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BC Senior Public Speaking Competition

Dear Participants, Judges, Volunteers, and Coaches,
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The DSABC is pleased to invite you to attend the BC Senior Public Speaking Competition set to be in person for the first time since 2019!


Event Information:
Location: Little Flower Academy (4195 Alexandra St, Vancouver)

Date: Friday, November 25th and Saturday, November 26th, 2022

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The top students from this tournament will advance to the Canadian Senior National Public Speaking Competition, tentatively set to be hosted in person in February 2023 at St. John's Ravenscourt School in Winnipeg.

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Fees (Non-refundable):

  • Competitors: $50/per student

  • Payment will open after Stage 1 confirmation has been sent out
     

Payments must be made online by the stage 2 registration deadline. Any schools failing to make payment by this time will forfeit their position to the next participant on the waitlist.
 

Important Dates:

  • Stage 1 - Participant Number Requests - Open until Friday, November 4th

    • Request the number of students for your school

    • These numbers will be confirmed via email, after which any waitlist spots will be allocated

    • Schools may start by registering up to 4 students - with a waitlist available for additional participants

    • Registration HERE

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  • Stage 2 - Names of Teams and Judges - Will open Saturday, November 5th

    • Open until the end of day on Friday, November 11th

    • DSABC membership must be renewed and 2022-23 dues paid in order to participate in stage 2 registration​

 

Tournament Format:

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Students in grades 10-12 are eligible to compete at this event.
 

Students compete in all 4 public speaking categories:

  • Debate

  • Impromptu Speaking

  • Persuasive Speaking

  • Interpretive Reading

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See full description of categories here

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All pieces presented at this event must not have been performed at any public speaking event prior to September 1st, 2022. 

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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, as we will be attempting to provide an alternative option in the case illness. 

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Important Reminders:​

  • Students that reuse content from any tournament hosted before September 1st, 2022 (Jr Speech Provincials, Vancouver Speech and Drama Festival, Sr Speech Provincials 2021, etc.) will face disqualification.

  • 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.

 

Judging Expectations:

  • Schools must provide one judge per two participants (rounded up) for the duration of the tournament. ​

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

  • Schools travelling 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 Friday and another for Saturday. It is not possible for us to receive two different judges splitting the obligation partway through the day.

  • High school students cannot be used as judges for this event.

  • Judges must be above the age of 18, fluent in English and comfortable with following fast-paced speeches using moderate to high-level vocabulary.​

  • Schools with a coach or experienced judge are expected to help judge finals if necessary. 

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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
Friday, November 25th
3:30-4:00 pm - Check-in in the LFA lobby 
4:00-5:00 pm - Judge Briefing
4:30 pm - Debate Draw & Motion Released for Round 1
5:00-6:00 pm - Debate Round 1
6:00-6:30 pm - Dinner Break
6:30 pm - Debate Motion Released for Round 2
7:00-8:00 pm - Debate Round 2
 
Saturday, November 26th
8:30-9:00 am - Check-in in the LFA lobby 
9:00-9:45 am - Judge Briefing
9:45-10:45 am - Impromptu Round 1
10:45-11:45 am - Impromptu Round 2
11:45-12:15 pm - Lunch Break
12:15-12:30 pm - Judge Briefing Updates
12:30-1:30 pm - Persuasive Round 1
1:30-2:30 pm - Persuasive Round 2
2:30 - 2:45 - Break
2:45-3:45 pm - Interpretive Reading Round 1
3:45-4:45 pm - Interpretive Reading Round 2
5:00-5:45 pm - Dinner Break 
5:45pm - Finals Announcement
6:00 pm-8:00pm - Finals
8:00pm - 8:15pm - Awards

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Tournament Contacts:

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

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