Legacy Matters Why does Legacy Matter? It's a simple question: why does legacy matter? Rather than try to give my reasoning, let me quote the words of Dr. John Burr who attended Shawnigan from 1944 to 1949. The following is an excerpt of his account that appears in Jay Connolly's latest publication, Century, A History of Shawnigan Lake School: "I enjoyed the School. I enjoyed every aspect of it. I came to appreciate that all the discipline of the School had me self-disciplined. And that, I think, is one of the most important factors in the development of a life. My experience there was just so rewarding. I realized how much of a home it had been to me. I never thought about these issues until much later in my life, and then it started to come back to me. I remembered it all - everything. The things I'd done incorrectly, the happiness we had as boys. On a visit to the campus many, many years later, I walked up the hill and thought of all these things. I went into the Gym and thought about old Captain Palin, and Derek Hyde-Lay. Everywhere I went, I found a memory. It was the most fortunate experience I could have had in my life." One needs to be reminded about how austere the conditions were at the school in the late 1940's. Despite the harsh conditions, the limited menu, cold winters, lack of heat, chores, the tough love meted out by the Masters, and the bullying, John has always remained positive about his experiences and the love and admiration he had for Shawnigan’s founder, C.W. Lonsdale.
When I asked John recently what motived him and his wife Katherine to leave a Legacy Gift to the Scholarship and Bursary Endowment, this was his reply: "It was in memory of my aunt Edie that I donated the inheritance I received from her to help other needy deserving students, as it was she, a teacher, who graciously paid for my entire six years of schooling at Shawnigan. She, Like Lonsdale, was a strict disciplinarian and both encouraged self-discipline." Naturally, I welcome the chance to chat with other alumni, parents, faculty and staff who have similar stories. In this Alumni News space, we would love to share your memories and your photos. If you have already made a Legacy Gift, please consider letting us share your story. If, like John and Katherine Burr, you are inclined to Leave a Legacy as your method to assist future students enjoy a Shawnigan Lake School education, please contact me. Hilary S. Abbott