Shawnigan Lake School

Shawnigan Lake School
Location
1975 Renfrew Road

Shawnigan Lake
,
British Columbia
,
V8H 2G7

Canada

48°39′26″N 123°38′20″W / 48.6573°N 123.6390°W / 48.6573; -123.6390
Information
School typePrivate boarding and day
MottoPalmam Qui Meruit Ferat
(Let whoever has deserved the palm bear it)
Founded1916
Headmaster
Richard 'Larry' Lamont
Staff250
Grades8–12
Enrollment550
LanguageEnglish
Colours    Black and gold
MascotThe Stag
EndowmentCA$32,000,000
Websitewww.shawnigan.ca

Last updated: March 17, 2026

Shawnigan Lake School is an independent and co-educational boarding school located in Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia, Canada. The school was founded in 1916 by Christopher Lonsdale, and partly modelled after his alma mater, the Westminster School in London, England.[1]

Originally an all-boys' school, it became fully co-educational in 1988. The school has produced many notable alumni, including several artists, athletes, diplomats, politicians, scientists, and businesspeople.

Lonsdale chose Horatio Nelson's motto, Palmam Qui Meruit Ferat ("Let whosoever deserves the palm bear it") as the school's motto.

Students

Shawnigan Lake School

As of September 2025, the student body at Shawnigan Lakes School consists of 540 students representing 30 countries, with 440 students residing on campus in boarding houses, the largest number of full-time boarders in Canada. Students come from all over the world, with 50 percent from British Columbia, 15 percent from other Canadian provinces, 5 percent from the United States, and 30 percent from other international locations.[2] Shawnigan sets aside $6 million for financial aid and scholarships every year.

Current campus

Shawnigan Lake School occupies a wooded 270-acre (1.1 km2) campus near the village of Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia. There are approximately 80 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 Bruce-Lockhart Centre for Creativity (built 1934, formerly the Hobbies Building). Other facilities include classroom buildings, dormitories and staff housing, a theatre, a music building, an astronomy observatory, a recording arts studio, a growing dome, a salmon hatchery, and a robotics lab.

Athletic facilities include the Charlie Purdey Arena for ice hockey and figure skating, a rowing crewhouse shared with Rowing Canada Aviron, the Hyde-Lay Rugby Pavilion, two gymnasiums, six tennis courts, eight squash courts, and seven sports fields, including Canada Field, often used by Rugby Canada and other international teams.

School life

Student Body & Boarding Houses

The school is primarily a boarding school, with approximately 82 percent of its students attending the school as boarders. The school has 10 boarding houses: five for boys in grades 9-12 and four for girls in grades 9-12, as well as Samuel House, a dedicated Grade 8 boarding house with separate wings for boys and girls, which opened in 2024. Each boarding house has a full-time House Director and an Assistant House Director, who are assisted by other staff members, along with 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, determined by a variety of events throughout the year as well as academic achievement.

Shawnigan's student government consists of Round Tables from Grades 8 to 11, with the highest position of student leadership being School Prefects, who are appointed in their final year. The Prefects are led by the Co-Heads of School, who are elected from within the incoming Prefect group at the end of each academic year.

Boy Houses:

  • Lake's House (1927)
  • Ripley's House (1927)
  • Copeman's House (1929)
  • Lonsdale's House (1968)
  • Duxbury House (1999)

Girl Houses:

  • Groves' House (1927)
  • Kaye's House (1989)
  • Renfrew House (1996)
  • Strathcona House (2007)

Co-Ed (Grade 8):

  • Samuel House (2024)

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.[3] The school provides 25 Advanced Placement (AP) courses offered by the College Board, as well as a Dual Dogwood Diploma program for French Immersion students.

Fine Arts

Students are required to try a variety of fine arts and activities, known as the 360 program, selecting from a list of 30 or more options.[4]

Notable programs include recording arts, robotics, musicals, Model United Nations, astronomy, woodworking, search and rescue, and various bands and music groups.[5] The theatre program includes at least one large-scale production each year, which is usually performed at the McPherson Playhouse in Victoria.

Athletics

Shawnigan has official partnerships with Rugby Canada and Rowing Canada, with both national teams using the school's training facilities on a regular basis. The school also has a partnership with Thunder Indigenous Rugby. In 2014, Shawnigan joined the Canadian Sport School Hockey League.[6]

Sports offered at the school include rowing, rugby, ice hockey, squash, tennis, badminton, basketball, soccer, golf, volleyball, field hockey, and cross country.[7]

Shawnigan's sports rivalries include those with Brentwood College School, St. George's School, and St. Michaels University School.

