Thursday, July 16, 2026

Catch Some Rays... Catch Some Confidence!

Mona - passionate Mentoring
Coordinator. Congrats on
winning Table Topics!

Summer is the season to grow, stretch, and shine and that's exactly what happened at Igniters!

On July 14, our new President Yvonne kicked off her first meeting as Toastmaster with warmth, enthusiasm, and plenty of positive energy. A new guest was welcomed.

The Word of the Day was Nature, while our newest member Tamil introduced the Challenge Word: effulgent. It means radiant, brilliant, shining brightly and members wasted no time weaving both words into the introduction round.

Every role matters. Our Ah-Counter Ksenija helped us replace "ums" with confidence, while our Timer Marvin reminded us that great speeches respect the clock.

The Thought for the Day by Nandini posed a simple challenge: How will you stretch this summer? Learn a new skill? Deliver your Ice Breaker? Compete in a contest? Members were invited to email our Vice President Education Trevor with their goals because at Igniters, no one grows alone. We help each other succeed.

That theme continued as our Meeting Mentor Ali encouraged everyone to step outside their comfort zone and keep growing this summer.

First speaker Elaine "Shake It, Baby!" gave a hilarious and informative speech exploring the history of handshakes. From the bone crusher to the wet noodle to the genuine, every handshake told a story while giving the speaker a chance to shine through expressive gestures.

Our second speaker Trevor took us to Portugal, where one memorable encounter became a lesson in leadership. Understanding different leadership styles helps us connect, communicate, and lead more effectively.

Table Topics Master Lenore kept the summer spirit alive as members tackled impromptu questions about the season. Three speakers Derek, Ksenija, and Mona accepted the challenge, with our third speaker earning top honours.

Three evaluators Nandini, Diane, and Darlene offered supportive, constructive feedback, highlighting each speaker's strengths while suggesting ways to grow. At Igniters, every evaluation is a gift, helping members build confidence one speech at a time.

Another Igniters meeting. More laughter. More learning. More stretching.

See you online next week with dynamo Elaine leading the meeting.

Nandini - VP PR Committee

Monday, July 06, 2026

Step Up, Speak Up, Shine On!

If you could hop into a time machine and land in June 2027, what would make you smile and say, "Now that was a great Toastmasters year!"

That was the inspiring question our Vice President Education Trevor recently asked each member in a personalized email. Maybe your answer is earning another educational award, stepping into a leadership role, competing in a contest, mentoring a new member, delivering a speech everyone remembers—or simply staying connected to a club that makes Tuesday nights something to look forward to.

The email also included two simple reminders that can make a big difference: keep a pocket speech ready for those unexpected opportunities, and sign up for meeting roles in advance. Success loves a little preparation!

Looking for another way to grow? Join one of our enthusiastic executive members on a committee. It's a fun way to build leadership skills, share fresh ideas, and make a real difference.

President Yvonne
VP Education Trevor
VP Membership Trish
VP Public Relations Emma
Treasurer Ksenija
Secretary Marvin
Sergeant at Arms Elaine
Past President Marvin

Our members are the heart of Igniters. When everyone brings their talents, ideas, and enthusiasm, amazing things happen!

Nandini - PR Committee

Wednesday, July 01, 2026

Excellence Recognized by District Leaders

Two More Awards From the District Trio! $25 Gift Bundles each award. Way to go Igniters!! VPPR Nandini

Hello Igniters!
Congratulations! The Pathways Powerhouse Club Award honors District 42 Clubs that demonstrate exceptional commitment to the Pathways Education program by ensuring every member is actively enrolled.

This award celebrates a club's collective dedication to personal development and continuous learning, highlighting their role in fostering growth and achievement through Toastmasters' innovative pathways curriculum.

In order to receive this award, your club has 100% of their members enrolled in Pathways by June 30th of the 2025-2026 program year.

Wishing you all the best in the next Toastmasters year!

Debbie Stearns, Stacey Kaminski, and Stanley Vong

District 42 Trio

2025-2026

Hello Again Igniters Club!

Congratulations! You have earned the Calendar Champ: Early Renewal Award which recognizes clubs for staying ahead of the calendar and keeping your club's momentum strong. Your club has renewed a minimum of 8 members before September 15th AND March 15th of the 2025-2026 program year.

Wishing you the best in the year ahead.

