LEADERS

Meet our Debate Camp community of leaders, instructors, and program developers for 2026

DEBATE CAMP LEADERSHIP

FOUNDING DIRECTOR - NICK SZYMANIS, Hon BA, B Ed, MA, OCT

Nick Szymanis is the founder and lead director of Debate Camp since 2002. He has been a career educator for 18 years, inclusive of academic leadership positions, most recently as Director of Academics at the Sterling Hall School in Toronto (2010 - 2015). He has coached debating and hosted annual tournaments for the past 18 years and is the current Vice President of the International Independent Schools Public Speaking League. Nick, his wife Oona, and 2 sons, Noah and Aaron, live in Halifax, Nova Scotia where he currently coaches debating at Armbrae Academy and King's Edgehill School.

CAMP DIRECTOR - OONA CRAIG, BA, MA, OCT

Oona Craig has been a career educator for over 15 years; inclusive of Latin teaching positions with Collingwood School in Vancouver and Branksome Hall School in Toronto. Oona holds an MA in Classics from Dalhousie University, BA from McGill and is an Ontario Certified Teacher, with her B Ed from The University of Toronto. Oona is highly experienced in camp life and has been in the company of Debate Camp since our founding in 2002. Our son Noah has attended camp since 2012. She has experience directing camps in Vancouver.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - DAIYAM BASHARAT, BA

Daiyam Basharat holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Development Studies and Sustainability Studies from Dalhousie University. An experienced debater, he served as President of the Dalhousie and King’s Debate Society (SODALES) from 2021–2022 and as Vice-President East of the Canadian University Society of Intercollegiate Debate (CUSID) from 2022–2023. Daiyam also coaches one of our in-school debate programs at Armbrae Academy in Halifax. At Debate Camp, he takes on multiple roles, including serving as Compliance Officer and camp director, overseeing the Debate Camp Foundation, and leading efforts to expand Debate Camp internationally through partnerships with schools and organizations.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - OLIVIA INTEGLIA, BA

Olivia Integlia has served as staff, program coordinator, and camp director at Debate Camp since 2020. A former president of both the Dawson Debate Union and the Concordia Debate Society, she has competed extensively in English and French university-level debate. She helped develop Debate Camp’s French debate programming and now coaches in Montreal, for the English Montreal School Board and College Beaubois. Olivia holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Journalism and is currently completing a Master’s in Public Policy and Public Administration at Concordia University. She has directed camps in Montreal, Toronto, and Calgary, and oversees key operational areas including staffing, program development, social media, and travel and housing logistics.

DEBATE CAMP CANADA

SITE DIRECTOR - IRINA ZNAMIROWSKI, BA

Irina Znamirowski has been a longtime member of the Debate Camp community, going from camper to director. She holds a BA in English and Philosophy from Brandeis University and is currently completing an MA in English at the University of Toronto. With over a decade of experience in debate and public speaking, she is a former national champion in interpretive reading and a provincial champion in persuasive speaking and debate. She has directed camps in Toronto and all former online programs.

SITE DIRECTOR - TRACEY LEE, BA, BA Ed, MA

Tracey Lee Tracey Lee has over 25 years of experience coaching and adjudicating on the Canadian and international debate circuit. She is a former coach of Team Canada Debate, former Chair of the World Schools Debating Championships Board, and has served on both provincial and national debate boards in Canada. She has directed camps across Canada and is currently the Senior School Counselling Head at Mulgrave School in Vancouver.

SITE DIRECTOR - DYLAN BURTON

Dylan Burton has worked a variety of positions at Debate Camp, including the as an intern, staff, program coordinator and a director. Dylan began his debate career in grade seven and since then has participated at multiple national and international competitions. He is most proud of being the 2022 BP Canadian National Champion, a finalist at Hart House High Schools 2022, and representing Canada at Oxford and Cambridge. Dylan attends McGill University and is majoring in economics and history.

