Debate and Public Speaking
West Point Grey Academy is renowned for having one of the strongest speech and debate programs in Canada. Coached by Ms. Tracey Lee, who is currently the Canadian National Debate (Team Canada) coach, WPGA debaters have competed throughout Canada, the United States, England, Greece, Germany, South Africa, and South Korea. Of particularly notable acclaim, WPGA debate alumnus Andrew Rusk placed fifth at the World Individual Public Speaking Championships in both 2006 & 2007, was the top Canadian Speaker at the International Independent School Public Speaking Championships in both 2005 & 2006, and was the team Captain of the Canadian National Team in the 2006/2007 school year. Iqbal Kassam ('10) is the second WPGA student selected to the National team and was Team Canada's top speaker at the 2009 World Schools Debate Championships. Kassam recently won the Parliamentary debates at the Worlds Individual Speech and Debates (Reading, England). Jonathan Carson ('10) was the third WPGA student selected to the National team, joining his partner on the 2010 team.
West Point Grey is currently home to the Senior Canadian National High School Champions three years running (Sean Husband & Helenaz Hajifattahi, 2008; Iqbal Kassam & Jonny Carson, 2009, 2010).
The school's Model UN team has competed at a number of international competitions including the National High School MUN (New York), Harvard Model UN (Boston), SSUNS McGill and Harvard Model Congress in Athens, Greece and Brussels, Belgium. In addition to receiving a number of delegate awards, the team has also received notable acclamation as the Top International Delegation at the Harvard Model United Nations in both 2005 and 2006 and McGill's SSUNS in 2008. The school's Model UN program has hosted their own conference, - the Vancouver Youth Model United Nations (VYMUN) - every October for the past four years.
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Famous quotes containing the words debate, public and/or speaking:
“A great deal of unnecessary worry is indulged in by theatregoers trying to understand what Bernard Shaw means. They are not satisfied to listen to a pleasantly written scene in which three or four clever people say clever things, but they need to purse their lips and scowl a little and debate as to whether Shaw meant the lines to be an attack on monogamy as an institution or a plea for manual training in the public school system.”
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“These native villages are as unchanging as the woman in one of their stories. When she was called before a local justice he asked her age. “I have 45 years.” “But,” said the justice, “you were forty-five when you appeared before me two years ago.” “Señor Judge,” she replied proudly, drawing herself to her full height, “I am not of those who are one thing today and another tomorrow!””
—State of New Mexico, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)
“I, who am speaking to you, if I had had the chance to choose my father, I would not have been born.”
—Albert Camus (1913–1960)