Campbell, Neil '51

In the spring of 1966, rowing was introduced as a new sport at Ridley. On a suggestion from the Headmaster, Old Boy Neil Campbell—who was still personally involved in rowing at the national level—was approached to help coach this newly developing sport.

Campbell represented Canada as an oarsman and coach at four Olympic Games: Tokyo 1964, Mexico City 1968, Los Angeles 1984 and Seoul 1988. He also stroked the St. Catharines Olympic Eight to victory in the 86th Canadian Henley Regatta in 1968.

In the first season of Ridley rowing, only students in Grades 10 and 11 were permitted to row and of them, 20 were selected to participate. By the fifth season in 1970, they were up to 40 rowers. Campbell coached his crews to success, destined to be idolized by Ridley's rowing community in the years to come—he was unique in the history of high school rowing. He died in 2006.

P.O. Box 3013, 2 Ridley Road St. Catharines, Ontario L2R 7C3 Canada 905 684 1889

With more than 700 students from 60 countries, the largest boarding programme in Ontario and the third largest in Canada, Ridley College is a truly international, co-educational, day and boarding school of the world that prepares students for the world. It has provided enriching learning and life-shaping experiences focused on the arts, academics, and athletics since 1889. Ridley’s Lower School offers JK-Grade 8, its Upper School consists of Grade 9-PG, and Ridley graduates attend some of the top universities and colleges around the world. Ridley is the only co-ed independent boarding school in Canada and one of only three in North America authorized to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) continuum programme.