Due to the current pandemic, the OPS Youth Gavel Club is no longer running in-person meetings.

Please visit: YouthsOnline.ca for our virtual program tailored to help youths hone in their public speaking, leadership, and interpersonal skills in a fun and supportive learning environment.

Welcome to Ottawa’s first Toastmasters Parents Club and Youth Gavel Club pair! We are a venue for youths and parents to practice public speaking and leadership skills. Overtime, members will gain self-confidence, find their voice, and be able to influence the world around them. Today’s world is changing so quickly, we need leaders to keep things right.

Toastmasters has been around since 1924, with clubs in over 140 countries, and has helped millions of people over the years with communications and leadership skills. Industry leaders like Google, Apple, Amazon, AT&T, Bank of America, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, UPS, etc. are using the Toastmasters International program to develop and enhance these skills as well as the confidence of their employees.

There are many benefits for parents; ranging from improving family communications, to improving career opportunities, to self development, to sharing parenting skills (and challenges) with other parents, to improving your community, networking, and so on. For kids, we already know the benefits of empowering them with communications skills and leadership skills. For families, the benefit is a common communication channel between the parent and child. Imagine sitting around the dinner table and having fun practicing answering each other’s table topics questions, or practice giving and receiving feedback in a positive way that encourages the parent or the youth when trying to resolve conflict. These are just some ideas on the possibilities.

We welcome youths who are 9-17 years old. Our focus is on fun while gaining valuable experiences for each member’s future!

Our clubs run in sessions (Fall, Winter, Spring).

Thank you for your interest! We look forward to seeing you soon!

Sui Leung

Youth Gavel Club Counsellor