Headmasters

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

School athletic championships

2013 Canadian Champions Jr. Men's Eight
Jr. Men's Coxed Four
2011 Canadian Champions Sr. Men's Lwt. Eight
Sr. Men's Lwt. Pair
2010 Canadian Champions Sr. Women's Double
2009 Canadian Champions Sr. Women's Eights
Sr. Men's Four
Jr. Women's Lwt. Pair
2008 Henley Royal Regatta Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup[8]
Canadian Champions Sr. Men's Eight[9]
Sr. Men's Four
2007 Canadian Champions Jr. Men's Eights[10]
2006 Canadian Champions Jr. Men's Eights[11]
2005 Canadian Champions Sr. Women's Four[12]
Sr. Men's Four[12]
Sr. Men's Eight[12]
2004 Canadian Champions Sr. Men's Four[13]
Sr. Women's Four[13]
Sr. Men's Eight[13]
2003 Canadian Champions Jr. Men's Four[14]
2002 Canadian Champions Sr. Women's Pair[15]
Jr. Men's Eights[15]
2001 Canadian Champions Sr. Men's Four[16]

(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[17]
Boys CAIS National Rugby Champions – 2008[18]
BC Boys AAA Rugby Champions – 1998[19]
BC Girls AA Rugby Champions – 1997
BC Girls AA Rugby Champions – 1996
[20][21][17]

Field hockey

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

Ice hockey

CSSHL Midget Varsity Champions – Boys' Midget Varsity – 2016

CSSHL Midget Varsity Champions – Boys' Midget Varsity – 2015

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

Notable people

Notable alumni

Artists

Athletes

Business

Diplomats

Entertainment

Military

Politics and Government

Scholars and scientists

Notable staff

Affiliations

References

  1. ↑ "C. W. Lonsdale". Our History. Shawnigan Lake School. Archived from the original on February 13, 2005. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  2. ↑ M, Lauren. "Shawnigan Lake School At a Glance" (PDF).
  3. ↑ "Shawnigan Lake Shawnigan Lake British Columbia Academic school ranking". Britishcolumbia.compareschoolrankings.org. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
  4. ↑ "Fine Arts at Shawnigan". www.sls.bc.ca. Archived from the original on 6 December 1998. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  5. ↑ "Fine Arts Programs". Shawnigan Lake School. Retrieved 2026-06-06.
  6. ↑ "Canadian Sport School Hockey League (Design, Hosting, Registration & Administration tools by esportsdesk.com)". Csshl.ca. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
  7. ↑ "Athletics Programs". Shawnigan Lake School. Retrieved 2026-06-06.
  8. ↑ "Race Results". 2008 Henley Royal Regatta. Henley Royal Regatta. 2008-07-07. Archived from the original on 2008-07-06. Retrieved 2008-07-07.
  9. ↑ "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.
  10. ↑ "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.
  11. ↑ "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.
  12. 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.
  13. 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.
  14. ↑ "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.
  15. 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.
  16. ↑ "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.
  17. 1 2 "Rugby Champions | Shawnigan Lake School". Archived from the original on 2009-06-12. Retrieved 2009-06-02.
  18. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2008-04-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  19. ↑ "British Columbia Secondary Schools' Rugby Union". Archived from the original on 2008-07-06. Retrieved 2008-04-17.
  20. ↑ "4th Straight Provincial Title! | Shawnigan Lake School". Archived from the original on 2012-10-26. Retrieved 2012-09-20.
  21. ↑ "Sr. Boys AAA Provincial Rugby Champions! | Shawnigan Lake School". Archived from the original on 2010-06-14. Retrieved 2010-06-07.
  22. ↑ J Hoberman in The Point 29 Dec. 2020, https://thepointmag.com/criticism/shock-value-peter-saul/
  23. ↑ "Eloise Blackwell | allblacks.com". All Blacks. Retrieved 2018-08-23.
  24. ↑ "Google". Google.ca. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
  25. ↑ "Hannah Darling". Team Canada – Official Olympic Team Website. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  26. ↑ "Celebrating Top Sporting Achievements" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2026-04-11.
  27. ↑ "UBC Law alumni magazine" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-26. Retrieved 2007-06-20.
  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. ↑ "John Lecky—Vision, Passion, Action" (PDF). www.sls.bc.ca. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  31. ↑ Archived 2008-08-16 at the Wayback Machine
  32. ↑ "Shawnigan Lake School | Growing the game". Archived from the original on 2021-11-27. Retrieved 2026-07-11.
  33. ↑ "MUN Remembers Anthony Vincent '57 (Groves')".
  34. ↑ "Mad about Mozart". Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-06-02.
  35. ↑ "Corner Gas Online :: Who's Who". Cornergas.com. Archived from the original on 2017-03-30. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
  36. ↑ "H. P. Bell-Irving: Years well-lived" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-06-20.
  37. ↑ https://www.shawnigan.ca/news-detail?pk=1014935
  38. ↑
  39. ↑ "Meet the Teachers". www.sls.bc.ca. Retrieved 3 February 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  40. ↑ "Media Coverage". David Orchard. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
  41. ↑ 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)
  42. ↑ https://www.shawnigan.ca/news-detail?pk=1543125. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  43. ↑ "Shawnigan Lake School | Laura Russell". Archived from the original on 2023-09-22. Retrieved 2026-07-11.
  44. ↑ "Shawnigan Lake School Rugby".

Bibliography

  • Rough Diamond: An Oral History of Shawnigan Lake School (ISBN 0-9696005-0-X) by Jay Connolly.
  • The Handbook of Canadian Boarding Schools, by Lafortune, Sylvie, Thomson, Ashley, p. 115
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.