Sincerely,

Debbie Stearns, Stacey Kaminski, and Stanley Vong

District 42 Trio

2025-2026

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Sweet Success! Year End Celebrations!

Presidents Distinguished Club!!

Some meetings are memorable. Others are truly worth celebrating!

On June 30, 0ur Year-End Celebration at Mona's brought together everything that makes our club special - friendship, laughter, learning, and recognition. We looked back on a year filled with inspiring speeches, supportive evaluations, growing leaders, and members who consistently stepped up to help one another succeed.

One of the highlights of the evening was celebrating our achievement as a President's Distinguished Club. We achieved 9/10 goals! This recognition reflects the dedication of every member who gave speeches, took on meeting roles, mentored others, invited guests, dedicated club officers and contributed to creating a welcoming environment where every member can grow.

Induction of New Officers

We were honored to welcome our incoming Division E Director Lina, who joined us to celebrate this special evening. Our Area E6 Director Diane and fellow Ignite led an enthusiastic induction of our incoming club officers for the 2026–2027 Toastmasters year.

Our Incoming President Yvonne closing message was one we'll long remember. With honesty and courage, she shared her journey with an autoimmune disease and reminded us that growth begins when we dare to take risks. The challenge is set: take the speech, accept the role, embrace the opportunity

Cheers to our Award Winners

District Awards:

President Marvin and the Awards Committee selected the award recipients. Congratualations to all the winners!

Toastmaster of the Year - Ali
Rookie of the Year (joined since January 1, 2025.) - Nora
PR or the Year - Nandini

Our unique Club Igniters Spirit of Success Awards July 2025 - June 2026:

Igniters Spirit of Success - New Member (joined since July 1, 2025.) - Derrick
Igniters Spirit of Success - Communication and Leadership - Emma
Igniters Spirit of Success - Speech Achievement - Nandini
Igniters Spirit of Success - President Choice - Yvonne
Igniters Spirit of Success - Igniting Spirits - Club vote - Elaine

Looking forward to another amazing year Igniters!

Nandini - VP PR

More Celebrations - Year End Party

Happy Birthday Lenore!

Adding to the festivities, we celebrated Lenore's birthday, making the evening even more joyful. Her sister, Darlene, brought a heartfelt card signed by the Igniters to honor this special occasion. The room was filled with laughter, warm conversation, and, of course, delicious treats that made the celebration even sweeter.

Igniters is a special club built on the power of mentoring, learning, and friends helping friends succeed. It is more than a club it is a community where growth is shared, leadership is nurtured, and every member is lifted higher by the success of others.

Where friends don’t just grow together they ignite each other’s success.

30 Years in Toastmasters - Surprise!

For three decades, President Marvin has embodied the true spirit of Toastmasters by learning, leading, and lifting others along the way. His mentee Ali delivered an inspiring toast and certificate honoring his impact as a dynamic and dedicated leader. The celebration continued with a heartfelt card shared by Nandini signed by all members, followed by a sweet finishing touch: a homemade cobbler crisp from Mona. Congratulations!

Nandini - VP PR

Sunday, June 07, 2026

Open House June 16! Go after your Goals!

Join us for our Open House on June 16!

6:45 PM – Networking and refreshments 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM – Meeting

Looking to strengthen your communication and leadership skills in a supportive and encouraging environment?

Enjoy an evening of food, fun, and friendly members while discovering how Toastmasters can help you grow both personally and professionally.

One of Igniters greatest strengths is our Mentoring Program. Whether your goal is to become a more confident speaker, a stronger leader, or simply more comfortable expressing your ideas, our experienced mentors can help you achieve your goals faster.

An inspiring evening!

John Hallet, an accomplished speaker who has competed numerous times and earned 3rd Place at the District 42 International Speech Contest in April 2026, will share one of his engaging speeches.
Ali Haider, incoming Div G Director will be delivering the final speech needed to complete Level 1 of Pathways, an exciting milestone in hisToastmasters journey.

Every speaker receives constructive feedback from skilled evaluators, demonstrating one of the most valuable aspects of Toastmasters continuous learning and improvement.

Come see why so many members say Toastmasters has transformed their confidence, communication, and leadership abilities.

Guests are always welcome. We look forward to meeting you!

Where Confidence Grows, Leaders Emerge, and Friendships Begin.

