You can learn to speak in public!
Good communication is an essential skill in today’s society. Indeed, we are all called upon to speak in front of a group, whether in our professional or personal lives. The Effective Speaking Program of the Air Cadet League of Canada offers cadets the opportunity to gain greater self-confidence, improve their ability to reason, and organize and express their ideas clearly. It involves all levels of the organization:
- Cadet training takes place at the local level, under the responsibility of the Squadron Sponsoring Committee, and culminates in a local competition. Local competitions typically take place between mid-January and the end of February;
- Winners from all squadrons in the region compete in a regional competition. Regional competitions typically take place in March;
- Winners of regional competitions compete in the provincial competition held in April;
- Winners from each province (and territory) go on to the national competition which is held in June.
Cadets participating in the Effective Speaking program may only compete (at any level) if they have completed registration form ACC54.
The topics of the 2026 Effective competition are as follows:
- What does leadership mean to you, and how have you demonstrated it?
- The official integration of girls into the Cadet Program over the past 50 years transformed opportunities for women—in leadership, careers, and society. What impact do you believe this has had on the Cadet Program and the broader world?
- What is your dream job and how is the Air Cadet program preparing you for this job?
- What does Canada mean to you?
- If you could give advice to your younger self on your first day as a cadet, what would you say?
- How has Canada contributed to flight, aviation, and space exploration—past, present, and future?
- What personal growth may be expected for a youth who enters the cadet program?
- What does effective communication look like in today’s world, and why is it important for youth leaders?
Much more information is available on the national headquarters website.
Looking for a list of past provincial winners? No need to look any further, here it is!
