Kuzyk returns from All Ontarios, but not speechless

Ken Johnston
Editor

While he finished a respectable middle of the pack, Kam Kuzyk of Rainy River said his trip to Toronto for the provincial French speech competitions was tops in his books!
The 13 year old grade student won the Rainy River District French Speech Contest in early April. That earned him a spot at the provinicials in Toronto May 24th.
Kuzyk who had never flown before was in awe from start to finish of his trip. As luck would have it his turn to deliver his speech had him going last. “I was hoping someone would mess up and some did,” said Kuzyk.
With his work cut out for him, he took center stage and delivered his speech. However, butterflies had him perform a little below what he had hoped for. “It was kind of good but I was nervous,” said Kam.
After his speech he said the judge and peer markers asked questions, two of which he said he had difficulty understanding. But then he redeemed himself answering a couple of other questions in French.
He finished in the middle of the pack. “I was happy with that,” said Kam. “I learned that I need to practise more and memorize the entire speech as most of the other kids did theirs from memory.”
Elizabeth Black of Devlin also competed in the provincials in the French Imersion division. She too finished middle of the pack.
Once the business of the weekend was done he and his mom went sight seeing; taking in the Sears Center, the Hockey Hall of Fame, CN Tower, Sky Dome and ate at Wayne Gretzsky’ Place. He said his favourite place was the hall of fame.