HISTORY
"Throughout history, the spoken word has evoked emotion, inflamed the spirit, inspired faith and fired the imagination, this fascination with the power of words is perhaps our best legacy to have survived the centuries"
Tom Lawson, Founder of the Canadian Student Debating Federation
In 1967, Tom Lawson, a teacher at Trinity College School in Port Hope, Ontario, invited high school students from across the province to participate in a debating tournament. Over the next few years, the event gained popularity, and by 1972, the tournament welcomed its first participants from outside Ontario, marking its evolution into a national event. This milestone led to the formation of the Canadian Student Debating Federation (CSDF), which has since grown into an overarching national organization dedicated to promoting and supporting high school debating across Canada. The CSDF was built on the passion and commitment of educators who believed in the value of debate and worked to cultivate it at the grassroots level.
The flagship event of the CSDF is the annual National Student Debating Seminar. What began as a provincial tournament in 1967 has become a week-long national event designed to introduce students to the art of debating. Held each fall in a different province or territory, the National Seminar incorporates both of Canada’s official languages and features a variety of debate styles. It serves as both an educational experience and a cultural exchange.
While the National Seminar remains central to the CSDF’s mission, a key agreement in 2003 between Upper Canada College, the CSDF, and Mr. Willis S. McLeese expanded the Federation’s role within Canadian debating. This partnership led to the creation of the Willis McLeese Opportunities Fund, which provides financial support for initiatives that grow debating programs across the country. In 2020, a temporary agreement was reached that granted the CSDF additional access to these funds, further enabling its continued growth and impact.
