Ridley College - Review #1

Ridley's approach to balancing athletics and arts stood out to me. I was able to pursue rowing and violin seriously without having to choose one over the other, which isn't always the case at schools that heavily prioritize one area. The house system, specifically Merritt North where I lived, created a smaller community within the larger school that made the boarding transition easier. What also made Ridley different was the continuity for students like me who started in the lower school. I was there from kindergarten through graduation in 2024, so I experienced the whole progression, though I only boarded starting in grade 9. The math program was particularly strong and practical, which directly influenced my decision to study civil engineering at University of Toronto.

The best thing was discovering through Mr. Chung's math classes that I wanted to pursue engineering, which is what I'm doing now at University of Toronto. That clarity about my future direction was huge. I also grew significantly through the combination of rowing and orchestra, which taught me discipline, time management, and how to commit to things that require consistent effort over time. Earning letterman status in track and field was a proud achievement. The boarding experience from grade 9 through graduation taught me independence and how to function without my parents managing everything. The friendships I built through Merritt North, rowing, and orchestra were meaningful and have continued beyond Ridley. Ms. Dalziel's counselling guidance was instrumental in navigating the university application process and making informed decisions about my future.

I wouldn't change much because I had a positive experience overall. Maybe I would have tried debate club earlier than I did because it developed useful skills. My advice for incoming boarders is to get involved with your house activities immediately because that's where you'll build your core community. Don't try to do everything at once, but do find a couple activities you're genuinely interested in and commit to them. Take the math courses seriously if you're considering engineering

Overall I'd say the combination of strong academics, particularly in math, and the ability to pursue both athletics and arts seriously were what I liked most about Ridley. The math program prepared me exceptionally well for engineering at University of Toronto. Being able to do rowing and violin at high levels without having to sacrifice one for the other was valuable

Get involved with your house right away because Merritt North or whichever house you're in will become your family. Take advantage of the rowing program if you're interested in crew because it's genuinely strong. Don't skip the early morning practices even when you're tired because that's where the team bonding happens. The music program is worth pursuing if you play an instrument.

The academics at Ridley were strong across subjects but the math department was exceptional. Mr. Chung made complex concepts understandable and always connected math to real world applications, which mattered to someone like me who was heading toward engineering. His teaching style focused on problem solving and critical thinking rather than just memorizing procedures. The workload was heavy but purposeful and you could see how each course built on previous knowledge. Classes were discussion based which meant you had to engage actively with the material.

The athletics program at Ridley was comprehensive and well supported. Rowing became one of my main focuses for three years and the program had solid coaching and access to good facilities on the water. Early morning practices taught discipline and the team aspect created strong bonds. I also played JV hockey for all four boarding years, which was a consistent part of my identity at Ridley. The hockey program had decent coaching and good ice time. I did track and field for one semester and earned letterman status, which was a proud moment. The facilities overall were strong, with proper training spaces and equipment. The athletic culture valued effort and improvement rather than just winning, though there was healthy competition. The variety of sports meant you could try different things or focus deeply on one area. Athletics were prioritized but not to the point where non-athletes felt excluded.

I was heavily involved in the music program, playing violin in the symphony orchestra for three years. This became one of my main activities alongside rowing. The music facilities were good quality with proper rehearsal spaces and individual practice rooms. The orchestra teacher was demanding but effective, pushing us to improve technically while keeping rehearsals productive. We had regular performances throughout the year which gave us goals to work toward and chances to showcase our progress. What I appreciated was that the school valued music and arts alongside athletics, so I could pursue both rowing and violin seriously. The visual arts and theatre programs also seemed strong based on what I saw from friends involved in those areas.

Beyond rowing, hockey, and orchestra, I participated in debate club for two years which developed my public speaking and critical thinking skills. The range of extracurricular options meant you could explore different interests or go deep in specific areas. The house system through Merritt North created automatic involvement with house activities and competitions throughout the year. There were volunteer opportunities both on campus and in the St. Catharines community. The school encouraged participation without being rigid about what that looked like. Some students were involved in everything while others focused on one or two activities intensely, and both approaches were accepted. The extracurricular scene helped develop time management skills because you had to balance activities with academics.

I started boarding in grade 9, which coincided with 2020 and COVID, so the initial adjustment was unusual. Merritt North became my home for those years and the house community made a real difference. Living with the same guys created close friendships through shared experiences, late night conversations, and just being around each other constantly. The dorm setup was comfortable enough and having roommates taught me how to navigate different personalities and living styles. House activities and competitions created bonding experiences with your housemates. The dorm staff were supportive and available when needed but also gave us appropriate independence as we got older. Room selection happened annually which created some excitement about who would room with who. Weekends in the dorm had their own rhythm with planned activities or just hanging out.

The dining hall had set meal times which created routine and also social opportunities because you'd see the same people regularly. The food quality was decent overall, nothing exceptional but reliable enough. There was sufficient variety that you could usually find something you wanted on any given day. They accommodated different dietary needs which mattered to some students. The dining setup allowed you to sit wherever you wanted, so meals became social time where you caught up with friends from different houses or activities. Sometimes the food got repetitive, especially if you were there for multiple years like I was, but that's probably inevitable with institutional dining. Overall it served its purpose of keeping everyone fed and creating regular gathering times for the community.

St. Catharines is a mid sized city with enough going on that you don't feel completely isolated. The Niagara region has character and being reasonably close to Toronto meant we could do day trips for bigger city experiences. There were restaurants, shops, movie theaters, normal city amenities within reach when we had free time. The area felt safe and welcoming. As someone who was at Ridley from kindergarten, I knew the area well. As a boarder from grade 9 on, most of my time during the week was spent on campus because of the packed schedule with academics, rowing, hockey, orchestra, and other activities. Weekends offered chances to get off campus and explore if you wanted.

The social scene at Ridley was good overall. The house system through Merritt North gave me an instant community when I started boarding in grade 9, which helped with the transition. My main friend groups came through rowing and orchestra, though hockey and debate also connected me with different people. The student body was diverse with people from various backgrounds including international students, which made for interesting perspectives and conversations. There were friend groups but they weren't exclusive or rigid. You'd see the same people in different contexts, like a teammate who was also in your math class or a housemate who played in orchestra. Weekends had organized activities plus informal hangouts. The social experience was positive and I made friendships that have lasted beyond graduation. The environment felt supportive rather than dramatic or toxic.