Students at YRDSB were among the top performers at the 41st annual Concours d’art oratoire (public speaking competition) put on by Canadian Parents for French. The competition is known as Canada’s French Public Speaking Contest.
The competition has four distinct categories that students can compete in, depending on their grade. These include: Core, Extended, Immersion and Francophone.
YRDSB students collectively earned five first place finishes, one second place finish and one third place finish. The students who placed are:
Name | Category | Placement | School |
|---|---|---|---|
Shruti Dubey | French Core: Grade 9-10 Traditional Category | 1st | Woodbridge College |
Medhansh Shokeen | French Extended: Grade 9-10 Impromptu Category | 1st | Milliken Mills High School |
Fiona Shen | French Core: Grade 11-12 Traditional Category | 3rd | Bur Oak Secondary School |
Maya Ma | French Immersion: Grade 11-12 Traditional Category | 2nd | Thornlea Secondary School |
Sophie Ding | French Core: Grade 11-12 Impromptu Category | 1st | Milliken Mills High School |
Sau Man (Evelyn) Wong | French Extended: Grade 11-12 Impromptu Category | 1st | Bayview Secondary School |
Aarav Potdar | French Immersion: Grade 11-12 Impromptu Category | 1st | Milliken Mills High School |
“At MMHS, we are incredibly proud of our French language program and the opportunities that our teachers create for our students. The excellence that our students achieved at the Concours d'art oratoire competition is a direct connection to the rich collaborative spirit of our school community, the rigour and inclusivity of the approaches to learning, as well as the dedication of our staff and students. We deeply value the importance of language acquisition and these valuable learning opportunities are a reflection of the students' passion and ability to apply their knowledge in an authentic way,” said Milliken Mills High School Principal Mark Melnyk, who had three students collect first place honours.
“The Concours d’Art Oratoire, celebrates student voice and achievement across Ontario. This year, York Region District School Board students demonstrated exceptional confidence and communication skills as they expressed their ideas in French on a public stage. Participation in events like this highlights the value of French language, which helps students develop critical thinking, cultural awareness, and strong communication skills. In today’s global workforce, plurilingualism is a powerful asset—opening doors to diverse career opportunities and enabling students to engage meaningfully in both local and international contexts. Please join us in congratulating this year's 2025-2026 provincial winners for the Concours d'Art Oratoire,” said French as a Second Language Curriculum Consultant Grace Fu.
“As a French language teacher, my hope has always been for students to see language learning as a life skill that extends beyond the classroom, whether it be for employment, travel purposes, or simply enrichment opportunities such as the Concours d'art oratoire. Our students at MMHS have put forth a tremendous amount of time and effort into this competition, and it's very rewarding to see this unique experience as a highlight of their language learning journeys. I'm grateful to my colleagues for their unwavering support, as well as the event organizers for providing the language arts with the recognition that they deserve,” said Interim Subject Head of Modern Languages at Milliken Mills High School Maybo Li.
The competition gives students the opportunity to practice and improve their French-language speaking. YRDSB offers Core French and French Immersion programs in elementary and secondary school.
For more information, please visit the competition website.