NATIONAL SEMINAR
Each year, the Canadian Student Debating Federation ("CSDF") hosts the National Seminar, an event that aims to expose students to the art of debating while providing an opportunity for cultural exchange between young people from all regions of the country. Over the course of the week-long event, delegates attend debate, model parliament, and thematic workshops, debate in practice rounds critiqued by experienced coaches, immerse themselves in the host province’s unique culture, and wrap it up with a tournament.
The CSDF embraces both of Canada’s official languages, offering students the opportunity to attend the Seminar as English, French or Bilingual delegates. The event is open to all youth in grades 6 to 11 who attend a school in Canada. The Seminar is intended and designed for novices—new to debate students.
NATIONAL SEMINAR 2025
Host: Speech & Debate Canada Foundation
Date: August 11 - 15
Theme: "Canada and US Relations: Being a Good Neighbour"
Location: Windsor, Ontario (Online)
HISTORY OF THE NATIONAL SEMINAR
By Brian Casey
The programme of the Canadian Student Debating Federation began in 1967 as a Centennial project when Tom Lawson hosted an invitational tournament for Ontario students. The event soon became annual and attracted students nationwide. Tom received a Ford Foundation grant to travel across Canada and start debating programs in every province. Once the CSDF was established in 1972, the major mandate of the Federation was to conduct an annual national Seminar at various locations in Canada. The Seminar continues to be CSDF’s most important activity.
Willis S. McLeese, a Toronto businessman, attended the 1972 Seminar as a guest speaker. He was sufficiently impressed with the program and its potential benefits for young people that he became instrumental in funding CSDF. The Seminar draws heavily on the work of Tom and Willis.
The Seminar is not intended to be a championship tournament. Debaters may attend only once, must represent different schools, and must be selected through a system of regional representation. These steps were deliberately taken to “share the wealth” and encourage debating programs in new schools. For that same reason, a part of the Seminar is devoted to workshops. The Seminar is not designed to assess competitive debating ability. Other tournaments serve that purpose. As these events expand, the Seminar increasingly serves novice debaters.
The National Seminar has always been more than simply a debating tournament: it is an opportunity for an elite group of young Canadians to meet each other and discover themselves. This formula is as irresistible as Tom’s enthusiasm.