CAMP DIRECTORS  

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 at Havergal College in Toronto (2005 - 2010), Crofton House School in Vancouver (2000 - 2005) and 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 has trained students towards worlds-level debate in 2003, 2004, 2007, 2011 and 2017 and nationals level consistently since 2015.  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. In 2019 Nick directed our season-opening camp in Greenwich CT, and West Hartford, CT.

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CAMP DIRECTOR - OONA CRAIG, BA, MA, OCT

Oona Craig has been a career educator for over 15 years; inclusive of 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.  In 2019, Oona directed our King City and Nova Scotia Overnight Debate Camps.

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CAMP DIRECTOR - PAIGE DAOUST, BA, MA, OCT

Paige Daoust is an Ontario Certified teacher, currently teaching Middle School at Pickering College in Newmarket, Ontario. Prior to this, Paige was teaching abroad in London, England. She received a BA from Dalhousie University, and a MA in Early Childhood and Childhood Development from Niagara University. While at Niagara University, she was inducted into Kappa Delta Pi – Alpha Alpha Beta Chapter, an international honour society in education. Paige has had over 12 years of camp experience, with serval years in program coordinator and camp directing roles. In 2018 and 2019, Paige directed our Toronto Central, West and North Debate Camps.

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CAMP DIRECTOR - KEVIN JAGER, BA, MA, OCT

Kevin Jager has been an educator for over 15 years with teaching experience in Ontario, India and Nova Scotia. He is currently teaching at Armbrae Academy in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He has had many years of experience directing camps in Quebec’s Eastern Townships. Kevin holds a Masters in Development Economics from Dalhousie University, a BSc in Mathematics from the University of Toronto, and is an Ontario Certified Teacher with his B Ed from the University of Toronto. In 2019 Kevin directed both of our Debate Camps in Boston.

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CAMP DIRECTOR - DELANEY HELLMAN, BA

Delaney Hellman is a third year teacher at Success Academy Harlem North Central. There, she teaches Debate and Mock Trial and coaches a competitive Policy Debate team of 30. She has coached 5th-8th grade students to competitive levels and her scholars frequently have success at High School Tournaments and Middle School Nationals. While attending Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, Delaney spent three years on the Speech and Debate Team, Model United Nations Team, and Model Arab League Team. Delaney is excited to kick off her camp career by fusing her love of debate with her passion for scholar safety and education. In 2019 Delaney directed our camps in New York City, Greenwich, and Providence.

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CAMP DIRECTOR - GRIFFEN DAOUST, BAH, MA, B ED, OCT

Griffen Daoust is an Ontario Certified Teacher who is currently teaching Gr. 2 at the York School in Toronto, Ontario. Prior to, he received his BAH in Sociology at Queen's University, then went onto receive his MA in Child Study and Education at The University of Toronto (OISE). For the past 8 years, Griffen has spent his summers working in various children's camps in the Greater Toronto Area as well as the Muskoka Lakes in a variety of different Leadership roles, including; Program Director, Unit Head, Section Director and Instruction Coordinator.  In 2019, Griffen directed our Vancouver, Victoria and Ottawa Debate Camps.

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CAMP DIRECTOR - JED MACKAY, BA, B ED

Jed MacKay is an educator and writer from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Jed currently teaches at Maritime Muslim Academy in Halifax and writes for Marvel Comics, and has previously taught in Quebec, China and South Korea. Jed received his BA from Mount Allison University in Sackville NB, and later a BEd from Mount St. Vincent University in Halifax. Jed acted as Camp Director for the Calgary Debate Camp in 2018 and in 2019 he directed our Calgary and Edmonton Debate Camps.

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CAMP DIRECTOR – JENNIFER WOLFSON, B ED, M ED.

