Our History

When Noah and Bryan first got involved in debating, the Calgary circuit was primarily driven by self-taught students and small to medium-sized debate clubs led by teachers. While this setup worked well for those competing at the local level, something crucial was missing. Students were not fully developing their debating abilities, and Albertans were underperforming on the national stage. Apart from a few exceptionally talented partnerships, teams from Vancouver and Toronto dominated.

What made those cities different? Was it their population size? Were the students inherently smarter? The answer was more nuanced. Big cities typically had dedicated debate academies that provided structured training and support, enabling students to achieve their goals. This approach proved to be a more efficient and sustainable path to success, showing that with proper instruction and practice, any student could maximize their potential.

Recognizing this, Noah and Bryan devised a plan. Instead of allowing Alberta to continue struggling with informal, small-scale coaching, they decided to establish an organization capable of empowering Albertan debaters to reach their full potential. Their vision was to create a dependable academy that students could turn to for achieving their goals, whether that meant making it to elimination rounds at nationals or simply acquiring critical thinking and public speaking skills.

Their mission was clear: to help students make an impact both in their lives and in their debating journeys. And so, Impact Debate Academy was born.

Our Future

As we look to the future, Impact Debate Academy is excited to announce our merger with FDT Academy, Canada's premier debate and public speaking academy based in Vancouver. This partnership represents a significant milestone in our journey and a tremendous opportunity for our students.

Expanding Horizons

By joining forces with FDT Academy, we are combining the strengths of two leading institutions. Our shared vision is to provide the highest quality debate and public speaking education across Canada. This merger allows us to expand our reach, offering more resources, expertise, and opportunities to Impact Debate Academy students.

Unmatched Expertise

FDT Academy brings a wealth of experience and a track record of excellence. Their coaches and curriculum have consistently produced top-performing debaters on the national and international stage. Together, we are now positioned to offer unparalleled training and support, ensuring that our students have access to additional class options, along with the best coaching and resources available.

A Unified Community

Our expanded community will foster greater collaboration and exchange of ideas. Students from both academies will have the opportunity to connect, learn from each other, and participate in joint events and competitions. This unified community will inspire growth, camaraderie, and a shared commitment to excellence.

Continued Commitment

Despite these exciting changes, our core mission remains the same. We are still dedicated to helping students make an impact in their lives and in their debating journeys. The merger with FDT Academy strengthens our ability to fulfill this mission, providing our students with even greater support and opportunities to achieve their goals.

Impact Debate Academy, in partnership with FDT Academy, is poised for a future of continued excellence and innovation. We are thrilled to embark on this new chapter and look forward to the incredible achievements our students will accomplish together.

Our Philosophy

Debate is everywhere

The skills required for debate are applicable in almost every aspect of daily life. At Impact Debate Academy, we design our lessons to be relevant to students' personal, academic, and professional lives. Research skills developed for debate can be used in various contexts, and our emphasis on conciseness enhances essay writing and communication. Public speaking, a fundamental life skill, is integral to our curriculum. By improving students' debating skills, we equip them with a myriad of other essential life skills.

Debate is a game

Debate should be fun! We strive to make our lessons engaging and entertaining so that students can fully benefit from the content they learn. Students who enjoy an extracurricular activity are more likely to improve, as it requires effort and personal investment. At Impact Debate, we use activities, games, and practice sessions to make lessons more engaging and to help students apply the skills they learn. Our lecture topics address issues that interest students, making debate enjoyable and fun.

Debate is a competition

Being rewarded for one’s efforts is immensely satisfying. Debate is a competitive activity that celebrates tenacity and ability. At Impact Debate, we aim to provide students with the skills and strategies needed to excel in tough competitions. Our advanced classes and private lessons offer personalized coaching to help students achieve success at any level of competition. With deliberate practice and hard-won knowledge, we prepare students to get ahead, as long as they are ready and willing to learn.