Speakers shine at John Abbott’s first intercollegiate contest

By Ian Howarth

Students from Montreal’s four major public English language CEGEPs participated in John Abbott’s first annual intercollegiate public speaking contest held Monday at the Ste. Anne de Bellevue school.

Two students from each English language CEGEP — Dawson, Vanier, Champlain and John Abbott — spoke on subjects ranging from planning for success to stereotypes in the music industry. The event, organized by the faculty of Business Administration at John Abbott, has been until this year, an internal event for the past six years. The head of the Business Administration department, Remi Cardinal, and teacher Laura Ricotta thought it was as good a time as any to give the competition a greater scope. “It has been a John Abbott event until now,” said Cardinal. “But when Laura (Ricotta) joined our staff two years ago, it was she who suggested we involve other CEGEPs. In fact, next year we intend to involve some francophone schools as well, using a bilingual format.”

In the end, it was the judges’ decision that Vanier’s Julia Ferreira’s speech on stereotypes in the music industry was top notch, garnering her the first prize trophy and sponsor’s gift. The first-year Business Administration and marketing student is no stranger to the front of the class, having competed in public speaking contests in her last two years at Laurenhill Academy in St. Laurent. “I took acting classes, I like to speak my mind,” she said. John Abbott’s Jordan Sazant took second place and the People’s Choice Award, voted on by members of the audience as being the speech with the most impact and influence. His topic, Injustice in America, struck a chord with the judges and audience. Third, on the subject of planning for success, was Jessica Ciccarello from Dawson College in Montreal.

The organizational machinery for the event went into action in early September, headed up by Ricotta and Cardinal, along with teaching assistants and former public speaking winners Sarah Khan and Jennifer Bérubé. Khan and Bérubé acted as coaches, along with guidance from Ricotta, in getting students prepared for the event. “Besides the obvious things like making eye contact and not fidgeting, it is important that political correctness and cultural sensitivity are taken into account by speakers,” said Ricotta. As teaching assistants for the course taught by Cardinal and Ricotta, they play an important role in grooming potential public speakers. “Sometimes it’s better for other students to take advice from their peers,” said Khan.

Cardinal designed and taught the public speaking course, part of the Business Administration curriculum at John Abbott before Ricotta took over two years ago, as one that would give students practical skills. “The number one thing employers are looking for is the ability of candidates to communicate,” he said. “The course is a real confidence booster for students. The speeches here today indicate these students, winners or not, have a bright future.”