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

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In fact in this connection an important step will be taken this summer when we convert our present Big School into a large central Library. It is our belief that a deep rooted desire and ability to read widely and in- telligently is the beginning of wisdom scholastically, and almost ensures more success in higher education. Es- pecially it is important that the young read and digest biographies of great men. We see in our young people generally a more widespread lack of development in thi s art of reading than ever before, owing to obvious causes. We hope that with a new and better supplied library, with a full-time librarian, and with an English Department staff making definite demands and keeping track of what the boys read, we can recapture that sense of awe and wonder and enquiry which used to be more common — a feeling that life was an exciting adventure, and that the world around us was full of thrilling unknowns. Then will come a sense of the sublime which will raise men above the level all too commonly found today. Turning to the extra curricular side of our School life, Mr. Larsen reported an increased variety of pursuits, an increased participation by the boys and increased standards — mentioning particular the Operatic Society which produced The Gondoliers in November, the Drama Society which produced Man of Destiny and the Admirable Crichton . the School Orchestra, the Art Club, the Sea Cadets, the Bov Scouts and the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. Reviewing the athletic side he complimented the staff and boys alike on a very high standard of performance, enthusiasm, and sportsmanship. He noted that the School had undefeated seasons in both rugger and cricket, and that Shawnigan had beaten all the other Independent Schools in rowing and gymnastics as well as in rugger and cricket. However he stressed that, more important than these results, was the fact that there had been an excellent attitude toward games exhibited by staff and boys alike. He said, more and more are learning that games should be played for enjoyment. Certainly we work hard during allocated times during the week to produce high stand- ardsi — this is because we feel that no matter what we do we should pursue excellence; but also because we be- lieve that the higher the standard which is achieved in a game, the more it will be enjoyed . After his review of the results which have been achieved at Shawnigan over the past year, he gave much of the credit for them to the Staff, and he expressed sincere words of appreciation to all of these people for their loyalty and devotion to the School. He had special words also for the Board of Governors and these follow, it is my desire also to offer a special word of thanks to the members of our Board of Governors for all they do for the School. These are all successful men in their own fields who are prepared to give up valuable time to help Shawnigan, and I can assure you all that their interest and support are very large factors in the overall success of the School, and in the fact that there is such tremendous promise for the future. He closed his report by stressing the importance of fostering, in the development of young men, a fourfold robustness — physical, intellectual, emotional and moral; in amplifying this theme he made it clear that, if inde- pendent schools would do this with resolution, they could make an unparalleled and much needed contribution to the training of young Canadians. A Tribute — W. G. H. Roaf, 1922-25 At the close of the Ceremonies the Chairman of the Board of Governors, Mr. W. G. H. Roaf, announced to the assembled gathering that he was retiring as Chairman. He said that he was happy to continue as one of the Board Members, but that ill health prevented him from continuing as Chairman. The services of Bill Roaf to the School have been outstanding, and it is sad for us that he and his doctors feel his retirement to be necessary. He has been a member of the Board of Governors since April 1935 and became Chairman in 1961 — the first Old Boy to hold the post. In addition to this he is a founding member of the Shawnigan Lake Old Boys ' Society, in which he served as President from 1946 to 1948. In these capacities and also as a parent of three sons who have attended the School, he has for many years shown a sincere and dedicated interest in the development of Shawnigan. While it is with great regret that we see him step down as Chairman, we would like to pay a special tribute to him, and to express our sincere grati- tude for the very large contribution he has made to the evolution of the School. 77

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Closing Vaif On Thursday, June 24th, the Annual Closing Day Ceremonies were held at the School. The events of the day commenced with a Corporate Communion Service in the School Chapel at 8:00 a.m., conducted especially for the Graduating Class. At 2:00 p.m. the Leaving Service was held and Archdeacon Forth gave the graduates a forthright and stimulating talk. After this the Prize Giving and closing Addresses took place in the School Garden. The main Address was given by Dr. P. McTaggart-Cowan, the President of Simon Fraser University. It was timely, thought-provoking and prophetic, and it was greatly appreciated by all who were present — an enthusiastic audience of over 600 people. At this time also the Headmaster gave his Annual Report and a few excerpts follow: Talking of a new academic policy at Shawnigan, he said, If we are to take full advantage of the new pro- gramme being implemented in B.C. currently at the Grades 8, 9 and 10 level, and next year at the Grade 11 level, students are going to have the op portunity to specialize at the Grade 1 1 level in either the Arts or the Sciences by taking rigorous courses in these fields, and so advancing in their chosen fields a good deal farther than do students of today. However, for this to be possible, a much more demanding treatment is required earlier on than has been the case to date. Our policy at Shawnigan in September will be to run three Grade 1 1 classes on the new programme — a rigorous science programme, a rigorous humanities programme and a general humanities programme. These will all lead to University Entrance, but bovs will not be permitted to enter these challenging programmes unless they qualify properly at the Grade 10 level, and show that thev will not be out of their depth. At this juncture I wish to make it quite clear that we shall push the humanities every bit as much as the sciences. In the age of super-science and super-technology the humanities have an increasingly difficult task to exist. This must be attended to or there will be serious consequences. With scientific accomplishments unparal- leled in human history, and with a technology whose machines and methods continually revolutionize our way of life, we are neglecting, and stand in serious danger of losing, our culture ' s very soul. Indeed we must see that the need in Canada and in the U.S. for the humanities — in addition to that for science — is a great one. Democ- racy demands wisdom of the average man. Without the exercise of wisdom, free institutions and personal liberty are inevitably imperilled. To know the best that has been thought and said in former times can make us wiser than we otherwise might be, and in this respect the humanities can be our — and, in fact, the world ' s — best hope. I am not saying we shall push the humanities a t Shawnigan to the exclusion of science — as a matter of fact we probably have the best equipped labs at the school level in the province — but I am saying that we wish to push the humanities to the same degree. 10

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PRIZE LIST ACADEMIC AWARDS General Proficiency Prizes: Grade 12-A T. R. Andrews 12-1 S. Ruttan 12-2 M. Wade 11-A C. Quinn mi 11-1 B. Johnson ma 11-2 A. Bourne ma 10-A P. Richardson, R. Cairns 10-1 D. Tetrault 10-2 : J. Myring 9-A R. Barlow 9-1 B. Barrington 9-2 R. Thomson mi 8-1 S. Deering 8-2 R. Arnt General Progress Prizes K. Gillett, D. Rampton, T. Bangs mi Savage Prizes for English D. Bentley H. Foster ma, M. Bridge Mathematics Prize T. R. Andrews History Prize S. Ruttan Science Prize M. K. Greenwood French Prize J. Wheaton ma Reading T. R. Andrews Individual Academic Shield: Senior P F. Ladner ma Junior - R. Barlow S. Deering 72