Founded in 1880, the University of Ottawa English Debating Society (or EDS) is the oldest student organization at the University of Ottawa.
The EDS is a member of the Canadian University Society for Intercollegiate Debate (CUSID), which is a national organization which governs and represents university debating from coast to coast in Canada. Members of the EDS often travel across the country, as well as the world, to participate in competitive varsity tournaments which touch on broad intellectual issues, from bioethics to international political economy. As such, the EDS offers a unique opportunity for students at the University of Ottawa to not only travel, but increase their knowledge of current events, foster public speaking skills and enhance the ability to think on their feet. The club is also highly active on campus, organizing show debates, inviting guest speakers, and raising money for charities in the annual Debate-a-Thon.
Two debaters from the EDS, Jamie Furniss and Érik Eastaugh, won the World University Debating Championship in 2005, held at Malaysia Multimedia University.
The EDS is affiliated with the Canadian University Society for Intercollegiate Debate (CUSID) and represents the University of Ottawa at CUSID tournaments. The EDS hosts an invitational debate tournament each year, the Father Roger Guindon Cup, usually held in the early autumn. The EDS also hosts the University of Ottawa High School Debate Tournament for Ottawa-area high school students.
The EDS is officially ranked 121st in the world by points at the 2010 WUDC.
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