Shawnigan Lake School

Last updated
Shawnigan Lake School
Shawnigan crest.svg
Main Building
Location
Shawnigan Lake School
1975 Renfrew Road

Shawnigan Lake
,
British Columbia
,
V8H 2G7

Canada
Coordinates 48°39′26″N123°38′20″W / 48.6573°N 123.6390°W / 48.6573; -123.6390
Information
School typePrivate day and boarding
MottoPalmam Qui Meruit Ferat
(Let whoever has deserved the palm bear it)
Founded1916
HeadmasterRichard 'Larry' Lamont
Staff250
Grades 8–12
Enrollment550
LanguageEnglish
Colours    Black and gold
MascotThe Stag
Endowment CA$13,500,000 [1]
Website www.shawnigan.ca

Shawnigan-Lake-School-Logo.svg
Last updated: October 3, 2025

Shawnigan Lake School is a co-educational independent boarding school in Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia, Canada, operating under the Advanced Placement program. The school was founded in 1916 by Christopher Lonsdale, an educator from Cumberland, England, and partly modelled after the Westminster School in England. [2]

Contents

It is Canada's largest boarding school and British Columbia's 4th-oldest independent school. It is highly selective. Shawnigan has an estimated 550 students across grades 8 to 12 in ten boarding houses.

The school's Latin motto, Palmam Qui Meruit Ferat, means "Let whosoever deserves the palm bear it."

History

Early Years

Shawnigan Lake School was founded in 1916 by Christopher Windley "C. W." Lonsdale as an all-boys preparatory school. It is one of Canada's oldest boarding schools. [3] At the time of its establishment, the school had only 6 students and 4 staff in a 60 square foot teaching space. For the next decade, Shawnigan saw rapid growth, growing to 92 students by the end of 1926. The original campus was built, with the chapel being constructed in 1928, one of the school's oldest standing structures. In 1926, the Main Building was destroyed by fire, but was reconstructed within 8 months, which is now the current Main Building.

Shawnigan lost 44 alumni who served Canada, Great Britain, and the United States during World War Two. During the war years, the school was also home to many boys who were evacuated from England.

Post-war to present

Lonsdale retired in 1952. His role is formally commemorated at Shawnigan annually by Founder's Day, which was traditionally centred on a service in the School's Chapel conducted by the School's Anglican chaplain, with a visiting keynote speaker drawn from the School's alumni in place of a sermon.

Peter Kaye succeeded him and doubled Shawnigan's enrollment by 1958. He was followed by E.R. (Ned) Larsen '42, a graduate of the University of British Columbia, Oxford University, and assistant to the Canadian Minister of Defence, who was Shawnigan's third Headmaster. During his tenure, the school's reputation soared. However, due to the tumultuous period of the 1960s, social changes affected Shawnigan greatly, and the school entered a period of uncertainty for the next decade. In 1969, Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh visited Shawnigan to award three students the Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award. [4]

In 1986, the school saw its first female student, beginning the transition towards co-education. In 1988, a full class of girls would be enrolled.

In 2016, Shawnigan celebrated its centennial.

Shawnigan Lake School Shawnigan Lake School.jpg
Shawnigan Lake School

Students

As of September 2026, the student body at Shawnigan Lakes School consists of 550 students representing 27 countries, with 445 students residing on campus in boarding houses, making it a boarding school with the largest number of full-time boarders in Canada. Day students constitute 10 percent of the student body. Students come from all over the world, with 20% from International locations, 15% from the United States, 15% from other Canadian Provinces and 50% of students being from British Columbia. [5]

Current campus

Shawnigan Lake School occupies a wooded 270-acre (1.1 km2) near the village Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia. There are approximately 35 buildings on the site:

The Main Building, built in 1926, sits adjacent to the quadrangle, which houses the school's chapel (built 1928), dining hall (Marion Hall), and the Hobbies Building (built 1934). Other facilities include classroom buildings, dormitories (and staff housing), a theatre (and music building), an observatory, a recording arts studio, a growing dome, a salmon hatchery, and a robotics lab.

Athletic facilities include an ice hockey arena, a rowing pavilion, two gymnasiums, tennis courts, squash courts, and seven sports fields.

School life

Student Body & Boarding houses

The school is primarily a boarding school, with approximately 90% of its students attending the school as boarders. The school has 10 boarding houses, 5 for boys and 4 for girls. In 2024, Samuel House, a dedicated Grade 8 boarding house, was established. Each boarding house has a House Director (formerly called the Housemaster), an Assistant House Director, and is assisted by student Heads of House and House Prefects in the management of house duties and issues. Each year, houses compete against each other in an annual intramural competition for the House Cup.

Shawnigan's student government consists of Round Tables from Grades 8 to 11, followed by the highest position of student leadership, School Prefects, who are appointed in their final year.

