Public speaking is often called the world’s number one fear—but in 2026, more people than ever are choosing to face it head-on. In this episode, LA unpacks the global rise in public speaking lessons, the impact of AI and personal branding, and heartfelt student success stories that prove communication changes lives. Whether you’re a parent, student, or professional, this episode will inspire you to find your voice and step into your confidence.

In this episode of Stand Up and Speak, LA breaks down the 5 C’s of an Awesome Speaker — the same powerful framework used across SUAS programs to help students and professionals find their voice.

Discover why great speakers aren’t born but built, and how confidence, clarity, connection, creativity, and conviction can transform any message into something magnetic.

Whether you're preparing for a presentation, speaking on stage, or simply trying to communicate with more impact, this episode gives you practical tools, inspiring stories, and the reminder you need that your voice truly matters.

Tune in, level up, and keep shining.

The 2024–2025 Competitive Program is off to an exciting start. Our students have settled into the rhythm of the year and are already preparing for the first round of competitions. With smaller class sizes this term, each student enjoys more individual speaking time and focused coaching — a key advantage as contest season begins.

We’re kicking things off with our 4th Annual Osmow’s Prepared Speech Contest, celebrating this year’s theme: “The Future Tastes Good.” It’s a fun and creative way for students to blend persuasive speaking with imagination and humor.

The Top Quality Prepared Speech Contest will be our next major milestone, where students will showcase the growth and polish they’ve developed.

We’re also proud to announce that Miss Liza, an Ontario Certified Teacher and an outstanding educator, has been promoted to Vice Principal. Her dedication to her students, combined with her background as a personal trainer, brings both structure and inspiration to our programs.

This season’s Essay Contest invites students to reflect on “How my acts of service helped me understand what my community means to me.” It’s a thoughtful exercise in empathy and self-awareness — values that lie at the heart of confident, authentic communication.

Coming up later this winter, our competitors will take part in the Optimist Oratorical Contest, centered around the theme “The Moment I Realized I Belonged.” This event always brings out heartfelt stories and powerful messages that remind us why public speaking is such an important life skill.

Finally, we’ll be holding an Extra Help Session for the Same Speech Workshop on Saturday, November 15th, open to students who want more practice time and personalized feedback before the upcoming competitions.

Report cards for Term One will be released on January 26th, providing a snapshot of each student’s progress, achievements, and goals for the next stage of the program.

It’s been an incredible start to the year, and we can’t wait to see the creativity, courage, and confidence our students continue to show on every stage.