Shawnigan Lake School - Yearbook (Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia Canada)

Page 10 text:

School I lotes The school year began with an enrolment slightly higher than that of the previous year. To the staff we welcomed Mr. G. L. Anderson, an Old Boy and a graduate of U.B.C., who became Housemaster of Lake ' s; Mr. D. M. Hopson, a graduate of Jesus College, Oxford; and Mr. I. M. Stuart from Glasgow University and McGill. Later in the Michaelmas Term we were joined by the Rev. R. F. Stephenson, a graduate of Trinity College, Toronto. Peter Mcintosh was appointed Head Prefect. To assist him M. McAlpine, D. Millar, G. Keith, J. Benson, J. Brighton and R. Vandersluys were appointed School Prefects. The Michaelmas Term began, as usual, with the Founder ' s Day Service in Chapel on the first Sunday, when the Headmaster gave the address. The opening weeks of this term were devoted to the Inter-House Competition in Swimming and in Track and Field. Under the direction of Mr. and Mrs. Stuart the performance of the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, The Gondoliers, was warmly received early in November, both by parents and by Old Boys, at the two performances. The Rugby season was marked by some fast and interesting games. The highlight for many members of the First XV was the opportunity to visit England and Scotland as repre- sentatives on the B.C. side. Full reports on all the games played by the School team and by the XV that played in the United Kingdom appear elsewhere in the magazine. It was with deep regret the School learned during the Lent term that Mr. Kaye had decided to resign as Headmaster. A man of integrity, he had won the admiration of all and an administrator of talent, he had made such a contribution to the School that we knew we should miss him sorely. At the same time as this decision was announced the Board of Governors made public that they had asked Mr. Larsen, well known to many of us as a former Senior Master, to assume the Headmastership. Our sorrow over the departure of Mr. Kaye at the end of the Summer Term was equalled only by our joy at welcoming back Mr. Larsen, whose enthusiasm and worth we knew and respected. The tributes paid Mr. Kaye on Speech Day, the details of which are printed below, bespeak the high regard in which he is held. The Summer Term, busy as it always is, sped by all too quickly. A First XI of young Cricketers enjoyed a moderately successful season. The Rowing C lub, keen and ambitious, gained useful experience by competing against crews in Vancouver and Seattle. The members of the Track and Field team, however, entering four meets, were victorious in each and established a reputation that later teams will have to work hard to equal. To those boys who left the School at the end of the year go our best wishes for happiness and success in their work at University. Mr. Stuart, who had accepted a post in Northern Rhodesia, we were sorry to say farewell to and wish to thank him and Mrs. Stuart for all their help. We extend our thanks also to Mrs. Lacey, Mrs. Wylie and Mrs. Woodyard for their help and wholehearted assistance in the Houses during the course of the year. ft Speech aUau — Aune, 1958 The weather was warm and the sky was partially cloudy on Speech Day, Saturday, J une 14th; the School garden was full of blossom. The proceedings began with a service in the School Chapel, at which the Headmaster gave a short address, the full text of which is printed below. As had been done the year before, the Prize-Giving was held on the lawn in front of the main building, where the parents, the friends of the School, and the boys gathered for the ceremony. With the Headmaster on the terrace above, were the teaching staff, Mr. J. Y. Copeman, Chairman of the Board of Governors; Mr. Bruce Robertson, a Governor, and Doctor A. E. Grauer, Chancellor of the University of British Columbia. In his speech the Headmaster reviewed the important events of the year after he had welcomed the many parents and visitors. Page Eight

Page 9 text:

JOHN YOUNG COPEMAN A tribute by his friend, THE ARCHBISHOP OF BRITISH COLUMBIA 30 The School sustained a heavy loss in mid-summer through the sudden death of Mr. J. Y. Copeman. the Chairman of the Board of Governors. Widely and affectionately known as J.Y. , his passing was mourned by a large number of people in all stations of life. He was a great gentle- man, — one of the last of a dwindling breed, — and as such he was worthy of many expressions of respect and esteem which were uttered by repre- sentatives of the entire community. Though of a retiring and conserva- tive nature, he possessed a wide circle of friends. He was a man of genial presence and compelling personality, always approachable and under- standing. Regarded as an outstanding and capable lawyer, his many clients will remember him as a wise counsellor as well as a man of sympathy, candour and fairness of judgment. He was well known as a versatile reader, and a brilliant conversationalist, appealing to innumerable people by his sparkling humour, his large-heartedness, and kindly con- sideration. Thinking on him at this time, I recall his frequent allusions to the 15th Psalm, which he loved as the Gentleman ' s Psalm. Lord, who shall dwell in thy tabernacle: or who shall rest upon they holy hill? Even he that leadeth an uncorrupt life: and doeth the thing which is right, and speaketh the truth from his heart. He that hath used no deceit in his tongue, nor done evil to his neighbour: and hath not slandered his neighbour. He that setteth not by himself, but is lowly in his own eyes: and maketh much of them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth unto his neighbour, and disappointeth him not: though it were to his own hindrance. He that hath not given his money upon usury: nor taken reward against the innocent. Whoso doeth these things: shall never fall. That was J.Y. ' s code. May God rest his soul. Page Seven

