Alumni News
Alumni Notebook - April 2021
International Women’s Day Profiles
To help the School celebrate International Women’s Day (March 8), our Alumni Engagement Team profiled four Shawnigan alumnae on our social media channels. We are so proud of these amazing women! We invite you to follow the links below to read the interviews.
Abbie (Bagley-Young) Vandivere ‘97 (Groves’)
Dr. Abbie Vandivere '97 (Groves), who is currently working as a paintings restorer/conservator at the Mauritshuis in the Netherlands, recently took time to connect with Rhodri Samuel, Senior Master & Director of Alumni Relations and Harriet Klumper '09 (Renfrew), Advancement Associate. In Dr. Vandivere's current work she is the lead on a team of scientists that examine the iconic "Girl with a Pearl Earring." In 2020, Abbie was featured on the cover of the Dutch feminist magazine Opzij, and was nominated–and made it to the final three–for the Dutch "Women in the Media" awards for 2020. Read more.
Sonja Leverkus ‘97 (Groves’)
Dr. Sonja Leverkus '97 (Groves), was reached out to by the Shawnigan Alumni Engagement team and–as she was counting caribou in Northern BC–wrote her interview responses by reply email. In her current work, Dr. Leverkus is the founder and owner of her company Shifting Mosaics, an ecological consulting business that works with companies to manage the interaction between industry and environment in ecologically and culturally sensitive ways. Sonja achieved her PhD in Natural Resource Ecology and Management, specializing in fire and rangeland management; and as she states below is “one of only 2 female ignition specialists in Canada.” Read more.
Mikaela Reuben ‘01 (Kaye’s)
Mikaela Reuben '01 (Kayes) was reached out to by the Shawnigan Alumni Engagement team for an International Women's Day profile. Mikaela, a Culinary Nutrition Consultant and Celebrity Chef, generously made time to chat with Rhodri Samuel and Harriet Klumper '09 . For the past ten years, Mikaela has built her business on the art of creating food that both tastes good and is good for you. She provides her culinary consulting services to companies and individuals working in the film industry, as well as working as a ghost-author for celebrity cookbooks. At the time of conversation, Mikaela had just finished a job working with Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively, however she has also worked with celebrities such as Owen Wilson, Ben Stiller, Karlie Kloss, and Hugh Jackman. Mikaela travels globally for work, but typically divides her year between Vancouver and New York. Read more.
Erica Youra Lee ‘08 (Kaye’s)
Erica Youra Lee ‘08 (Kayes), caught up with Rhodri Samuel and Harriet Klumper ‘09 (Renfrew) on zoom for an International Women’s Day Profile. Erica is currently working in Chicago, Illinois as an Associate Actuary for Milliman, an actuarial consulting firm where she has been since 2018. Erica studied chemical engineering at the University of Cambridge before transitioning to working for an insurance company, where she discovered the actuarial profession and subsequently achieved her Masters in Actuarial Science from the University of Waterloo. Read more.
John Pearkes ‘49 (Lake’s)
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| John A. Pearkes ‘49 on the occasion of his 90th birthday, April 12, 2021 holding a reproduction of the 1949 School Cricket Team for which he was the Captain. | John A. Pearkes ‘49, Captain of the 1949 Cricket Team, pictured with members of the team. |
During the week leading up to John Pearkes’ 90th birthday (April 12, 1931), John’s wife, Joyce Pearkes, reached out to Hilary Abbott to inquire if together we could create a fitting gift to commemorate the occasion. Joyce had the idea that perhaps she could sponsor a trophy to honour John’s love for the School and his life-long passion for the sport of rugby. We are excited to announce the newest trophy to be awarded each year, which reads:
Joyce was also inspired to purchase a Pavilion Pathway stone to be placed on the pathway that connects the Derek Hyde-Lay Pavilion and Canada Field – set to open next school year. To learn more and/or join John and Joyce Pearkes in supporting the pathway stone initiative, please click here.
The John A. Pearkes Trophy to be awarded annually to both a male and female Shawnigan rugby player who exemplifies the “true spirit and values of rugby.” These include camaraderie, loyalty, respect, commitment, sportsmanship and service to the Shawnigan rugby program.
This award was created on the occasion of John Pearkes’ 90th Birthday, April 12, 2021 and was made possible by his loving wife, Joyce Pearkes. John Andre Pearkes, a member of the class of 1949 and Lake’s House, School Prefect, Captain of the First XI Cricket Team and Wing Forward of the First XV Rugby Team and Head (Boy) Student in 1950.
This award was created on the occasion of John Pearkes’ 90th Birthday, April 12, 2021 and was made possible by his loving wife, Joyce Pearkes. John Andre Pearkes, a member of the class of 1949 and Lake’s House, School Prefect, Captain of the First XI Cricket Team and Wing Forward of the First XV Rugby Team and Head (Boy) Student in 1950.
Joyce was also inspired to purchase a Pavilion Pathway stone to be placed on the pathway that connects the Derek Hyde-Lay Pavilion and Canada Field – set to open next school year. To learn more and/or join John and Joyce Pearkes in supporting the pathway stone initiative, please click here.
