Our Founder

Robert McLeese, MBA, CA

President, Access Capital Corp.

Director Speech and Debate Canada

Mr. McLeese is the Founder and President of Access Capital Corp. (“Access”), a Toronto based Financial Advisory firm specializing in developing and financing companies and projects in the independent power industry. Mr. McLeese is also a Director of Export Development Canada and several other companies.

McLeese Debate was founded in 2002 by the late Mr. Wills S. McLeese with the aim of fostering debate in schools across Canada. Our mission is to coach students to participate effectively in the democratic process and to contribute to the quality of public life. There are multiple ways to view issues and it is important to be open minded to and consider 

other points of view. 

In 2017, with the help and guidance of the McLeese Debate Advisory Council, Rob McLeese started the Speech & Debate Canada Foundation dedicated to working with the Canadian Student Debating Federation (umbrella organization for high school debate in Canada) to ensure that this dream remains a reality. 

At Speech & Debate Canada, we believe that students who acquire leadership and communication skills can lead rich and productive lives thereby enriching Canada along the way. We also believe that our program for students primarily in grades 6 to 11 provides a diverse and culturally appropriate public speaking curriculum to all students in Canada, regardless of where they attend school or live.