Alum in the Workforce
Finding Inspiration in Every Turn
Welcome to the Alumni in the Workforce Blog, a space where former students and community members stay connected through their professional achievements, and life outside Shawnigan.
Meet Our Alum
Mia liang
Hi! My name is Mia Liang and I am the CEO of a film production company, Forest Path Productions. My main job is as a film producer, but I also write and direct. I have degrees in film studies, mathematics, and astronomy.
In addition to stellar academic preparation, Shawnigan taught me so much about who I am and who I want to be. It allowed me to thrive and embrace my passions, and it gave me the confidence to chase my dreams. One of the biggest ways that Shawnigan prepared me for university was the fact that I had already lived away from home, in a dorm environment, and with roommates for multiple years. This made my transition much smoother. Additionally, the soft skills that are honed at Shawnigan (communication, teamwork, time management, self-advocacy) continue to be critical to my day-to-day.
One of my favourite Shawnigan memories is the first time I sang in chapel , because everyone was so incredibly supportive. Or maybe my last barbecue in the quad, where everyone in the school was signing yearbooks and reminiscing. I could go on and on.
Teachers that had a great impact on me are Cari Bell who was my advisor and would become family to me - and not just because her daughter is one of my best friends! She guided me through some of my most challenging times in high school and continues to be an inspiration to me to this day. Tom Lupton was another of my most trusted mentors, as was Erica Dalrymple. I have recently had the pleasure of reconnecting with Larry Lamont, Ander Monro, and Patty Forward, all of whom were instrumental during my time at Shawnigan. And of course, my incredible house director, Señora.
To give advice to current students, I would say; Shawnigan, like everything in life, is what you make of it. Say yes to things. Don't be afraid to fail, and don't be afraid to succeed. That may sound silly, but I've found that sometimes the concept of everything going right is almost more daunting than everything going wrong. Never be afraid to ask questions or admit when you have made a mistake. Lean on the people around you, and leave everywhere you go a little bit better.
Chelsea Gladstone
Hi! My name is Chelsea Gladstone and I am a lawyer with a dual practice in business law and Indigenous law.
SLS taught me the importance of discipline, hard work, and embracing a wide range of opportunities. The school’s rigorous academic and extracurricular environment meant there were always more things to do than hours in the day, so I learned early on to approach everything with commitment and a willingness to give my best effort. Coming from a small community, many of the academic subjects and extracurricular activities were entirely new to me. That experience pushed me out of my comfort zone and taught me how to adapt quickly and stay open-minded. I carried that same mindset into university and beyond by actively seeking out diverse experiences, taking on leadership roles, and continuing to challenge myself academically. Those habits ultimately shaped me into a well-rounded professional, but I believe it was my time at Shawnigan that laid the foundation for me.
SLS prepared me for university by instilling strong habits around structure, accountability, and balance. The daily routine, especially dedicated "prep time" and access to teachers during afternoon office hours taught me how to manage my time effectively and take ownership of my learning and success. When I transitioned to university, those habits were already ingrained. In university, I prioritized completing my homework before socializing, consistently attended classes, and felt confident reaching out to professors for support. These are simple skills that SLS normalized for me, but they gave me a clear advantage in adapting to university. Shawnigan also emphasized maintaining a balance between academics and extracurriculars. I carried that forward by staying involved in sports and the arts, which helped me remain engaged and contributed to my overall success both academically and within the broader university community.
One of the memories I cherish is spending time with my Renfrew girl sisters, whether it would be raising to the dining hall for morning check-in or watching movies together in-house.
In addition, I want to recognise all of my teachers and SLS support staff who from grade 9 through to grade 12 showed a tremendous amount of support for me as an individual. Many of my teachers dedicated hours outside of regular class time to support my growth and skill development, including attending many of my basketball and soccer games to cheer me on which meant a great deal to me.
My advice to you is to take advantage of the world-class education and cherish the lifelong friendships and connections you will make on campus. I meet people all around the world who either attended SLS or know someone who attended the school. The SLS connection has truly opened a lot of doors for me and our community is much bigger than you may think.
Natasha Manji
Hi, I'm Natasha and I’m currently a student at Cornell University in the SC Johnson Business School. My major is in the School of Hotel Administration, and minoring in Real Estate and Fashion Studies.
Shawnigan played a huge role in shaping who I am. It pushed me to step into leadership roles, try new things, and build confidence in myself. The balance between academics, athletics, and community really prepared me to take on challenges in college and be an active member in my community.
It prepared me both academically and personally by building my time management, independence, and resilience. Living in a boarding house taught me how to build strong relationships and adapt quickly, which has made the transition to university much easier. Being in a sorority now actually reminds me a lot of Renfrew, with that same sense of community and shared responsibility. It also gave me the confidence to take on leadership roles. I'm now the Vice President of Women in Leadership in Hospitality and Director of Communications for the Cornell Fashion Industry Network, which I don’t think I would have pursued without my experience at Shawnigan.
One of my favourite memories was actually in my final year, sharing a room with my roommate where we had the “mega bed” that somehow became the hangout spot for everyone. Even coming home from my spare to seeing my closest friends and spending all night talking to them. Our room was always full of energy and laughter. Those small, everyday moments with my friends are what made Shawnigan so special and memorable.
