundraising campaign proudly stand in front yards throughout our valley, reinforcing how a community came together to support its own, and continues to do so.
In April, we met with the Heads of local high schools connected along the Shawnigan Creek. This was an opportunity for us to support each other and help guide our schools through a time of crisis. The schools investigated how best to create systems during this period of innovative disruption to support our teachers in rethinking education, methodology and delivery. All of us are connected through our commitment to our local community and the students in our care. We continue to meet monthly and further develop this partnership.
On Canada Day, the School was proud to participate in a unique family-friendly scavenger hunt, with 12 secret locations around the lake, with our station offering home-made ice cream bars prepared by Head Chef Dustin Setso. It was well organized, inclusive and recognized the special place we call home, as well as our friends and neighbours with whom we share it.
With compassion and courage – and through partnership – we continue to move forward as “good neighbours” within Shawnigan Lake and the Cowichan Valley.
Challenge brings opportunity. Years from now, we will share stories about this time – about how we supported one another, asked for help where we needed it, and gave help where we could.
Sara Blair,
Sara Blair,
Director of Board & Community Partnerships
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.
