The University of Alberta Debate Society (UADS), established in 1908, is the oldest university debating society in Western Canada, as well as the oldest student group on the U of A campus. The UADS offers a unique opportunity to increase knowledge of current events, foster public speaking skills and enhance the ability to think on your feet. Distinguished alumni of the society include Joe Clark, Laurence Decore, Grant Notley, Ron Martland, and Joe Shocter.
UADS typically hosts two tournaments for university debaters from across Canada each year: Edmonton Open and the Hugill Cup. UADS also hosts two training tournaments each year for our members, and three high school tournaments each year in conjunction with the Alberta Debate and Speech Association. The University of Alberta and City of Edmonton is well-reputed nationwide for running efficient and competitive tournaments.
Today, the UADS is extremely active. Meetings occur twice a week with our general club members for debate training and practice. The club travels several times a term to tournaments held all over Western Canada. UADS teams won the Western Canadian Championships in 2008 and in 2009, and in 2009 a UADS team won the Novice Finals at Nationals. Every year we send a contingent of debaters to the World Debating Championships, placing in the top 100 this past year. We are constantly striving to become better debaters and to showcase the U of A as academically competitive on a national scale.
This year the UADS has 63 members and a mailing list of several hundred. Moreover, we reach beyond our pool of members with the annual interfaculty debate tournament: each team has at least one non-UADS member and represents a different faculty. The UADS also does demonstration debates for International Week and other campus events.
