Ella Easthope, a Grade 6 student from the Cochrane area attending Timmins Centennial Public School, won a gold medal at a regional public speaking contest in Kapuskasing, Ontario. Easthope took the top prize in the Junior division, which includes students in Grades 4 to 6.
The win at the zone level follows a strong performance by students from her school who earlier took the top spots at a local competition. As a result of this latest victory, Easthope will move on to the district finals on March 15, 2026.
The next round of the competition will be held in Englehart and is being hosted by Royal Canadian Legion Branch 104. This year is significant for the program because 2026 is the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Legion.
According to the District School Board Ontario North East, the public speaking program is a youth initiative designed to help students build communication skills and confidence. Winners from the district level can move on to a provincial competition later in the spring.