Peter Beeney ‘05 (Copeman’s)
Rhodri Samuel and Harriet Klumper recently caught up with Peter (Pete) Beeney via Zoom for an Alumni Profile interview. Pete is the Vice President of Global Agency Partnerships at the Washington Post and previously worked at Spotify for seven years as Global Holding Company Lead and International Account Director helping the company grow from its infancy.
Of his favourite memory at Shawnigan, Pete said: “I think it was the first time that I took a Laser out sailing. Back before there was the big boathouse and it was just a couple of pretty rickety old planks of wood sticking out into the water… I really took to it and enjoyed it, just pushing off in a little Laser on my own on the lake.”
Pete shared the story of his journey after Shawnigan, talking about the transition between career paths: “I realized that I had sleepwalked through the first ten years of my career by chasing a wage, and if I was going to do something about it this was probably the time.” He offers this advice to students: “It’s alright to not know what you want to do when you leave school. It's a perfectly fine position to be in, and does not mean you will be facing a life of destitution at the age of 17.”
The interview in its entirety – including a link to a few of Pete’s own curated Spotify playlists – will be published in an upcoming alumni profile.
Of his favourite memory at Shawnigan, Pete said: “I think it was the first time that I took a Laser out sailing. Back before there was the big boathouse and it was just a couple of pretty rickety old planks of wood sticking out into the water… I really took to it and enjoyed it, just pushing off in a little Laser on my own on the lake.”
Pete shared the story of his journey after Shawnigan, talking about the transition between career paths: “I realized that I had sleepwalked through the first ten years of my career by chasing a wage, and if I was going to do something about it this was probably the time.” He offers this advice to students: “It’s alright to not know what you want to do when you leave school. It's a perfectly fine position to be in, and does not mean you will be facing a life of destitution at the age of 17.”
The interview in its entirety – including a link to a few of Pete’s own curated Spotify playlists – will be published in an upcoming alumni profile.
Michael Kenyon ‘10 (Duxbury)
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| Photo Credit: Christopher Edmondstone |
Harriet Klumper recently connected with Michael (Mike) Kenyon who shared the following about his journey with music after Shawnigan:
“After leaving Shawnigan, I received a full-ride scholarship to Berklee College of Music in Boston for Vocal Performance. Afterwards, I moved back to the west coast where I met my partner Shayla.
For the last 6 years, we've played in the band Phono Pony and run a community music venue called The Woods Studio. We recently hosted Juno award-winning breakthrough artist Dear Rouge for a live recording of their album "Black To Gold".
After a surprise radio interest in Phono Pony, Shayla and I landed a series of festival performance slots. We've been fortunate enough to play shows with Sublime, Lizzo, Chad Vangaalen, Ought, Snoop Dogg, and more... We spent five months of 2019 on the road, touring North America with support from our booking agency before returning home to record our latest single "Back To School Special" with Steve Bays (Hot Hot Heat, Mounties). Our lucky streak has continued in spite of the pandemic – this year we received a two album record deal with Newfoundland indie label Laughing Heart Music.
In 2014, I started working for Gggarth Richardson (Rage Against The Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Alice Cooper) at The Farm Studios and became passionate about recording music. I worked my way up from washing the floors to a spot as Assistant Engineer. In 2016, I was offered a job as Audio Engineer for Afterlife Studios to help with their transition into the legendary Mushroom Studios space. I'm very excited to have recently opened my own professional recording studio, Phony! Records”
“After leaving Shawnigan, I received a full-ride scholarship to Berklee College of Music in Boston for Vocal Performance. Afterwards, I moved back to the west coast where I met my partner Shayla.
For the last 6 years, we've played in the band Phono Pony and run a community music venue called The Woods Studio. We recently hosted Juno award-winning breakthrough artist Dear Rouge for a live recording of their album "Black To Gold".
After a surprise radio interest in Phono Pony, Shayla and I landed a series of festival performance slots. We've been fortunate enough to play shows with Sublime, Lizzo, Chad Vangaalen, Ought, Snoop Dogg, and more... We spent five months of 2019 on the road, touring North America with support from our booking agency before returning home to record our latest single "Back To School Special" with Steve Bays (Hot Hot Heat, Mounties). Our lucky streak has continued in spite of the pandemic – this year we received a two album record deal with Newfoundland indie label Laughing Heart Music.
In 2014, I started working for Gggarth Richardson (Rage Against The Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Alice Cooper) at The Farm Studios and became passionate about recording music. I worked my way up from washing the floors to a spot as Assistant Engineer. In 2016, I was offered a job as Audio Engineer for Afterlife Studios to help with their transition into the legendary Mushroom Studios space. I'm very excited to have recently opened my own professional recording studio, Phony! Records”
Quinten Richardson ‘10 (Lonsdale’s)
We are thrilled to share the success of alumnus Quinten (Quin) Richardson, who was selected to be part of the Cambridge Blue Boat competing in the famous Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge Universities. Quin is currently studying for his MPhil in Urban and Regional Planning at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge University.
