2023 LinkedKey Open Debate Tournament

The LinkedKey Debate Tournament is an annual high school debate tournament held by LinkedKey for the purpose of promoting debate and LinkedKey among high school debaters. The LinkedKey Debate tournament will grant students an opportunity to practice their public speaking and argumentation skills while receiving top-level feedback from some of the best judges in Canadian high school debating.

The event includes five rounds of debate for junior and senior debaters, with two playoff rounds for those who qualify, including a junior final. On-campus catering is provided, and all food received by the debaters is paid for through their registration fees. We invite middle school and high school debaters from across the country to attend. The tournament will be judged by LinkedKey debate coaches and some excellent guest judges, including the President of York Debate Society and current members of team Canada debating, as well as numerous others we will announce at a later date.

2023 LinkedKey Open Debate Tournament

Thank you for coming out to participate 2023 LinkedKey Open Debate Tournament. Congratulations to the champions Tanush A. and Julian Zh.! Congratulations to the junior champions Anthony L. and Luke Zh.!

It was a pleasure to get to watch so many talented young people debate on different topics and you all acquired yourselves fabulously. We’d also like to extend our gratitude to the volunteer judges that spent their free time on a weekend judging and helping run the tournament. Without their efforts the tournament would not have been possible. Thanks again for coming out and we hope all of you enjoy your summers!
See you all 2024 LinkedKey Open Debate Tournament!

Gallery of 2019 LinkedKey Open Debate Tournament Sherwood

2019 LinkedKey Open Debate Tournament Sherwood Official Video Review

Our Judge

Brent S.

Brent S.

Head Coach, Debate
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.

Jenny H.

Jenny H.

Coach, Debate

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.

Tian Zhi Y.

Tian Zhi Y.

Coach, Debate

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.

Matt T.

Matt T.

Head Coach, Debate

Matt is a product of the University of Toronto’s English, Philosophy, and Sociology programs, he is well versed in multiple writing disciplines and carries a long tradition of high standards and strong results into the classroom. Matt has taught students of all ages and skill levels how to elevate their written work, inspiring a passion for writing that his students carry with them through post secondary education and into their professional lives. His expectations are high but fair, Matt goes to great lengths to adapt his lessons to accommodate the needs of individual students and ensure their success, through patience and persistence he instills in his class not just a love of writing, but also the discipline required to do it well.