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.
-
CDS Middle School Debate Championship
On Monday, March 4, and Tuesday, March 5, the Paul C. Duckett Theatre was filled with anticipation and excitement as CDS Middle School students showcased their eloquence, critical thinking, and persuasive skills in the inaugural Middle School Debate Championship. This two-day event brought together young orators from Grades 7 and 8, who demonstrated their ability to craft compelling arguments, engage with complex topics, and present with confidence.Read More -
Jr National Qualifiers
On Tuesday, March 4, CDS hosted 13 schools and over 45 participants at the Ontario Junior Public Speaking and Debating Qualifier tournament for Nationals. Among the contestants were eight students from Grades 7-9 who had previously auditioned to be eligible to compete. For most of our Middle School students this was their first ever public speaking tournament. There are four required events; impromptu debating, persuasive speaking, interpretive reading and impromptu speaking.CDS students fared extremely well, with four students placing in the top 12 and three of those qualifying for the National Public Speaking and Debating tournament in Vancouver in May. -
CDS Debaters Emerge as Finalists And Qualify for Worlds
Read MoreLast weekend, Diviya Amarnath ‘25 and Ananya Kapur ‘26 travelled to Winnipeg to compete in the Canadian National Public Speaking and Debating Championships at St. John's Ravenscourt School.Each competitor had to compete in four different categories: Persuasive Speaking, Parliamentary Debating, Impromptu Speaking and Interpretive Reading. Ananya was a Finalist in the Debate category and Diviya was a Finalist and was crowned the National Champion for Persuasive Speaking for her speech on the dangers of online gambling. -
York Regional Senior Debate Qualifiers
On Saturday, CDS hosted the York Regional Senior Debate Qualifiers. CDS sent five teams, including a Grade 8 team to gain experience as swing debaters. This was both a prepared and impromptu resolution debate.We had excellent results from our students, and two of our teams, Jack Brown '25 and Audrey Jiang '26 & Sophie Yuan '28 and Yolanda Sun '28, qualified to compete in the Provincial Debate Championships on February 21-23 at Upper Canada College.
Congratulations to all the debaters who participated! -
Talk of the Town: Grades 7 & 8 Debate Their Way to Success
Whether it is presenting in the classroom or speaking in front of an audience of hundreds, the importance of public speaking is everywhere. Over the past few weeks, all Grade 7 and 8 students have been actively engaged in exciting and enriching public speaking and debate units in their respective English classes. In collaboration with CDS Debate coaches, Mr. Robinson and Mrs. Wyndham-West, students have been honing their communication and critical-thinking skills while exploring the art of effective speech and argumentation.Read More
CDS World Qualifiers
CDS Students have qualified for Worlds for the past 17 years (those listed in bold were WIDPSC Champions):
| 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.
-
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.
