In October 1924, a group of men assembled by Dr. Ralph C. Smedley met in the basement of the YMCA in Santa Ana, California, U.S.A., forming a club “to afford practice and training in the art of public speaking and in presiding over meetings, and to promote sociability and good fellowship among its members.” The group took the name “Toastmasters.”  U-CAN-SPEAK was established in 1995 and this is our tenth year, watch for our celebration evening!

Today, Toastmasters International is a non-profit organization which gives its members the opportunity to develop and improve their public speaking abilities through local club meetings, training seminars and speech contests. Toastmasters International includes more than 199,000 men and women in more than 9,300 clubs in more than 70 countries. 

Experienced professionals and beginning speakers alike can benefit from our practical, face-to-face learning program. Whether you're speaking to the board of directors, your customers, your co-workers or your kids, Toastmasters can help you do it better. You'll learn and practice in a friendly, comfortable environment with people who are there for the same reason you are—to become better communicators.  At university, students need these skills especially to be effective communicators in their field.  Get the right communication skills, before you hit the worforce!

At Toastmasters, members learn by speaking to groups and working with others in a supportive environment. A typical Toastmasters club is made up of 20 to 30 people who meet once a week for about an hour. Each meeting gives everyone an opportunity to practice conducting meetings, giving impromptu speeches, presenting prepared speeches, and offering constructive evaluation.

International Room, University of Canterbury Students Association Building. Go into the UCSA building, and turn up the stairs.  On the right hand side corridor at the top of the stairs, U-CAN-SPEAK is on the last right in the International Room.

 U-CAN-SPEAK meets from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm weekly on Monday nights.