There were definitely teachers who had a big impact on me, not just academically but personally. Living in the house, Ms. Russell and Mr. Goodman made it truly feel like a home, from Mr. Goodman’s coffee expertise to Ms. Russell’s treats in her room. They created such a supportive environment, always pushing me to grow while also making sure I felt cared for, which made me feel not so far from home.
I remember the first time I visited Shawnigan on my shadow day, I asked someone if they truly liked it here, and they told me that you decide what Shawnigan becomes for you. They told me their own unique stories. That stuck with me because they were completely right. Take advantage of every opportunity, try things that feel new or even uncomfortable, and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. You’ll look back and realize how special this time is, so really make the most of it
My sports team meant everything to me. Being part of the female ice hockey team gave me so much, from the late-night bus rides back to the Charlie Purdey Arena to all the team bonding moments that made Shawnigan feel like home. It taught me discipline, resilience, and how to be part of something bigger than myself, while also giving me some of my closest friendships. That experience stuck with me, and now I’ve continued it by joining club women’s hockey at Cornell, which has been such a meaningful way to stay connected to the sport.
My favourite sporting moment actually wasn’t even when I was playing a sport, but during our senior year interhouse basketball when I was coaching alongside my Head of House, Ava. Being on the sidelines together, leading the team, and feeling the energy and spirit from everyone was such a special experience. As we lost our voices in endless chants, it showed me how powerful sport is in bringing people together.
Wynne Anderson Lindsay
Hi, Im Wynne Anderson-Lindsay and I’m working as the Sustainability Coordinator at Snowline Gold Corp. (an exploration (mining) company), and I’ll receive my Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from UBC next month.
Shawnigan introduced me to experiences that I never would have had if I had remained at home, and these experiences have shaped my life after graduating. For example, Shawnigan introduced me to rowing, which influenced the university I attended (UBC), and which meant that I got to row for both the UBC and the University of Edinburgh teams.
Shawnigan prepared you for university in so many ways, some of which are really obvious, like living away from home or producing school work at a certain level. There were other things that I never would have expected; for instance, many of my classmates in first-year had no idea how to do citations.
My favourite memory from Shawnigan is rolling my roommate, Sophia, up in her blankets like a burrito before bed. She’s 4’10, so it was a pretty small burrito.
The teachers who had the biggest impact on me were Mr. Bomans, who reminded me that I could do anything that I put my mind to, and Mr. Anctil, who sparked my love for political science. The things that I learned from both of them have shaped the path I’ve taken since leaving the school — I likely would not have rowed at university or done a degree in political science without them.
I would tell current students to engage with their teachers and staff outside of the classroom and to ask them about themselves. They all have unique, interesting, and inspirational stories that are worth listening to and learning from -- and a disproportionate amount of Shawnigan staff seem to be ex-national team or Olympic/Paralympic athletes.
I was lucky enough to be part of the girl's hockey and rowing programs while at Shawnigan, and I think that they had similar impacts on me. They both taught me to work hard and embrace pain — in slightly different ways — and they gave me a collection of teammates, a few of whom I’m still in touch with regularly. Beyond Shaw, I’ve carried the lessons of hard work and endurance with me throughout my academic and athletic university career and into the workplace, where I’ve applied them again and again.
My favourite sporting moment from Shawnigan is more of a series of moments; they're nothing special, but I really enjoyed morning practices with the rowing team. It’s hard to sell people on waking up early, but there really is something special about seeing the sun rise while doing your workout, and then going straight to eat a pile of hashbrowns with your friends in the dining hall. I did this more times than I can count, and it’s one of the reasons that I enjoyed rowing so much.
I’ve attached two photos: The one with stone buildings and a photo album (with a picture from our time at Shawnigan on the cover) shows me on the left and Sophia on the right in Edinburgh in May 2025. The one with us in dresses is in Whistler for graduation in 2022, in the same order.
Emma Doig
Hi, my name is Emma Doig. I did a Double Major in Creative Writing and English Literature at UBC and now I am working at Shawnigan as a Teaching Intern and Boarding Assistant in Renfrew!
I don’t think I would be the same person I am today without Shawnigan. From joining rugby in Grade 10, to growing my skills as a musical theatre performer, to my time in Strathcona House, every experience shaped how I move through the world. As a staff kid, the school has continued to be a consistent part of my life even after I graduated, influencing my dream of becoming a teacher and getting to work at a place like Shawnigan — and now I do!
Shawnigan is such a busy place that it prepared me for how much you have to balance in adult life — I felt more experienced than my university peers with balancing dorm life, clubs, and activities alongside my academics, and had a more fulfilling and well rounded university experience because of it, filled with friends and community.
Being a part of the musical every year are on of my favourite moments— I did Shrek, The Wizard of Oz, and In the Heights. Also, winning Rugby Provincials in Grade 11 (2016)!
My theatre and music teachers, Morgan McLeod and Shannon Tyrell, had a huge impact on me, and made me want to continue pursuing the arts. I worked with them at Shawnigan during Covid in the Theatre Department and still consider them as artistic mentors for me.
My advice is to take in everything that the school has to offer, and try to experience it as fully as you can — there are some once-in-a-lifetimes opportunities here. You will learn so much about yourself that way, and probably make some amazing friends that you wouldn’t have otherwise. It’s cool to care deeply about things, to show up for your community, to try your best, and to try hard.
