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BC Public Speaking Provincials

Dear Participants, Judges, Volunteers, and Coaches,
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The DSABC is pleased to invite you to attend British Columbia's Public Speaking Provincial Championships!


Event Information:
Location: Collingwood School (70 Morven Drive, West Vancouver)

Date: Saturday, December 2nd and Sunday, December 3rd

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The top senior students from this tournament will advance to the Senior National Public Speaking Championships, set to be hosted by St. John's Ravenscourt School in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in February 2024.

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The top juniors from this tournament will advance to the Junior Public Speaking National Championships, tentatively set to be hosted by Mulgrave School in West Vancouver in 2024. ​

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Fees (Non-refundable):

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Important Dates:

  • Stage 1 Registration - Closed​​

    • Schools may start by registering up to 8 students with no more than 5 in the same category. There will also be a waitlist available for additional participants.

    • DSABC membership must be renewed, and 2023-24 dues must be paid to complete registration for this event.

  • Stage 2 Registration - Due by the end of Friday, November 10th.

    • To complete Stage 2 Registration, schools must pay tournament fees, submit names of judges and participants, and decide student categories (for juniors).​

    • The Stage 2 Registration form has been sent directly to schools.

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Junior Tournament Format:

Students in grades 6-9 can compete in the Junior category.

Students compete in all 4 public speaking categories:

  • Category 1: Debate

  • Category 2: Impromptu Speaking

  • Category 3: Persuasive Speaking

  • Category 4:

    • Option A: Interpretive Reading

    • Option B: Solo Acting

See full description of categories here

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Senior Tournament Format:

Students in grades 10-12 can compete in the Senior category.

Students compete in all 4 public speaking categories:

  • Category 1: Debate

  • Category 2: Impromptu Speaking

  • Category 3: Persuasive Speaking

  • Category 4: Interpretive Reading

See full description of categories here

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In-Person Tournament Specifics:

  • Masks will not be mandatory at the tournament, although they are highly encouraged.

  • 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.

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Important Reminders:​

  • All pieces presented at this event must not have been performed at any public speaking event or competition prior to September 1st, 2023. Examples of past public speaking events and competitions include Speech Provincials, Vancouver Speech and Drama Festival, S&DC Persuasive Speaking Competition, BC Developmental Speech Tournament, etc.

  • If Junior students reuse content from any event (including those that take place after September 1st, 2023) they cannot use their Speech Provincials content at Junior Speech Nationals. At Junior Speech Nationals, content must be new or only used at the qualifying event. 

  • Impromptu speeches cannot be pre-written and memorized. Any student found to be repeating content essentially verbatim will face review and possible disqualification.

  • Interpretive Reading pieces must be published. Readings found exclusively on blogs, websites, or unofficial transcripts do not count as published pieces. 

  • If you are unsure if your reading or solo acting piece meets the criteria, please enquire by emailing annasaint394@gmail.com for review.

  • Persuasive Speaking speeches must be written primarily by the competitor presenting the material. While teachers and coaches can provide feedback and guidance, students cannot present speeches primarily written by someone else. 

  • Any other forms of academic dishonesty will be subject to review with the potential for disqualification. 

 

Judging Expectations:

  • Schools must provide two judges per three competitors (rounded up) as per the chart found if you click here for the duration of the tournament. 

  • Schools that do not fill this judging requirement may have students disqualified from the tournament.

  • Additionally, all judges who have judged a competition before must be available to judge finals or no competitors from their school will be eligible for the break.

  • Schools traveling from outside the lower mainland can ask to have their judge obligation reduced by emailing a request to annasaint394@gmail.com.

  • 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.

  • Experienced Grade 12s can be used as judges for this event as Junior judges.

  • 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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Chaperone Policy

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Senior students are not considered chaperones. 

  • All adults acting as chaperones are expected to uphold the DSABC Code of Ethics.

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Schedule
Saturday, December 2nd
8:30-8:50 am - Check-in at Collingwood School (light snacks will be provided)
9:00-10:00 am - Judge and Competitor Briefings for Persuasive Speaking
10:00-11:00 am - Persuasive Speaking Round 1
11:00-11:130 am - Break
11:30-12:30 pm - Persuasive Speaking Round 2
12:30-1:00 pm - Lunch Break
1:00-1:30 pm - Judge and Competitor Briefings for Impromptu Speaking
1:30-2:30 pm - Impromptu Speaking Round 1
2:30-2:45 pm - Break
2:15-3:15 pm - Impromptu Speaking Round 2
3:15-4:00 pm - Judge and Competitor Briefings for Interpretive Reading/Solo Acting
4:00-5:00 pm - Interpretive Reading/Solo Acting Round 1
5:00-5:45 pm - Dinner Break
5:45-6:45 pm - Interpretive Reading/Solo Acting Round 2
7:00 pm - All students picked up
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Sunday, December 3rd
8:30-8:50 am - Check-in at Collingwood School (light snacks will be provided)
9:00-9:30 am - Judge and Competitor Briefings for Debate
9:30 am - Debate Motion Released for Round 1
10:00-11:00 am - Debate Round 1
11:00-11:15 am - Break
11:15 am - Debate Motion Released for Round 2
11:45-12:45 pm - Debate Round 2
12:45-1:30 pm - Lunch Break
1:30 pm- Finalists Announced
1:30-4:30 pm - Finals
4:45-5:00 pm - Awards
5:15 pm - All students picked up

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Tournament Contacts:

Anna Saint - DSABC Public Speaking Coordinator: annasaint394@gmail.com

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