BC Toastmasters

07/01/2026

🇨🇦 🇨🇦 SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT 🇨🇦🇨🇦

Pitt Meadows resident Stefano Cossalter has advanced to the semifinals of the Toastmasters International Speech Contest, a global competition that begins with more than 30,000 speakers competing in clubs around the world.
Cossalter earned his place in the semifinals after winning his quarterfinal contest and is now competing against the top 26 competitive speakers in the world.

“This is incredibly exciting, not just for me, but for our local Toastmaster District.” said Cossalter. “I'm looking forward to the opportunity to compete at the highest level and to represent Canada in the semifinals.

The Toastmasters International Speech Contest begins at the Club level and progresses through Area, Division, District, quarterfinal, semifinal, and final rounds.

This year’s contest has special significance for local Toastmasters because the 2026 Toastmasters International Convention will be held in Vancouver, British Columbia, August 19–22. The convention will bring Toastmasters members from around the world to Vancouver and will include the International Speech Contest Semifinals and the World Championship of Public Speaking.

“For the international convention to be in Vancouver this year makes the opportunity even more meaningful,” said Cossalter. “The semifinals would take place close to home, with family, friends, and fellow Toastmasters nearby.”

Stefano is a member of Blue Heron Toastmasters, in District 21, and is part of Toastmasters International, a nonprofit educational organization that helps people build confidence, communication, and leadership skills through a supportive club environment. Members practise prepared speeches, impromptu speaking, meeting leadership, and constructive feedback.

“Toastmasters gives ordinary people a place to find their voice,” said Cossalter. “Whether someone wants to speak at work, lead more confidently, tell better stories, or simply stop fearing public speaking, a local club like Blue Heron Toastmasters can be life-changing. The organization has revolutionized my life, giving me the ability to communicate whether it's an audience of one thousand or an audience of one.”

For more information on Toastmasters International local to District 21 British Columbia & Yukon, please visit www.d21toastmasters.ca or contact [email protected].

06/30/2026

June 30th drumroll... we did it folks! Storm the Stage in Vancouver, here we come! Miracles don't just happen, we create them! 🎉🏆✨️🥹🙏🤩🔥

05/27/2026

🔎 Searching for Our Next D21 District Finance Manager 💰

Do you have experience in accounting? Do you have experience preparing audits, budget preparation or council treasury? Looking to take on a prestigious leadership role for District 21 next year? If so, you could be a fit for our next District Finance Manager for 2026-2027!

This is considered a Core Team District Leadership role reporting directly to the incoming District Director ELECT for 2026-2027.

Activities of the District Finance Manager Role over the next year include the below:

- Complete Finance Manager Training
- Assist in completing the District Success Plan
- Complete District Budget
- Submit Accrual Template at year end
- Submit Quarterly Narratives and Certification
- Submit Monthly P&L Reports
- Regularly approve District level expenses
- Attend District Executive Committee meetings
- Attend District Council meetings

More information on the Finance Manager position can be found here in the District Leadership Handbook on PDF page 28:https://content.toastmasters.org/image/upload/222-district-leader-handbook.pdf

Please send your expression of interest along with details of your experience to Melody Helleouet, District Director ELECT 2026-2027 at [email protected].

05/10/2026

Strong training and facilitation skills help create confident leaders, engaging meetings, and better member experiences.


To support that goal, District 21 will be hosting a Train the Trainer workshop on Sunday, May 31, 2026. This event is open to all Toastmasters interested in developing their facilitation and training skills. No prior training experience is required.


Date: Sunday, May 31, 2026

Time: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM PT

Format: Hybrid (online attendance available, limited in-person attendance option details to follow)

Cost: Free (lunch included for in-person attendees)
Mandatory Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/zIWwFnEcRqO1siz6M7t6mg


The session will be led by Shawn Gold, DTM, Past District 21 Director and experienced adult educator, with an MBA, multiple DTMs, and a Six Sigma Black Belt.


This full-day workshop is based on Toastmasters International’s Speaker to Trainer program and will explore:
• Setting training objectives using gap analysis
• Creating lesson plans based on adult learning principles
• Selecting effective training methods
• Using facilitation techniques
• Evaluating training effectiveness


Participants will also have the opportunity to apply these concepts by delivering a short training session and receiving feedback in a supportive learning environment.