In a fantastic event, Quin’s crew won the boat race after a long year of atypical training and preparation due to the pandemic. He was featured in an article from Fitzwilliam College describing his journey in the year(s) leading up to race.
During his time at Shawnigan, he was a key member of the rowing program and Captain of Rowing in his Grade 12 year. Interestingly, Quin was not the only former Vancouver Islander on the River Great Ouse on April 4th – a member of the Oxford boat was a graduate of Brentwood College School, so the inter-school rivalry lives on!
“I was proud to represent Shawnigan on the water, especially with a Brentwood alumnus and a Saint George’s alumnus in the Oxford boat!” said Quinten after the race. “It has been wonderful to receive so much support from the SLS community.”
A few days after the event, Quin generously shared his time with the School, catching up with staff and students via Zoom where he shared both his experience of the Boat Race and his journey that brought him there.
Congratulations Quinten!
In a fantastic event, Quin’s crew won the boat race after a long year of atypical training and preparation due to the pandemic. He was featured in an article from Fitzwilliam College describing his journey in the year(s) leading up to race.
During his time at Shawnigan, he was a key member of the rowing program and Captain of Rowing in his Grade 12 year. Interestingly, Quin was not the only former Vancouver Islander on the River Great Ouse on April 4th – a member of the Oxford boat was a graduate of Brentwood College School, so the inter-school rivalry lives on!
“I was proud to represent Shawnigan on the water, especially with a Brentwood alumnus and a Saint George’s alumnus in the Oxford boat!” said Quinten after the race. “It has been wonderful to receive so much support from the SLS community.”
A few days after the event, Quin generously shared his time with the School, catching up with staff and students via Zoom where he shared both his experience of the Boat Race and his journey that brought him there.
Congratulations Quinten!
Claire Quong ‘15 (Strathcona)
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| Claire Quong on a pre-COVID-19 trip to Prague where she was studying museums in languages other than English |
Claire Quong recently shared the exciting news that she will be attending the Parsons School of Design for her MA, Masters in History of Design and Curatorial Studies. In addition she shared the following update about her studies:
“I would actually like to feature my Capstone Project, Mashkawizii: Paint it Orange; Resilience in the Face of Trauma, which my team and I created in partnership with Waterloo’s Indigenous Student Association. We conceptualized the idea in response to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities.
As a non-indigenous group of creators we sought to create a visual space where Indigenous people could tell their own story. Actually, I was lucky to have my friend and old roommate, Meagan Wilson ‘15, contribute to the space as the founder of Iroquois Roots Rugby! Mashkawizii was designed as a shared learning space with the aim of challenging the predominantly negative narrative surrounding Indigenous people, and to demonstrate the resilience displayed by these communities in the face of the intergenerational trauma caused by the Canadian residential school system. Mashkawizii was invited to exhibit at the Woodland Cultural Centre and at Kitchener City Hall.
Mashkawizii is what launched my passion for curatorial and exhibition work with a particular focus on issues of equity and inclusion therein. I am very excited to be pursuing this passion through a M.A. in the History of Design and Curatorial Studies offered by Parsons School of Design in conjunction with Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, this fall!”
https://uwaterloo.ca/knowledge-integration-exhibition/kix-2019/mashkawizii
https://woodlandculturalcentre.ca/previous-exhibits
Congratulations, and good luck Claire!
“I would actually like to feature my Capstone Project, Mashkawizii: Paint it Orange; Resilience in the Face of Trauma, which my team and I created in partnership with Waterloo’s Indigenous Student Association. We conceptualized the idea in response to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities.
As a non-indigenous group of creators we sought to create a visual space where Indigenous people could tell their own story. Actually, I was lucky to have my friend and old roommate, Meagan Wilson ‘15, contribute to the space as the founder of Iroquois Roots Rugby! Mashkawizii was designed as a shared learning space with the aim of challenging the predominantly negative narrative surrounding Indigenous people, and to demonstrate the resilience displayed by these communities in the face of the intergenerational trauma caused by the Canadian residential school system. Mashkawizii was invited to exhibit at the Woodland Cultural Centre and at Kitchener City Hall.
Mashkawizii is what launched my passion for curatorial and exhibition work with a particular focus on issues of equity and inclusion therein. I am very excited to be pursuing this passion through a M.A. in the History of Design and Curatorial Studies offered by Parsons School of Design in conjunction with Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, this fall!”
https://uwaterloo.ca/knowledge-integration-exhibition/kix-2019/mashkawizii
https://woodlandculturalcentre.ca/previous-exhibits
Congratulations, and good luck Claire!
Announcements
Birth AnnouncementsLachlan Macintosh ‘09 (Duxbury)
Lachlan Macintosh and his partner Alex Little welcomed their first child, Margaret (Maggie) Victoria Winnifred Macintosh on February 24, 2020.
Passages
Norman (Norm) G. Magee
Shawnigan staff member, mid-60s to late-90s
March 31st, 1939 - March 28th, 2021
Read obituary
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.
