Earl Marriott Secondary student wins national French-speaking competition

A Grade 11 student at Earl Marriott Secondary has won a national French-speaking competition, capping a successful Concours D'art Oratoire season.

Having finished first at the provincial competition in May, Dhruv Mehta’s linguistic prowess carried him to the top spot of the Core French category at the Canadawide Concours D'art Oratoire this month.

Mehta was one of 28 students from across the country eligible to compete at nationals, which took place virtually with students submitting single-take videos of their French oration skills. Three of the five competition categories were won by B.C. students, with topics ranging from climate change to women’s rights to linguistic security and immigration.

Judging for the competition was done by an expert panel  from organizations such as the Embassy of France in Canada, the City of Ottawa, and the Centre de la francophonie des Amériques.

“Every year we continue to be amazed with the students’ efforts and dedication and this year was no exception,” said Nicole Thibault, Canadian Parents for French (CPF) Network CEO. “Besides showcasing their public speaking abilities in French, students put into practice other valuable skills that will certainly help them in the future.”

As part of his first-place finish, Mehta received a $750 cash prize, as well as a CPF swag bag and certificate of achievement. Scholarships for the winners are still being determined, but can total up to $20,000.

To watch the other winning national entries, and to learn more about the Concours D'art Oratoire, click here.