It is with great excitement that we invite you to the inaugural Speech & Debate Canada Foundation Invitational, taking place from Saturday, August 30th to Sunday, August 31st, 2025.

This tournament is a celebration of Canada’s long-standing tradition of speech and debate, and a continuation of the legacy built by Tom Lawson and Willis S. McLeese—two individuals whose efforts laid the foundation for generations of Canadian debaters. Hosted by the Speech & Debate Canada Foundation, this event offers students across the country a rare opportunity to compete in the Canadian National Debate Format (CNDF), our domestic style designed to promote accessible argumentation.

The Invitational aims to provide a high-calibre training experience while also supporting the Foundation’s broader mission to expand debate and speech opportunities across Canada. Proceeds from the tournament will directly fund outreach, program development, and future initiatives that make debate more accessible to schools and students nationwide.

We welcome debaters from Grades 6 through 12 and hope to bring together a vibrant community of young speakers and thoughtful advocates. We are particularly proud to offer a meaningful prize pool, with scholarships awarded to top junior and senior participants.

Included in this invitation package are the tournament information, schedule, and registration form. Be sure to apply early as this tournament will fill up quickly. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us by email at ed@speechanddebatecanada.com or reach out to the Chief Adjudicators (Ethan Curry or Daniel Svirsky) on Facebook. 

When: Saturday, August 30th ~ Sunday, August 31st

Where: Discord, details will be released closer to the date.

If accommodations are required, Zoom may be used as a platform to augment the discord channels.

Eligibility:  Enrolled in Grades 6 through 12 during the 2025/2026 school year.

Team Cap: We are aiming for 48 teams, but do not have a hard team cap. 

Style and Break: All rounds in this tournament will be in the Canadian National Debate Format (CNDF). The break will proceed directly to quarterfinals and junior semifinals (subject to change depending on registration). Closed rounds will feature written feedback to all participants after the tournament. 

Fees and Payments: The registration fee for this tournament is CA$70 per team. The deadline for the payment is Thursday, August 28th, 2025. 

Prize Pool

There is a total $1,500 prize pool. The prizes are:

●      Willis S. McLeese Scholarship for Top Open Speaker ($300)

●      Speech & Debate Canada Foundation Award for Top Junior Speaker ($100)

●      Speech & Debate Canada Foundation Award for Top First-Time Competitor ($100)

●      Tom Lawson Scholarship for Open Champion ($300/person)

●      Speech & Debate Canada Foundation Award for Open Finalist ($100/person)

●      Speech & Debate Canada Foundation Award for Junior Champion ($100/person)

Registration: Please register your team by Thursday, August 28th, 2025!

The registration will be on a first-come-first-serve basis to fill our tournament team cap, so it is recommended to register as soon as possible.

Judging Requirement: We are enforcing an n/2 judge institutional requirement rounded down (1 team 0 judges, 3 teams 1 judge, etc.), with a penalty of CA$75 for each missing judge. Teams from public schools can have the fee waived should they request it and demonstrate a need. 

Financial Accessibility:  Competitors who face financial obstacles to attending tournaments may email ed@speechanddebatecanada.com  to explain their situation or complete the financial aid form. Decisions on the provision of financial aid will be made on a case-by-case basis, and we aim to increase accessibility and provide generous aid to the debaters who need it most.

Junior Policy:  Any debater can be designated for the “Junior Status” if:

●      The debater is in grade 9 or below

●      The debater is in their first year of debate

There will be a junior break (based on attendees), as well as junior speaker awards.

Both speakers on a team must have junior status to be eligible for junior break.

Tournament Schedule 

Saturday, August 30th

10:30 am EDT - Check-in

11:00 am EDT - Briefings

11:30 am EDT - Round 1

1:15 pm EDT - Round 2

3:00 pm EDT - Lunch

3:30 pm EDT - Round 3

5:15 pm EDT - Round 4 (Closed)

6:45 pm EDT - Dinner

7:15 pm EDT - Round 5 (Closed)

Sunday, August 31st

10:30 am EDT - Check-in

11:00 am EDT - Break Announcement

11:30 pm EDT - Quarterfinals/Jr. Semifinals

1:00 pm EDT - Semifinals/Jr. Finals

2:30 pm EDT - Lunch

3:00 pm EDT - Grand Finals

5:00 pm EDT - Awards

               REGISTRATION LINK IS OPEN.

Inquires please contact our Executive Director, Debra Miko at ED@speechanddebatecanada.com

The Speech & Debate Canada Foundation

Code of Conduct!