Speech And Debate Canada Foundation

Speech And Debate Canada Foundation Speech and Debate Canada is a national not-for-profit organization that brings debate clubs to Canadian youth.

The best thing about debate club isn't debate. Ask any debater what they miss most about their program, and the odds are...
09/02/2026

The best thing about debate club isn't debate.

Ask any debater what they miss most about their program, and the odds are, they won't say "trophies".

They might say that they miss being in a space where being curious, opinionated, and maybe a little nerdy was the whole point.

They might say they miss the people. Fellow students who care about ideas, who grow together and challenge each other and stay late to prep a case.

They might saw they miss the culture. Culture where disagreement is not only normal, but productive. Where they could argue fiercely and then genuinely shake hands after.

Outside of debate, that's rare. And it's worth finding.

So before the opportunity becomes a missed one, find your people. Find your space. Find your club.

Contact us if you're in Canada and need help setting up your own Debate club!

Be honest with your argument. Intellectual honesty is the willingness to follow an argument wherever it leads, even if i...
08/31/2026

Be honest with your argument.

Intellectual honesty is the willingness to follow an argument wherever it leads, even if it contradicts what you believed before.

But we know that can be hard, because our brains are wired to protect our existing beliefs. When we're assigned a side in a debate, it becomes harder and harder to see anything that goes against that side.

Which is where confirmation bias comes in and soon becomes default.

Intellectual honesty is, on the other hand, the override.

Skilled debaters are routinely assigned to argue positions they personally disagree with, which forces them to genuinely engage with the other side.

The result? Students who can realistically, empathetically consider a perspective that isn't their own.

A skill that's rarer and more valuable than you think!

For students beginning to think seriously about university, scholarships that provide more than financial support can be...
08/29/2026

For students beginning to think seriously about university, scholarships that provide more than financial support can be transformative and the Wolf Scholars Program at the University of Toronto is an opportunity worth knowing about!

The program selects a small cohort of exceptional students and provides comprehensive support throughout their undergraduate education, including:

• Full undergraduate tuition and ancillary fees
• Annual living stipend
• Fully funded domestic & international travel
• Internship opportunities
• Mentorship & leadership development
• Academic seminars through the Munk School
• A network of Scholars, alumni, and mentors plus so much more!

So, who can apply? The program is designed for students entering their first year of university who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents, have a 90%+ academic average, have not previously attended post-secondary education, and are applying to an eligible U of T program.

But Wolf Scholars isn’t just about grades. The program looks for students who demonstrate curiosity, leadership, resilience, collaboration, and a desire to make an impact.

The application deadline is November 2nd 2026 11:59 ET for the 2027 entry cycle so make sure to apply!

For more information or to schedule an information session, head to https://www.wolfscholars.com/apply

Nervous for the new school year?September nervousness is a real thing. And it's actually quite common!It's a minor type ...
08/26/2026

Nervous for the new school year?

September nervousness is a real thing. And it's actually quite common!

It's a minor type of anticipatory anxiety, which means it's formed in the lead-up to a significant event. In this case, the event is the first day of school for students here in Canada.

It's not a bad thing. It just happens because you care!

Part of what we do at S&DCF is create clubs, communities, and confidence. We help students harness their nervousness and turn it into excitement. By doing so, they can own their energy and use it to stand in front of their peers with their heads held high.

So let's start this new school year together with this tip:
Before any high-stakes moment, name what you're nervous about. Be specific. Are you worried about new teachers, new dynamics, or new expectations? Once your fears are identified, it makes it that much easier to properly address them!

Are new adults ready to vote?Millions of Canadians will vote this year. And with them, those who have just become legal ...
08/24/2026

Are new adults ready to vote?

Millions of Canadians will vote this year. And with them, those who have just become legal voting age.

But the gap between students and their understanding of how government operates grows wider each year, especially given how civic education curricula vary from province to province.

Which means, unfortunately, that many students graduate without understanding how Parliament functions. So when it becomes time to vote, it can be harder for them to understand what information is realistic and true, and what might be misleading them.

Debate activities give students context. They give them guided space to research real policy positions, argue both sides, and come to understand the complexity behind any government decision.

It's important because an informed vote is a powerful one!

Learn more about the intersection between speech, debate, and schools on our website. Link in bio!

You don’t need a political podium to see world-class speech and debate tactics in action. Look no further than Steve Job...
08/22/2026

You don’t need a political podium to see world-class speech and debate tactics in action. Look no further than Steve Jobs’ 2005 Stanford Commencement Address.