SITE DIRECTOR - LEVI TEPNER, BA, BA

Levi Tepner began his Debate Camp journey as a camper in 2011–2012 and has since served in roles from staff to director. He holds a double major in Criminology & Sociolegal Studies and Psychology from the University of Toronto, with a minor in English, and is currently completing a Master of Teaching at Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. In his ninth year of coaching, Levi has guided students to national, international, and world-level competitions while helping new speakers find their voice.

SITE DIRECTOR - SYLVIA KIRKLEY

Sylvia Kirkley is a certified teacher in Toronto, Ontario, teaching English at Leaside High School. She has a long history with Debate Camp having worked as both a staff and program coordinator from 2016-2019. More recently, she worked at a camp directo during summer 2025 in Calgary at Strathcona Tweedsmuir School.

DEBATE CAMP UNITED STATES

SITE DIRECTOR - DANIEL CAPLIN, BA, MA

Daniel Caplin teaches History and Humanities at his alma mater, Portsmouth Abbey School, where he also leads the Debate Team and Model UN program. A Providence College graduate, he holds bachelor’s degrees in History and Theatre, as well as a master’s in History. In addition to his academic roles, Daniel has worked extensively with Portsmouth Abbey’s Summer School in teaching, activities, and trip coordination. He is the recipient of the school’s 2023 Dom Peter Sidler Award for excellence in teaching. Daniel lives with his wife, Catherine, their two sons, Westley and Walker, and their pets, Fagan and Duck. He has directed camps in Maine and Rhode Island.

SITE DIRECTOR - MARGARET WHITE, A.B., MFA, Ed.M.

Margaret White serves on the residential faculty at Saint Thomas Choir School as Director of Admissions and Administration. A lifelong New Yorker, she attended the Brearley School and holds an A.B. in English from Princeton University, an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and an Ed.M. in Learning and Teaching from Harvard University. Margaret joined Debate Camp as a virtual instructor for Latin Camp in 2020 and has since directed camps in New York.

SITE DIRECTOR - JENNA PENNINGTON, BA, M.Ed.

Jenna Pennington is a teacher and debate coach at King’s Edgehill School with over a decade of experience. Her debaters regularly advance to the Canadian National Championships at both the junior and senior levels, and in 2022 she hosted the International Independent Schools Public Speaking Tournament with participants from nine countries. Jenna previously directed in Montreal and Boston.

DEBATE CAMP CANADA PROGRAM COORDINATORS

NOAH SZYMANIS

PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Debate Camp Backstory:

Been involved with Debate Camp almost his whole life!

Debate Experience:

4 years of debate coaching
Finalist at the Oxford Cup
Finalist at the Columbia University Ivy League Invitational

Education:

Undergraduate student at Western University, studying Kinesiology.

Coordinated Camps in:

Vancouver
Nova Scotia
Seattle
Chicago
New York City
Boston

ELISE CRESSATI, BA

PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Debate Camp Backstory:

Former camper
Intern (2021)
Staff (2022)
Coordinator (2023 - present)

Debate Experience:

Has coordinated some of the biggest camps in Canada

Education:

BA from the University of Toronto in English, History, and Book & Media Studies
Pursuing an MSt in English Literature at Oxford University

Coordinated Camps in:

Toronto
King City
Montreal

VICTORIA PSARIS

PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Debate Camp Backstory:

Staff (2024)
Coordinator (2025 - present)

Debate Experience:

Competed and judged in the Quebec Student Debating Association
A part of the Dawson Debate Union

Education:

BA student, with a major in Honours English Literature with a minor in History at Concordia University

Coordinated Camps in:

Montreal

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GAIL EMSLEY

PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Debate Camp Backstory:

Staff (2024)
Coordinator (2025 - present)

Debate Experience:

Competed in the Nova Scotia Debating Society
Current member of the Hart House Debating Club
Coaches for the York School

