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

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the good sportsmanship which is generally shown by Shawnigan boys in competition. There are many traditions which institutions can well do without; but this is a tradition which over the years we must cling to and be proud of. In rugger, after the unprecedented successes of the past two years, we considered this as mainly a building year. At the same time, our 1st XV split its matches with both St. George ' s and University School, and with them is certainly considered as one of the top schoolboy teams in the province. I must say that I was delighted with the fact that the com- petition in rugger between these three schools was so close this year; I think this is a good sign. More basketball was played this year than usual due to the weather and also the fact that for once we had a team which could hold its own against any of the high schools on the Island. I might add that the starting five averaged 6 ' 2 (due undoubtedly to the healthy food, the regular hours and the climate!). Cross Country continues to become more and more popular in the School. There are, of course, many boys who still dislike it because of its difficulty; however, there is a grow ing body of enthusiasts who train regularly and who are, by persevering, beginning to appre ciate the tremendous values to be derived from being in top shape physically. In any event, our team is to be congratulated on winning the Independent Schools Cross Country Meet, involving both St. George ' s and University School, for the fifth time in six years. In cricket too there has been an increased interest throughout the School, and this has shown itself in the results produced. The 1st XI has had an undefeated season, beating University School twice, St. George ' s, and the Vancouver Juniors. There was a very good team spirit, and in fact they were a team in the true sense of the word. Nobody was particularly outstanding, except that John Creighton proved himself to be a very good captain both on and off the field. The Rowing Club too has flourished this year due in large part to the enthusiasm and interest of Mr. Grey. On June 2nd an International Regatta was sponsored here by the School and we had over 130 oarsmen participating, representing U.B.C., Lake Washington R.C., Greenlake R.C., Kelowna R.C., and Victoria R.C. In the Junior Eights, which was the main event at the schoolboy level, our Eight managed to beat a strong contingent from Greenlake, although our coxed Four ended up in second place. We are very anxious to make this Regatta an annual affair, hoping that senior crews will look upon it as an opportunity for much needed competition, and that as a result the junior crews will be inspired by the standard which they will be enabled to witness. In track and field, under the able guidance of Mr. Hyde-Lay, the School has again had an outstanding season. Suffice it to say that the team won with the help of Strathcona the Mid Island Track Meet, which included six high schools, for the third consecutive year, and they also won the Independent Schools Track Meet, which included both University School and St. George ' s, for the third consecutive year. I should add a footnote to this, however, that they only managed to beat St. George ' s by two points and that it was a very interesting meet. In addition to these many activities to which I have referred, there are of course many other pursuits which boys are actively engaged in, such as squash, shooting, gymnas- tics, woodwork, model building and sailing. While the numbers of participants in these may not be so great, this is certainly balanced by their enthusiasm — and it is only time which prevents me from reporting on these activities as well. At this point, however, I must emphasize this:— that none of these activities could be as successful as they are if it were not for the staff of this School. It is all very well for me to stand up here and list our good results — but the men responsible are the men sit- 15

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awarded the Trophy for the best band and our Guard came second. During the Naden week- end in May our Corps won the aggregate Shield for the best overall performance of all the Sea Cadet corps on the Island. These results, coupled with the outstanding performance of the Cadets in the Annual Inspection speak well certainly for the practical side of our Cadet training; with regard to the theoretical side, it is noteworthy that in their examinations re- cently all our candidates for Petty Officer 2nd Class passed, and nineteen out of twenty passed for Leading Cadet - with Marks achieving the highest result in B.C. This overall record, I feel, speaks extremely well for the officers, for the Cadets, and-, in fact, for the spirit in the Corps. I should like to mention also in this report a marked rejuvenation which has taken place in our Scouting activities this year. With the coming of Mr. Archbold, who has taken over the Group, the enrollment has doubled, and the number of activities has increased con- siderably. These included a troop camp of three days, two camps of two days each, a number of one-day hikes, and a good deal of interest and effort on the part of the Scouts as a whole in qualifying for their various proficiency badges. At the end of the season the Group now has five First Class Scouts - all of which are wearing All Round Cords and are the first in our history to have this honour — six fully qualified Second Class Scouts and some twenty who are nearly there. I am pleased to report that of the 53 proficiency badges now held by our Scouts, 23 are Community Service badges and this I consider to be a very important point. In our various activities I believe it is essential that we should continually keep before us the determination to serve, as a school, and when we can, the community in which we live. Again on the athletic side the School has had a good year; and I am not basing this conclusion on the number of wins which our teams have achieved — although the record in this regard is particularly good — but on the approach to games which our boys are showing. While they approach their games with tremendous enthusiasm, I am particularly pleased with 1% MJk m vx WM S iil r

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ting on the platform, men like the Bursar whom I see in the audience, the men and women who work behind the scenes - working for long hours with patience and devotion in the interests of the boys. I am absolutely convinced that the factors which make the School in the final analysis are the unselfishness and the efforts of these people. As there are over fifty people on the teaching, administrative and domestic staff of this School, I cannot thank them all individually as I would like. However, I would like you and them to know that the loyalty of these people and their devotion to the School mean more to me than anything else here, because this in fact is what is essential if we are to make this into a first-class school - and for this support I am deeply grateful. At this point too I would like to express my most sincere appreciation to our Board of Govern ors for their genuine interest and invaluable help. We in this School are particularly fortunate in having on our Board the happy combination of wisdom, vision, enthusiasm and courage. Moreover, considering the way in which they deal with me and my many requests, I should underline also their tolerance. In any event I would like to say most sincerely to our Governors, how very grateful I am to all of them for the outstanding service which they are rendering to the School. It would appear that spiritually, morally, intellectually and physically, the School is in quite good shape. However, in my opinion, in all these aspects we still have a long way to go. We must aim to produce a more rigorous, balanced and constructive training: a training in the disciplines of the mind, body and spirit, to produce a keen and developed intellect, a broad and cultured mind, a sound physique, a character that will not stoop to meanness or discourtesy or slovenliness in standards, and above all a true understanding of the mean- ing of life, in which the reverence of God is the beginning of wisdom . Any real success the School has achieved in the past has ultimately been dependent upon these convictions, and they will remain as the traditional values by which we stand, and by which we shall set our course in the challenging years of change which lie ahead. n 16