ESU presents the HSBC National Public Speaking Competition

2010-11 National Competition

On Sunday, October 31, 2010, the English Speaking Union of Canada will present the HSBC National Public Speaking Competition. Two students from Canada will be selected to attend the International Public Speaking Competition hosted in England in May, 2011. Each school is invited to participate in this competition. The event will be held at the Best Western Ville Marie Hotel, located at the corner of Peel and Sherbrooke in Montreal, right beside the McGill campus. If you are interested in attending, please contact Chris George at cgeorge@videotron.ca. Click here for the tournament invitation. Click here for the 2010 International Competition Handbook. Click here for the judging ballot. Click here for the judging guidelines. Click here for the tournament rules.

2009-10 National Competition

ESU Public Speaking Competition The English Speaking Union of Canada once again hosted the HSBC National Public Speaking Competition in Montreal. Hosted the day after the McGill high school tournament, there was an opportunity for many schools to attend that would not otherwise be able to. We had 27 competitors from Winnipeg to Halifax speaking on the theme "Mapping the Global Future". A total of seven students were selected for the finals, and in a remarkable feat, three students in the final tied with the same score for first! Using a tie-breaking criteria that was based on number of first place votes, the first place speaker was Ethan Chess of St. Paul's in Winnipeg, second place was Jordyn Benattar from Branksome Hall in Toronto, and third place was Elizabeth Stratton also from Branksome. Many thanks to everyone who attended and especially to HSBC for their sponsorship. Click here for results.

2008-09 National Competition

ESU National Public Speaking Tournament Lower Canada College hosted the annual HSBC National Public Speaking Competition on behalf of the English Speaking Union of Canada. There was a solid representation of top public speakers from Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto. Each speaker delivered a speech on the theme "New Horizons, New Frontiers". The top five speakers advanced to the championship round. After some outstanding speeches, the top speaker went to Zeenia Framzore from Branksome Hall in Toronto. Second place went to Lia D'Abate from Marianopolis College. Both will, assuming the accept, attend the International Public Speaking Competition in London, England in May. Third place went to Julia Deutsch, also from Marionopolis. The other finalists were Nick Di Giorgio from Lower Canada College and Daniel Knight from Selwyn House. The awards were presented by John Wright, ESU Canada President. Congratulations to everyone for an outstanding performance.

2006-07 National Competition
Lower Canada College hosted the national qualifier and 10 students participated. The tournament was won by Niqui Kolhi of Lower Canada College, and second place went to Miranda Thyssien of Trafalgar School for Girls. Both represented Canada at the International Competition in England. Click here for the ESU Newsletter article.