Media Press Releases 25th Annual Provincial French Public Speaking Championship Draws Largest Number Of Competitors Ever
| 25th Annual Provincial French Public Speaking Championship Draws Largest Number Of Competitors Ever |
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Released: May 12, 2008 Vancouver – Battling nerves, more than 285 brave students in Grade 6 to 12 presented five-minute speeches in the day-long provincial finals of the 25th annual Concours d’art oratoire held May 5, making it BC’s largest provincial French language public speaking championship ever. Topics ranged from racial profiling, to young love, to why parents can be so embarrassing. The contest, organized by Canadian Parents for French-BC & Yukon, is the result of classroom, school and district competitions, involving over 10,000 students. This year’s provincial event took place at the Surrey Campus of Simon Fraser University. University entrance scholarships, travel to Ottawa, books, medals and cash were among the incredible prizes awarded. In all, there were 70 winners placing first second or third. Grade 12 winners in each of the four categories of the competition – Regular French, Early Immersion, Late Immersion, and Francophone – will go on to the National finals on May 31, 2008 in Ottawa to compete for a $20,000 scholarship to the University of Ottawa. The lucky winners in Grade 12 are Hasheem Hakeem, Coquitlam (early French immersion); Livia Poljak, Burnaby (late French immersion); Aera Jung, North Vancouver (core French); and Roman Blomme, Penticton (francophone). What is fascinating is that three of these four winners spoke neither English nor French when they started school. Presenting awards to winners were the Hon. John Van Dongen, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Solicitor General; Mr. Skip Triplett, President of Kwantlen University College and President of the Canadian Club of Vancouver; Mr. Alain Laberge, Director of Instruction and Educational Services at the Francophone School Board; and Dr. Renée Hamilton-Clark, French professor at University College of the Fraser Valley and the competition’s chief judge. Besides the cultural and language benefits, the Concours helps students develop their creative and public speaking abilities, as well as self-discipline. Canadian Parents for French BC & Yukon Branch is a non-profit organization that has worked for more than 30 years to provide French-Second-Language learning opportunities for youth, support for parents, and advocacy for quality French programs in our schools. The BC & Yukon branch is by far the largest with 8,500 members. FACT SHEET ATTACHED in PDF Version: List of 2008 BC Provincial Concours Winners Contact:
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| Last Updated ( Thursday, 18 March 2010 22:19 ) |
