News Detail
Ski Week Reaches New Heights
Shawnigan’s 52nd Ski Week was the biggest ever, and featured the return of one of the most exciting traditions – after a year’s absence – in the annual excursion.
The 515 students who made the trip to Manning Park were 35 more than the previous record, Student Life Coordinator Ms. Katrina Cholack noted. Some students who may have opted out in the past – like Grade 12s with academic or university application responsibilities, or injured students who wouldn’t be able to fully participate – still chose to join the festivities this year.
“Everyone wanted to come,” she said. “When you have buy-in from everyone, the feeling is different.”
It didn’t hurt that the weather was perfect; skies were blue all week, and although it was cold, no one suffered from it.
Downhill and snowboard races made their return this year after they were cancelled in 2024 because there was not enough snow. A different course this year allowed more spectators to watch the races, and the route was lined with students cheering on their peers, regardless of which House they were representing. A few brave students entered all three races: downhill, snowboard, and cross-country.
Staff members always wrangle for the limited number of spots available at Ski Week, and this year was no exception. This year’s staff contingent included more young families than usual, and the presence of so many young staff kids created a heightened level of joy.
Among the staff who make Ski Week possible are members of the operations team, including bus drivers, and kitchen personnel under chef Dustin Setso, who have their pots and pans on the side of the hill to keep the students and staff nourished.
“Dustin outdid himself,” Ms. Cholack said. “The kitchen team works really hard. Dustin’s leadership is really positive He manages to keep them motivated even when it’s really cold.”
Other beloved Ski Week traditions continued this year, including the Reach for the Top trivia competition, karaoke – which brings out the best in performers whose talents are well known on campus as well as surprise “unknowns” – and the snow sculpture competition. This year’s theme for the snow sculptures was “interactive,” encouraging student teams to build a piece that viewers could pose with, get inside, or even play on.
“They’re out in the cold for five hours,” Ms. Cholack noted. “But they come together as a team, create a common vision, and build.”
At the core of Ski Week are some themes that can’t be replicated on campus: the creation of a community away from home, an opportunity for a different group of students to stand out and find their place, and an equal opportunity for students who haven’t skied before – or even experienced a Canadian winter – to try something new.
“There are kids who live the mountain, and Ski Week is their happy place,” Ms. Cholack commented. “And then you have kids who haven’t seen snow before going from the bunny hill to going up the chairlift for the first time.”
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.
