By Lennard Fink
English Teacher and Director of MUN, Speech and Debate
Speech Day is among the oldest traditions still celebrated at Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School (STS). Originating at one of our founding Schools, the event first started in 1948 at the Strathcona School for Boys (SSB).
According to Mr. Gordon Freight, a former teacher at SSB and former Head of School at STS, public speaking was highly emphasized. Howard Tidswell, a former student who attended in the 1950s, agreed, “Speech Day was a big event. From Grades 1 to 9, we would compete every year.”
We still have the original trophies for public speaking, first awarded in 1948, here today. SSB only went to Grade 9 in those days, as Grades 6 through 8 were considered Middle School. Grade 9 was regarded as Senior School, and a trophy was awarded to each Division. Called the Cristall Cup, a Strathcona family of the same name donated these. The first student to win the Middle School Cup in 1948 was Frederick “Rickie” Pilcher, who attended SSB from 1944 to 1948, and the first boy to win the Senior Cup was Kenneth Harkness, who attended the School from 1942 to 1949. These silver cups remain in remarkably good condition in our archives.
SSB was first housed in one room of the Calgary Central Library but soon grew, and the location was moved to a big old house on Riverdale Avenue. By the late 60s, it was evident that the School needed even more room, and at that time, Tweedsmuir: An Academic School for Girls (TSG) and SSB began discussing the idea of combining the two schools at a new location.
Our present School became a reality for many reasons, but to a large extent, it was because of the generosity of two families. The first donation was the largest ever made in Calgary at that time; $250,000 was given by the Atkinson family, while the second was a donation of 160 acres of land by the Cross Family. In the fall of 1971, STS celebrated its official opening with 295 students, 24 teachers, and five administrative staff, and this tradition of public speaking continued.
For me, (Speech Day) is about reconnecting with the community that truly helped foster who I am today. Being able to convey clear, concise, energetic information and hopefully a bit of levity in there as well; the ability to do that stems from STS.
I would say pausing and letting there be silence between the words is really powerful. If you can’t quite formulate your words, just pause. I think that can be akin to many things in life, because whether it be for a split second, minutes, hours, or overnight, what you might formulate and say might be different on reflection as opposed to reacting emotionally.
Ultimately each of us as humans like to be treated with kindness. I think being genuine, not trying to pretend you’re someone else, and trusting your instincts is the key.
– Baruch Laskin ‘90
When looking at the Senior Cristall Cup, it’s apparent that several students have won it more than once. Fred Mannix ’56 won the Cup in 1955 and 1956, and his brother, Ron ’62, won in 1961 and 1962. Both were honoured as Distinguished Alumni in 2010. In his acceptance speech, Ron Mannix talked of the importance of Speech at SSB, and he also praised the School for continuing to place the significance on public speaking: “STS offers so many opportunities for students to become confident public speakers and for that, I am grateful.”
When the Schools amalgamated, and STS was formed, it was decided in the Senior Division that a new cup be awarded, now known as the Kirby Cup. In 1972, however, there were two winners for public speaking. The name Shauna Blake ’76 is engraved on the Cristall Cup, and on the new Kirby Cup for the same year is John Knebles ’72. This occurred because boys and girls at STS did not attend the same classes before 1973; therefore, boys and girls each won one of the cups. In addition, Shauna was the last person to win the Senior Cristall Cup and the only girl to have her name engraved on it. After 1973, both boys and girls were eligible to win the Kirby Cup. The Cup itself was donated by Justice Kirby, whose son attended SSB and whose daughter attended TSG. The first student to be awarded the Kirby Cup in 1971 was Gary Kindrachuck ’71. Traditionally awarded to a Grade 12 student, this year’s winner was Alayna Quershi ’24, who completed Grade 11 this past June.
The Middle School Cristall Cup was last awarded in 1975 and then stopped for an unknown reason. Finally, after 46 years, the decision was made two years ago to resume this tradition. The Middle School Cristall Cup is now awarded to the top Grade 9 Persuasive Speech student, and it is wonderfully nostalgic that a trophy, first presented in 1948, is again being given to an STS Middle School Student after so many years.
“While public speaking in general is obviously an important skill going forward in life, just trying to be persuasive is the most important skill in business possible.
From a more personal perspective, I’ve had
a stutter since I was three, so when I think about Speech Day it was always this unbelievably stressful moment for me. But there was never a better environment on the planet to push myself and put myself in an uncomfortable situation than here.
I think of Speech Day and I think of sweat, and I think of the tidal wave of relief that I felt afterwards, and then feeling so proud of myself that I had gotten through this. That’s why it’s visceral and I think that’s why people still do it.”
Connor Waterous ’10
Speech Day has evolved over the years. Initially, it was a traditional public speaking competition with only one category: Persuasive Speech. By the 1980s, it had evolved into a full-day event that allowed students to engage in various public speaking categories, the most recent addition being Original Spoken Word Poetry.
The inaugural winners of both Cristall Cups, Rickie and Kenneth, would no doubt be proud that an event they participated in 1948 remains, three-quarters of a century later, one of our most cherished traditions at STS.
The more kids are given these opportunities to practice being in front of other people – because they’re prepared in so many other ways – they come out of STS prepared for anything. That’s the plan, prepare the entire person, right? And I think that Speech Day is the cherry on top of showcasing that preparedness.
The students that can pause, really learn their phrasing, have different levels in their speaking voice; dynamics, range, they are grounded and not going side to side on their feet – those kids are always going to stand out.
The incredible vulnerability and strength these kids display is the reason I come back to judge, year after year. It’s something that society could benefit from…you learn so much about how to be an actual human watching other people be human. They’re displaying all these different little intimacies about their experience. They’re not picking a topic that doesn’t mean something to them, and the more it means the more it shines.”
Aimee-Jo Benoit ’97
Published in Optimum 2023 | Where Tomorrow Begins
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