Whether you are interested in becoming a future Club Officer Trainer or simply want to strengthen your own leadership and presentation skills, this workshop offers valuable practical experience and professional development applicable both within and outside of Toastmasters.


Members who successfully complete the workshop may also have the opportunity to serve as future Club Officer Trainers during the 2026/2027 Toastmasters year.



Any questions may be directed to Melody Helleouet, Program Quality Director at [email protected].

https://d21toastmasters.ca/event/training/district-21-train-trainer-event

04/17/2026

https://d21toastmasters.ca/news/contests/thu-04162026-1941/introducing-our-d21-district-level-speech-contestants-2025-2026

Contests Introducing our D21 District Level Speech Contestants for 2025-2026! Following is a list of winners for the District 21 Division Level Speech Contests for both Tall Tales and International Speech to compete in-person on Friday, April 17, 2026 and Saturday, April 18, 2026 at the Executive Ho...

04/14/2026

https://d21toastmasters.ca/news/district/tue-04142026-1145/congratulations-our-newly-elected-2026-2027-district-leaders

District Congratulations to Our Newly Elected 2026-2027 District Leaders! Results are final as of the April 12, 2026 District 21 Business Council Meeting held via Zoom. By: Louisa Davis DTM Published on: Apr 14, 2026 1 minute read Share to Dear District members, We are pleased to announce the elect...

02/28/2026

ATTENTION D21 Club Officers! Today is our Round 2 COT Deadline!! We've added a few more opportunities with our outside District neighbours to get your COT done today.

My personal recommendation for those just getting up now and want a fun format, go for the All-in-One Training with D37 JEOPARDY style! Happening at 1:30-2:30pm PST! https://zoom.us/meeting/register/EPTWFZARRHeC11E6LrPA6w

There is also Founders District F happening at 12-1PM PST:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/eg4ZTktBTN6sSaBwNvevgg

We also have District 29 offering COT at 3-4pm PT:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Y8PqGqOTSY2fgnit2hKnsA #/registration

District 57 is also offering COT at 7-9pm PT:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86511316820?pwd=VnJiqD9hSzbbu810Mpa5j7etn0ZVDm.1

There is also ON DEMAND COT offering by our friends in District 3, registration link is below (all trainings must be completed before end of the day today February 28, 2026): https://ondemand.d3toastmasters.org/register/

See our full and FINAL list of Round 2 COT sessions below at:
https://d21toastmasters.ca/events/club-officer-training-online

All COT Training must be completed by February 28, 2026 (no exceptions). Responsibility to send Proof of Attendance (screenshot, registration proof, email from trainer, etc.) is on the District 21 club officer to document and send to the attention of Melody Helleouet, D21 Program Quality Director at [email protected].

All Round 2 Training Credits must be reported to Program Quality Director, validated and entered in the dashboard by the District no later than March 31, 2026 (hard deadline).

Clubs who have achieved the minimum of 4/7 trained will receive their Distinguished Club Program (DCP) point!
Clubs who have 7/7 Club Officers Trained will receive $25 in District Bucks!

Any questions, please contact Melody Helleouet, D21 Program Quality Director at [email protected].

 Can't make local COT or TLI? Take a look at the list below for sessions being hosting in other Districts!Club Officer Training (COT) is not limited to District 21. All Toastmasters that are club officers in 2025-2026 are welcome to attend any of these training sessions. It can be enlightening to ...

01/16/2026

And that's a wrap for our District 21 TRIO Mid-Year Training 2026 held in our very own backyard of Vancouver, BC! 🇨🇦✅️

Lots of great takeaways, inspiration and big ideas shared all amongst all District Leaders across North America who gathered over two full days with one common theme in mind... our Toastmasters District Mission: "To build new clubs and to support all clubs in achieving excellence" 👏🏆🍁 2026, let's gooo! 🙌🏼 Louisa Davis, District Director / Melody Helleouet, PQD / Mark C. Hurrell, CGD