Education:

BA student at the University of Toronto

Coordinated Camps in:

Halifax
Nova Scotia overnight

EVE PIGAT

PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Debate Camp Backstory:

Staff (2023-2024)
Coordinator (2025 - present)

Debate Experience:

Finalist at 2025 North American University Debating Championships
Finalist and second top speaker at 2024 Chancellors Cup and 2024 UBC IV
Treasurer of the McGill Debate Union

Education:

BA student in Honours Economics at McGill University

Coordinated Camps in:

Calgary

JULIA VAN DAMME

PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Debate Camp Backstory:

Staff (2023 - 2024)
Coordinator (2025 - present)

Debate Experience:

Member of the Queen's Debate Team

Education:

Undergraduate student at Queen's University

Coordinated Camps in:

St Catharines
Toronto

KOSAR HEMMATI

PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Debate Camp Backstory:

Staff (2024)
Coordinator (2025 - present)

Debate Experience:

President of the Hart House Debating Club

Education:

BSc student at the University of Toronto specializing in financial mathematics, computer science and statistics

Coordinated Camps in:

Ottawa
Directed in Nova Scotia Overnight Camp

JAE MA

PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Debate Camp Backstory:

Former camper (2022)
Staff (2024)
Coordinator (2025 - present)

Debate Experience:

Jae has had a long history with Debate Camp, moving up the ranks from camper to coordinator

Education:

BSc student at McGill University

Coordinated Camps in:

Ottawa
Toronto

NATHAN YANG

PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Debate Camp Backstory:

Former intern (2023)
Staff (2024)
Coordinator (2025 - present)

Debate Experience:

What began as an internship evolved into a leadership role with Debate Camp

Education:

BSc student in civil engineering at Waterloo University

Coordinated Camps in:

Toronto

DEBATE CAMP UNITED STATES PROGRAM COORDINATORS

EVA HAAN

PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Debate Camp Backstory:

Former camper
Intern (2021)
Staff (2023)
Coordinator (2024 - present)

Debate Experience:

Been involved with Debate Camp for several years

Education:

BA.Sc. student in Developmental and Child Psychology at the University of Miami

Coordinated Camps in:

Maine
Rhode Island
Directed a camp in West Hartford

BLAZ VAVPETIC

PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Debate Camp Backstory:

Former camper (2021)
Intern (2022)
Staff (2023)
Coordinator (2024 - present)

Debate Experience:

Blaz has worked at camps in St-Catharines, Rhode Island, Chicago, Maine, etc.

Education:

BA student at Williams College studying History, with a minor in Environmental Studies.

Coordinated Camps in:

Seattle

NIKHIL SHAH

PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Debate Camp Backstory:

Staff (2023-2024)
Coordinator (2025 - present)

Debate Experience:

Co-president of the Collegiate School Speech and Debate team
Co-captain of the Collegiate School Model UN team

Education:

Student at the University of Chicago

Coordinated Camps in:

Seattle
Chicago

DEBATE CAMP OFFICE TEAM

SITE DIRECTOR - JOANNE COLWELL

Joanne Colwell has been an educator for 30 years. She has teaching experience and qualifications in Ontario and Nova Scotia along with experience as a school counsellor. As a school administrator at an independent school in Toronto for over 15 years, she supported many student debaters and coaches and helped sustain school debate programs. Joanne holds a Master of Arts in Urban and Historical Geography from the University of Toronto, a BEd from Dalhousie University and a BA in Geography and History from Mt Allison University.

OFFICE MANAGER - PRARTHOBEE TARIQ

Prarthobee Tariq (Bee) is currently completing her undergraduate studies in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Dalhousie University. She has been a part of Debate Camp for the past year. Bee is currently the vice president for The Dalhousie UNICEF Club, Social Lead for Dalhousie Space Systems, President for Dalhousie Bengali Student Association and a writer for the Dalhousie Gazette.