Whether you're looking to advance your career, become a more effective leader, or simply gain confidence speaking in front of others, you'll find encouragement, support, and opportunities to grow. Join us for an evening of learning, laughter, and inspiration—and discover what is possible when you invest in yourself.

Nandini VPPR

Wednesday, June 03, 2026

Splash - Tastic Meeting!

Singing in the Rain! Yvonne and Elaine

What a splash-tastic Toastmasters meeting!

Our Toastmaster Yvonne's theme Water made waves from start to finish. The Word of the Day, Growth flowed naturally throughout the meeting, while the challenge word Deluge kept everyone thinking.

Members shared how Toastmasters has helped them grow through increased confidence,stronger communication, leadership development, better listening skills,and lasting friendships.

Ali inspired us with a speech on the value of water and three lessons we can learn from it:adapt, reflect, and grow.

Derek a new member took on timer role with precision!

Lenore celebrating with Diane!

Congratulations to Diane who completed Level 1! Her W.O.W. evaluation offered thoughtful and encouraging feedback that showcased the value of supportive evaluations.

Trevor shared stellar feedback on the value of videotaping speeches, encouraging us to be kind to ourselves as we watch. His simple formula: find two strengths, one area for improvement, and two more strengths

The second half was filled with learning and laughter with Marvin as Table Topics Master. Elaine shared about her farming roots and water, and we enjoyed entertaining water-skiing stories from Darlene—including a swimsuit that didn't quite cooperate! We applauded a guest who stepped outside his comfort zone to share a story about playing in the water with a very tall friend. We finished with Emma sharing why Vancouver Island is her favorite island. Nandini offered feedback with the TAP method, recognizing what was Terrific, opportunities to Accelerate, and each speaker's unique Power

A fun, engaging meeting that reminded us all that, like water, we can adapt, reflect, and continue to grow.

Friday, May 08, 2026

Surprise!

What happens when there's a Secret Agenda? A surprise DTM celebration!

Members arrived to a beautifully decorated room, delicious potluck dishes, and one very well-kept secret. The highlight of the evening was honoring our dedicated Vice President Education, Ali, who was completely surprised as he was recognized for achieving Toastmasters' highest educational award—the Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) designation.

Trevor the Toastmaster led a dynamic meeting focussing on dealing with change. The speeches were filled with laughter, inspiration, and heartfelt tributes. As a recent DTM herself, Emma delivered a toast celebrating Ali's leadersship, and dedication. Chamila entertained us with humorous gardening adventures in Calgary involving bathrobes, shoelaces, and a crab apple tree. Diane shared her admiration for Diane Fox Carney, an accomplished leader with three master's degrees and extensive community service. Both speakers weaved in a special tribute to Ali's leadership and impact.

The celebration continued with Table Topics, where every question honored Ali's DTM journey and sparked stories, memories, and appreciation. Special guest Val shared her admiration for Ali and explained that she simply had to be there to celebrate this remarkable achievement. Tracey as quiz master added more fun by challenging the members with questions about the evening.

Congratulations Distinguished Toastmaster Ali!

Thoughtful gifts made the evening more memorable. On behalf of the club, Elaine created a creative magazine-style photo highlighting Ali's many accomplishments. Diane presented a delicious sugar-free chocolate bar, and Nandini shared a congratulatory card and other email messages filled with supportive messages.

Emma was also honored for her incredible determination to achieve her DTM last month.

The evening was a joyful celebration of friendship, service, and leadership.

Nandini VPPR

Saturday, April 25, 2026

Movie Night Lessons in Leadership

Dynamic Stars Mona & Darlene!

Lights, Camera, Action!

Our Movie Night meeting, led by action-star Toastmaster Mona, brought energy, laughter, and learning as members shared favorite films including The Art of Racing in the Rain, 51 States, Die Hard, Forrest Gump, F1, The Pursuit of Happyness, Roman Holiday, and Project Hail Mary.

Nora showed that emotional awareness deserves a starring role in everyday life, sharing how understanding our emotions strengthens communication and relationships.

Fantastic Darlene accompolishing her Engaging Humor Path! Tonight, she showed us how one strong contest speech can evolve into a 20-minute keynote. Through personal stories, she reminded us that growth has no age limit, it often accelerates in the “winter of our lives.” From learning clarinet to singing in a choir after age 40, to being inspired by her father who married at 90, she brought her journey full circle by turning her contest speeches into her book Laughter Makes You Stronger: Heartfelt Stories about Family and Life.

