News Detail
Kilt
The closure of Strathcona Lodge School in 1977, an all-girls boarding school in Shawnigan Lake, had a ground-altering impact on Shawnigan Lake School. For 40 years the two schools – only 3.5 kilometres apart – had enjoyed a successful working relationship. The administrations worked closely to bring the boys and girls together for dances and other social events, stage plays and musicals and, in later years, even a few classes.
After Strathcona Lodge School closed, Shawnigan formed working relationships with two other girls’ schools: Queen Margaret’s School in Duncan and St. Margaret’s School in Victoria. In addition, they collaborated with some girls from Cowichan Secondary School to produce a successful musical one year. Clearly, the presence of girls complemented the student body of the School in many ways.
In the 1970s, the other boys’ schools on the Island started enrolling girls and it was becoming more and more apparent that Shawnigan should consider doing the same. In the early 1980s, Headmaster Darrell Farrant floated the idea of Shawnigan going co-ed, but was met with resistance. It wasn’t until Headmaster Doug Campbell, after much research, was convinced that the School should seriously consider co-education. Gradually, Board Chair Peter Banks and other board members warmed to the idea, and the staff was largely in favour. They felt that a co-ed experience would provide better preparation for the world beyond Shawnigan, and a larger pool of potential candidates would enable the School to maintain high admission standards.
In November 1987, the Board of Governors officially proposed that the School enrol girls. The final decision, however, rested in the hands of the Shawnigan Lake School Society. On March 11, 1988, a vote was taken, and 97% were in favour of the School becoming co-educational. The first class of girls entered in September 1988.
Although the School’s constitution was officially changed to include the first class of girls in 1988, there had been one girl in attendance prior to this. Renate Grass started at Shawnigan in January 1987, and graduated alongside her male classmates in May 1988. Renate’s unique status as the only girl at the boys’ school was due to personal circumstances that led the School to overlook the fact that she was a girl. Of course, she did not wear the official kilt as part of her number one uniform, as it was not introduced until after she graduated.
The kilt pictured here was the original kilt worn by girls from 1988 to June 2019. In September 2019 the uniform changed. The kilt went from a blue and grey plaid to a black and gold plaid in keeping with the School colours.
The information presented in this write-up is based on current information available in the School's Archives and consultation with key people who have some relevant connection to this "object." If you have further information about this "object" that you would like to contribute, please contact the School’s Advancement Office at alumni@shawnigan.ca.
In the 1970s, the other boys’ schools on the Island started enrolling girls and it was becoming more and more apparent that Shawnigan should consider doing the same. In the early 1980s, Headmaster Darrell Farrant floated the idea of Shawnigan going co-ed, but was met with resistance. It wasn’t until Headmaster Doug Campbell, after much research, was convinced that the School should seriously consider co-education. Gradually, Board Chair Peter Banks and other board members warmed to the idea, and the staff was largely in favour. They felt that a co-ed experience would provide better preparation for the world beyond Shawnigan, and a larger pool of potential candidates would enable the School to maintain high admission standards.
In November 1987, the Board of Governors officially proposed that the School enrol girls. The final decision, however, rested in the hands of the Shawnigan Lake School Society. On March 11, 1988, a vote was taken, and 97% were in favour of the School becoming co-educational. The first class of girls entered in September 1988.
Although the School’s constitution was officially changed to include the first class of girls in 1988, there had been one girl in attendance prior to this. Renate Grass started at Shawnigan in January 1987, and graduated alongside her male classmates in May 1988. Renate’s unique status as the only girl at the boys’ school was due to personal circumstances that led the School to overlook the fact that she was a girl. Of course, she did not wear the official kilt as part of her number one uniform, as it was not introduced until after she graduated.
The kilt pictured here was the original kilt worn by girls from 1988 to June 2019. In September 2019 the uniform changed. The kilt went from a blue and grey plaid to a black and gold plaid in keeping with the School colours.
The information presented in this write-up is based on current information available in the School's Archives and consultation with key people who have some relevant connection to this "object." If you have further information about this "object" that you would like to contribute, please contact the School’s Advancement Office at alumni@shawnigan.ca.
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