Students from the Toronto Catholic District School Board earned top honours at the 41st anniversary edition of the Concours d’art oratoire, a province-wide French public speaking competition celebrating excellence in French language learning across Ontario.
Hosted on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at Glendon Campus, York University, the event was organized by Canadian Parents for French in partnership with the Ontario Modern Languages Teachers’ Association.
This year’s competition welcomed 163 secondary school finalists in Grades 9 through 12, representing 11 Ontario school boards and the Conference of Independent Schools of Ontario. The bilingual campus provided a fitting setting for students to showcase their French-speaking abilities through original memorized and impromptu speeches delivered before panels of adjudicators made up of French as a Second Language educators and teacher candidates.
Organizers said the competition highlighted the creativity, confidence, and dedication students bring to French language learning in Ontario classrooms.
Among the provincial honourees were two students representing the Toronto Catholic District School Board. Danica Cloutier of Bishop Allen Academy earned third place in the Grade 9–10 Impromptu Francophone category. Israel Lombe of Senator O’Connor College School also captured third place in the Grade 9–10 Traditional Francophone category for the speech “Le foot: un sport global.”
Students competing in the annual event were eligible for a variety of awards, including cash prizes, scholarships, and bursaries to leading Canadian colleges and universities.
First-place winners in the Grades 11 and 12 Traditional Division will go on to represent Ontario at the national edition of the Concours d’art oratoire in June 2026.
Organizers extended congratulations to all participating students, educators, and families for their continued support of French language education across the province.
“À l’année prochaine!” organizers said, looking ahead to next year’s competition.