Boy Houses:

Girl Houses:

Co-Ed (Grade 8):

Academics

Shawnigan's academic program is university preparatory. It was ranked by the Fraser Institute in 2017 as 11th out of 253 British Columbian Secondary Schools based on a score of 9.3/10 for academic achievements. [6] The school provides 25 Advanced Placement (AP) courses offered by the College Board, as well as a Dual Dogwood Diploma program. (French Immersion Designation)

Fine Arts

Students are required to try a variety of fine arts, selecting from a list of 32 options. [7] Notable programs include recording arts, robotics, musicals, model UN, astronomy, woodworking, search and rescue, and various bands and music groups. The theatre program includes at least one large-scale production each year, which is usually performed in the Royal Theatre in Victoria.

Athletics

Shawnigan has partnerships with Rugby Canada and Rowing Canada, with both teams using the school's training facilities on a regular basis. In 2014, Shawnigan joined the Canadian Sport School Hockey League. [8] Sports offered at the school include rowing, rugby, hockey, squash, tennis, basketball, soccer, golf, volleyball, field hockey, and cross country. Shawnigan's sports rivalries include those with Brentwood College School, St. George's School, and St. Michaels University School.

From 2009 to 2013, Shawnigan's Boys First XV Rugby Team won an unprecedented five provincial championships in a row.

Headmasters

YearName
1916–1952 C. W. Lonsdale
1952–1958G. Peter Kaye
1958–1967Edward R. 'Ned' Larsen
1967–1968Lachlan Patrick 'Pat' MacLachlan, acting
1968Brian S. Powell
1968–1972Lachlan Patrick 'Pat' MacLachlan
1972The Rev. Canon William Hamilton Horace McClelland, M.B.E., acting
1972–1975Hugh C. Wilkinson
1975–1978The Rev. Canon William Hamilton Horace McClelland, M.B.E.
1978–1983Darrell John Farrant
1983–1984Derek William Hyde-Lay, acting
1984–1989Douglas J. 'Doug' Campbell
1989–1990Derek William Hyde-Lay
1990–2000 Simon C. Bruce-Lockhart
2000–2018David Robertson
2018–currentRichard 'Larry' Lamont

School athletic championships

Rowing

2013Canadian ChampionsJr. Men's Eight
Jr. Men's Coxed Four
2011Canadian ChampionsSr. Men's Lwt. Eight
Sr. Men's Lwt. Pair
2010Canadian ChampionsSr. Women's Double
2009Canadian ChampionsSr. Women's Eights
Sr. Men's Four
Jr. Women's Lwt. Pair
2008 Henley Royal Regatta Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup [9]
Canadian ChampionsSr. Men's Eight [10]
Sr. Men's Four
2007Canadian ChampionsJr. Men's Eights [11]
2006Canadian ChampionsJr. Men's Eights [12]
2005Canadian ChampionsSr. Women's Four [13]
Sr. Men's Four [13]
Sr. Men's Eight [13]
2004Canadian ChampionsSr. Men's Four [14]
Sr. Women's Four [14]
Sr. Men's Eight [14]
2003Canadian ChampionsJr. Men's Four [15]
2002Canadian ChampionsSr. Women's Pair [16]
Jr. Men's Eights [16]
2001Canadian ChampionsSr. Men's Four [17]

(Note: championships exist pre-2001 to the founding.)

Rugby union

BC AA Girls Rugby Champions - 2023
BC Boys AAA Rugby Champions - 2022
BC Boys AAAA Rugby Champions – 2019
BC Boys AAAA Rugby Champions – 2017
BC Junior Boys AAA Rugby Champions – 2017
Junior Boys Rugby 7s Champions – 2016
BC Junior Boys AAA Rugby Champions – 2016
Senior Boys CAIS Rugby Champions – 2016
Girls CAIS Rugby Champions – 2016
BC Girls AA Rugby Champions – 2016
BC Boys AAAA Rugby Champions – 2016
BC Boys AAA Rugby Champions – 2015
BC Boys AAA Rugby Champions – 2013
BC Boys AAA Rugby Champions – 2012
BC Boys AAA Rugby Champions – 2011
BC Boys AAA Rugby Champions – 2010
BC Boys AAA Rugby Champions – 2009 [18]
Boys CAIS National Rugby Champions – 2008 [19]
BC Boys AAA Rugby Champions – 1998 [20]
BC Girls AA Rugby Champions – 1997
BC Girls AA Rugby Champions – 1996
[21] [22] [18]

Field hockey

BC Girls AAA Sr. Field Hockey Champions – 2014
BC Girls AA Field Hockey Champions – 2011

Ice hockey

CSSHL Midget Varsity Champions – Boy's Midget Varsity – 2016

CSSHL Midget Varsity Champions – Boy's Midget Varsity – 2015

(Note: championships exist pre-1996 to the founding.)

