Student debate champs crowned
20 students from the St. John’s metro area participated in the Newfoundland and Labrador Speech and Debate Union Provincial Championships, an event aimed to find the best and brightest debaters of Newfoundland and Labrador. Participants partook in five debates over the course of two days, focused on issues like the role of government in business, criminal punishment, and whether or not CPR licences should be required to help another citizen in an emergency situation. This year, the NLSDU awarded the Lono award for furthering debate in Newfoundland and Labrador to Luke Battcock, a Grade 12 student from Holy Spirit High. The award is meant to recognize the efforts of individuals in Newfoundland and Labrador to encourage and enrich debate in the province. Battcock is the first ever high school recipient of the award. Leah Hewitt, a student from Holy Spirit won the top novice debater and the most improved debater for the province. Lorenzo Castro and Arjan O’brien, from Brother Rice, have been chosen to represent the province at the National Seminar — a yearly event — hosted in Ontario in October. The provincial champions for the 2017 year are Luke Battcock and Curtis Knee from Holy Spirit.