Action Leaders!

Our second speaker Ali took us behind the scenes of his Strategic Relations Path, sharing leadership lessons worthy of a director’s cut: start early, plan well, communicate clearly, trust your team, focus on progress, and care for yourself as a leader. He emphasized mentorship, clarity over control, and flexibility as essential leadership skills. Way to go Ali on achieving your 2nd Path!

A fun, film-filled meeting packed with lessons, laughter, and leadership takeaways where every story reminds us that growth is the real blockbuster.

VP PR Nandini

Sunday, March 22, 2026

Contests - Step Up!

We had a fabulous joint Area Contest on Tuesday night! Food, full house, and a night of learning and growth.

Congratulations to our contestants who stepped out of their comfort zone and gave their all in competing. You inspire us!

A huge thank you to all the contest officials and volunteers for running a fun, well organized meeting. I’m so grateful for all your support!

The winners of Area E6 International Speech Contest are:

* First place: Igniters Trevor with E13 Director Lina

* Second place: Igniters Darlene * Third place: Westhills Rick

The winners of Area E6 Table Topics Contest are:

* First place: Igniters Jeff with TT TM Nandini

* Second place: U Calgary TMs Shahryar

* Third place: Westhills Keith

Elaine stepped up and shared her passion and ideas in Table Topics.

The first place winners of these Area Contests will go on to the Division D and E Contest .

Div E Circle of Gold - practice and receive feedback from experienced Toastmasters.

Tues March 31 - 6pm - 8:45 pm

Nifty Fifties - 3512 5 Ave NW

Division D & E Contests

April 11, 2026

2:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Summit View United Church

3303 Capitol Hill Cres. NW Calgary, AB

If you’d like to volunteer at the contest, contact Chair Steve O'Brien.

Look forward to supporting our contestants at the Division Contest! E6 Area Director Diane

Photos: Ali

Tuesday, March 03, 2026

Igniters Contest Night – What an Incredible Evening!

What a night at Igniters! This past Tuesday Feb 24, our club was filled with energy, laughter, powerful stories, and quick-thinking brilliance. From heartfelt International Speeches to creative and entertaining Table Topics responses, the audience was inspired from start to finish.

Every contestant brought courage, preparation, and passion to the stage — and that’s what truly made the evening special.

A huge thank you to all of our volunteers who made the contest run smoothly. From judges to timers to organizers, your leadership behind the scenes made this event a success!

International Speech Contest Results

Darlene Davies - first

Trevor Dreher - second

Jeff Knight - third

Table Topics Contest Results

Jeff Knight - first

Elaine Moses - second

Emma Glover - third

Congratulations to our top two winners in each contest who will be advancing to the Area Contest. We are proud of you and can’t wait to cheer you on!

⸻

E6 Area Contest Details

Tuesday, March 17

Briefing: 5:45 PM

6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Parkdale Community Association – Nifty Fifties

3512 5th Ave NW, Calgary, AB

Area Director: Diane Fox and Frank Fraser

Let’s come out and support our representatives as they take the next step in their Toastmasters journey!

Igniters continues to grow, inspire, and shine — and this contest was proof of that.

Ali Haider - VP Education

Nandini: Photos

Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Club Contests are coming on February 24

Igniters Club Table Topics and International Speech contests are being held on February 24. Nandini, our contest chair, is accepting names of contestants; and Marvin, our chief judge is looking for volunteers for official roles right now.

If you have ever watched a contest and wished you had the courage to compete, here are two stories that will encourage you.

The story of a novice contestant

Lenore entered the Humorous Speech Showcase in November on an impulse. She never had the courage before to do a humorous speech, but says, "I realized that I had nothing to lose. I told myself if I don't try, I won't succeed."

Lenore had an old speech that she loved - about her cat. All the way through the speech, she focused on her love for the cat. She says, "I actually interacted with the audience and enjoyed telling my story and seeing their reaction. They were laughing so much that I relaxed and had fun with the story."

Then she said, "Just standing up there and finishing the speech was a win for me."

Toastmaster Emma with Humour Champion Lenore and President Marvin

Imagine her surprise when Lenore won First Place in the Humorous Speech Showcase!

