Craig Building
In 1962, the School received a very generous donation: one of the School’s science teachers, Cyril Craig, and his wife, Geraldine, donated a new science building – the “Craig Block” – including most of its equipment. The building contained a well-equipped physics laboratory, a lecture room, a well-stocked science library, and a special room for a new language laboratory. Generations of students will remember this building near the south edge of Lake Omar with its distinctive bubble skylights covering most of the roof.
The Classroom block at the time already contained relatively new physics, chemistry and biology laboratories. The purpose behind the gift was to enable the School to challenge its brightest science students to a far greater degree. To be taught in an advanced course, students needed to qualify based on their interest or ability in science. Accepted students embarked on a greatly enriched program offering inspiration and challenge.
The language laboratory used cutting-edge technology of the day, containing 15 partially sound-proofed booths, each containing a tape-recorder with a long goose-neck microphone, “a slightly imposing set of controls,” and a pair of headphones. A desk and control console for the teacher “was full of what at first seems like a bewildering array of switches, knobs, buttons and plugs, and an earphone-microphone combination rather reminiscent of Cape Canaveral.” This new technology naturally generated much interest and enthusiasm. Technology has advanced over the years, of course, and the School has adapted to new methods.
Cyril Craig was a science teacher at the School from 1956-1962. “This most generous gift was an act of faith,” wrote Headmaster E.R. Larsen. “We can only hope, and strive to the end, that our purposes and efforts here at Shawnigan will ever be worthy of their faith.”
In 2001, as part of a broad campus development program, the Craig Block was relocated a short distance to the southwest side of Lake Omar. A second floor was added containing three additional classrooms. With a sloped roof and gable windows and tudor-style stucco-and-beam finish, it looks at home with other campus buildings. All physics classes were moved into the Shaw Centre for Science, where all of the science courses are now taught. The language lab was initially moved over to the Modern Languages department in the Olsen building, but has since been repurposed as a classroom space. The Craig Building became the center for Mathematics. Mrs. Geraldine Craig, along with son, David ’65 (Copeman’s), once again cut the ribbon at the opening of the new building. The Craig Building’s importance continues to be a key part of academics at Shawnigan.
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.
The language laboratory used cutting-edge technology of the day, containing 15 partially sound-proofed booths, each containing a tape-recorder with a long goose-neck microphone, “a slightly imposing set of controls,” and a pair of headphones. A desk and control console for the teacher “was full of what at first seems like a bewildering array of switches, knobs, buttons and plugs, and an earphone-microphone combination rather reminiscent of Cape Canaveral.” This new technology naturally generated much interest and enthusiasm. Technology has advanced over the years, of course, and the School has adapted to new methods.
Cyril Craig was a science teacher at the School from 1956-1962. “This most generous gift was an act of faith,” wrote Headmaster E.R. Larsen. “We can only hope, and strive to the end, that our purposes and efforts here at Shawnigan will ever be worthy of their faith.”
In 2001, as part of a broad campus development program, the Craig Block was relocated a short distance to the southwest side of Lake Omar. A second floor was added containing three additional classrooms. With a sloped roof and gable windows and tudor-style stucco-and-beam finish, it looks at home with other campus buildings. All physics classes were moved into the Shaw Centre for Science, where all of the science courses are now taught. The language lab was initially moved over to the Modern Languages department in the Olsen building, but has since been repurposed as a classroom space. The Craig Building became the center for Mathematics. Mrs. Geraldine Craig, along with son, David ’65 (Copeman’s), once again cut the ribbon at the opening of the new building. The Craig Building’s importance continues to be a key part of academics at Shawnigan.
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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Shawnigan Lake School is an independent co-educational boarding school for ages 13 –18 on Canada’s beautiful Pacific Coast. Our diverse, interdisciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.
