City proclaims February 2016 ‘Toastmasters Month’

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Once again, the month of February has been proclaimed Toastmasters Month in the City of Fort St. John.

Toastmasters International is a non-profit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of clubs.

Locally, Lori Slater is the president of Achievers Toastmasters, and Desirae Wiebe is the president of the Majestic Flying Toasters Gavel Club. Achievers is the most northern Toastmaster club, charted in 1994, and the local Gavel Club is the only one outside of the Lower Mainland — charted 20 years later in 2014, and specifically for youth ages 9 to 17.

“The club is a fun, safe, positive environment for these kids,” Joyce Hadland, VP of Public Relations for Achievers Toastmasters.

“They can practice their public speaking skills in a safe place, make mistakes and learn all the things way before I did. I wish there was something like this around when I was young.”

Photo by Montana Cumming

“In improving your skills and ability to talk to people, is not only enhancing your abilities — but also creating opportunities for you to communicate with others in a completely different way,” said Mayor Lori Ackerman.

The first Toastmasters club, outside of the United States, was chartered in 1935 here in British Columbia — in Victoria. Now, Toastmasters in the province has grown to serve over 5,000 members in 286 clubs. The organization currently has more than 280,000 members in over 13,000 clubs in 116 countries worldwide.

“Toastmaster programs empower people of all ages to develop skills in public speaking, listening, giving feedback, leadership potential and building self-confidence,” a letter to council, requesting the proclamation reads.

The Gavel Club meets at Northern Lights College in room 105, every Thursday at 4:30 p.m., and the Achievers Toastmaster meet at 7 p.m.