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 MarvinImagine 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.

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?

Igniters Power Play!

Our meeting, on Tuesday scored with Secretary Emma as Toastmaster with a high-energy, hockey-themed night. Everyone really embraced the theme, from the jerseys to the hockey puck President Marvin brought. Ali, the Vice President of Education, joined in the spirit wearing a Calgary Flames jersey. 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! 

Every Drop Counts!

This Toastmasters meeting on Zoom focused on water conservation, by the recent Calgary water main break. 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 Better Speakers Series 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 Mentoring Coordinator was the ah counter Our Ah-Counter was busy tallying every “ah,” “um,” and “you know”proving that pauses make a difference!

Building Community, One Story at a Time

On Nov 18 on Zoom,  our Toastmasters meeting wrapped us in the spirit of community—the ways we show up, support one another, and make a difference. Our Toastmaster Elaine set the theme beautifully, sharing how each of us plays a part in helping others inside and outside the club. She is passionate about helping others and inspires all of us!

We were moved by a heartfelt eulogy from Mona, honouring her sister-in-law with touching memories and unexpected laughter. The standout moment? A train ride, a suitcase bursting open, and confetti cascading everywhere much to the conductor’s disapproval and to our delight.

Nandini reminded us how storytelling continues beyond the meeting room. She showcased the power of blogging on our club website Igniting Spirits. Marvin our tech guru helped with sharing on Powerpoint celebrating achievements like Darlene achieving  Level 4 Pathways, capturing the joy of our costumes at our fun Halloween meeting, and highlighting the inspiration sparked by Emma finishing her Path.

During the spontaneous part of our meeting, Yvonne shared how she leaves community better. Emma shared how she is building community at the gym. Our guest confidently shared that community and family are important like water and air. 

It was a meeting filled with heart, humour, and the reminder that every story we share connects our community a little more deeply.

Laugh, Learn, and Level Up!

Join Us for the Humor & Evaluation Showcase!

If you’re looking for an evening that’s equal parts fun and learning, our Humor & Evaluation Showcase is coming, and it’s the perfect blend of entertainment and skill-building.

Igniters has 6 - 8 members all willing to learn to be better storytellers and add more laughs. Getting credit for educational goals in Pathways.

It’s a chance to hear storytelling and how humor can elevate communication. Helpful evaluations to transform the way we speak, lead, and connect.

It’s an evening designed to inspire, energize, and remind us all that growth doesn’t have to be serious it can be fun!

Why you should attend

⭐Laughs! 
⭐Learn tips for giving supportive and more powerful evaluations
⭐Cheer on speakers taking risks and stretching their skills
⭐You’ll leave with stories, ideas, and tips to build your own communication abilities

Date: Nov 25, 2025

Location: Parkdale Nifty Fifties - 3512 5 Ave NW. Fee Parking in the lot and street.

Time: 6:30 pm Potluck

          7 - 9 pm Showcase

RSVP: info@igniterstm.ca

Food, networking, and a fun evening.

Join us, cheer loudly, learn intentionally, and leave feeling twice as relaxed as when you arrived!

See you at the Showcase! 

VPPR Nandini

Achievements!

Congratulations Emma! On Tuesday, Nov. 11, she completed her final “Reflect on Your Path” speech. She has officially finished the Presentation Mastery Path through hard work, determination, and perseverance.

 

Igniters honored her achievement with a standing ovation and celebrated this incredible milestone!

Glen, as her evaluator offered encouraging suggestions and excellent tips on how to use notes and the lectern effectively. He shared practical guidance on organizing notes, referring to them smoothly, and maintaining a strong audience connection.

Trish, our Treasurer bravely stepped out of her comfort zone and took on the role of Toastmaster. She led with a beautiful smile, genuine confidence, and the openness to ask for help when needed. Our club encourages members to embrace leadership roles and develop their skills each time. We can’t wait to see you shine as Toastmaster again!

During introductions, Trish invited members to share what they were grateful for, sparking thoughtful reflection.The responses were heartwarming and uplifting, including gratitude for living in Canada, freedom, and honoring the veterans who sacrificed their lives. For the thought - Lenore honored her father and brother and the value they brought.

Our club was thrilled to welcome a passionate guest speaker Zahra from Spoken Word Club. She delivered an enlightening Level 3 speech Inspire Your Audience passionately encouraging everyone to let their "Inner Warrior" shine. Her evaluator Nandini wrapped it all up with feedback using the three C’s: capabilities, changes, and what truly gave her chills!

Nandini - VPPR