The LVR Rogers Debate Club recently sent two members, Michael Rhodes-Bliss and Sabien Edney, to the Junior National Debate Championships at Calgary French & International School in Calgary as the West Kootenay representatives for the British Columbia team.
There were a total of 52 two-person teams hailing from seven provinces competing in the three-day tournament. In advance of the championships, all participants prepared both sides of a resolution addressing whether Indigenous People should have mandatory quotas in legislative assemblies. On the second day, participants were given 15 minutes to prepare for impromptu debates on such topics as the depiction of women in superhero movies and allowing prisoners the choice of death over a life sentence.
Participants also enjoyed a sight-seeing excursion to Banff, and a keynote speech from Calgary Mayor, Naheed Nenshi. Michael and Sabien would like to acknowledge that their trip was made possible by the generous financial support of SD8, the LVR PAC, the Nelson Rotary, and the Nelson and District Credit Union. They would also like to thank LVR Student Coach Margaret Saville for organizing and coaching the LVR Club, and JL Crowe teacher, Marilyn Lunde, for the extensive time she spent coaching, coordinating and chaperoning them at the Nationals. The LVR Debate Team will look forward to welcoming new members upon resumption of activities next September.