Whoever said “When you attack the messenger, not the message, you’ve lost the debate.” clearly didn’t have a front-row seat at the seventh annual Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) High School Debate Championship! Hosted at James Cardinal McGuigan Catholic High School on December 7, 2024 (Saturday), this event was anything but dull. Forget ad hominem attacks—that's fancy debate lingo for attacking the person instead of the point—the action on stage was all about powerful arguments and fierce competition!
Eight incredible teams from across the board squared off in a series of lively debates centered around the resolution: “Be it resolved that Catholic schools in Ontario should continue to be publicly funded". After warming up with carefully crafted speeches, the final round was a real showstopper. The debaters were handed an impromptu topic—“BIRT: The tinsel and gift-wrapping paper of Christmas is detrimental to society”—and the battle for the win was on!
In the end, it was Michael Power-St. Joseph High School that took home the top prize, but they had some stiff competition from Bishop Allen Academy and Senator O'Connor College School. The top debater award went to Antonia G. of MPSJ, with Prerana M. of Bishop Allen in second place, and Anish S. from MPSJ rounding out the podium.
A huge shout-out to the tournament organizers: Mr. Enrico Cumbo and Mr. Adrial Fitzgerald of MPSJ, and Mr. Santino Bellisario (formerly of De La Salle College “Oaklands”), all of whom are executives of the Ontario Pro-Con Debate Forum, one of the province’s longest-running debate leagues.
And of course, let’s not forget the enthusiastic debaters from James Cardinal McGuigan CHS, who recently returned to league play. You all brought your A-game! If you’re thinking “This sounds like fun, I want in!”, reach out to Mr. Cumbo at MPSJ or Mike Da Costa at Brebeuf College School to learn more about debating or the Ontario Pro-Con Debate Forum.
The debates were fierce, the arguments sharp, and the champions were crowned. Congratulations to everyone involved!
