A Bermudian school team has been celebrated for an “outstanding” performance among roughly 150 global contenders at the International Independent Schools Public-Speaking Competition in Canada.

The Saltus team secured first overall team honours alongside Canada's Crofton House School, earning seven finalist places across the competition’s events.

Held at MacLachlan College in Oakville, Ontario, from October 15 to 19, the tournament also drew teams from Canada, the US and Hong Kong.

It was a qualifier for the World Individual Public-Speaking Competition in 2027 in China.

Saltus was represented by SGY2 students Callie Lucas and Christopher Madeiros, Jordan Williams and Jules Dickinson of Grade 11 and Levi Masters of Grade 10.

Mr Williams was the tournament’s top overall individual speaker, taking the Selwyn House Trophy, and was best international speaker.

He also came first in impromptu speaking for rounds one and two, and third in the finals, as well as third in rounds one and two for parliamentary debate and fourth place in rounds one and two for persuasive speaking, coming second place in the finals.

Ms Lucas, Mr Madeiros and Mr Williams tied for first place to win the Ross Lambert Trophy for the second consecutive year.

Ms Lucas took second place in rounds one and two of dramatic speaking, and third place in the finals.

Mr Madeiros placed sixth in rounds one and two of extemporaneous speaking, and placed ninth in rounds one and two as a finalist in after-dinner speaking. All three students were invited to the competition in China.

Mr Masters came eleventh in rounds one and two of interpretative speaking, becoming a finalist in the category in his first year competing at IISPSC.

Aiden Young, the school’s public speaking coach, said of the team: “I was very impressed by their confidence, dedication and ability to think on their feet, particularly when faced with challenging and unfamiliar topics.”

Saltus also commended its English Language Arts Department for its commitment to “strengthening and growing the public-speaking programme”.