Canadian Debating & Public Speaking Events

There are a large number of Debating and Public Speaking tournaments in Canada. Most are organized by each provincial debate association. The information about these is available from the provincial association, usually on their website. Links to the provincial association websites are available by following this link. 

There are a number of National competitions as well. They accept a limited number of particpants from each province and territory. Those particpants are selected by the provincial/territorial associations. The National competitions are listed below:

National Seminar: This is the oldest debating event in Canada. It is not designed as a competition but rather as a Seminar aimed primarily at less experienced debaters to give them an opportunity to improve their skills. It has English, Bilingual, and French divisions. It is hosted in a different part of the country each year. Provinces/territories select the students who will represent their province/territory. In recent years it has been held in the early autumn. More information is available on their website here. 

National Public Speaking Championships: This event is hosted by St. John's-Ravenscourt School in Winnipeg, usually in February. It is the second oldest national competition. Provinces/territories select the students who will represent their province/territory. Students compete individually rather than as provincial team. It involves four events: Debating, Persuasive Speaking, Impromptu Speaking, and Interpretive Reading. The top competitors at the tournament qualify to represent Canada at the World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships, an event that is hosted in different countries each year. More information is available on their website here. 

Senior National Debating Championships: This event takes place in the spring each year, usually in April. Each province/territory selects a number of teams to represent them at the Senior Nationals.  This competition uses the Canadian National Debate style.  It is hosted in a different province each year.

Junior National Debating Championships : This event takes place late in the spring each year, usually in May. Each province/territory selects a number of teams to represent them at the Junior Nationals.  This competition uses the Canadian National Debate style. It is hosted in a different province each year.

National British Parliamentary Debating Championships (Jr and Sr): These two events are normally hosted at the same time in the same place, but are run as two seperate events. Debates use British Parliamentary (BP) style, which involves 2 two-person teams on each side. Each province/territory selects a number of teams to represent them. It is hosted in a different province each year. The top senior teams qualify to represent Canada at either the Cambridge or Oxford Schools competition. The top junior teams qualify to represent Canada at the International Competition for Young Debaters, which is hosted at either Oxford or Cambridge. 

Junior National Public Speaking Championships: This event is hosted by Mulgrave School in Vancouver. Provinces/territories select the students who will represent their province/territory. Students compete individually rather than as provincial team. It involves a number of events, including Debating, Persuasive Speaking, Impromptu Speaking, Interpretive Reading, and/or Solo Acting, and After-Dinner Speaking. It is usually held in May. More information is available on their website here.

Canadian World Schools Team tryouts : This is not a tournament in the usual sense, but rather a tryout for the team that Canada sends to the World Schools Competition. Provinces and Territories select students to go to the tryouts (usually a maximum of 3 students per province/territory) and idf there are any additional places available at the Tryouts after that, students can apply directly but their applications have to be approved by their province/territory. 

A number of university debating societies host high school tournaments. These are open to students from any province. Teams apply directly rather than being selected by their provinces. These tournament usually accept teams that register directly rather than through their schools. The largest of them fill up very quickly -- both Queens and McGill are often full within 30 seconds of the start of online registration, although a few spots can become available later because some teams drop out.