TORONTO – The University of Toronto debating club is ready to argue that when it comes to debating, they’re still on top.
Club members are heading to Vancouver this weekend to compete in the National Debating Championship.
The U of T team has claimed the title in eight of the past 10 years.
The tournament, held at the University of British Columbia, features university teams from across the country competing in Canadian parliamentary style debate.
That involves two teams of two squaring off as opposed to British parliamentary style, where four teams of two argue for or against different components of a single resolution.
Team members say they have faith they can extend the university’s winning streak.
“We’re definitely confident,” said Deirdre Casey, a fourth-year English student who serves as the debate team captain.
“We participate in seven to nine tournaments a year, and this is the most important to us other than maybe one of the international tournaments outside the country.”
Casey competed in last year’s tournament, only to lose in the semi-final round to another team of U of T students. Although this year marks her swan song for the team, she said it will be fine if she doesn’t take home the first prize as long as it went to someone from her club.
Her individual results can’t diminish the skills she’s gained from her time on the team, she said, adding debating has done more than simply helping her hone her public speaking talents.
“I’ve made so many friends outside of my program and have gotten to meet so many good people,” she said. “It’s something I truly love.”
At least one U of T alumnus continues to feel the benefits of his time on the team years after taking home the crown.
Paul-Erik Veel, the 2009 national champion, is now a civil litigator at Lenczner Slaght Royce Smith Griffin LLP. He said the stereotype of debaters going on to legal careers is not without basis in reality.
“I’m still good friends with lots of my contemporaries from debating and a huge percentage became litigators,” Veel says. “Virtually every big litigation firm in Toronto has a debater or two in there somewhere. It’s a very natural transition.”
Despite being tied up in court these days, Veel still finds time to support his former teammates and watch his successors take the podium.
“I teach a class now at U of T’s law school and I always love seeing the debaters,” he says. “I’ll be rooting for them this weekend.”
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