Jobs anchors his entire speech around a simple premise: trust that the dots will connect. By establishing this idea early, every story he tells becomes evidence supporting his larger message. This is similar to how a strong debate case establishes a framework or lens through which the audience should understand the argument.

His structure is equally effective. Rather than delivering one long narrative, he explicitly divides his speech into three stories: connecting the dots, love and loss, and death. In debate, clear signposting helps the audience follow the progression of an argument. Jobs uses that same principle to make a deeply personal speech easy to follow.

Perhaps most importantly, Jobs demonstrates the power of reframing. When discussing being fired from Apple, he doesn’t present the experience simply as a failure. Instead, he reframes it as something necessary for his growth and creativity: “It was awful tasting medicine, but I guess the patient needed it.” A setback becomes evidence for his larger argument that seemingly disconnected experiences can eventually lead somewhere meaningful.

Persuasion isn’t necessarily about speaking quickly, using complex language, or overwhelming an audience with information. Sometimes, it comes down to three foundational skills: establishing a clear framework, structuring your ideas, and reframing experiences to support your argument.

So, which of these speech and debate skills do you rely on most in your own communication?

To watch the full speech, go to
https://youtu.be/UF8uR6Z6KLc?si=DhK0rEKTLGJ08r50

Many of us spend years asking bad questions without realizing it. Some people say that if an interview question can be a...
08/19/2026

Many of us spend years asking bad questions without realizing it.

Some people say that if an interview question can be answered with just "Yes" or "No", it's a bad question. But on the other hand, what about leading questions? Open-ended questions? Rhetorical questions?

How do you know what's considered good?

Debaters spend rounds asking questions designed to expose assumptions and gaps. Every second counts, as does every word. Which means useless questions have no place on the floor.

It's a trained skill, not a natural one.

In debate, the ability to ask a precise, purposeful question is just as valuable as the ability to construct an argument. It's a skill that transfers to every classroom, every meeting, every hard conversation.

Practice precise questioning this school year! Because how you frame a question really does change the answer.

A letter for you, who thinks you're not the "debate type"...
08/17/2026

A letter for you, who thinks you're not the "debate type"...

Applications are still open for the Speech & Debate Canada Foundation Invitational 2026 Debate Tournament!Taking place A...
08/15/2026

Applications are still open for the Speech & Debate Canada Foundation Invitational 2026 Debate Tournament!

Taking place August 22–23, 2026, this free online tournament brings together students in Grades 6–12 from across Canada for two days of competitive British Parliamentary debate.

Participants will have the opportunity to develop and showcase their critical thinking and public speaking skills, compete in a national-level debate tournament, and learn from and engage with fellow student debaters.

Compete for Grand Champion, Junior Champion, and Top Speaker awards!

📅 August 22–23, 2026
💻 Online via Discord
⚖️ British Parliamentary Format
🎓 Grades 6–12
💰 Free registration

We invite students, educators, debate coaches, and schools to share this opportunity with young people interested in speech, debate, and civic engagement!

Register now and join us for the Invitational 2026 with the link in our bio or head to https://www.speechanddebatecanada.com/debate-tournament

You just met 30 people at an event. How many do you actually remember?Being memorable is hard, especially in a group of ...
08/12/2026

You just met 30 people at an event. How many do you actually remember?

Being memorable is hard, especially in a group of your peers where you share many different characteristics (like age, attire, or passion for a topic), so here are some quick, subtle tips to help you be more memorable to others.

1️⃣ 💬 Talk about your passion!
Start with your name and what gets you up in the morning. We don't mean literally; we mean the thing you're passionate about, a little sentence that gives a glimpse into "you".

For example: "Hi, I'm Maya! I'm in Grade 10" vs "Hi, I'm Maya! I'm a movie buff."

2️⃣ 👀 Don't forget to make eye contact
Eye contact is one of the easiest ways to make a connection with someone. Don't be afraid to try it when you're making your intro! You don't have to maintain eye contact the entire time, but try to at least do so when you say your name!

3️⃣ 🔍 Little details go a long way
In the earlier example, we said Maya was a "movie buff", not just that she "liked movies". The difference is small, but the word choice shows a totally different degree of interest. Providing a little extra detail like that can inspire curiosity and further conversation with whoever you're speaking with!

4️⃣ 🔊 Practice aloud
If you're nervous about your intro, practice it. That way you can hear yourself saying it, become more comfortable with it, and tweak anything you need to tweak so the words flow better.

Got any other memorability tips? Share them below!

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