A Voice in the Wilderness Archive
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2025
2025
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March
'They'll always be with me' – Musical Theatre and Character Development
Read MoreNow in Grade 12, Talia S. has been part of Shawnigan’s annual musical theatre production every year she has attended the School, usually in major roles. Here she writes about the process for developing the characters she has played, and how they have stayed with her even after the productions ended. -
Reflections on Ramadan
Read MoreRamadan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar and one of the Five Pillars of Islam, runs in 2025 from February 28 to March 29. Prior to Ramada, Kira Rasul-Jankovics – an Ismaili Muslim and Grade 10 student at Shawnigan – spoke in the Chapel Gathering on February 19 to educate her fellow students about this important observance and her personal experiences. -
Life in a Grade 8 House
Read MoreThere has been a buzz in the air since the official opening of Samuel House in early 2024. In the Admissions Office, we regularly field questions from prospective families and alumni about what it’s REALLY like to live in a co-educational boarding house with Grade 8 students. Who better to ask than our current live-in House staff and our Grade 11 mentors who support Grade 8 life at Shawnigan? -
Paths of Passion: Building More Than Just Robots
Shawnigan’s 360 (co-curricular arts and activities) robotics program was founded in 2012 through the vision of alumnus Dennis Ren. Over the ensuing 12 years, our students have transformed the program into a competitive powerhouse that has to date sent six teams to the VEX Robotics World Championships. John P., a team leader in this year’s competition, shares his experiences with one of Shawnigan’s most successful and dynamic extracurricular programs.Read More -
February
Black History Month: In Honour of My Mother
Read MoreEnglish teacher Mr. Michael Andoh was one of three main speakers in our February 22 Chapel Service that honoured Black History Month. In his address, Mr. Andoh noted that, while it is important to recognize the trailblazers and pioneers, it is equally valuable to honour those who made contributions that will not end up in the history books, like his mother, Comfort Afua Mansa Andoh. -
Black History Month: Overcoming Apartheid
Read MoreComing to Shawnigan from South Africa, where his family lived through the apartheid era, Grade 9 student Hluma Vezile has a unique perspective on Black history. In a speech he delivered in Chapel to help mark Black History Month, Hluma discussed the connections between apartheid, Nelson Mandela, rugby, and his family. -
Black History Month: Hair and Heritage
Read MoreGrowing up in locations around the world, Ephrim Horlock has used his hair to express himself and connect with his culture, and that has continued during his time at Shawnigan Lake School. This is the speech that Ephrim delivered in the School's Chapel service on February 22, marking Black History Month. -
Paths of Passion: On the Record
Read MoreThe recording arts studio is considered by many to be the crown jewel of our student resources here at Shawnigan. From sampling to creating entire albums, our students have accomplished wonders with their envisioned projects. Sean Xiao, a member of the Recording Arts 360, reflects on a personal project in which he linked his passion for musical production with his cultural heritage. -
10 Ways to be Successful at a Boarding School
Read MoreMr. Elliot Logan ’10 (Duxbury) graduated from Shawnigan Lake School and went on to a successful career in the film industry before returning to his alma mater to embrace a variety of roles. After looking at the boarding school experience from several different angles, he knows what it takes to be a successful student. -
Paths of Passion: Learning the Ropes
Read MoreWilliam Shakespeare once wrote that “One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.” At Shawnigan, we are surrounded by the beauty of nature. Since the School’s founding, our fellow students have taken upon themselves to discover the environment around us. Oscar Nicoletti reflects upon his experience on a recent trip with the Outdoor Leadership & Development 360, where he saw first-hand the tools and resources of Canadian first responders. -
January
Resistance, Part I: ‘It became increasingly impossible to remain standing on the sidelines of the conflict’
Read MoreShawnigan observed International Holocaust Remembrance Day with a sombre Chapel service centred around a moving message from Rev. Selinde Krayenhoff, the daughter of two members of the Dutch Resistance during the Second World War. This is the first part of her message to students. Click here for the second part.Content warning: this story contains material that may be harmful or traumatizing to some readers. -
Resistance, Part II: ‘We all have the choice as to how we will respond to those challenges’
Read MoreShawnigan observed International Holocaust Remembrance Day with a sombre Chapel service centred around a moving message from Rev. Selinde Krayenhoff, the daughter of two members of the Dutch Resistance during the Second World War. This is the second part of her message to students. Click here for the first part.Content warning: this story contains material that may be harmful or traumatizing to some readers. -
‘A role I’m proud of’ – Shawnigan’s tour guide program
Read MoreStudent tour guides serve as invaluable internal ambassadors for the School, welcoming prospective students and their families to campus and providing a gentle but enthusiastic introduction to Shawnigan. Now in Grade 12, Hazel Parris has been part of the tour guide program for three years, and recalls how her own tour helped shape her Shawnigan experience and explains what the program means to her. -
Paths of Passion: The Power of Music
Music plays an incredible role in our lives. Whether we listen to it or play it, melody and harmony have the power to shape, define, and inspire us. In our very first release of the Paths of Passion article series, we explore the passion of music through the eyes of Ash Butun, who discovered her love for music through performance and growth.Read More -
Community and Collective Responsibility: a Fable
Read MoreFor the Chapel service on Saturday, January 11 – the first service of a new calendar year and new academic term – Shawnigan Chaplain Rev. Ruth Dantzer shared a fable about the importance of integrity, generosity, and collective responsibility in community. This version of the fable was adapted by Keven Fletcher, Rev. Dantzer’s colleague at St. Michaels University School. -
Yes, I’m coaching basketball again at Shawnigan
Read MoreMr. Andrew Shepherd has been coaching boys’ basketball at Shawnigan for the last nine years, beginning with the Grade 9 team and working his way up to the senior boys’ squad this season. In that time he has gained a new perspective on coaching and the sport of basketball, and an appreciation for the work put in by the players on his team and everyone else who has helped make his journey possible. -
The Greatest Lie I Ever Told: Part 1
Read MoreFrom his years as a student to returning as a member of the Communications department and boarding house staff, Shawnigan has been a significant part of Elliot Logan’s life for much of the last two decades. But was it all based on false pretenses? Find out in this two-part series. -
What can adventure and the outdoors do for you?
Read MoreIn October 2024, Shawnigan’s Outdoor Leadership and Development Club and Adventure Sports team travelled to Quadra Island for a weekend packed with hiking, kayaking and other open-air undertakings. As Outdoor Education Coordinator Ms. Jessica Dick recounts, the trip was much more than just an off-campus adventure as the students learned about geography and history of the part of the world we live in, a key part of the experiential education focus at Shawnigan.
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.
