Cassels, Hamilton ‘Laddie’ OR’13

‘Laddie’ Cassels was one of the great heroes in the early Ridley story and a giant on the Ridley scene for his entire life. He was a student from 1907-13, saw action in both World Wars, was chosen president of the Old Boys Association in 1924, and elected to the Board of Governors in 1936. He served as president from 1963 through 1967.

His leadership abilities become very apparent during his time at Ridley as captain of both the hockey and football teams, Prefect, commanding officer of the Cadet Corps, and winner of the Blake Proficiency Prize and the Mason Gold Medal. After the First World War, Cassels became a lawyer and a Life Bencher of the Upper Canada Law Society.

He was a keen sportsman and had the unique experience of coaching the University of Toronto Varsity team in the 1920 Grey Cup final when they defeated the Toronto Argonauts—the team for which he had played the previous week! In the 1960s, he was the inspiration behind and chief benefactor to the fledging Ridley rowing program. He had a truly abiding love for the school. Cassels died in 1973.

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.