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:Emoji
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: 
  1. Igniters Spirit of Success - New Member (joined since July 1, 2025.) - Derrick
  2. Igniters Spirit of Success - Communication and Leadership - Emma
  3. Igniters Spirit of Success - Speech Achievement - Nandini
  4. Igniters Spirit of Success - President Choice - Yvonne 
  5. 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


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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

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