Extracurricular Program
Debating & Public Speaking
Students at CDS can begin debating in Grade 7 and enjoy an increasing number of opportunities to compete through Grade 12. By learning the art of debate, students build confidence, develop critical thinking and communication skills, and acquire a wider understanding of current and historical events.
The Debating & Public Speaking Club’s ongoing success over the past 17 years has contributed to its growth and popularity as more experienced Senior School students are keen to mentor younger students and help contribute to their skill development.
The Club at CDS has experienced another banner year competing on the world stage. Veteran Debating Coach, Kerstin Wyndham-West, has facilitated this club for more than 20 years and is extremely well respected among her colleagues and students worldwide.Latest Debating News
List of 5 news stories.
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Debaters Finish Strong in Two Local Tournaments
Last Saturday was an exciting day for a few members of the CDS Public Speaking & Debating Team! Here are the highlights:
From the Provincial Concours d’art oratoire at Glendon College, York University: Sophie Yuan won 2nd place in the grade 9/10 category for Impromptu Speaking! Félicitations à Sophie! On est super fiers de toi!
Meanwhile, at Trinity College School in Port Hope, the Senior team of Adhya Chandradat and Aneesa Khan placed 2nd at the Spring Fulford Debate. Adhya also placed 3rd overall as an individual!A big congratulations to all three girls for these excellent results! -
Current events in the public speaking and debating world
By Andrea DavidsonRead More
This past weekend, 12 students travelled to Branksome Hall in Toronto to participate in the annual Nora McRae Public Speaking competition. Students have been working hard for months writing and memorizing speeches as well as practicing readings and impromptu speaking to prepare for this competition. For many of our junior competitors in Grades 7-10 this was their very first time competing in a tournament. Additionally, this year's Nora McRae saw one of the largest pools of competitors in years with over 60 students from various schools participating.
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Results from the 17th Annual JS Public Speaking Competition
By Mark RaffertyRead More“The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause.”— Mark Twain, author and humoristLast week, CDS students in Grades 4, 5 and 6, their teachers, and their families gathered in the Paul C. Duckett Theatre to witness their classmates compete in CDS’s 17th Annual JS Public Speaking Competition. -
CDS Debaters Shine on the World Stage in Malaysia
CDS proudly celebrates an extraordinary achievement as all three of our debaters advanced to the finals at last week’s 37th World Individual Debate and Public Speaking Championships (WIDPSC) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This marks the 18th consecutive year that CDS has qualified at least one student for the prestigious World Championships — and the fifth time we’ve sent three.Read More -
Three Debaters Set Off to CompetE at Worlds in Kuala Lumpur
Best of luck to Diviya Amarnath ’25, Jack Brown ’25 and Ananya Kapur '26 and their coaches Ms. Wyndham-West and Mme Davidson who are heading to compete in the World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, at the end of the month. This will be Diviya’s second time competing at Worlds, and the first time for Jack and Ananya.This is the 18th consecutive year that CDS has qualified at least one student to compete against some of the top high school speakers and debaters from around the world.The 37th WIDPSC will be held between March 30-April 6. All three of our students have to participate in four events each: Debate, Impromptu Speaking, Persuasive Speaking and Interpretive Reading.We wish them all the best!!!
CDS World Qualifiers
CDS Students have qualified for Worlds for the past 18 years (those listed in bold were WIDPSC Champions):
| 2025 |
Diviya Amarnath '25, Jack Brown '25 and Ananya Kapur '26 - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
|
| 2024 |
Sarah Croxon '24, Ethan Wahba '24 and Millie Steinmann '25 - Canberra, Australia
|
| 2023 | Sarah Croxon '24, Diviya Amarnath '25 and Millie Steinmann '25 - Durban, South Africa |
| 2022 |
Maria Ivoditova '22 - virtual due to COVID |
| 2021 |
Maria Ivoditova '22 - virtual due to COVID |
| 2020 |
Eliza Pasha '22 - virtual due to COVID |
| 2019 |
Anna Croxon '20, Anaïs Leiva von Bovet '19 and Maeve Tebbutt '19 - Toronto, ON |
| 2018 |
Anaïs Leiva von Bovet '19 and Maeve Tebbutt '19 - Cape Town, South Africa |
| 2017 |
Olivia Railton '17 and
Maeve Tebbutt '19 - Sydney, Australia |
| 2016 | Natalie Ganzhorn ’16 and Olivia Railton ’17 - Pittsburgh, PA |
| 2015 | Natalie Ganzhorn ’16 and Olivia Railton ’17 - Hong Kong, China |
| 2014 | Natalie Ganzhorn ’16 - Druskininkai, Lithuania |
| 2013 | Natalie Ganzhorn ’16 - Durban, South Africa |
| 2012 | Reid Dobell ’12 - Brisbane, Australia |
| 2011 | Lucas Regazzi ’12 - Brisbane, Australia |
| 2010 | Victoria Sienczewski ’12 - Druskininkai, Lithuania |
| 2009 | Genevieve Laurier ’09 and Rachael Andrew ’09 - Reading, U.K. |
| 2008 | Genevieve Laurier ’09 - Winnenden, Germany |
Competitions
List of 5 items.
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Canadian National Junior High Public Speaking Championships
Canadian National Junior High Public Speaking Championships was intended to offer junior high students an opportunity to showcase their public speaking talents. Based on the same events that exist at the Senior High Speech Nationals, this tournament welcomes students from all provinces with active debate and speech associations. -
Fulford Debate
CDS is a member of the Fulford League, a group of independent schools that compete in several tournaments to earn the Fulford Cup at the end of the year. -
International Independent Schools’ Public Speaking Competition
The International Independent Schools’ Public Speaking Competition gathers more than 150 high school students from countries across the world to compete for a chance to qualify for the World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championship held every spring. -
Ontario Student Debating Union
Ontario Student Debating Union is a charitable organization that hosts and promotes competitive debate for Ontario students up to Grade 12. OSDU organizes a Provincial Championship every spring as well as a variety of regional debates and workshops. It also works with the Canadian Student Debating Federation and helps select students to represent Ontario at national and international debating events. -
WIDPSC – World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Competition
World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championship is an annual international English language debating and public speaking tournament for individual high school-level students representing different countries.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The Country Day School wishes to recognize and acknowledge the land on which the school operates. Our nearest Indigenous Nations are now the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Chippewas of Georgina Island. The Dish with One Spoon Wampum covenant is often cited as an example of the shared responsibility for caring for these lands among the Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples who would call these their traditional territories. CDS respects the relationship with these lands and recognizes that our connection to this land can be strengthened by our continued relationship with all First Nations, by acknowledging our shared responsibility to respect and care for the land and waters for future generations.
School Information
Junior, Middle and Senior Schools
13415 Dufferin Street, King, Ontario L7B 1K5
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
13415 Dufferin Street, King, Ontario L7B 1K5
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