Jennifer has been a teacher since 2000. She began her teaching career at Aurora High School in Ontario and then at Queen Elizabeth High School in Halifax when she moved to Nova Scotia. and entered the field of teacher training. She has taught at the Nova Scotia College of Early Childhood Education and for the past 5 years has taught in the Child and Youth Study Department at Mount Saint Vincent University where she also is the Practicum Coordinator. She chairs and teaches at the Halifax Hebrew School. She holds at BEd from McGill University, an Honours Specialist in Special Education from OISE and an MEd from Mount Saint Vincent University. In 2019 Jennifer directed our Montreal and Ottawa Debate Camps.

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PROGRAM LEADERS  

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PROGRAM COORDINATOR - MICHAEL DI GIORGIO

Michael has just finished his first year at McGill University where he is majoring in Accountancy and Labor Relations. In 2016 he was a quarter finalist in the Senior Division for the Canadian National Championship. He has also been actively involved in Model United Nations where he remains the youngest recipient of the Best Delegate award in a top committee at McGill’s international Model UN conference. He will be co-coordinating all of the West coast camps that we will be offering in 2019. In 2019 Michael coordinated our camps in Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary and Edmonton.

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PROGRAM COORDINATOR - NICK MORROW

Nick Morrow is completing his fourth year at the University of Toronto, where he studies Political Science and Transnational & Migration studies. He has also been an active member on the Hart House Debating Team for four years. Over these four years he has been a National Canadian Parliamentary Quarterfinalist, a National British Parliamentary Semi-Finalist, and competed at the World University Debating Championship placing in the top quarter of teams. In 2017, 2018 and 2019 he coordinated our Debate Camps in  Victoria, Ottawa, Toronto, and New York.

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PROGRAM COORDINATOR - NIKHIL GOWD

Nikhil Gowd is completing his third year at Western University, where he studies Political Science. In High School, he attended the Canadian National Public Speaking Championships twice. In 2017, he was a member of Team Canada and competed at the World Independent Debate and Public Speaking Championships, where he placed 4th in the world. Nikhil also placed first in his icommitte at SSUNS 2016. In university, he was ranked 4th best novice speaker at McMaster ProAms. This is Nikhil's third summer at Debate Camp. In 2019, Nikhil coordinated our Boston and Ottawa Debate Camps.

PROGRAM COORDINATOR - PATRICK COWLEY

Patrick Cowley is completing his third year at Queen’s University where he studies Philosophy and Classics. He is currently serving as the Tournament Director for the 2018 North American University Debate Championship and was the winner of the 2017 Central Canadian Championship Novice Finals. 2019 was Patrick’s third summer at Debate Camp and he coordinated our Debate Camps in Greenwich, Boston and Providence.

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PROGRAM COORDINATOR - SARAH HICK

Sarah Hick is completing her fourth year at McGill University, where she is working towards a double major in Molecular Biology and International Development. Throughout high school Sarah competed in, as well as coached, debating and public speaking, competing numerous times at Nationals, Internationals and ending her high school career at the World Debate and Public Speaking Championships in Hong Kong. 2019 was Sarah’s fourth summer at Debate Camp and she coordinated our Montreal and Ottawa Debate Camps as well as developed our new Debate Camp Intern Program.

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PROGRAM COORDINATOR - SHARATH SIVAKUMAR

Sharath Sivakumar is completing his second year at the University of Toronto, where he studies Neuroscience and Economics. In high school, he attended the National Oxford Cup British Parliamentary Championships twice. In university as a member of Hart House he made quarters in the Central Novice tournament.  2019 was Sharath's fourth summer at Debate Camp and he coordinated at the Vancouver and Victoria Debate Camps.

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PROGRAM COORDINATOR - SYLVIA KIRKLEY

Sylvia Kirkley has an Honours BA in English and Philosophy with a minor in International Development from Dalhousie university. She is starting a Masters in Education at OISIE specialists in high school English and Drama. She has been an active member of the Sodales debate team at Dalhousie, and a member of the Executive team. She was a Semi-Finalist in the 2016 Atlantic Canada Debate Championship. 2019 was her third year at Debate Camp and she coordinating Debate Camps throughout Toronto.

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OUR PEOPLE

PROGRAM STAFF, PROGRAM LEADERS AND INTERNS