Sir Percy Lake Bust
Sir Percy Henry Noel Lake was born in Tenby, Wales, in 1855, to a British father and a Canadian mother. Commissioned into the British Army in 1873, he pursued a distinguished military career spanning continents and decades. Rising through the ranks, he served as a senior commander in the British and Indian Armies and the Canadian Militia, with postings in Afghanistan, Sudan, India, Britain, Iraq, and Canada, where he was Inspector General of the Canadian Militia. After leaving Canada in 1910, he served in India as Chief of the General Staff, was appointed Colonel of the East Lancashire Regiment, and later became commander-in-chief of the Mesopotamian Force. He returned to England in 1916 and, after retiring in 1919, settled in Victoria, B.C. In civilian life, he continued his service as the first president of the Canadian Legion. Since 1943, the South Vancouver Island Zone of the Canadian Legion has awarded the annual Sir Percy Lake Memorial Scholarship in his honour.
Sir Percy’s brother, Sir Richard Lake, had arrived in Canada nearly two decades earlier and built a notable career in public service. Elected as an MLA in the Northwest Territories in 1898, he later served as an MP in Saskatchewan and was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan in 1915. After retiring from politics in 1921, Sir Richard moved to Victoria with his family. That same year, he enrolled his eldest son, Harry, at Shawnigan Lake School, with his younger sons – John, Richard, and Lance – soon to follow. The elder Lake brothers became close friends of the School’s founder, C.W. Lonsdale, and enthusiastic supporters of the School. After a devastating fire destroyed the campus in 1926, they contributed generously to its rebuilding. When the House system was introduced in 1927, Harry Lake was appointed Head of the House bearing his name and served as Head of School for the 1927–1928 year.
In 1928, the School was reorganized as a registered Society governed by a Board of Governors. Sir Percy Lake was appointed Chairman of the inaugural Board, serving until his death in 1936. He was remembered with deep respect and affection as both a distinguished soldier and a man of integrity, humility, and faith.
In 1936, the School’s art teacher, Arthur Tracy, created a bust of Sir Percy Lake, which has stood in the Main Building ever since. While intended to honour a great friend of the School, the bust has also become part of its student lore, appearing over the years with sunglasses, hats, painted masks, and even a COVID-era face covering. In the early 2000s, students began touching the bust’s nose for good luck, a tradition that quickly spread.
The bust’s white nose is the result of repeated contact. Though it appears to be bronze, the sculpture is plaster painted to resemble metal. Over time, the paint has worn away, revealing the plaster beneath, and the bust has required periodic repairs and restorations – each layer marking the many generations who have passed by and paused to touch it.
The information presented in this write-up is based on current information available in the School's Archives and consultation with key people who have some relevant connection to this "object." If you have further information about this "object" that you would like to contribute, please contact the School’s Advancement Office at alumni@shawnigan.ca.
In 1928, the School was reorganized as a registered Society governed by a Board of Governors. Sir Percy Lake was appointed Chairman of the inaugural Board, serving until his death in 1936. He was remembered with deep respect and affection as both a distinguished soldier and a man of integrity, humility, and faith.
In 1936, the School’s art teacher, Arthur Tracy, created a bust of Sir Percy Lake, which has stood in the Main Building ever since. While intended to honour a great friend of the School, the bust has also become part of its student lore, appearing over the years with sunglasses, hats, painted masks, and even a COVID-era face covering. In the early 2000s, students began touching the bust’s nose for good luck, a tradition that quickly spread.
The bust’s white nose is the result of repeated contact. Though it appears to be bronze, the sculpture is plaster painted to resemble metal. Over time, the paint has worn away, revealing the plaster beneath, and the bust has required periodic repairs and restorations – each layer marking the many generations who have passed by and paused to touch it.
The information presented in this write-up is based on current information available in the School's Archives and consultation with key people who have some relevant connection to this "object." If you have further information about this "object" that you would like to contribute, please contact the School’s Advancement Office at alumni@shawnigan.ca.
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