Squash



The squash program at Shawnigan Lake has something for everyone, whether students are discovering squash for the first time or aspiring to compete at the highest levels.
 
Our Squash for Life stream introduces students to the sport in a fun, supportive environment. It encourages students to stay active while developing fundamental movement and motor skills, building confidence, and fostering a lifelong enjoyment of the game. Several students who began in this stream have gone on to play squash at Canadian universities.
 
For students looking to take their squash to the next level, our Competitive Program provides a clear pathway for development and competition. Players begin by competing in the BC Silver Series, developing their skills and gaining valuable tournament experience. As they progress, they have the opportunity to compete on the Canadian NJC circuit, with tournaments in locations like Calgary, Niagara, Montreal, and Toronto.
 
For our most dedicated players, the pathway can extend beyond Canada. Shawnigan students have competed in prestigious international events including the Canadian Junior Open and U.S. Junior Open. A number of our graduates have gone on to attend prestigious squash programs at universities and schools in the United States, with some continuing their careers and competing professionally.
 
Whether a student wants to learn a new sport, stay active, compete for their school, or pursue squash at the highest level, the Shawnigan Lake School squash program provides the opportunity, coaching, and pathway to help them achieve their goals.

Head Coaches

Colin Whitney, Head of Squash
cwhitney@shawnigan.ca

Colin has 25 years of coaching experience in England, Ireland, Bermuda, the US, and Canada. He was the Irish national junior team coach, and has been part of development and performance committees in Alberta, Ontario, and BC. Colin has produced 10 national junior champions and worked with a number of professional players. Over the past 12 years in Canada he has produced three of the strongest junior squash programs in the country. Colin has also worked at the Harvard and Princeton summer camps and had a number of his junior players recruited to US colleges.
Mike Johnson

Shawnigan is fortunate to have internationally renowned coach Mike Johnson heading up the program. Prior to joining Shawnigan in 2009, he coached three world champions and a number of players ranked in the top five in the world. He was the head coach at the Princeton University summer camps. A Shawnigan alum once said of her coach, “Mike was always willing to help and give me advice. His constant support and genuine care, and his belief in my potential, both on and off the court, helped me grow a lot.”

Coaches

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  • Lynne Grass

    • Instrumental in building the Shawnigan squash program over the last 25 years
    • Recognized in BC and nationally, and highly respected in the squash world
    • Received Squash BC’s Kevin Kydd Junior Service Award in 2012-13 and Squash Canada’s Certificate of Achievement Award in 2016-17

  • Nicole Temple

    • A top-ranked player for most of her junior career
    • Represented Alberta at the 2019 Canada Winter Games
    • Won the U23 National Championship in 2022

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  • Program Highlights

    • Shawnigan’s numerous accomplishments in squash include winning 10 BC Independent Schools Association championships between 2012 and 2022
    • The School hosts three Squash BC Silver events per year, giving students match play opportunities on campus against Vancouver Island’s top junior squash players
    • The School also hosts the annual Mike Johnson Classic professional squash tournament, which gives current students the opportunity to watch world class squash while giving the School’s alumni the chance to come back to play on campus
    • In addition to hosting competitions, the squash program competes annually at events in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, and Niagara Falls
    • Recent trips and tours include destinations such as Hong Kong and China, Bermuda, and the US 

  • Program Overview

    Squash provides an opportunity for a healthy lifestyle, hard work, perseverance, social interaction, and sportsmanship for all players. The program tends to attract athletes who are motivated, hard-working, and who possess good hand-eye coordination. They should be ready and prepared to attain a high level of cardiovascular fitness to meet the demands of the sport.

    The Shawnigan squash program pathway has three streams which align with Squash Canada’s Long Term Athlete Development plan:

    Learn to Play
    Beginners have three afternoon sessions per week. The School also offers students three other sessions per week where they can come and try squash; these additional sessions are also open to junior squash players in our local community.

    Pre-Competitive
    Students have three afternoon sessions a week and the opportunity of an additional three sessions a week during the school/community squash program. They also have access to fitness and strength and conditioning sessions. Alongside the training sessions, these students participate in bronze- and silver-level competitions throughout the squash season in BC. These players also have access to private tuition with the School's world class coaches.

    Competitive
    Competitive players at the School participate in fitness and squash sessions three times a week on sport days, and have three other racket sessions available to them on non-sport days. Alongside these sessions, they have access to private lessons and to strength and conditioning classes. The School’s competitive players play in provincial and national events across Canada. 
Shawnigan is proud of its squash heritage and is looking forward to celebrating 100 years of squash at the School in 2027.

Squash Facilities, Amenities & Support

  • Six squash courts: four glass-back international courts and two converted hardball courts
  • Viewing for 100 spectators
  • Video analysis equipment
  • High-performance weight room
  • Spin room
  • Health & Well-Being Centre offering on-campus massage, acupuncture, and more
  • Athletic Therapists on staff
  • Athletics-specific university guidance support
  • Staff advisors for each student to ensure academic, athletic, and personal success

Recent Alumni Success Stories

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  • Lucia Bicknell ’20

    • Competed for Stanford University, graduating in 2024
    • Canadian U13 and U15 Junior Champion
    • Canada NextGen Squad 
    • Competed for Team Canada at the 2019 World Junior Championships

  • Michael Mehl ’18

    • Competed for the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in 2022
    • Canadian Junior National Champion in 2011, ’13, ’15, ’16, ’17
    • 2014 Canadian Junior Open Champion
    • Competed for Team Canada at the 2014 and 2016 World Junior Championships, serving as captain in 2016

  • Bransten Ming ’15

    • Competed for Drexel University, graduating in 2019; team captain in 2018-19; Drexel’s 2019 Senior Male Athlete of the Year
    • Two-time All-American
    • Professional player on the PSA Circuit
    • USA Junior National Team
    • 2011 Canadian Junior Open U15 Champion

  • Gigi Yeung ’19

    • Yale University, Mechanical Engineering
    • Yale Squash MVP, All American Honours 
    • Macao’s first PSA tour title winner

Squash Partnerships

Shawnigan is affiliated with Squash BC and regularly hosts sanctioned events throughout the season. The squash program is also affiliated with the Professional Squash Association, allowing the School to bring in professional athletes for the annual Mike Johnson Classic.
For schedules, updates, and coverage, follow Shawnigan Squash on Instagram

Our Athletes are attending

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.
1975 Renfrew Road
Shawnigan Lake, BC V8H 2G7
+1-250-743-5516
Shawnigan Lake School is an independent co-educational boarding school for ages 12 –18 on Canada’s beautiful Pacific Coast. Our diverse, interdisciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.