Belonging
Many Cultures, One Community
Shawnigan Lake School is committed—in its pursuit of Project Future (academic excellence, co-curricular distinction, student life unparalleled)—to equality of opportunity and to a proactive and inclusive approach to equality, which supports and encourages all under-represented groups, promotes an inclusive culture, and values diversity.
Shawnigan is a school with students of varied backgrounds. This deliberate diversity of languages, customs, and cultures brings opportunities to:
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- open lines of communication
- break down barriers and prejudices
- learn from and better understand one another
- create a welcoming home for our diverse student and staff community
List of 4 items.
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Diversity and Inclusion Committee (BE A JEDI)
Our commitment at Shawnigan is to develop and embed cultural competency, equity and social justice with a long-term strategic approach. The Diversity Inclusion Belonging Steering Group was established in September 2020 and led to the formation of BE A JEDI – a committee that brings together representatives from the Board of Governors, Senior Leadership Team, staff, students, and alumni.BE A JEDIAt Shawnigan Lake School we value Belonging, Equity, Acceptance, and Justice – Embracing Diversity and Intersectionality. We are committed to championing and acting upon these values in a way that calls upon everyone to BE A JEDI.
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Our Diversity Inclusion Philosophy
Student Subcommittee Mission
The BE A JEDI Student Subcommittee strives to build upon our community’s foundation of connectedness to ensure belonging for all students. We seek to educate our student body on social issues and to spark conversations; to hold ourselves and others accountable for each other's words and actions; to build a student body that respects and draws strength from our diverse backgrounds and experiences; to promote student initiatives and elevate minority voices; to ensure everyone feels comfortable sharing their whole selves; and to empower student JEDIs to advocate for change and lead by example.Staff Subcommittee Mission
The BE A JEDI Staff Subcommittee strives to build upon our community's foundation of connectedness to ensure belonging for all staff: Education, Operations, and Administration. We seek to create an environment that meets the unique needs of each individual; to ensure our practices reflect diverse perspectives; to educate and enhance diversity training and education for all members of staff; and to create a culture that truly values and celebrates our differences.Alumni Subcommittee MissionThe BE A JEDI Alumni Subcommittee strives to build upon our community's foundation of connectedness to ensure belonging for both alumni past and those yet to come. We seek to create opportunities for alumni to tell their stories; to facilitate reconciliation for those alumni who seek it; to educate the alumni community of the School's progress; and above all make our community one to which alumni either remain connected or feel drawn to reconnect with.
View the BE A JEDI committee organizational chart. -
Our Diverse Curriculum
Shawnigan Lake School embraces diversity, inclusion and belonging and endeavours to guide students to explore diverse texts by a variety of authors in order to better understand themselves and to develop empathy for others through the exploration of culture, history and identity. Students are encouraged to be critical thinkers and engaged citizens who explore a variety of worldviews and perspectives and who understand their responsibilities in relation to Reconciliation, privilege and inclusion. -
The International Student Experience
For all international students, our innovative academic curriculum is designed to build confidence in self, language, character and personality. Opportunities exist in classes, 360, athletics and the House for students to share their own cultural experiences in order to help all students develop a respect for individuals from diverse backgrounds. Shawnigan is a better place thanks to the international diversity of our students and the experiences they share.To support students from all over the world, Shawnigan offers enriching English language opportunities through our English Language Centre (ELC) and English Grammar and Composition (EGC) courses. In addition to individualized academic language acquisition, students receive personalized student success through Canadian cultural experiences in a warm, supportive, diverse environment. Through a combination of classes, social activities, and cultural sharing, these programs help students learn, live, and thrive in English, preparing them for a wealth of post-secondary possibilities.Visit English Language Centre page.
Diversity News
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National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Read MoreA painful, powerful and personal history of the damage done by the residential school system in Canada was the focal point of Shawnigan’s observation of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30.Grade 10 student Hannah F. (traditional name Usmanahiih), a member of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation, bravely addressed a gathering in Chapel. Saying, “Today is about sharing our truth,” Hannah related that her own grandparents had been forcibly taken from their families and sent to residential schools, and that she is here today because they survived that experience — her grandparents have family members who, like thousands of other First Nations children, never came home again.
