Members of the MacLachlan College Debating and Public Speaking Team competed in the Nora McRae Public Speaking Tournament on Saturday, April 26, 2025 hosted by Branksome Hall in Toronto. Representing the junior side were Zaahid, Marina and Mira. On the senior side Kimberly, Hayat and Mariam represented the school. Senior students also participated as student judges, and we were ably represented by Tara, Amanda and Aisha.

 

Round 1 was either interpretive reading or declamation, round 2 was either after dinner speaking or persuasive speaking and round 3 was impromptu speaking. Our top finisher was Zaahid, who finished in 1st place in persuasive speaking and impromptu speaking and ended up in 2nd place overall on the junior side out of 50 speakers from private and independent schools in the GTA. 

 

The day finished with a debate between 4 of the best high school debaters from around the world who had been flown in to compete in the annual Resolved competition with more than $20,000 in prize money on the line. Two delegates from Canada, and a delegate each from South Korea, and Australia competed, with Australia coming out on top. The resolution was, BIRT the United States is no longer a functioning democracy. 

 

It was a spectacular day with the largest attendance since 2016.