Main photo: Contestants and judges in the inaugural Mayor’s Public Speaking Contest (from left) Councillor Jonathan Wiebe, Margot Fleming, Natalie Juszczak, Amelia Broadbent, Alexia Evans, Ashleigh Vallentin, Elsie Moore, Hannah Scott, Charlie Keyes, Keira Marshall, Ava Williamson, Carolyn Yungblut, Keleigh Higgs, Deputy Mayor Karin Terziano, and Mayor Scott Aitchison.
They had a maximum of four minutes to tell the judges why they love Huntsville, and the student contestants in the inaugural Mayor’s Public Speaking Contest jammed their allotted time with the reasons they think our town is tops. A few, recognizing that nothing’s perfect, even included some areas where they thought the Town could improve, like roads. (Yes, even middle-schoolers who don’t drive are tired of pot holes.)
Their speeches were earnest and heartfelt, some had liberal sprinklings of humour, others were deeply personal. The speakers themselves exhibited confidence and poise beyond their years. The judges—Mayor Scott Aitchison, Deputy Mayor Karin Terziano, and Councillor Jonathan Wiebe—will have a difficult time arriving at a decision.
The contest, which was open to Huntsville-area students in grades six, seven and eight, replaced the successful Decorate the Mayor’s Office art contest.
Twelve students from four schools—Huntsville Public, Riverside, Spruce Glen, and St. Mary’s—participated (their speaking order was decided by draw and they are listed here in the order they appeared on stage):
Keleigh Higgs, grade 6, Spruce Glen
Carolyn Yungblut, grade 7, Spruce Glen
Ava Williamson, grade 7, St. Mary’s
Keira Marshall, grade 7, Riverside
Charlie Keyes, grade 7, St. Mary’s
Elsie Moore, grade 7, Riverside
Hannah Scott, grade 7, Spruce Glen
Ashleigh Vallentin, grade 8, Huntsville Public
Margot Fleming, grade 6, Huntsville Public
Alexia Evans, grade 8, Huntsville Public
Amelia Broadbent, grade 7, Riverside
Natalie Juszczak, grade 7, St. Mary’s
They were judged on five criteria with a total possible score of 100 points: keeping within the allotted time of two to four minutes (10 points), speech structure and organization (20 points), content (25 points), delivery (25 points) and the appropriateness of the content to the contest purpose and audience (20 points).
Here’s a peek at some of the things they love about Huntsville (and a few they don’t):
Winners will be announced at the June 24 council meeting and will receive cash prizes: $285 for first place, which is the age of Canada plus the age of Huntsville; second place will receive $152, Canada’s age this year; and third place gets $133, the age of Huntsville. Teri Souter, the Town’s Manager of Arts, Culture and Heritage, hopes that the first-place speaker will also speak at the annual Canada Day celebration at Muskoka Heritage Place.
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