Her message to you is, "If you want to do it - just do it! You win by trying."

The story of a seasoned competitor

Diane competed in the Evaluation portion of the Showcase and won First Place with an insightful, helpful and humorous evaluation.

President Marvin and Evaluation Champion Diane

Diane has won a number of contests right up to the District level but says she continues to learn and hone her skills by entering contests. Her message to future contestants is this:

"Do you want to improve your public speaking skills even more? Enter the International Speech or Table Topics contest at the club on February 24! It’s a wonderful opportunity to stretch and grow! And you’ll have the support of Igniters walking with you as you step outside your comfort zone.

Competing has helped me become a more confident, polished speaker. Grab this incredible opportunity to reach new heights in your speaking – sign up to compete at the club contest this month!"

Whether you are a contestant or a volunteer official, you will feel the support of Igniters members and help to make this club contest one of the best."

Great advice from both our novice and seasoned competitors! If you want to help out by taking on an official role, Marvin will be glad to hear from you.

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Go After Your Goals!

This weeks, Toastmasters meeting with Yvonne as the Toastmaster took inspiration from Martin Luther King Jr., focusing on service, leadership, and how we each make our own world better. We were delighted to be joined with a return guest who shared his stories.

Igniters shared how they volunteer and give back, proving that changing the world often starts with small actions… and occasionally good coffee.

Nandini on a roll, inspired by Emma, Darlene, Diane, Trevor, Yvonne, and Ali is a Level 4 Engaging Humor Path speaker who tackled the Distinguished Club Program (DCP) and made it fun. With interactive questions and a few laughs, members shared their goals and realized they weren’t alone in restarting some of their goals.

The big takeaway? Inspired by Dr. King’s message of hope: it’s always okay to begin again. Missed goals, paused plans, or abandoned resolutions - yes you can just begin. Igniters is a place of support and encouragement. Ksenija a stellar evaluator gave helpful feedback to all the Table Topic participants.

We left reminded that Toastmasters isn’t just about better speeches. It’s about better leaders, better humans, and occasionally finding our way back on track. What goals and skills would you like work on?

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Igniters Power Play!

Our meeting, on Tuesday scored with Secretary Emma as with a high-energy, hockey-themed night. Everyone really embraced the theme, from the jerseys to the hockey puck President Marvin brought. Ali, the , joined in the spirit wearing a . Word of the day was enthusiasm and the challenge word was participation and the game was to use it the most!

E6 Area Director Diane gave an ice breaker speech her year around the sun and acronymn SPECS (social, physical, emotional, cognitve, and spiritual) Trevor shared his passion for photos, travel, and editing. Ah counter Tracey, Timer Chamila, gave us replays and Quiz Master Trish helped take our listening skills in the game to the next level.

Guest comments and announcements took us through the final period, with energy staying strong until the gavel was banged. It was a memorable session that perfectly combined learning, laughter, and the love of hockey. All in all, it was a winning combination!

Wednesday, January 07, 2026

Every Drop Counts!

This meeting on Zoom focused on water conservation, by the recent . Diane the Toastmaster chose the theme of Water Supply and the words of the day were Conserve and Detour.

Members shared practical water-saving tips, from shorter showers to running only full loads of laundry and dishes. Some admitted to fixing leaks faster and letting water “rest” between flushes, while those in boil-water areas joked they were visiting family more often. The laughter highlighted an important point: small habit changes really do add up. It was encouraging to see everyone pitching in because right now, every drop counts.

Nora, a newer member, working on Level 1 Pathways, fueled the room by sharing why protein matters and sealed the deal by demonstrating a delicious recipe. By the time the Chocolate Monkey made its appearance, we were hungry!

Nandini working on her Level 4 Pathways, shared from the and tackled Table Topics using a LEGO analogy with color-coded steps: Red answer the question, Green why, Yellow story, Blue close. Members practiced and evaluators colored their feedback, and just like LEGO bricks. Everything snapped together, making impromptu speaking fun, simple, and doable.

Lenore The Table Topics evaluator used the LEGO color system to give clear, helpful feedback. Each color highlighted a specific tip, making it easy for members to see how to improve. Mona our was the ah counter Our was busy tallying every “ah,” “um,” and “you know”proving that pauses make a difference!

Tabs