The end of an era

Closing Day is always one of the most memorable and emotional days of the school year. For members of the graduating class, it represents the culmination of years of hard work and personal growth. The ceremony and grandeur of the day offers an opportunity for each graduate to reflect upon and celebrate their careers in the presence of family and friends, as well as the faculty and staff who have been so instrumental in guiding them through their Shawnigan education.

Closing Day 2018 was made especially poignant because it not only marked the end of Shawnigan careers for the members of the graduating class, but was the final Closing Day that Headmaster David Robertson and his wife Lynn will preside over after 25 years of loyal and unstinting service to the School.

During his commencement speech, Mr. Robertson reflected on his tenure, the mode by which he has tried to live his life and the collection of consciously gathered meaningful moments and profound connections that characterize a life well-lived. He also touched on the notion of time passing and the finite nature of everything, good and bad.

“T.S Eliot captured a similar sentiment when he wrote ‘We shall not cease from exploration and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know that place for the first time.’ For 25 years, Lynn and I have had the privilege of living the intensity of each school year and exploring how we could create and recreate the culture in which each new crop of young souls could thrive and grow—then each September we’d start all over again. It would be the same but different as that is one of the true joys of working with young people. No two of them are the same and they will all be different tomorrow from what they were yesterday. It’s that enthusiasm, that energy, that compassion, that character and that optimism that cause us all to know this place for the first time, so effectively, each September. There is no finer calling than the privilege of working with young people to help them grow in mind, body and spirit. 100 years of Shawnigan men and women have known this and their collective labour of love has led the School to where it is today. I cannot state forcefully enough how grateful I am to these talented people of character who embrace so completely our vision and values.”

David and Lynn, along with children Suzie, Russell and Struan, arrived at Shawnigan In September 1993 after seven years at Brentwood. First as Deputy Head and then as Headmaster, David’s dedication and drive helped guide the School through an enormous period of change and propelled Shawnigan forward from a position simply as a good school to that of a great one. In addition to helping the School make the transition from a single-sex to co-ed environment, his vision led to an ambitious re-imagining, renovation and reconstruction of many facilities and buildings on campus. Meanwhile, his focus on shared values and his goal to cultivate care, compassion and kindness in each student made his tenure as much about the heart of Shawnigan as its face.

On Closing Day 2017, each member of the graduating class wore a gold bracelet inscribed with "WWDRobD," short for "What would D-Rob do?"--a question they shared they would all ask themselves whenever faced with a challenge or moral dilemma in their future lives. In recognition of their Headmaster’s imminent retirement, the Class of 2018 planned and kept secret an even bigger surprise: the appearance of the Victoria Police Pipe Band to play an original pipe tune called DBR’s Farewell to Shawnigan Lake School.

There's no doubt that David Robertson's values, beliefs and legacy will not only be remembered here at the School, but will be continue to be carried forth by Shawnigan students and graduates into the wider world for many generations to come.

For more on David Robertson's retirement and legacy, please enjoy the latest edition of Black & Gold Magazine.