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Indigenous History Month
Throughout National Indigenous History Month, the Shawnigan community has had many opportunities to learn more about the rich and diverse histories and cultures of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.Read More
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Shawnigan Pride Week 2022
With Pride Week as the focus, there was a lot to celebrate this week! The week kicked off with everyone in their Houses watching a video created by students from our SOGI group, defining pride and what it represents. Tuesday's Chapel gathering followed up on that messaging. It was filled with inspirational words and music shared by LGBTQ2S+ students and was followed by all students being invited to help create a rainbow walkway with chalk through the Quad celebrating pride and all it stands for at Shawnigan. The diversity of our School community is something to be celebrated, and it is through weeks like this that we show our unwavering support for all.Read More
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Celebrating our Connection with Nepal
For the past seven years, Shawnigan Lake School has been honoured to partner with Shree Mangal Dvip (SMD), a school in Kathmandu that provides free education, housing, and care for children from remote Himalayan mountain villages. SMD, which operates fully through philanthropy, educates students through Grade 10. Graduates are encouraged to stay on at the school to work in teaching, mentoring, or administrative roles while completing their education elsewhere in the city. The school also works hard to find ways for their students to experience the world, with the hope that they will return to Nepal and work to improve the conditions there. Accordingly, SMD has connections all over the world – including with Shawnigan Lake School.Read More
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Asian Heritage Month
This week, Shawnigan Lake School had a wonderful opportunity to celebrate some of the diverse cultures that make up the School community during a special event held to commemorate Asian Heritage Month. School Prefect Janie Z. organized the festivities, which included fun games and activities, delicious food, and student musical performances.Read More
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From Kabul to Shawnigan
Shawnigan Lake School was delighted to welcome a young scholar from Afghanistan into the Shawnigan family this week.Read More
Marina arrived safely in Vancouver last week following a courageous journey on her own to Islamabad in Pakistan, where she spent an extended stay of three months waiting for the necessary paperwork to come through. The entire process took nine months. Earlier this week, she reached Shawnigan, her final destination, where she will complete her high school education.
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Red Dress Day
May 5 is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, widely recognized as Red Dress Day. It is a day to recognize, honour and raise awareness about this national tragedy. Here at Shawnigan, we marked this day through focused teaching and conversation in classrooms, by wearing red as a whole community, through an educational display in the library, and by hanging red dresses around campus. We did this to remember the thousands of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people and to honour their families and communities.Read More
Clubs, Awards & Scholarships
Our Diverse Student Population
27 Countries
represented
- 57% British Columbian
- 25% International
- 5% USA
- 13% Other Canadian Provinces
Diversity Events & Celebrations
Pride Day
Black History Month
Holi Festival
Lunar New Year
Student Stories
Hannah S.
“One of the greatest things about coming to Shawnigan was that I made my first black friends. I was very excited because I found I immediately had a special connection with them, because we shared some similar experiences in our lives..." Read More
Jenny Z.
“Coming from a different country, not knowing anyone, not really knowing the language, and not knowing anything about the Canadian culture, meant that Prep House was the perfect place to begin my journey. From the start, it felt like a family.” Read More
Tenzin L.
“Here at Shawnigan, the teachers are so good. In Nepal, my school was always based on memorizing the content, but here we are really exploring the content. I really like it. I also feel empowered as a girl here at Shawnigan.” Read MoreQuote from the Head of School
“Diversity, inclusion and belonging are things that the Chair of our Board of Governors Fiona Macfarlane and I care deeply about, both professionally and personally. We will ensure they are built into Shawnigan’s future, from our everyday interactions to our strategic planning. We want Shawnigan to develop a reputation for being a welcoming and supportive school for students and staff of all backgrounds and to be a respected leader in developing diversity and fostering inclusion and a sense of belonging.
Our students currently on campus are best positioned to tell us what they believe we can do better as a school in developing a sense of belonging for each individual. Their voice and initiatives are vital in our progress as a school. We will continue to work hard to develop belonging on campus, to listen to our students, to encourage their initiatives and to take pride in the rich tapestry of our community.”
--Head of School Richard 'Larry' Lamont
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.
