We traveled all over during our Igniters meeting on Tuesday July 21^st. Our toastmaster Elaine started the expedition right at 7:00 PM with the theme worldly travel. The word of the day was travel and our Grammarian Emma introduced the challenge word  - expedition.  

We buckled our seatbelts immediately for our smooth travels over our 1.5 hour expedition. And what an expedition it was! We started with a mentor moment by Jey who spoke about our strong mentoring program in Igniters where he emphasized mentoring fosters growth for both the mentors and the mentees as both parties share and learn while standing shoulder to shoulder.

We then switched gears to listen to Derrick’s icebreaker speech where he regaled us with stories of his childhood in Nova Scotia and how his desire to ski compelled him to move to Calgary where he met his future wife who turned out to also be from Nova Scotia. We also got to hear about how he proposed to his soon to be wife while cycling across Canada in 80 days. 

We were then treated to a speech by our Mentoring Coordinator Mona who spoke about her expeditions with leadership where we learned that having a challenge stirred leadership in her. She was a District Director of District 42, which developed her listening skills, and in turn helped her establish her own counselling business. Skills developed in Toastmasters transfer to our personal and professional lives. A key message she shared is:

Are you showing that you’re listening to the words they express?

Are you hearing their words?

People want to be heard, understood, and validated.

Then we set off on a journey with Table Topics! Our Table Topics Master, Trish, challenged speakers with three adventurous travel questions Jey defended his choice of a window seat as though his life depended on it. His reason? He's hoping to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights someday.

Chamila shared how a quick trip for gas turned into an unexpected expedition after a traffic jam, hailstorm, and a check engine light transformed a simple errand into a repair adventure. Derek recalled a travel mishap in France that ended on a heartwarming note. After leaving his bike outside while searching for a campsite, a kind Frenchman invited him to pitch his tent in his yard instead.

As always, members voted for the Table Topics winner, and this time the honors went to Jey. Congratulations, Jey and may your next window seat come with a dazzling display of the Northern Lights!

Our club is blessed with excellent speech evaluators. First, we had Ali evaluating Derek’s Icebreaker speech , then Jey evaluated Mona’s speech and Marvin was our Table Topics Evaluator. Our General Evaluator was Ksenija. Everyone gave positive and constructive feedback to help participants learn and grow.

We enjoyed traveling via the stories shared and some members even shared photos of their world travels via their zoom backgrounds. We enjoyed Emma’s backgrounds of Amsterdam, Bratislava, Zurich, and London.

Our next meeting is Tuesday July 28 and is in-person at Parkdale Community Association located at  3512 5 Ave NW. All are welcome! We start at 7pm. Emma will be Toastmaster with a theme on beating the heat. We will have a speech from Diane and our Division E Director, Lina, has a special announcement. Come and join in the fun!

VP PR Emma

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

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

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