About
Flags
Shawnigan has welcomed students from outside Canada nearly from the beginning. As early as 1918 records show that there were a few students from the United States, Hong Kong, and Chile. It appears that the boys from Hong Kong and Chile were Canadians whose parents worked abroad.
The journey from one’s home in a foreign country to Shawnigan could be long and expensive. An alumnus, one of several from Peru in the 1940s, recalled that it took four days to travel from home to Los Angeles because the DC-3 airplane could not fly at night. The rest of the journey was completed by train and ferry. Obviously, trips home during the school year were nearly impossible, and this particular boy was not able to go home for two years.
During the 1940s, there was a temporary influx of boys from the U.K. as parents sought a safer place for their children away from the threat of falling bombs. A few families immigrated to Canada, but most returned home when the war ended.
Assessing candidates was difficult in the days before Zoom interviews and easier travel. From 1972-1997, former Shawnigan Headmaster Pat MacLachlan relocated to Hong Kong for part of each year in order to interview, test, and prepare applicants for private schools across Canada. Others filled similar roles in subsequent years.
Currently, the School welcomes students from about 30 different countries. The flags of their home countries are displayed in cases in the foyer of the Main Building on each side of the entrance to Mitchell Hall.
Shawnigan values the diversity of its student population, and has acknowledged and celebrated different cultures in various ways over the years. Starting in 1991, the School held its first “International Week.” Students and staff divided into interest groups, generally based on their ethnic heritage, and each day of the week centred on a particular aspect of each culture, including food, crafts, costumes, performances, and significant cultural practices. Opening and Closing Ceremonies were held in the Chapel with a representative proudly carrying the flag for their group. The photo above was taken after one such ceremony. International Week was held every 2-3 years, with the last one taking place in 2018.
More recently, through the work of the BE A JEDI (Belonging, Equity, and Justice – Embracing Diversity and Intersectionality) Council, the School’s international diversity has continued to be showcased. Many cultural celebrations have occurred, such as Lunar New Year, Diwali, and Holi, to name a few.
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.
During the 1940s, there was a temporary influx of boys from the U.K. as parents sought a safer place for their children away from the threat of falling bombs. A few families immigrated to Canada, but most returned home when the war ended.
Assessing candidates was difficult in the days before Zoom interviews and easier travel. From 1972-1997, former Shawnigan Headmaster Pat MacLachlan relocated to Hong Kong for part of each year in order to interview, test, and prepare applicants for private schools across Canada. Others filled similar roles in subsequent years.
Currently, the School welcomes students from about 30 different countries. The flags of their home countries are displayed in cases in the foyer of the Main Building on each side of the entrance to Mitchell Hall.
Shawnigan values the diversity of its student population, and has acknowledged and celebrated different cultures in various ways over the years. Starting in 1991, the School held its first “International Week.” Students and staff divided into interest groups, generally based on their ethnic heritage, and each day of the week centred on a particular aspect of each culture, including food, crafts, costumes, performances, and significant cultural practices. Opening and Closing Ceremonies were held in the Chapel with a representative proudly carrying the flag for their group. The photo above was taken after one such ceremony. International Week was held every 2-3 years, with the last one taking place in 2018.
More recently, through the work of the BE A JEDI (Belonging, Equity, and Justice – Embracing Diversity and Intersectionality) Council, the School’s international diversity has continued to be showcased. Many cultural celebrations have occurred, such as Lunar New Year, Diwali, and Holi, to name a few.
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.
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.