Page 11 text:

THE HEADMASTER ' S ADDRESS Dr. Grauer, Ladies and Gentlemen: This is the Seventh Prize Distribution over which I have presided at Shawnigan Lake School, and once again it is my pleasure and privilege to welcome you on behalf of the Governors and Staff of the School. We are completing another successful year which has seen many activities, and it is impossible for me to cover them all in the course of a few minutes review. We have gone through the School year with an enrolment touching the 150 mark, which is the highest point it has reached since 1931. At the beginning of the year it was possible to restore Copeman House to full status with the other three Houses and you will see, when we come to present the trophies, that that House has given a good account of itself throughout the year. It now seems evident that Mr. Larsen will be able to add to the enrolment in the coming School year, since there are over thirty applications on file, which is more than sufficient to cover those known to be leaving. While we honour the Graduating Class of eleven boys in Grade 12 at this occasion, we can do no more than wish them well in the matriculation exams that begin on Monday next. Three of these boys, Malkin, Kemble and Wilson, intend to go on to L ' Ecole Superieure at Neuchatel, Switzerland; others hope to enter U.B.C. and Victoria College, and one boy expects to enter College in the United States. In the last two years we have had only one failure in the matriculation class out of 28 entries and the marks have been around the 65 per cent level on average. We hope that this year ' s class will at least equal that record or improve upon it. Malkin and Kemble have entered the Provincial Scholarships for U.B.C. and we wish them success. In Grade 11, there are 23 boys writing Government exams next week in the terminal courses at that level. Lower down the School you will hear the results in the various forms when we come to award the prizes. On the whole, standards have not been up to last year ' s level, although there are a few boys who have done very well, and others will have to write supplemental exams if they are to gain promotion to a higher grade in September. I would like to see a greater number of boys striving to gain as much knowledge as possible for its own sake instead of doing no more work than is required to gain a pass mark. Turning to another phase of school life, I continue to deplore the attitude which shows disregard for property, whether one ' s own or someone else ' s. This attitude is not peculiar to Shawnigan Lake School, but here it starts with taking perhaps someone else ' s tie, T-shirt or footwear, be cause of carelessness or forgetfulness with regard to one ' s own. This can, and does at times, lead to more serious offences. Measures that have been taken in the past to correct these habits have been only partially successful. I mention this at this time in the hope that parents will join with the School in an all-out effort to correct it. In other phases of school activities there have been some outstanding achievements. A successful Rugger season was crowned by participation in the Rugger Tour to the United Kingdom, so ably organized by Mr. J. J. Timmis of University School. Those who participated deserve a word at this time in appreciation of the contribution they made to our Centenary Celebrations and the credit they brought to themselves and this province in the United Kingdom. In Track and Field Sports there has been much enthusiasm, and through sound training and natural ability we have had an unbeaten record in five separate meetings this term. Other achievements that deserve mention include another noteworthy display of natural history specimens and hobbies and crafts in the Duncan Show; the construction and erection of a cairn on Eagle Heights hill above the School by the Scouts to mark this Centenary Year; and the success of Jeremy Long and Murray McAlpine in the Duncan and Victoria Music Festivals. Time does not permit me to dwell on the activities of the Cadets, the rowers, the cricketers, the actors who were responsible, with their hard-working producers, for two outstanding dramatic performances — The Gondoliers in November and The Miser by Moliere in March. Then there is that group of public-spirited Grovesites who organized the School Tuck Shop — The Ritz — and have been able to turn a profit to the benefit of the School and provide a service for the convenience of their fellows. In all these manifold interests and others, I and the student body are indebted to all the staff members who have contributed loyally and capably to these achievements. The organiza- tion and supervision necessary for their success has involved much time and considerable patience. Page Nine