A Very Rainy Ridley Rite of Passage: The Annual Cadet Inspection

By Mira Lail ‘28, Editor-in-Chief; Edited by Safiya Ahmed ‘27, Head Editor-in-Chief

This April, Ridley College hosted the 117th Annual Cadet Inspection. Every house worked their hardest to make it a special event, despite the rain and the cold. It’s a longstanding tradition for the entire student body to participate in a parade and inspection to honour the legacy of our fallen Ridley soldiers who died in WWI and WWII, and to honour Ridley's cadet past.

The event started with the flag-raising ceremony, and the laying of the wreath. The wreath was laid in front of the Memorial Chapel, to pay homage to the Ridley students who fought in WWI, whose names are engraved on the stone inside. Then we proceeded with the parade ceremony. Each company marched around the Ridley campus, just outside the gates. This year, the parade route was shortened because of the rain and cold, hence why the parade did not take place throughout the community. The proceedings continued for the inspection, where the students marched around A-Squad, showing the inspecting officer their orderliness throughout the marching, and once stopped, were also inspected individually. The Rifle Drill Team put on a show for the inspector by tossing and walking on rifles, as well as other maneouvres. The ceremony concluded with 15 paces, the general and national anthem salutes, the falling out of the colours, and finally some much-anticipated donuts.

It was an outstanding performance by everyone involved, from the Band to the students from Drill Team and Colour Party, to the officers. They all worked so hard through the months leading up to inspection, especially during rainy Saturday practices and officer evening training. Every person really persisted through the cold weather, as only a few students needed to excuse themselves. All in all, it was a great effort that so many people came together to carry on this important tradition, and a very rewarding end to all that work.