The IISPSC owes its origins to the inspiration of a hand full of dedicated teachers including John Aimers who, some 37 years ago, envisioned a Canadian competition which would expose talented students to a broad range of public speaking events and which would encourage fellowship among independent schools. With the support of John Messenger, the Headmaster of St. John's-Ravenscourt School, John Aimers organized the first such competition in 1982. This first tournament was such a great success that it quickly became an annual event. Over the years, non-Canadian schools have been enthusiastically welcomed and the competition has been embraced for its ability to promote friendship among students and coaches across continents as well as for the learning experience inherent in the events. It is now a tradition for the competition to move across geographic regions of North America and has even been hosted in Hong Kong. The growth and success of the IISPSC reminds us just how close-knit is the fabric of our diverse and far-flung schools.
CURRENT HOST: Deerfield and Northfield Mount Hermon, Deerfield USA Fall 2022
Armbrae Academy & King's Edgehill, Halifax, Canada Winter 2022
Mulgrave School (first ever fully virtual tournament due to global pandemic), Vancouver, Canada 2020
Buckingham Browne & Nichols + Hotchkiss School, Boston, USA 2019
St. Clement's, Toronto, Canada 2018
Gray Academy & Balmoral Hall School, Winnipeg, Canada 2017
Collingwood School, Vancouver, Canada 2016
The York School, Toronto, Canada 2015
Renaissance College, Hong Kong 2014
The Country Day School, King City, Canada 2013
Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School, Okotoks, Canada 2012 (have hosted twice)
Ashbury College, Ottawa, Canada 2011
The York House School 2010
Trinity College School, Port Hope, Canada 2009
Deerfield Academy, Massachusetts, USA 2008
Queen Anne School, Caversham, UK 2007
St. Andrew's College, Aurora, Canada 2006
Selwyn House, Montreal, Canada 2005
Ridley College, Toronto, Canada 2004
Crofton House, Vancouver, Canada 2003
Appleby College, Oakville, Canada 2002
St. John's Ravenscourt, Winnipeg, Canada 2001
Royal St. George's, Toronto, Canada 2000
Strathcona Tweedsmuir, Okotoks, Canada 1999
St. George's, Vancouver, Canada 1998
Lower Canada College, Montreal, Canada 1997
Branksome Hall, Toronto, Canada 1996
Roxbury Latin School, Boston, USA 1995
Glenlyon-Norfolk School, Victoria, Canada 1994
King's-Edgehill School, Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada 1993
Trinity College School, Port-Hope, Canada 1992
Balmoral Hall School, Winnipeg, Canada 1991
St. Michael's University School, Victoria, Canada 1990
Roxbury Latin School, Boston, USA 1989
Selwyn House/St. George's School of Montreal/Miss Edgar's and Miss Cramp's School, Montreal, Canada 1988
Branksome Hall, Toronto, Canada 1987
Queen Margaret's School, Duncan, Canada 1986
St. John's-Kilmarnock School, Breslau, Canada 1985
Appleby College, Oakville, Canada 1984
St. John's-Ravenscourt School, Winnipeg, Canada 1983
St. John's-Ravenscourt School, Winnipeg, Canada 1982
CURRENT HOST: Deerfield and Northfield Mount Hermon, Deerfield USA Fall 2022
Armbrae Academy & King's Edgehill, Halifax, Canada Winter 2022
Mulgrave School (first ever fully virtual tournament due to global pandemic), Vancouver, Canada 2020
Buckingham Browne & Nichols + Hotchkiss School, Boston, USA 2019
St. Clement's, Toronto, Canada 2018
Gray Academy & Balmoral Hall School, Winnipeg, Canada 2017
Collingwood School, Vancouver, Canada 2016
The York School, Toronto, Canada 2015
Renaissance College, Hong Kong 2014
The Country Day School, King City, Canada 2013
Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School, Okotoks, Canada 2012 (have hosted twice)
Ashbury College, Ottawa, Canada 2011
The York House School 2010
Trinity College School, Port Hope, Canada 2009
Deerfield Academy, Massachusetts, USA 2008
Queen Anne School, Caversham, UK 2007
St. Andrew's College, Aurora, Canada 2006
Selwyn House, Montreal, Canada 2005
Ridley College, Toronto, Canada 2004
Crofton House, Vancouver, Canada 2003
Appleby College, Oakville, Canada 2002
St. John's Ravenscourt, Winnipeg, Canada 2001
Royal St. George's, Toronto, Canada 2000
Strathcona Tweedsmuir, Okotoks, Canada 1999
St. George's, Vancouver, Canada 1998
Lower Canada College, Montreal, Canada 1997
Branksome Hall, Toronto, Canada 1996
Roxbury Latin School, Boston, USA 1995
Glenlyon-Norfolk School, Victoria, Canada 1994
King's-Edgehill School, Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada 1993
Trinity College School, Port-Hope, Canada 1992
Balmoral Hall School, Winnipeg, Canada 1991
St. Michael's University School, Victoria, Canada 1990
Roxbury Latin School, Boston, USA 1989
Selwyn House/St. George's School of Montreal/Miss Edgar's and Miss Cramp's School, Montreal, Canada 1988
Branksome Hall, Toronto, Canada 1987
Queen Margaret's School, Duncan, Canada 1986
St. John's-Kilmarnock School, Breslau, Canada 1985
Appleby College, Oakville, Canada 1984
St. John's-Ravenscourt School, Winnipeg, Canada 1983
St. John's-Ravenscourt School, Winnipeg, Canada 1982
