Junior Provincial Debating Championship

Junior High Provincial Debating Championship 

Grades 8 and 9 

January 30, 2026 

Dear Debate Coaches: 

Balmoral Hall School invites you to the 2026 Junior High Provincial Debating Championship for Grade 8 and Grade 9 students. 

Date:

Sunday, March 15th, 2026 

Location: Balmoral Hall School, 630 Westminster Avenue 

Times:  

Competitor & Judge Registration 11:45 AM - 12:00 PM  

Briefing for Judges 12:20 PM – 12:50 PM   

All judges must attend the briefing to receive the scoring guidelines used at this tournament.  

Awards Approximately 5:15 PM 

There will be three impromptu rounds of parliamentary debate. The preparation time will be 20 minutes. The government will be required to share the definition during the first 5 minutes of preparation.  

Speaking times will be a maximum of 6 minutes for constructive speeches and 3 minutes for rebuttals. There is no minimum time. Points of Information are allowed and expected during constructive speeches, with 1 minute of protected time on either end of the speech. Heckling is not allowed. There will NOT be a novice category at this tournament.  

Snacks will be provided. Awards will be presented at approximately 5:15 PM. 

Schools may send a maximum of 3 teams to the Manitoba Junior Provincials at Balmoral Hall, plus 1 extra team for each MSDA tournament they have held or will hold this year. Depending upon numbers, it may be possible to send additional teams. If you would like to do so, please indicate this on the registration document. We will respond regarding the potential of sending additional teams by March 2nd.  

Schools are required to bring one judge per team. If you are bringing student judges, they must be experienced debaters in grade 11 or 12, as we do not have a novice category. Experienced Grade 10 debaters are permitted to judge with prior approval from the tournament organizer. If you are able to bring additional judges, please let me know so I can ensure there are an adequate number of judges for the tournament. Copies of the rules are available on the Manitoba Speech and Debate Association website. https://sites.google.com/site/manitobadebate/resources-for-debaters-and-coaches/rules-and-scoresheets/parliamentary-debate-rules 

Please note that once motions have been released, competitors will not be permitted to use cell phones. We kindly encourage all teams to bring their own non-cellphone timing device for use during preparation and rounds. To ensure fairness for everyone, any student found with a cell phone during prep time or during the round may risk disqualification. Thank you for helping us maintain a positive and equitable competition environment. 

The top teams in this competition will represent Manitoba at the Asper Cup Junior National Debate Championships in Winnipeg from May 8 to May 10. Selection of teams for the nationals is based on the rule that no school can send more than 1 team until all schools with teams in the top half of the tournament are sending 1 team. After that, any remaining places will be filled by teams based solely on their rank in the tournament regardless of school. 

Please complete your registration by accessing the following link and completing the form. The deadline for registration is February 24th. Please email me if you have any questions, or phone me at 784-1600. We look forward to seeing you at the 2025/26 Junior High Provincial Debating Championships. 

Registration Forms:  

School Participation Registration Form:  

School Registration Form Here 

Judge Registration Form:  

Register Here 

Sincerely, 

Paula Fleury,  

Balmoral Hall School Speech & Debate Program Coordinator 

pfleury@balmoralhall.ca  

Junior High Provincial Debating Championship 

Balmoral Hall School, Sunday, March 15th, 2026 

AGENDA 

11:45 – 12:00 p.m.

Registration for Competitors & Judges in the Atrium at Balmoral Hall School 

11:45 – 12:15 p.m.

Moderator Briefing – Library 

12:20 – 12:50 p.m.     

Judges’ Briefing – Room 107 

12:20 – 12:30 p.m.     

Competitor Briefing – Sifton Family Theatre  

Please go to the Sifton Family Theatre. You will receive your room assignment as part of the briefing. Your room assignment paper will indicate whether you are the government or opposition side. 

12:30 – 12:55 pm

Round I - 20 Minute Impromptu Preparation – Motion Release in Theatre 

12:55 – 1:50 p.m.

Round I Debate 

1:50 – 2:00 pm

Break  

2:00 – 2:25 p.m.

Round II - 20 Minute Impromptu Preparation – Motion Release in Theatre 

2:25 – 3:15 p.m.

Round II Debate 

3:15 – 3:25 p.m.

Break 

3:25 – 3:50 p.m.

Round III - 20 Minute Impromptu Preparation – Motion Release in Theatre 

3:50 – 4:40 p.m.

Round III Debate 

5:15 p.m.

Awards – Sifton Family Theatre