A Grade 7 student from Laity View Elementary in Maple Ridge has taken top honours at a province-wide French public speaking competition held last month at Simon Fraser University.
Elizabeth Sali won first place in the Grade 7 early French immersion category at the Concours d’art oratoire on May 2, 2026, a contest organized by the volunteer group Canadian Parents for French. She was up against roughly 200 other students from across BC and the Yukon.
Sali’s winning speech looked at infant sleep safety, walking judges through three common sleeping positions along with their pros and cons and tips from health professionals. The competition isn’t just about reciting a memorized piece. Students also have to answer questions on the spot in French.
“Students are not simply reciting a memorized speech. They are communicating ideas, thinking critically, and responding spontaneously to judges’ questions in French,” said Jennifer Simon, principal and coordinator of French programs for the Maple Ridge – Pitt Meadows School District. “Those are very different skills, and Elizabeth demonstrated all of them with confidence and skill.”
Sali prepared with help from French district helping teachers Sandra Turbide and Pooja Pabari over six sessions at school. Her mother, who is also a French teacher, provided extra support at home.
The win is a point of pride for the district, which has offered French immersion programs since 1980. Laity View Elementary is among three schools in the district providing early French immersion.
