News & updates

List of 5 news stories.

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  An Inspiring Partnership

  1/23/2026
  The Grade 8s in Samuel House aren’t up for points in the inter-House standings, which are strictly for the senior Houses, but they still take part in the competitions, which are such an ingrained part of boarding culture and do so much to bolster House spirit.

   

  At inter-House rowing last Saturday, the Samuel House boys ended up winning, and would have taken the most points if they were eligible. The strong crop of Grade 8 rowers actually had their team in the lead in the early going, but ended up blowing the other teams out of the metaphorical water – inter-House rowing is contested in the gym on erg machines – with the help of athletes from Rowing Canada’s national team. On the girls’ side, Strathcona House was able to hold off the combined Grade 8/Rowing Canada team.

   

  Thanks to a formal partnership between Shawnigan and Rowing Canada Aviron, the national team athletes train regularly on Shawnigan Lake out of the School’s boathouse. Rowing Canada also has a training space in the Sportsplex, full of high-end equipment that Shawnigan students have access to. The national team rowers can frequently be found enjoying a coffee in Duke’s Café after their training is over.

   
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  Helping Students Thrive

  1/23/2026
  As part of the Shawnigan Journey, each grade is tagged with a unique word. For alumni, that word is “thrive,” as Shawnigan strives to prepare graduates to flourish even after they have moved on to the next steps in their lives.

   

  One of the biggest parts of that preparation is Shawnigan’s Guidance Office.

   

  “The job of the Guidance Office is to work in concert with students to help them thrive beyond the gates of Shawnigan, to plan their pathways post-secondary, whatever that looks like – if it’s university, college, a gap year, or something else,” says Director of Futures Mr. Paul Doig.

   
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  Immersive Art with Lens and Canvas

  1/16/2026
  Students had the unique opportunity last week to see the world through the eyes of an award-winning photographer and environmental artist and learn first-hand about the process and techniques that she employs, with some getting the opportunity to create immersive art alongside her.

   

  Nikki Baxendale, a Shawnigan parent, artist and storyteller based in Vancouver, spent last week on campus as a short-term artist in residence, creating art and sharing her knowledge with students through an informative talk and a pair of workshops that explored the relationship between people, art, and the environment.

   

  Mrs. Baxendale began the week by painting in Duke’s Café, giving students a chance to observe, engage, and interact with an artist at work.

   

  “It was really wonderful to watch when she was in Duke’s,” said Ms. Emily Coolidge, Heimbecker Inspiration Chair for Experiential Education. “At first, there was some apprehension and curiosity on the part of the students, but they gradually started to approach her and ask questions. The place started to buzz.”

   
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  The Little Mermaid Prepares to Make a Splash!

  1/14/2026
  The sitzprobe is coming!

   

  Not something to be feared, the sitzprobe is the first time that the cast of a musical rehearses together with the orchestra. In the case of Shawnigan’s production of The Little Mermaid, that consequential date is just over a week away.

   

  “This is the moment when it really kicks into gear,” musical director Mr. Sal Interlandi says. “When they get into the McPherson Playhouse, that is another step. Each step brings more excitement.”

   

  The musical version of The Little Mermaid is based on the 1989 Disney animated film, which was in turn based on an 1837 fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen about a mermaid who dreams of the world above the sea and falls in love with a human prince. The show opens on February 4, and the production is becoming more real with every rehearsal.

   
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  Footage Flies Fast for 48-Hour Film Fest

  1/9/2026
  With an hour left to prepare their entry for the Zoom Film Festival, the team behind Shawnigan entry No Return (无归) had cut their footage down to a sleek seven and a half minutes. Unfortunately, that was still two and a half minutes more than the festival permits, leading to some tough decisions down the home stretch, and ultimately to an award nomination.

   

  Hosted by West Vancouver’s Mulgrave School, the Zoom Festival gives students a mere 48 hours to write, direct and edit a five-minute film, resulting in a hectic and intense couple of days as well as a fantastic learning experience. Narrowing the scope, the students are emailed a specific prop and a theme via email immediately before the starting pistol fires. Then it’s off to work.

   

  This year’s theme was “Can’t ever go back,” and the prop was a ticket. Films were created over an intense 48-hour span in October, and results were unveiled in December. Shawnigan submitted four films, three of which were finalists for awards:

   
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