WHAT WE DO

public-speaking

Public Speaking

Public speaking is an important art form regardless of your desired career path. BL Debate Academy believes that public speaking is a gateway to better opportunities and advancement. We offer courses to students of all ages and all levels of experience.

Speech

There are many competitive speaking activities and events and we participate in most of them. Speech activities are great for students that work better independently and prefer the elements of persuasive speaking, theater, acting and performance. Join today and share your piece with the world!

speech
dabate

Debate

President John F. Kennedy once stated, “Without debate, without criticism no administration and no country can succeed and no republic can survive.” We offer Canadian and US style debate training and tournament coaching. Debate is the most challenging academy activity you can do. The skills you learn from debate alone makes the activity the best return on investment for any avid learner.

BL Speech and Debate Academy Tournament
Schedule 2022-23

BL will attend both Canadian and US style tournaments throughout the 2022-23 academic year. Students are encouraged to attend NSDA Vancouver events to practice before attending external (non-BL/non-NSDA) events.

Terms

Description

Level/Status – All tournaments are divided up based on their relative difficulty.

Practice/Scrimmage – OPEN TO ALL: these tournaments will give students a chance to participate in debates against limited opponents in a controlled environment. Students are encouraged to attend these tournaments before attending tournaments at a higher level.

Regional – Pre-Team and Team: these tournaments will give students a chance to compete against competitors from other schools/academies. Students must show success at these tournaments to qualify attending national tournaments with BLDA.

National – Team Only: these tournaments are reserved for our most competitive students. Attending these tournaments will require additional preparation sessions and a commitment to case writing, development and execution by the students. *Some of these tournaments have a qualification process.

Location

Tournament will either be hosted online, in person or a mixture of both (hybrid).

Internal/External

Internal tournaments are tournaments hosted by BLDA or one of its subsidiaries. External tournaments are tournaments hosted by a non-BLDA or subsidiary.

Canadian Style - Speech and Debate

Date

Tournament

Level/Status

October 2022

BC British Parliamentary Provincial Championship

Regional/Open

November 2022

BC Public Speaking Provincial Championship

Regional/Open

December 2022

Canadian British Parliamentary Debate Championships

National/QR

January 2023

BC Regional Debating Championships

Regional/Open

February 2023

Canadian Senior National Public Speaking Championships

National/QR

March 2023

BC Provincial Debating Championship (Law Foundation Cup)

Regional/Open

April 2023

Canadian Senior National Debating Championships

National/QR

May 2023

Canadian Junior National Speaking Championships

National/QR

May 2023

Canadian Junior National Debating Championships

National/QR

May 2023

TEAM CANADA “TRY-OUTS”

Invitation Only

Deadline = last day to register to attend the tournament with BL.

Level/Status:

Open = Anyone can attend

QR = Qualification Required.

US Style - Speech and Debate

Date

Tournament (Invitation Linked)

Location

Level/Status

September 2022

NSDA Vancouver Event

B.C. (Can)

Regional/Open

9/30-10/2/22

New Haven, CT (USA)

National

October 2022

NSDA Vancouver Event

Vancouver

Regional/Open

10/7-10/9

Hybrid

National

November 2022

NSDA Vancouver Event

Vancouver

Regional/Open

November 2022

UPenn Tournament

Undisclosed

National

December 2022

NSDA Vancouver Event

Vancouver

Regional/Open

January 2023

NSDA Vancouver Event (Ivy-Up)

Vancouver

Regional/Open

2/11-2/13/22

Stanford University

Hybrid

National

2/18-2/20/22

Harvard Invitational

Hybrid

National

2/18-2/20-22

Berkeley Invitational

Hybrid

National

March 2023

NSDA Vancouver Event

Live

Regional/Open

April 2023

Tournament of Champions (HS)

Hybrid

National

May 2023

Tournament of Champions (MS)

Hybrid

National

May 2023

NSDA Nationals (Middle School)

Hybrid

National

June 2023

NSDA Nationals (Championship)

Hybrid

National