Text from the Plaque
One of Ontario's most prominent independent boarding schools, this college, named for a 16th-century Christian martyr, was opened in 1889. It was established by Anglican churchmen to provide boys with a sound preparatory education and to instill in them enduring moral and spiritual values. Initially housed in a converted sanatorium, Ridley expanded steadily, adding a junior school, reputedly the first of its kind in Canada, in 1899 and moving all facilities to this site by 1905. It gained what is essentially its present form during an extensive building program undertaken in the 1920s. A traditional liberal arts institution, Ridley has developed a well-rounded program with athletic and extracurricular activities. It became co-educational in 1973 and is renowned today for its many eminent graduates.
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