Shawnigan Lake School is in mourning after the passing of a dear friend and supporter.
Jim Shaw passed away on Jan. 3 after a brief illness. He was 60 years old.
"Words cannot express the sadness that I feel at the loss of my great friend," Shawnigan Headmaster David Robertson said. "Jim's passion for all things Shawnigan is legendary and we will all miss him greatly."
A member of the Class of 1977, Jim Shaw served for eight years on the School's Board of Governors. His contributions to Shawnigan, including the Shaw Scholarship Program, the Shaw Centre for Science, and the Jim & Kathryn Shaw Library, forever changed the face of the School.
"He's always had a deep respect for Shawnigan," Jim's wife Kathryn said in a Black and Gold Magazine feature story last year. "He's always had the Shawnigan in him."
An article in the Globe and Mail outlines Shaw's meteoric ascendancy to the top of the Canadian media industry. As well, this obituary in the Calgary Herald touches on some of Jim Shaw's many passions, including fishing, football and art. It also tells of his numerous philanthropic ventures, including his generous support of Shawnigan Lake School and providing assistance to those in need across Canada.
The Headmaster will lead a large contingent of the Shawnigan community to Calgary for Friday's Celebration of Life.
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.