Testimonials

There are obviously so many things to consider when trying to choose a high school that best suits your son or daughter. Vimy Ridge has proven to be a fantastic choice for my two sons who have both attended high school there for the past 3 years. It is a perfect combination of academic and athletic excellence.  The teachers at Vimy Ridge go above and beyond to provide the best education to the students. The boys have always felt like the teachers are very 'in tune' with all of the student athletes and that they take the time to get to know the students as individuals - all of their goals and dreams - and they do everything they can to accommodate the students, their busy schedules, and to set them up for success in both areas. As far as the Green & Gold Athlete Academy goes, I cannot say enough about it!!!  Both of my boys have been a part of the rugby academy since it began a few years ago and they have been fortunate enough to have been coached by the absolute best!!!  Both Chelsea Ross and Peter Houlihan bring so much knowledge and experience to the training sessions and to the game of rugby in general!  We are truly lucky to have them! As coaches they expect the best effort in the sport but it is just as important to them to see their athletes succeed in academics which is so important. The facility that the athletes train at is 'state of the art' and the collaboration between Vimy Ridge, U of A, all of the trainers, physiotherapists and everyone involved is incredible!  The athletes always have access to the very best!  Thanks for a wonderful experience!
 
-Rachelle Lohlun, 2020 (Green & Gold Athlete Academy - Rugby)

When our son started Vimy in grade 7, he was nervous about leaving his old school and friend group and starting a new school, not knowing anyone. He was especially nervous because his Shadow Day experience wasn’t as positive as we had hoped it would be.  But right from the first day he felt part of the school, thanks to the incredible programming and efforts of the teachers and school administration. By the end of the first month, he had found a great new friend group and was fully invested in school. He went from being an unenthusiastic student who flew under the radar to becoming a dedicated, driven student striving for (and achieving!) great marks. Having two periods of physical activity in Sport Fit each day has been so positive for him both physically and mentally. He joined the badminton team in his first year and his confidence has grown incredibly. He is now the first to say that this was the best decision we could have made for him!

We are so impressed with and grateful for the teaching staff at Vimy. The teachers obviously care about their students as people and are invested in their success. The “coaching attitude” that many of the teachers have from their double-duty as coaches in the sports programs shines through in the classroom. In parent-teacher conferences, we regularly hear not only how our son is doing academically, but also his attitude in class, what his social group is like, and positive feedback on ways he can continue to improve. At Vimy, we parents are made to feel part of the “team”, along with the teachers and school administration, in helping our student thrive.

Thanks, Vimy, for an amazingly positive experience!

-Karina and Simon Thomas, 2020

"As a parent we often put the screws to our children and tell them to trust us and do what we think is in their best interest. 3 years ago, I put that pressure on Nate to step outside his comfort zone, leave his school of choice, and to trust me that Vimy was going to be a place he would come to love.  And thanks to so many people in that building, today I can tell him “I told you so”. From the moment he walked into the building Nate became excited about being at school.  There were so many activities over the years that got him motivated to not only attend but to become a part of.  As parents, we thank all of you for that.  You are a staff that encourages, participates, and empowers.  Our son is a better person for this, and so much credit goes to everyone in that building.

Nate became involved in class activities (and talked about them at home!), he embraced school athletics, he got excited about assignments in classes, but most importantly, he made personal connections with so many of you.  The role modelling and positive interactions and comments on a daily basis has helped Nate become a better person.  As parents we are thankful that what we hoped would be a positive experience turned into a phenomenal experience. Please continue to do what you do so well.  And once again, thanks for being such positive influences in Nate’s life."

-Allan and Carmen Macdonald, 2016

"Thank-you! Thank-you! Thank-you! The teachers and instructors at Vimy have been absolutely fabulous! My Son had an awesome year and he just loves Vimy! His work ethic and attitude about school and learning have done a complete 180 this year. We are very proud of him. I am so very very impressed with the Vimy programming and we are looking forward to next year already!"

-Stephanie Clancy, 2016

"I Love what Vimy Ridge Academy has done for my children. My oldest son has been a Vimy Student-Athlete since Grade 7 and decided to continue his journey into Grade 10 this year. His younger brother followed in his footsteps and just completed his first year in Junior High. Even though you couldn't find two more different kids, both boys have been able to find success and meet or exceed their personal goals.  The teachers and instructors are amazing at facilitating excellence and providing opportunities above and beyond our expectations and as a parent I believe that the administration and staff value my children and care that they have a positive overall experience."

-Erin Danforth, 2016

"We love Vimy. My daughter feels safe there, the teachers are amazing and so involved! With great support and constant push from the instructors/teachers my daughter has achieved some pretty awesome goals this year. We are very proud to call Vimy our school and can't wait to see what next year brings!"

-April Wynn, 2016