T.A.B.L.E. Debate Series with U.B.C.
Vancouver, BC – May 27, 2024 – IDEA proudly hosted its first capstone event in collaboration with University of British Columbia. The T.A.B.L.E. Debate Series UBC Elementary School Tournament, brought together young debaters from fifteen (15) different schools across the Metro-Vancouver area. The event, which featured students aged 10-13, showcased rigorous debates on topics such as Universal Basic Income, Media Ethics, and Artificial Intelligence.
“The T.A.B.L.E. Debate Series is more than just a competition; it’s a platform for young voices to explore and express complex ideas,” said Benjamin Hagwood, Tournament Director. “We are thrilled to see the enthusiasm and talent displayed by these young debaters. This event marks the beginning of our mission to bring speech and debate training to students throughout B.C., fostering a culture of civic engagement and open dialogue.”
This event provided a platform for IDEA’s community cohort model of training. Community cohorts focus on providing access to all communities throughout B.C. to provide accurate representation to the diverse background of students in British Columbia. Each cohort received training to prepare them to be passionate public speakers and conscious advocates on pressing current issues. Focusing on the Canadian National Debate Format allowed students to hone their public speaking, critical thinking and advocacy skills in a competitive yet supportive environment.
The success of this tournament was made possible through the generous contributions of the University of British Columbia, specifically Dr. Ainsley Carry, Vice President of Students and Brock Richardson, Director of Centre for Student Development and Leadership, Sun Park and Zoe Diomis from the Centre for Student Development and Leadership. Their support, along with partnerships with local organizations and schools, allowed the Intrinsic Dialogical Education Association (IDEA) to launch its innovative community cohort model. A vital part of this project was Dasnoor Kaur, a Pharmaceutical Medicine Studies Student at UBC that has extensive experience as a debater and coach. She led the Khalsa School cohort that won the entire event! Special thanks to the Khalsa School and Ethos Lab for partnering with us in our endeavor to create more diverse access!
The event was capped with local candidates from the BC United Party adjudicating the final round. Michael Wu, the BC United Candidate for Burnaby North, and Jackie Lee, the BC United Candidate for Richmond-Steveston, both advocates of education, public speaking, and debate, brought their expertise and passion to the judging panel.
“We are just getting started,” Hagwood exclaimed! “We want to build on this success and host more events that give all students the opportunity to speak their minds and contribute to meaningful conversations.” We are calling on all members of the community in Metro-Vancouver to speak up for advocacy and public speaking skills for our future thought leaders as we launch our fundraising campaign over the summer.