Project Future

Project Future, Shawnigan's strategic plan, is energizing our School community and building momentum around our key strategic pillars of Academic Excellence, Co-Curricular Distinction, and Student Life Unparalleled.

Academic Excellence

The Bruce-Lockhart Fellowship for Academic Excellence was launched in September with the English Department welcoming our first Fellow, Lisa Jokivirta from Finland.

The Beyond the Gates experiential outdoor education program launched as a pilot project in September 2021 for 20 Grade 9 students who are taking their learning to the great outdoors throughout the school year.

Through the support of several grateful parents, the Learning Centre received a major upgrade in spring 2021, including new furniture, learning resources, a lounge/kitchen area, a “zen den” and infrastructure updates to allow for a better specialized learning environment. Beyond the Gates studing shoreline ecology while hiking the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail on the west coast of Vancouver Island

Planting seedlings in the Growing Dome

Co-Curricular Distinction

On the edge of Lake Omar, the Growing Dome, kindly donated by the Brew Creek Centre in Whistler, has already become an iconic part of the Shawnigan landscape. This geodesic dome strengthens the connection between our students and the environment while educating them about food sustainability and security as well as their own health.

A broad-based fundraising campaign among hockey parents led to major upgrades to the interior of the Charlie Purdey Arena, setting the stage for an improved athletic and spectator experience.

Next up, a new Sport Village will soon be constructed between the Charlie Purdey Arena and the Sportsplex, featuring outdoor basketball, hockey, foursquare, soccer, pickleball, and lots of open-access recreational options.

Garth Friesen '87 (Ripley's) helped us breathe new life into the Student Centre and raise student spirits at the turn of the year through the introduction of Duke’s Café and other significant Friesen Centre upgrades, including new furniture and lighting, student artwork, gourmet coffees, baked goods and healthy snacks, all enhancing student life.

Seeking to bring joy to a challenging year, many parents stepped forward to fund special Spirit Meals, both in the boarding houses and Marion Hall.

The Friesen Centre & Duke's Café

Building upon the development of Stanton and Levien Houses, which provide a caring and nurturing landing pad for youngest students, plans are underway to construct a new Grade 8 co-educational boarding house with distinct wings for boys and girls and congregating spaces in the middle, to be opened 2023/24. More details coming soon!

With the support of current parents, upgrades in our existing boarding houses were completed in summer 2021, including infrastructure upgrades, common room furniture, and outdoor gathering spaces such as barbeques, fire pits, and gardens.

Underpinning Project Future's pillars of Inspiring Academic Excellence, Innovating for Co-Curricular Distinction and Imagining Student Life unparalleled is our commitment as an institution to Financial Resilience. This has most recently been realized through the Founder’s Fund, which is providing much-needed support for families heavily impacted by COVID-19 and ensuring that all students are able to return to Shawnigan regardless of financial circumstance. This fund was supported by 100% of Shawnigan’s Board and Foundation Members and many generous parents and staff. In addition, our broader financial aid and scholarship funds ensure that donors' contributions are helping families most needing assistance to access Shawnigan. Looking ahead, discussions are underway with multiple donors to establish new major scholarships, particularly with a focus on families that need the most support, building the socioeconomic, cultural, and general diversity that is so valued at Shawnigan.

The Holi Festival Spirit Meal was enjoyed by all