BC Junior Public Speaking Provincials
Dear Participants, Judges, Volunteers, and Coaches,
The DSABC is pleased to invite you to attend the BC Junior Public Speaking Provincial Championships set to be in person for the first time since 2019!
Event Information:
Location: Pythagoras Academy (8671 Odlin Crescent, Richmond)
Date: Saturday, April 15th and Sunday, April 16th, 2023
The top students from this tournament will advance to the Canadian Junior National Public Speaking Competition, set to be hosted in person from May 5th-7th by Mulgrave School in BC.
Fees (Non-refundable):
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Competitors: $60/per student
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Please only submit payment for confirmed participants (confirmation will be sent via email).
Important Dates:
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Registration - Open now until Friday, April 7th.
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Please email annasaint394@gmail.com if you need additional time to complete registration.
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Schools may start by registering up to 4 students - with a waitlist available for additional participants
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Please list students in the order you would like them to be sent. ie. If you only get one additional spot, please ensure the first student listed is the one you would like to receive it.
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DSABC membership must be renewed and 2022-23 dues paid in order to complete registration for this event.
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Observer Registration - Open now until Friday, April 7th.
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If any observers (not including judges or chaperones) want to attend, they must register and pay the $40 observer fee to cover the cost of their meals.
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All observers must be registered as part of a school delegation and must respect students' consent if they do not want to have their rounds observed.
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Tournament Format:
Students in grades 6-9 are eligible to compete at this event.
Students compete in all 4 public speaking categories:
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Category 1: Debate
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Category 2: Impromptu Speaking
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Category 3: Persuasive Speaking
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Category 4:
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Option A: Interpretive Reading
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Option B: Solo Acting
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See full description of categories here
In-Person Tournament Specifics:
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Masks will not be mandatory at the tournament, although they are highly encouraged.
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Participants who test positive for COVID-19, are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, or have been recently exposed to someone who is COVID-19 positive are not permitted to come to the event under any circumstances. If any of these circumstances occur, please contact annasaint394@gmail.com as soon as possible, as we will be attempting to provide an alternative option in the case of illness.
Important Reminders:
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All pieces presented at this event must not have been performed at any other public speaking event. Students that reuse content from any previous tournament (Jr Speech Provincials 2022, Vancouver Speech and Drama Festival, S&DC Persuasive Speaking Competition, BC Developmental Speech Tournament, etc.) will face disqualification.
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Impromptu speeches cannot be pre-written and memorized. Any student found to be repeating content essentially verbatim will face review and possible disqualification.
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Interpretive Reading pieces must be published. Readings found exclusively on blogs, websites, or unofficial transcripts do not count as published pieces.
Judging Expectations:
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Schools must provide one judge per two participants (rounded up) for the duration of the tournament.
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Schools that do not fill this judging requirement may have students disqualified from the tournament.
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Schools traveling from outside the lower mainland can ask to have their judge obligation reduced by emailing a request to annasaint394@gmail.com.
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This judging obligation can be split by submitting one judge for Saturday and another for Sunday. It is not possible for us to receive two different judges splitting the obligation partway through the day.
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Experienced Grade 12s can be used as judges for this event.
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Otherwise, judges must be above the age of 18, fluent in English, and comfortable with following fast-paced speeches using moderate to high-level vocabulary.
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Schools with a coach or experienced judge are expected to help judge finals if necessary, or their students will be ineligible to break.
Chaperone Policy
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All students are required to have a school-approved "chaperone" present at all times. The DSABC accepts no liability for any student left unsupervised at any DSABC-sponsored event.
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A chaperone can be a coach, teacher sponsor, or parent/guardian who is authorized by their child’s school and is willing to take on all chaperone-related responsibilities.
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Senior students are not considered chaperones.
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All adults acting as chaperones are expected to uphold the DSABC Code of Ethics.
Schedule
Saturday, April 15th
9:00-9:20 am - Check-in at Pythagoras Academy (light snacks will be provided but not a full breakfast)
9:30-10:30 am - Judge and Competitor Briefings for Debate
10:00 am - Debate Draw & Motion Released for Round 1
10:30-11:30 am - Debate Round 1
11:30-12:00 pm - Lunch Break
12:00 pm - Debate Motion Released for Round 2
12:30-1:30 pm - Debate Round 2
1:30-1:45 pm - Break
1:45-2:15 pm - Judge and Competitor Briefings for Persuasive Speaking
2:15-3:15 pm - Persuasive Speaking Round 1
3:15-3:30 pm - Break
3:30-4:30 pm - Persuasive Speaking Round 2
4:30-5:00 pm - Judge and Competitor Briefings for Interpretive Reading/Solo Acting
5:00-6:00 pm - Interpretive Reading/Solo Acting Round 1
6:00-6:45 pm - Dinner
6:45-7:45 pm - Interpretive Reading/Solo Acting Round 2
8:00 pm - All students picked up
Sunday, April 16th
9:00-9:20 am - Check-in at Pythagoras Academy (light snacks will be provided but not a full breakfast)
9:30-10:00 am - Judge and Competitor Briefings for Impromptu Speaking
10:00-11:00 am - Impromptu Speaking Round 1
11:00-11:15 am - Break
11:15-12:15 pm - Impromptu Speaking Round 2
12:15-1:00 pm - Lunch
1:00 pm - Finalists Announced
1:15-3:45 pm - Finals
4:00 pm - Awards
4:30 pm - All students picked up
Tournament Contacts:
Anna Saint - DSABC Public Speaking Coordinator: annasaint394@gmail.com