Notable people

Notable alumni

Artists

Athletes

Business

Entertainment

Politics

Scholars and scientists

Notable staff

Affiliations

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ "C. W. Lonsdale". Our History. Shawnigan Lake School. Archived from the original on February 13, 2005. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  3. ↑ "Oldest boarding schools". Oldest boarding schools. Our Kids. Retrieved 2008-06-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ↑ "Philip visits Shawnigan Lake School" . Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  5. ↑ M, Lauren. "Shawnigan Lake School At a Glance" (PDF).
  6. ↑ "Shawnigan Lake Shawnigan Lake British Columbia Academic school ranking". Britishcolumbia.compareschoolrankings.org. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
  7. ↑ "Fine Arts at Shawnigan". www.sls.bc.ca. Archived from the original on 6 December 1998. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  8. ↑ "Canadian Sport School Hockey League (Design, Hosting, Registration & Administration tools by esportsdesk.com)". Csshl.ca. Retrieved 2017-03-29.[ verification needed ]
  9. ↑ "Race Results". 2008 Henley Royal Regatta. Henley Royal Regatta. 2008-07-07. Archived from the original on 2008-07-06. Retrieved 2008-07-07.
  10. ↑ "Race Results". CSSRA 63rd Annual Regatta. Canadian Secondary Schools Rowing Association. 2008-06-01. Archived from the original on 2008-06-04. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  11. ↑ "Race Results". CSSRA 62nd Annual Regatta. Canadian Secondary Schools Rowing Association. 2007-06-03. Archived from the original on 2008-06-01. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  12. ↑ "Race Results". CSSRA 61st Annual Regatta. Canadian Secondary Schools Rowing Association. 2006-06-04. Archived from the original on 2008-06-01. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  13. 1 2 3 "Race Results". CSSRA 60th Annual Regatta. Canadian Secondary Schools Rowing Association. 2005-06-05. Archived from the original on 2006-06-21. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  14. 1 2 3 "Race Results". CSSRA 59th Annual Regatta. Canadian Secondary Schools Rowing Association. 2004-06-06. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  15. ↑ "Race Results". CSSRA 58th Annual Regatta. Canadian Secondary Schools Rowing Association. 2003-06-01. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  16. 1 2 "Race Results". CSSRA 57th Annual Regatta. Canadian Secondary Schools Rowing Association. 2002-06-02. Archived from the original on 2008-02-08. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  17. ↑ "Race Results". CSSRA 56th Annual Regatta. Canadian Secondary Schools Rowing Association. 2001-06-03. Archived from the original on 2008-02-08. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  18. 1 2 "Rugby Champions | Shawnigan Lake School". Archived from the original on 2009-06-12. Retrieved 2009-06-02.
  19. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2008-04-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  20. ↑ "British Columbia Secondary Schools' Rugby Union". Archived from the original on 2008-07-06. Retrieved 2008-04-17.
  21. ↑ "4th Straight Provincial Title! | Shawnigan Lake School". Archived from the original on 2012-10-26. Retrieved 2012-09-20.
  22. ↑ "Sr. Boys AAA Provincial Rugby Champions! | Shawnigan Lake School". Archived from the original on 2010-06-14. Retrieved 2010-06-07.
  23. ↑ J Hoberman in The Point 29 Dec. 2020, https://thepointmag.com/criticism/shock-value-peter-saul/
  24. ↑ "Eloise Blackwell | allblacks.com". All Blacks. Retrieved 2018-08-23.
  25. ↑ "Google". Google.ca. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
  26. ↑ "Hannah Darling". Team Canada – Official Olympic Team Website. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  27. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-26. Retrieved 2007-06-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  28. ↑ "Josh Jackson | Rugby Union | Players and Officials". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
  29. ↑ "Canada reveals Rugby World Cup squad". The Globe and Mail. 13 July 2007.
  30. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). www.sls.bc.ca. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 15 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  31. ↑ Archived 2008-08-16 at the Wayback Machine
  32. ↑ "Mad about Mozart". Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-06-02.
  33. ↑ "Corner Gas Online :: Who's Who". Cornergas.com. Archived from the original on 2017-03-30. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
  34. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-06-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  35. ↑ [ dead link ]
  36. ↑ "Meet the Teachers". www.sls.bc.ca. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  37. ↑ "Media Coverage". David Orchard. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
  38. ↑ Stanier, R. Y. (1980). "The Journey, not the Arrival, Matters". Annual Review of Microbiology. 34: 1–48. doi:10.1146/annurev.mi.34.100180.000245. PMID   6776882.(subscription required)

Bibliography

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