Want to go to only the contests? Register below today!
Are you hoping to have your company pay for your registration? Do you need a Justification Letter? Download this file if you need a letter, add in the necessary details, and submit it to your company.
Do you need a hotel room for the conference? Need more details about Accommodations? See the Accommodations section below for details.
Want to use one of the Conference Zoom backgrounds? Download your file today:
Event Highlights
This year the Spring Conference is hybrid. Some parts will be online and other parts will be in-person.
The onsite location is: Four Points by Sheraton, St Catherines/Thorold in Division L.
| – April 22, Business meeting (Virtual) |
| – April 23, Workshop/Panel Discussion (Virtual) |
| – April 24, Business meeting, Elections (Virtual) |
| – April 25, No Events today |
| – April 26-27 Contests, Keynotes, Workshops, (Onsite) |
Sponsorship
If you are interested in sponsoring the conference, a workshop, a keynote speaker etc. Please email the conference chairs at:
conferencechair@toastmasters86.org
Sponsorship Details: Click here to learn more about the packages available.
Gold Sponsor
Keynote Speakers
Saturday @5pm: ‘Make a Point, Tell a Story’
Sunday @9am: ‘Leadership Lies’
Matt Kinsey, DTM, PIP has been a community and business leader for more than 30 years. Here are just a few of his highlights. He was an IT Architect for a Fortune 200 company in the United States. He has been an entrepreneur since 2007 and currently is the Managing Director and Chief Information Security Officer for IT Fusion, LLC in South Florida. He has served on the Economic Development Advisory Committee of the city of Coral Springs, Florida since 20202, and, he’s been a volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America since 1995.
He and his wife Jeanine, who is also a Distinguished Toastmaster, have been married for almost 36 years and they have 2 children and 2 grandchildren. In fact, they are a family of Toastmasters as they hold 7 Distinguished Toastmasters awards between them.
He has been a Toastmasters member since 2003. He served as District Governor of District 47 in 2012-2013, as an International Director from 2016-2018, and as the International President from 2022-2023.
Saturday @9am: ‘Succeed with Optimism’
Verity Price is a groundbreaking figure in public speaking and innovation. In 2005, she pioneered online crowdfunding for an unreleased album, setting a new precedent in music funding. In 2021, Verity became the first speaker from Africa to win the World Championship of Public Speaking, captivating audiences with her speech “A Great Read.” She further cemented her legacy in 2023 as the first ever African Accredited Speaker.
With degrees in Psychology and Anthropology from University of Cape Town, Verity is a faculty member at the UCT Graduate School of Business. Her international speaking engagements and TEDx Talks focus on fostering innovation and challenging conventional thinking to solve complex problems and gain competitive advantages.
Verity Price’s journey embodies resilience, creativity, and a steadfast commitment to making a significant global impact through her advocacy for empowering minds and rewriting narratives.
Saturday @1pm: ‘How to get a Doctorate in Evaluations'
John Constant is a Distinguished Toastmaster with over 15 years of experience in corporate, community and advanced clubs, as well as having a variety of leadership roles, including Area Governor and a President’s Distinguished Division Governor. John is a TEDx speaker coach for the past 4 years, a District Finalist for Table Topics, Evaluation and International Speech contests and has also provided officer training for several club officer positions and led workshops on evaluation, speeches, judging and table topics to Toastmasters and Gavel Clubs locally and around the world.
When it comes to Evaluations, the cornerstone of Toastmasters, maybe we should look at them differently. What if you could get a Doctorate in Evaluations? Would you? Let’s spend some time together, whet your appetite with some tips, some laughs and let us all look at evaluations with a different perspective.
Workshop Presenters
Speaker's Corner
Saturday, April 26, 2025 – Speaker’s Corner #1 – 1:30 p.m.
Shanthi Kuruvilla – Release the cat!!!
This speech is designed help define the attributes of professional speakers and apply that understanding to our own skills as speakers.
Saturday, April 26, 2025 – Speaker’s Corner #2 – 4:30 p.m.
Rajvinder Dhaliwal – From Struggles to Strength: A Journey of Gratitude
A motivational speech relating personal struggles and how to see obstacles as lessons guiding her to a life of purpose and understanding.
Sunday, April 27, 2025 – Speaker’s Corner #3 – 8:30 a.m.
Madan Chauhan – Unlock Your Potential
A motivational speech for Toastmasters members to have the courage to step out of the box and think yes, you can do it!
District International Speech and Evaluation Contests
Author's Corner
Author’s Corner
The Conference will feature an Author’s Corner for published authors from the District 86 Toastmasters membership. Check this link for further details on the participating authors.
Click here to learn more about the Authors and their books
In addition, there will be a virtual Author’s Corner panel discussion on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 at 6:30p.m. where the participating authors will be available to share their publishing journey and experiences.
Please register here for the panel discussion that will be available at no cost:
Accommodations
Event Summary:
Toastmaster D86 Conference
Start Date: Friday, April 25, 2025
End Date: Sunday, April 27, 2025
Hotel(s) offering your special group rate:
- Four Points by Sheraton St. Catharines Niagara Suites for $219.00 CAD per night + Tax
Book your group rate for Toastmasters D86 Conference
- Hilton Garden Inn, 500 York Rd., Niagara on the Lake, ON L0S 1J0 for $219.00 CAD per night + Tax, Code 92D
Entertainment
Hailing from Hamilton Ontario, The King Jives are an energetic and dynamic Roots/ Vintage Rock and Roll Trio.
Consisting of Jeff Cober (guitar, vocals), “57Trevy” Trevor Rogers (Bass, vocals), and Jay Langdon (drums, vocals).
The King Jives provide an exciting blend of original recorded music, and covers harkening back to the true golden age of rock and roll that will keep your heart pumping, your feet jumping, and your bodies rocking! If you’re looking to jump, jive and wail, then look no further, The King Jives are here and ready to rock!