About Speak Up! Canada

Speak Up! Canada is a non-profit nation-wide movement aiming to connect speakers of all ages. Online sessions of spoken performance and discussions focus on Canadian writing, providing a forum for speakers to meet in a non-competitive setting. Participants receive both oral and written feedback. Proceeds are distributed to supporting groups, helping fund bursaries, scholarships and workshops for Speech Arts across Canada.

Starting in 2020, students from a few speech arts teachers and studios began to share their work through online events such as ‘Poetry Wheel’, ‘Poem + One’, and ‘Double Up Speech’. Speak Up! Canada endeavours to offer more speakers the chance to share the joy of literature and communication.

Other initiatives include the development of online and in-person groups to raise the profile of Spoken Arts – to ‘spread the word’ regarding the immense value of this type of study. We hope to expand our activities to include the creation of a new anthology of Canadian poetry, chosen by the speakers across the country. Speak Up! Canada is dedicated to helping everyone find and share their personal voice.

Why Participate?

• Meet other interested speakers.
• Positive discussion and feedback
• Practice for upcoming festivals and exams.
• Schedule your own time.
• Family and friends can watch from anywhere.
• Low fees

What to Expect

• Receive time and Zoom link by November 22nd.
• Join Zoom group as scheduled.
• The moderator will ask someone to share a selection.
• All will be invited to say what they liked.
• Comments recorded by a teacher in the group.
• Receive written comments + letter grade (if requested).

Past Events

March 2026 Storytellers: Speakers from many parts of Canada, and from as far away as China, joined online to share close to 50 stories and readings. Participants ranged from preschoolers telling jokes to folktales to seniors with tales of personal experiences.

November 2025 Poetry: Speakers aged 3–80, from 5 provinces shared 125 Canadian poems during a week of Zoom workshops. Audience members joined from many parts of the country and the world to support the speakers and offer positive feedback.

Upcoming Events

• Our next Zoom event: Poetry and More, November 23–28, 2026
• See the updated syllabus and use the new online registration program to get involved.
• Registrations open September 18, 2026.

Register Now Syllabus