Powerful Black voices emerge at second annual 1834 Youth Debates

March 4th 2024

Students came from across Ontario to take part in the 1834 Youth Debates, an initiative of Operation Black Vote Canada in partnership with UTS.

The next leader could be you. That was the inspiring message groundbreaking former politician and diplomat Dr. Alvin Curling shared with a group of 16 Black grade 7 to 12 students as they prepared to take part in the second annual 1834 Youth Debates at University of Toronto Schools this February.

“I’m no different than you are. It could be you. It could be you. It’s you that makes the difference,” Curling told the students during opening remarks. An Ontario Liberal MPP for 21 years and the first Black speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, as well as former ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Curling reassured the debaters that it’s good to be nervous – he’s nervous too, now, and at every pivotal moment in his career when he stepped out of his comfort zone to take on new challenges.

His levity inspired some laughter from the students, their families, volunteer judges and dignitaries gathered for the event. For six weeks, the students worked online every Wednesday evenings with two UTS Debate team coaches, alumni Sarah Harrison ’13 and Levi Tepner ‘17, to learn about Canadian Parliamentary Debate, and now they had converged at UTS in person to put their learning to the test in a day of friendly competition.

Renowned former politician and diplomat Dr. Alvin Curling inspired the students, their families and event volunteers.

A partnership with Operation Black Vote Canada and UTS

An initiative of Operation Black Vote Canada, in partnership with UTS, the 1834 Youth Debates supports the organization’s overall mission of increasing Black representation in government and leadership. “Debating is so important,” MPP Patrice Barnes (Ajax), parliamentary assistant to Education Minister Stephen Lecce and a former long-time Durham public school board trustee, told the students. “When we talk about critical thinking, challenging anyone and having difficult conversations, debating is the base skill.”

MPP Patrice Barnes (Ajax) encouraged and inspired the young debaters.

Karen Brown, who as president of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario was representing one of the event’s sponsors, wished all the debaters well: “May your words resonate, your ideas inspire and your convictions lead to positive change. I have full confidence you will build a more just world for all of us with your brilliance, passion and commitment to social justice.”

Students debate topical issues for their age group

With the opening remarks done, the debaters, who compete with a partner in junior (grade 7 to 9) and senior (grade 10 to 12) categories, had a half-hour to prepare for their first debate on the resolution, “This House would lower the voting age from 18 to 16.”

Students became creative with their arguments for and against, using the power of storytelling, personal experience and humour to drive home points like, “we are not giving 16-year-olds credit where credit is due” and “16-year-olds are some of the strangest, most irrational people on earth.”

“This is all very new to me,” said Sierra, a grade 11 student from Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School in Ottawa. “The program helped me become more fluid on the spot. We’re still learning ‒ it doesn't have to be perfect to say what you have to say. The 1834 Youth Debates has encouraged me to do something outside of my bubble and pushed me to grow.”

After lunch, the students conquered the second round of debates with the resolution: “This House would abolish all dress codes and uniforms in schools.”

The judges were impressed by the innovative thinking and the calibre of competition.

A broader community on your side

For grade 8 student Kayana from St. Benedict’s Catholic Secondary School in Cambridge, it provided a chance to debate from personal experience. She relished taking up the argument in favour of this resolution arguing about the expenses of uniforms and the laundry-related hydro bills. Beyond the debates, the event left her with a greater sense that: “You don't realize how many people are looking out for you, and how many people want the best for you. This is an opportunity to network and then see what's out there and what you can do. It's really important for everyone to see how much work goes into this and how much these people really care about their community and about inspiring future generations of Black students.”

With plans to become a lawyer, her speaking skills are well on their way and Kayana, along with Sierra, and grade 11 student Ciamaka from Richmond Green Secondary in Richmond Hill, emerged as the winners of the competition but the consensus from Velma Morgan, an educator and government leader who is now the chair of Operation Black Vote Canada, and others at the event was that all of the debaters were winners simply for coming out. “Parents have told us that their child not only became more confident at speaking but also as an individual because they understand how to refute an argument, convince somebody and how to reach an agreement,” she said. “Those are skills that you're going to need in high school, and in your workplace. You always want to have those kinds of skills.”

Students spoke with conviction and resolve to make their arguments.

Programs that really make a difference for Black youth

Morgan is the co-founder of the Operation Black Vote Canada’s 1834 Fellowship, a transformative, year-long leadership program for high-potential Black youth, which led to the creation of the 1834 Youth Debates. “This program, like all of the programs I’ve created, is what I wish I had when I was that age. I ask, what would I have needed back then? I had to systematically figure it out for myself, and I want to remove that element for these youth, so they don’t have to spend a lot of time figuring things out and instead just do them.”

Over a year ago, when she was looking for partners to make the first 1834 Youth Debates a reality, she reached out to Dr. Kimberley Tavares, the coordinating vice principal, anti-racism, equity, inclusion, access and program innovation at UTS, whose response was, “When do you want to do it and what do you need?” Morgan didn’t need to explain. With her own child having thrived in the 1834 Fellowship program, Dr. Tavares understood the life-changing power of the programs and wanted UTS to be a part of it.

For the debates, many 1834 Fellowship alumni were on hand as volunteers and judges, making the day feel like a tight-knit, supportive celebration of Black community, a fitting finish to Black Futures Month at UTS. Students from UTS also volunteered in support of the event, including F2 (grade 8) Yeab, who started the day as a timekeeper but then became so inspired by the debaters he asked to join in as a swing debater, filling in for a student who was unable to attend. “After the first round, I was so encouraged by the students and how good they were,” he said. “They’re the same age as me. I felt that I really wanted to do this too – why don’t I give it a try?” He did, and now hopes to take part in the 1834 Youth Debates next year, not as a volunteer but as a debater.

Inspiring Black leaders in our community came out to share vital advice with the young debaters: Velma Morgan, chair of Operation Black Vote Canada, who created this event; Karen Brown, the president of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario; diplomat and politician Dr. Alvin Curling and Ajax MPP Patrice Barnes.

This program teaches us about the world

For Timi, a grade 8 student from Kingston Christian School, the experience provided a window onto the wider world. “This makes Black kids to be able to understand Parliament, and be intrigued about how these things work. This program doesn't only teach us new skills, it also teaches us about the world we're living in, about the government, about the people who are making choices that affect us every single day. That's really important.”

At the beginning of the day, UTS Principal Dr. Leanne Foster told students that debate is really at the core of the future of democracy in our country. “The idea that Operation Black Vote Canada is preparing you to take your place in our democracy is exceptionally exciting for us. I hope that one day I will see you in Parliament, in the Legislature or on city council, somewhere where your voice can truly make a difference.”