Willis McLeese Opportunities Fund
In 2003 an agreement was finalized between Upper Canada College, the Upper Canada College Foundation, the Canadian Student Debating Federation and Mr. Willis S. McLeese. Among other services to debating in Canada, this agreement provides the CSDF with funds to be used in supporting programs that seek to promote the development of debate in Canada.
Under the current Opportunities Fund Policy, $1,000 is provided annually to member associations for projects that promote debate:
- in an innovative manner,
- in a new geographical area, or
- in a way that promotes the growth for the member association overall.
The McLeese Opportunities fund has been active in promoting debate nation-wide for the last six years. Some of the projects undertaken by member associations in the past include the development and hosting of a debating workshop on Prince Edward Island, website and video production for debate promotion in several provinces, a debate camp and provincial speech tournament in Saskatchewan, and a program to develop debate coaching in the Thunder Bay area.
Link: McLeese Opportunities Fund Policy, updated November 2008.