The Core Value of Practicing Debate
Debate class of LinkedKey offers students a platform to master the delivery of rational, coherent arguments. It enables them to create a compelling narrative by utilizing rhetorical eloquence; instills a great sense of poise and self-confidence and teaches the skills of researching, organizing, and presenting information in a persuasive format.
Why Us
Our instructors are seasoned debaters themselves; collectively, they have debated at hundreds of internationally-renowned tournaments all over the world. They have competed against some of the best debaters of their time and are now passionate in delivering a comprehensive and engaging curriculum to students all across Ontario. As a school, our goal starts and ends with providing students with insightful and eye-opening experiences so that they can pursue their own passions and dreams in the future.
Debate Classes
Level 1
Introduction to the debate way of thinking and style
Level 2
Becoming comfortable with debate, introducing more complicated topics
Level 3
Elevating the students' performance
Level 4
Preparing for local competition
Level 5
Preparing for national and international levels
Our Debate Tournaments and Awards
McGill Bonanza Debate Tournament - March 2023
Champion: Jerry Zh.
Top Team: Sarah L. and Caylee P.
Top Speaker: Sarah L.
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McMaster Debate Tournament - March 2023
Champion: Xikai F. and Dennis L.
Top Team: Xikai F. and Dennis L.
Top Speaker: Chris H.
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Western Winter Debate Tournament - Feb 2023
Junior Champion: Anegla Q.
8th Team: Angela Q. and Grace Q.
8th Speaker: Angela Q.
4th Jr Team: Angela Q.
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Hart House Debate Tournament - Feb 2023
Champion: Rally L.
Top Jr Speaker: Wenqi S.
Finalist: Melissa P., Andrew L., Jin Zh.
2nd Team: Crystal Zh.
3rd Team: Caylee P.
4th Team: Jin Zh.
5th Team: Hao N.
10th Team: Melissa P. and Andrew L.
4th Speaker: Grace L.
6th Speaker: Hao N.
6th Jr Team: Ella F.
8th Jr Team: Evan G.
6th Jr Speaker: Angela Q.
8th Jr Speaker: Jayden L.
Queen's National HS Debate Tournament - March 2023
Champion: Neil Y. and Eddy Zh.
Top Jr Team: Hannah L. and Alex J.
Finalist: Sarah L., Eddy Zh., Neil Y.
2nd Team: Jin Zh.
3rd Team: Neil Y. and Eddy Zh.
4th Team: Sarah L.
5th Team: Jerry Zh.
7th Team: Andy L. and Rebecca L.
9th Team: Hannah L. and Alex J.
10th Team: Andy Zh.
3rd Speaker: Jin Zh.
4th Speaker: Sophie G., Andy L.
7th Speaker: Rebecca L., Stephaine Ch., Steven Ch., Kelvin F.
6th Jr Team: Nathan Y.
8th Jr Team: Shirly Y.
2nd Jr Speaker: Alex J.
4th Jr Speaker: Angela Q., Hannah L.
7th Jr Speaker: Jeanne H., Shirley Y.
Our Instructors
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Brent S.Head Coach, Debate
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Tian Zhi Y.Coach, Debate
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Jun K.Coach, Debate
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Chris B.Coach, Debate
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DJCoach, Debate
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James Y.Coach, Debate
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Zack H.Coach, Debate
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Melissa GCoach, Debate
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Deborah W.Coach, Debate
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MeehakkCoach, Debate
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Jenny H.Coach, Debate
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Michelle T.Instructor, Chemistry

Brent S.
Brent's Bio
Brent has been teaching and competing at debate tournaments for more than 7 years. As a debater, Brent competed for Western University and the University of Toronto, achieving multiple speaker awards and tournament victories in different debate styles both in Canada and abroad. Brent has taught and trained debaters of all ages, ranging from students as young as grade 6 to some of the best university debaters in Canada and the United States. As a debater and instructor, Brent has a wide range of experience in debate and is well respected in the high school and university debating circuits throughout North America.

Tian Zhi Y.
Tianzhi Yang (pronounced tan-zee) graduated from the Schulich School of Business with a degree in Business Administration and has been debating for over 8 years. She was the former President of York Debate Society and was on the White Oak’s Debate executive team. As a debater, she has broken at numerous university debate competitions at University of Toronto, McGill, Queens, and more. During her time at YDS she has served as the Tournament Director for York’s High School Debate Tournament and the Canadian High School Women’s Debate Championships.

Jun K.
Jun has been debating for over 8 years, dedicating many hours to competing, coaching, and organizing many tournaments. He has placed in the top 8 in North America after reaching the Semi-Finals of the North American University Debating Championships and was also in the grand finals of the Canadian Parliamentary National Championships. As a coach, Jun has been teaching for more than 3 years teaching students across Canada and has previously served as the President of the University of Western Ontario Debate Society.

