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.
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Impressive Results at Junior Public Speaking Qualifier
By Andrea DavidsonRead More
Last Saturday, 14 students from Grades 8 and 9 competed in the Junior Public Speaking qualifier tournament held at CDS. Students were required to perform a memorized persuasive speech, an interpretive reading, one round of parliamentary debate, as well as deliver an impromptu speech.
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CDS Speech & Debate Team Gears Up for Provincials and Nationals
It’s been a busy time in the land of Speech and Debate!Read More
Last Sunday, CDS hosted the York Regional Senior Debating Qualifier Tournament with five teams of two participating against teams from across York Region. Congratulations to all the teams who participated, including: Austin Cheng ‘29 and Kenneth Wang ‘29, Yolanda Sun ‘28 and Sophie Yuan ‘28, Sasha Nigul ‘28 and Ethan Starkman ‘28, Isla Gunning ‘30 and Aara Ko ‘30 and Adhya Chandradat ‘27 and Aneesa Khan ‘27. -
Exciting News from the Fall Fulford Debate
Read MoreBy Mme DavidsonLast weekend, four members of our Speech & Debate team travelled to Branksome Hall to compete in the Fall Fulford Debate. The students competed in pairs with students from other schools with Adhya Chandradat '27 and Luca Tchelidze '26 competing in the Senior category and Carmen DiGiammarino '29 and Mina Matsui '29 in the Juniors. -
Debaters Compete in early Bird Fulford Tournament
By Andrea DavidsonLast Saturday, eight CDS debaters travelled to MacLachlan College to compete in the early bird Fulford tournament. This is an impromptu debate where students have 30 minutes to prepare for a resolution.CDS fared incredibly well with special mention going to the Junior team of Akshaya Chandradat, Vivienne Chen, Isla Gunning and Aara Ko who placed second overall while competing against students in Grades 9 and 10.
Congratulations also go to Isla Gunning for winning 4th place in the Junior category and Adhya Chandradat for placing 3rd in the Senior category. Adhya was joined by three fellow Senior team members Yolanda Sun, Sophie McLachlin and Renee Ng.
Well done to the entire team for their quick thinking and sharp arguments! -
Debaters Finish Strong in Two Local Tournaments
Last Saturday was an exciting day for a few members of the CDS Public Speaking & Debating Team! Here are the highlights:
From the Provincial Concours d’art oratoire at Glendon College, York University: Sophie Yuan won 2nd place in the grade 9/10 category for Impromptu Speaking! Félicitations à Sophie! On est super fiers de toi!
Meanwhile, at Trinity College School in Port Hope, the Senior team of Adhya Chandradat and Aneesa Khan placed 2nd at the Spring Fulford Debate. Adhya also placed 3rd overall as an individual!A big congratulations to all three girls for these excellent results!
CDS World Qualifiers
CDS Students have qualified for Worlds for the past 18 years (those listed in bold were WIDPSC Champions):
| 2025 |
Diviya Amarnath '25, Jack Brown '25 and Ananya Kapur '26 - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
|
| 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.
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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.
