Our Campus
The St. John’s Academy campus is a distinctive and beautiful school setting on Vancouver Island, a learning environment nestled between the forests of Mount Baldy and the waters of Shawnigan Lake. Our facilities are as varied as our programs, reflecting a campus that has grown and evolved throughout the years on this remarkable piece of land.
The Lakefront and Dock
The shoreline of Shawnigan Lake is where the school gathers for graduations, celebrations, school-wide events and bonfires, and everyday academic programming. Our dock and boathouse are home to the school’s fleet of canoes, kayaks, fishing equipment, and stand-up paddleboards, and serve as the launching point for water-based learning, athletics, and recreation throughout the year.
The DEN
The DEN is the heart of daily life at St. John’s Academy, a welcoming gathering space where students come to share meals, celebrate milestones, and be part of our community. With its own stage, it transforms easily into a performance venue for student showcases and school events, and serves as the central gathering space for fairs, markets, and exhibitions. The DEN contains a commercial kitchen, and our professional cooking staff provide fresh meals for day and boarding students alike.
Academic Building
Home to our art and design studios, our library, and a multitude of classes spanning humanities, math, and junior sciences, the academic building is the heart of our campus. With three floors, including an above-ground basement level, every student visits this building each day.
Lakeside Classrooms
Our grade 6–12 math program classes take place in this space. Recently renovated, the classrooms are both modern and comfortable with an incredible and unimpeded view of the lake.
Science Building and Laboratories
Inquiry at St. John’s Academy is hands-on by design, and our science building and laboratories give students the space and equipment to put that philosophy into practice. Bright, well-equipped, and connected to the natural environment just beyond the windows, our science facilities are a source of pride for our educators and a place where students regularly surprise themselves with what they discover.
Music Building
Located at the edge of our campus and very well-used by all of our students, our music building is home to the Wind Ensemble and classroom music programming across every grade. With a view of our front lawn, the lake, and our student-favourite monkey tree, our music building is where creative expression finds its voice.
The Library
Our library is a bright, open room with vaulted ceilings and a breathtaking lake view, and is home to a print collection of more than 4000 books and periodicals that is open to students to access during the school day. Our library is a natural gathering place for student groups and organizations, faculty meetings, and evening study hall for boarding students.
The Gymnasium, Weight Room, and Field
Our gymnasium is one of the most characterful spaces on campus, a beautifully preserved space with soaring wooden beams and original hardwood floors that have supported decades of athletic endeavour. Alongside the gymnasium, our fitness room provides students with modern equipment and a dedicated space for strength training, conditioning, and physical wellness. Our athletic field rounds out the outdoor sports offering, providing space for field sports and athletic events.
Dormitories and Common Rooms
Our boarding facilities are designed to feel like home. Dorms are separated by gender and students share rooms, with generous common room spaces where students can gather, cook, relax, and spend their free time as they choose. Our boarding houses are for our residential students, and their comfort, safety, and sense of belonging within these spaces is our first priority.
A Campus That Has Always Been More Than a School
Our campus carries its history in its architecture, its forest, its mature gardens, and its old-growth fruit trees bearing apples, pears, quince, and figs. We continue to invest in and evolve our facilities while honouring the character of the place, because we believe that a beautiful, well-tended campus is itself a form of care for the students who call it home.
Facility Rentals
St. John’s Academy welcomes inquiries from community organizations, event planners, and groups looking for a unique and naturally stunning venue on Vancouver Island. Our facilities are available for rental outside of school hours, subject to availability and school scheduling. We would love to host you.