Shawnigan Lake, a charming village nestled on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, is a popular destination for both history enthusiasts and outdoor lovers. The village, whose name is an adaptation of the Hul'qumi'num name Showe'luqun, is part of Electoral Area B in the Cowichan Valley Regional District. As of 2016, Shawnigan Lake boasts a permanent population of 8,558, which typically doubles during the summer months due to its popularity as a vacation spot.
Shawnigan Lake's history dates back to 1883 when the construction of a railway line between Esquimalt and Nanaimo began. Prior to this, Shawnigan Lake was largely wilderness, with supplies delivered by a weekly steamship to Cowichan Bay. In 1886, John A. Macdonald traveled to Shawnigan to personally hammer in the last spike at Cliffside, marking a significant milestone in the village's development.
With the influx of supplies and visitors, Shawnigan Lake quickly grew. A mill was started in 1890 by a former E and N railway employee, and by 1900, tourism had become a main industry, with two hotels built for visitors who would take the train up from Victoria. Although Shawnigan Lake's forestry industry closed in the mid-twentieth century due to the loss of the mill and economic factors, remnants of the mill can still be seen in Shawnigan's Old Mill Park. The main railway, no longer active as of 2011, served the community twice daily with a passenger-only train service operated by Via Rail Canada.
Located approximately 48 km north of Victoria, Shawnigan Lake borders the communities of Cobble Hill and Mill Bay. The village of Shawnigan Lake, situated on the eastern shore, is home to two small general stores, three restaurants, several beaches, and various small businesses. The Shawnigan Lake Historical Society runs a museum in the village, and the north-west end of the village includes many summer cabins and a large lakeside park. The south end of the lake remains largely undeveloped, with scattered farmland and numerous hiking trails. Residents also have access to nearby communities such as Mill Bay and Langford and Duncan, offering more shopping, employment, and educational opportunities.
The west end of Shawnigan Lake sits on an abandoned CN Rail line that includes the historic Kinsol Trestle, one of the world's largest wooden railway trestles. Rehabilitated by the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) with the help of local residents, it was opened to the public in the summer of 2011. Old Mill Park on the east side is a popular beach for swimming, and the Shawnigan Lake Museum, located in the heart of the village, has been operating since 1983.
The village also hosts Camp Pringle, founded in 1950 as a tribute to Rev. George Charles Fraser Pringle. The camp provides week-long vacations for children and youth of all denominations. George Pringle, born in Galt, Ontario, was a Presbyterian minister and an author who sought adventure during the Yukon gold rush and served in Atlin, in northern British Columbia, also as a chaplain overseas, during World War I.
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