Chris B.
Chris Braithwaite is a long-time member and former president of the University of Waterloo Debate Society. He graduated from UW with a degree in Philosophy and a minor in Economics. As a debater, he was a Central Canadian Semifinalist and a North American University Debating Championships quarterfinalist. He broke at numerous other competitions as a competitor as well.
As a judge, he has served on the adjudication cores of Seagram, Leger, and Mac Pro-Am. He has also broken as a judge at HHIV, BP Champs, and numerous other majour North American tournaments.
Chris has experience training and giving feedback to high school and university level debaters for more than 6 years.

DJ
Dj is coach and former assistant coach of Indian Debate Team. As a debater,he has represented Indian Debate Team to attend multiple Debate Tournement around the world in 2016-2018.
He was the first ever English as a Second Language speaker to be adjudged best speaker in the world in 2018.
In 2019,he leaded Indian Debate Team to win The Champion of 2019 WSDC(World School Debate Championship).

James Y.
James Y. is a DECA coach for LinkedKey. He has had 3 cumulative years of experience and has qualified for ICDC (International Career Development Conference) in two of those years. In his Grade 11 year he placed in the Top 10 at ICDC with the highest scores in the preliminary round. He has also taught DECA to novice competitors both as a club executive and as a professional coach.
He will bring his experience as a competitor and as a coach to the classroom.

Zack H.
Zack H.is currently pursuing his life science degree at McMaster University. During his high school debating career, Zack is a Western semi-finalist and top 10 speaker, Waterloo semi-finalist, and 14th speaker and part of the 3rd breaking team at Hart House. Additionally, he has breaks at various high school tournaments, including Thornhill and Iroquois Ridge. As a university debater, Zack is a semi-finalist and top 10 speaker at the Central Novice Tournament, and 6th novice team at the Hart House Intervarsity. Zack is also an experienced judge, having judged tournaments including Thornhill, Iroquois Ridge, Appleby Novice, and the McMaster Pro-Am Tournament, where he judged the final. Zack has also spent his years in debate coaching younger debaters at the high school and university levels.

Melissa G
Melissa, Debate Coach at LinkedKey. Having been a competitive debater for 7 years, her accomplishments include having finalled at NAW*DC in 2019 (North American Womxn and Gender Minorities Debating Championship), semifinalling at CP Nationals in 2019 and winning novice NAUDC in 2017 (North American University Debating Championship). She also serves as a debate coach at a private Toronto High School for the past year, helping students to improve in tab rankings by over 100 spots each. Melissa is also very passionate about English, spearheading an English tutoring program at her high school, and winning the award for Writer’s Craft for her creative writing.

Deborah W.
Deborah W. is a third-year student at Trinity College in the University of Toronto. Under a full scholarship, she is pursuing a specialist degree in Political Science with a focus on the political and economic development in the Global South. She is a competitive debater for the Hart House Debating Club and notably one of the currently most successful ones. Some of her achievements include having made an appearance in the grand finals and being crowned the runner-up of the Oxford University Intervarsity Debating Championship in Oxford, England. She was also a part of the top 16 breaking teams at the coveted World Universities Debating Championship in Bangkok, Thailand, making it as a quarterfinalist.
On top of being a full-time student and debater, Deborah spends her limited giving back to the community by coaching a debate team in a local high school here in Toronto. Under her tutelage, a team from The York School successfully broke second at the Cambridge Schools Championship held at Cambridge University, England.

Meehakk
Meehakk(pronounced meh-hek) is a Political Science major that graduated from the University of Waterloo. She has been involved in debate throughout her time at university. She was the President of the Waterloo debate society for three years, where she was responsible for training new debaters and frequently gave in-depth knowledge seminars. Meehakk has a number of achievements in debate as a speaker and a judge. Most recently, she was one of the key organizers and chief adjudicators of 2020 LinkedKey Open Debate Tournament.

Jenny H.
Jenny has been in competitive debate for 8+ years, having broken at numerous national as well as international competitions with various speaker awards and team awards. In university, she was the head of training at McMaster Debate and worked to establish some of Hamilton’s first youth debate programs. As a former White Oaks Debate Executive, Jenny has coached students of various age groups through summer workshops and year-round programs in many different formats of debate and public speaking. Additionally, Jenny has demonstrated high academic achievement, coming in at the top of her class in IB Biology, Geography, and History. Academically, Jenny holds a MSc Global Health and completed her undergraduate at McMaster University in Health Science with interests in knowledge translation, anatomy & physiology, and intersectional health advocacy. She is currently working with global NGOs to support the World Health Organization in research knowledge translation.

Michelle T.
Michelle Tan graduated from the Faculty of Science at the University of Waterloo, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Science and Business with a specialization in Chemistry. Her extensive industry background spans the fields of applied chemistry and scientific production. She has lots of experience in chemistry and math tutoring and being a summer camp counselor for secondary and elementary students. Michelle’s teaching concept leans towards using the practical application of chemical knowledge in real-life situations and technology, igniting students’ understanding of chemistry and their passion for science. She excels at providing students with targeted exam preparation and academic planning for university. Michelle is a dynamic, patient, dedicated and insightful teacher who cares about the mental health development of students. She hopes that students find the joy of learning in their study of chemistry.