A Tribe Called Copeman's
The kitchen staff at Shawnigan does a fantastic job of feeding more than 500 students every day. But these are teenagers we’re talking about – they’re never satisfied, and it never hurts to supplement their regular meals with some after-hours food. For Mr. Elliot Logan, Grilled Cheese Night at Copeman’s House is more than just a way to quell the boys’ hunger – it is also an epic opportunity to come together.
Whether I’m filming students immersed in nature for a new marketing campaign, debating whether or not to mention the crumbs of Lembas bread clinging to the Head’s Nehru vest during an interview, or sprinting up to Canada Field to catch the sunrise with my drone, my days are never without adventure. But as much as I thrive on those moments of creative chaos during my working week, nothing quite matches the energy of Friday nights in Copeman’s House, one of the oldest boarding houses on campus. At Shawnigan Lake School, all education staff take on one night of duty in a boarding house each week. I have the unique privilege of being a live-in staff member, and Friday nights are mine to steward – a blend of brotherhood, mischief, and Common Room games nights that are as meaningful as any film I’m tasked with.
One thing I really enjoy about our Fridays is that every so often, I get the opportunity to cook late-night meals for the boys. With the blessing of Mr. Setso, our head chef, I depart the Marion Hall kitchen with a box of bread, cheese, and butter. I strut out to the dining room table during lunch on Friday and announce loudly to the Raiders, “It’s grilled cheese night!” – and I’m met with an eruption of cheers and claps. There isn’t a better feeling, I tell you.
Late-night meal, you ask? Well, let me just say it – teenage boys are always hungry. It doesn’t matter if they’ve just packed away two plates of lasagna, four pieces of garlic bread, and a slice of apple pie – the vibrations of hungry stomachs will shake the very foundations of Copeman’s by nightfall.
My favourite part of these great feasts usually involves the students who help prepare the food. The schoolboys keep me entertained with witty banter about how bad the others are at buttering the bread or how many slices of cheese is too many – keeping my mind busy as I prepare to plate 100 grilled cheese sandwiches in just under an hour.
The message goes out to the group chat: “Grilled cheese is ready.” Seconds of silence feel like an eternity before the war drums begin. The rumbling of students running down the stairs echoes throughout the house like Vikings storming the Mead Hall. Grilled cheese sandwiches go flying. Ketchup suddenly becomes the highest form of currency among the students, as they try to figure out where did all the plates go?
Turns out they were in the dishwasher that hadn’t been turned on. We switch gears and adapt – paper towels will do for now, and one can only hope they end up in the compost, not the recycling.
In the midst of all the chaos lies the best part of the night: gratitude. Every single Copeman’s boy takes the time to thank the students who helped prepare the food – and me. I have such fond memories of my duty staff cooking for us when I was a student. There’s no better feeling than giving back to the students now, as a staff member myself. The energy shifts as the House begins to wind down. The students, now satiated, retreat to their rooms and begin their nightly routines. The sounds of television shows, teeth brushing, and laughter float through the halls as I sit downstairs in the foyer and think to myself: Tonight was a good night.
After graduating from Shawnigan, Elliot Logan ’10 (Duxbury) went on to a successful career in the film industry. He currently works in the Communications department as a filmmaker and is a Residential Advisor in Copeman’s House.
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.
