Photo credit for header image: MCpl Will Gosse

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On November 18, students from Shaughnessy Elementary helped launch the Invictus Games School Program. The program, which aims to teach students about the strength and perseverance of the games’ competitors, offers classroom resources for educators at the elementary, middle school and secondary school level. 

Photo Credit: Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025

Taking place at the Seaforth Armoury, Shaughnessy students were joined by students from École Windsor Secondary, members and alumni from Invictus Games Canada and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, who is a founding patron of the games. 

This isn’t the first time Shaughnessy has had a royal connection. In 1919, the building's foundation stone was laid, by then Royal Highness, Edward, Prince of Wales! Shaugnessy was actually called Prince of Wales Elementary until 1958. 

Excitement and enthusiasm buzzed through the building as students learned about diverse abilities, the stories of those who served their country and the power of inclusive sport. To bring the learning to life, activities at the launch were organized into three stations: 

• Station one: Students created their own, “I AM” statements. This station was facilitated by Shaughnessy teacher, Jessica Jagger-Doe and co-led by Team Canada 2025 athletes, Robert Pullen and Wenshuang Nie, and Invictus Games team member, Mike Bourgeois. Nie shared that she saw one student write, “I am proud of the things I do when no one's watching,” which she noted was touching to see. 
• Station two: Led by Shaughnessy teacher, Kit-Ming Lo and facilitated by Volleyball B.C. and Team Canada athletes Jean-Sébastien Bergeron and Francesca Colussi, students learned rules of adaptive sport as they played sitting volleyball. 
• Station three: Led by Windsor Secondary teacher, Chantel Dubé, Canadian Armed Forces members, and former Canadian Invictus Games athlete, Alaina Mundy, secondary students completed a study of the 1888 poem, Invictus by William Ernest Henley. 

Photo Credit: Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025

Athletes shared their personal stories of strength and resilience, showcasing to students that people with diverse abilities are just as capable as non-disabled people in reaching tremendous goals. Prince Harry moved throughout each station, participating and engaging with students. He asked students to imagine what it’s like for the competitors of the Games to be representing their country after all the challenges they have overcome. 

“You need to understand what that means to them,” he said during the event. “Because that can be a life-altering moment. There’s resilience … there’s teamwork that has managed to get them to the starting line, and there’s courage in getting them to that point. For some of them, it is very hard to walk into a busy room—and here they are walking into a stadium with tens of thousands of people.” 

This unique and memorable opportunity helped students further develop their understanding of diversity, inclusion and accessibility. 

The Invictus Games are an international adaptive sports competition for wounded, injured, and sick service personnel and veterans. The Games were first held in London in 2014. The word "Invictus" means "unconquered" and embodies the fighting spirit of the participants.Photo Credit: MCpl Will Gosse