News & updates

List of 5 news stories.

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  "The Little Mermaid" Delivers

  2/20/2026
  It may have been based on the 1989 Disney animated movie, but staging The Little Mermaid, Shawnigan’s 2026 School musical, was anything but colouring between the lines.

   

  “It was an absolute beast of a show to produce,” said Ms. Mandy Bryant, who served as music director for The Little Mermaid, which ran at Victoria’s McPherson Playhouse for three nights and one afternoon from February 4 to 7. “There were many panicked moments, but we couldn’t be happier with how the kids came through.”

   

  Ms. Bryant called The Little Mermaid the hardest show the current creative team of staff members has produced together. “The music is so complex,” she said. “The leads and ensemble have so much to learn. We didn’t expect The Little Mermaid to be monumental like it was.”

   
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  A Sensational Ski Week

  2/20/2026
  While winter sports aficionados around the world were focused on the ice and snow of northern Italy last week, Shawnigan students and staff took to the mountains of southern BC for Ski Week 2026.

   

  Like the Olympics, the week at Manning Park, between Princeton and Hope, featured alpine and Nordic skiing, and snowboarding, but there were also events, such as karaoke, and Reach for the Top, that may not be specific to the season but are Shawnigan Ski Week staples nonetheless.

   

  Just as the student body as a whole gets away from campus, the individual students have the opportunity to get out of their comfort zones, and many of them take advantage.

   
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  Discover Sessions: "Be Open to Those Side Roads"

  2/6/2026
  In front of a Grade 9 Health and Career Education class on Wednesday, Mr. Andrew Ference recalled a time when he took an initiative that changed his life.

   

  Going into his National Hockey League draft year as an 18-year-old, Mr. Ference wasn’t seen as enough of a potential NHL player to be invited to the combine – that’s where prospects go through a series of rigorous fitness tests, with the results shared with scouts across the league to consider alongside their statistics and performances in games. His response? “I’ll do my own testing.” Mr. Ference went to the University of Alberta, near his hometown, and paid to go through all the same tests as the prospects who were invited, then faxed them (faxing was still the go-to communication method in 1997) to all 26 NHL general managers along with a cover letter. He wasn’t invited to attend the draft, but he received a phone call that day informing him that he had been selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the eighth round, 208th overall out of 246 players picked. Craig Patrick, the Penguins’ general manager at the time, also called and told him how bold it was to send out his fitness results.

   

  Mr. Ference went on to play 907 NHL games – more than 17 of the 26 players picked in the first round – reaching the Stanley Cup finals with the Calgary Flames in 2004, winning the Cup with the Boston Bruins in 2011, captaining the Edmonton Oilers from 2013 to 2015, and receiving the King Clancy Memorial Award for leadership on and off the ice in 2014. He still works for the NHL, in addition to being a current parent and coach at Shawnigan.

   
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  February Sports Update

  2/6/2026
  From the Head of Shawnigan Regatta in late November to climbing and basketball competitions this week, the last few months have seen a great deal of success for Shawnigan’s teams and athletes in a variety of sports.

   

  ROWING

   

  After a break of several years, the Head of Shawnigan Regatta returned in late November with strong results from the host rowing crews.

   

  The early-morning fog burned off as the sun rose in the sky, and although the Shawnigan team had some members unable to compete due to illness, the School collected first-place finishes in the U19 boys’ single (Steven D.), the U17 boy’s eight, the U15 boys’ and girls’ coxed quads, and novice girls’ quad, as well as a second-place finish in the U19 boys’ double.

   

  Staff members got into the act as well, with Mrs. Julie Platt joining a masters four crew that posted a brilliant time, and Mr. Travis Gronsdahl placing second in the masters single on raw time. A team of administration staff taking part in a health and wellness rowing initiative placed second in their women’s quad race.

   

  In all, five clubs took part in the Head of Shawnigan, with a total of 49 entries.

   
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  Debates and Diplomacy at Model UN

  1/30/2026
  Shawnigan’s success at the Vancouver Model United Nations conference last weekend is a testament to the efforts of the student leaders who have taken ownership of the program.

   

  The School sent 18 students to the conference, the 25th annual session of VMUN. The largest high school student-organized Model UN conference in North America, it attracted 1,500 students this year, divided into 20 committees. Three Shawnigan students came away with awards. Aven T., representing China in the World Meteorological Organisation, and Alan A., representing France in the International Atomic Energy Agency, both received the highly sought-after gavels presented to the Best Delegate in each committee, while Angelina Z., representing Burundi in the Disarmament and International Security Committee, earned an Honourable Mention.

   

  “My experience at the 25th iteration of the Vancouver Model United Nations conference was a whirlwind of debate, honing my speaking skills, and forming new friendships that I have no doubt will last far beyond my time in Model UN,” Alan stated. “Representing France in the International Atomic Energy Agency allowed me to better my public speaking and debate skills, while growing my knowledge on current affairs. Having been in Model UN for two years, it has been a fulfilling 360 and beyond that, has helped my writing and presenting skills in all other facets of Shawnigan.”

   
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