Six members of the 858 Skookumchuk Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets set fear aside on Feb. 20 and took the stage at St. Hilda’s Anglican Church in Sechelt, presenting both prepared and impromptu speeches in front of family, friends, fellow cadets, and judges from the community.
The Air Cadet Effective Speaking competition was the culmination of more than two months of preparation by participating cadets and program coordinator, Officer Cadet Trish Scott.
“The courage it takes to stand up in front of a crowd and have the speech you worked so hard on judged on very specific criteria – and timed, with demerits for being too short or too long – is a huge undertaking,” Scott said. “And then to have to prepare and present an impromptu speech on a topic that is only revealed three minutes beforehand? To say we are thrilled we had six cadets who took up the challenge is an understatement.”
At the completion of the formal judging process, the results were:
First place: Matthew Douglas, speaking on The Importance of Volunteering in Your Community.
Second place: Sam Rooney, sharing his thoughts on The Positive/Negative Effects of AI.
Third Place: Jonah Byron, presenting the Cree Code Talkers of WWII.
Two cadets (highest placement and the next highest placement as an alternate) will travel to Delta on March 7 to compete at the next level – the Metro Vancouver Wing Competition.
Volunteer judges were: Mayor Darnelda Siegers (District of Sechelt), Beverly Hudson (a longtime 858 supporter and prior effective speaking judge), and Nicole LaChance (Gourmet Girl Cafe & Catering). Also volunteering to help were Jillian Dueck, the official teller, and MC Capt. David Douglas.
The 858 Skookumchuk Squadron Sponsoring Committee sponsored the event.
For more information on 858 Skookumchuk Squadron and the Royal Canadian Air Cadet Program, visit 858skookumchuk.ca
– Submitted by Victoria Gazeley
