Fulford Debate tradition continues as SAC hosts spring tournament

St. Andrew’s College hosted the Spring Fulford Debate on April 6, hosting students from 16 independent schools from across Ontario.

In addition to the top speakers, SAC hosted 35 volunteer judges, who consisted of SAC parents, Old Boys, members of our Board of Governors, and community members, along with 30 student volunteers. The judges were tasked with evaluating the persuasiveness of the student debtors.

Over the course of the academic year, the league hosts three tournaments, at which schools are represented by teams of Junior (Grade 9-10) and Senior (Grade 11-12) debaters. We had 60 represent St. Andrew’s at this event.

Junior Team winners:
  1. St. Mildred’s-Lightbourne School
  2. Branksome Hall
  3. The York School
Senior Team winners:
  1. MacLachlan College
  2. Branksome Hall
  3. University of Toronto School
St. Andrew’s has been a member of the Fulford League since its inception more than 75 years ago. Our debaters travel to Ontario independent schools and host tournaments in-house every four years.
Please see this history of the Fulford League, compiled by Rupert Ray, who taught English and coached debating at SAC from 1966 to 2001.
  • The league was established in 1948 by the widow of Senator George Fulford
  • George Fulford, a distinguished Canadian jurist and senator, died in the late 1940s.
  • For the first 30 years, the Fulford League consisted of the original “Little Big Four” schools: St. Andrew’s College, Upper Canada College, Trinity College School, and Bishop Ridley College, plus the University of Toronto Schools (UTS).
  • In the late 1970s, two schools petitioned the league to be included: Appleby College and Lakefield College School.
  • Rupert Ray was the first official league president from 1980 to 1983, during which time membership grew from seven to 17 schools, a period of quantum growth which brought in all the girls’ schools and many of the coed schools.
  • Three tournaments are held per year, in the fall, winter, and spring.
  • The junior (Grades 9 & 10) trophy is called the Bryan Jones Trophy in memory of a Lakefield College student who, before his sudden death, had shown himself to be a true friend of debate in the tradition of Senator Fulford. Consequently, a silver trophy was crafted in Bryan’s name to be competed for by debaters in the junior and intermediate levels.
  • The senior (Grades 11 & 12) trophy is called the Fulford League Senior Trophy.
  • The Coaches’ Cup is awarded to the school that amasses the highest overall rankings in two out of three Fulford tournaments in a school year.
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