Markham Toastmasters Club #4782

🍀 Markham Toastmasters - Meeting Recap (Mar 17, 2026)

Theme: Lucky Breaks
Word of the Day: Serendipity

Patricia chaired a perfectly timed St. Patrick’s Day themed evening, reminding us that “lucky breaks” rarely come out of nowhere. With serendipity in the air, we explored how opportunity is the intersection of luck and preparedness, and why showing up ready matters just as much as hoping for a four leaf clover.

✨ Prepared Speeches:

💍 Joy - My Third Wedding Ceremony
Joy had us laughing through a whirlwind of wedding day challenges, sharing the chaos with sharp humor and great storytelling that turned every “oh no” moment into a memorable punchline.

🌟 Kayona (Powerspeakers) - And Now, It’s Time To Act
Kayona delivered an uplifting call to action, sharing why 2026 is the year of the volunteer and how our everyday choices and service can create real impact.

🍞 Hitesh - Toasty Tip
Hitesh gave a clear overview of Toastmasters and a timely reminder that progress comes from learning by doing, one meeting, one role, and one speech at a time.

🏆 Awards:
😄 Smile Award - Bapu
⚡ Spark Plug Award - Joy
🎤 Best Table Topics - Mariya, Cory, and Steven

From laughs to leadership, this meeting proved that when preparation meets the moment, lucky breaks follow. 🍀

Want a little serendipity in your week? Come find your next lucky break with us and sign up to visit Markham Toastmasters: https://markhamtoastmasters.com/guest_form.html

We have had a bunch of new members join us recently and we will be having a new member induction on March 31, 2026!

🌐 Markham Toastmasters - Meeting Recap (Mar 3, 2026)

Theme: Life Lessons
Word of the Day: Perspective

Sean Ciampaglia chaired a heartfelt evening built around Life Lessons, the kind you earn through everyday choices, setbacks, and small wins. With thoughtful pacing and plenty of room for reflection, Sean set a tone that encouraged members to reflect on what has shaped them and what keeps them moving forward.

Bonus moment: We used the word of the day “Perspective” a record 39 times! 👀

✨ Prepared Speeches:

🎬 Menny Jorny - From Behind The Scenes to Front of the Room
Menny shared his entrepreneurship journey and the growth that comes from stepping into visibility. He connected Toastmasters to the leader he is becoming, someone ready to communicate with intention and show up with confidence.

🐦 A member who asked to remain private - Small Birds, Big Lessons
Our member told a memorable story of observing robins nesting, and how that quiet experience revealed powerful lessons in perseverance, dedication, and unconditional love. A reminder that life’s best teachers are sometimes right outside our window.

🗳️ Neruson Murugesamoorthy - Vote For Me
Neruson delivered a clear and purposeful message about service and leadership, sharing his desire to support a community and asking for trust as he seeks election to a leadership position.

🏆 Awards:
😄 Smile Award - Roy Long
⚡ Spark Plug Award - a member who asked to remain private
🎤 Best Table Topics - Cory Wong

We left with fresh perspective, stronger connections, and a few more life lessons to carry into the week ahead. 🌱

Want to build your own Life Lessons in confidence, communication, and leadership (with a little perspective along the way)? Visit Markham Toastmasters and sign up as a guest here: https://markhamtoastmasters.com/guest_form.html

🌐 Markham Toastmasters - Meeting Recap (Feb 24, 2026)

Theme: Breaking the Ice
Word of the Day: Relief

One of our Toastmasters chaired a wonderfully welcoming meeting built around “Breaking the Ice,” the perfect theme for fresh starts and brave first steps. From warm introductions to supportive feedback, the room was full of encouragement and that shared feeling of relief that comes when you realize you are not doing this alone. Bonus highlight: She surprised our icebreaker speakers with a thoughtful gift to celebrate their big moment! 🎁 We also got to experience our meeting in the grand nave of Markham Baptist Church, it was truly something special.

✨ Prepared Speeches:

🧊 Abhinav Lele - “Something New”
Abhinav delivered an icebreaker that introduced us to the “great builder” he is, setting a strong foundation for his Toastmasters journey and leaving us excited to see what he builds next. 🧱

🏁 Marlon Lee - “Who am I”
Marlon shared how he grew to appreciate competition, reframing it as a tool for growth and a way to challenge himself to keep leveling up. 💪

🎭 Nadine Artuhanava Bargout - “Who am I”
Nadine reflected on identity through the lens of being a performer, inviting us into her personal perspective and what it means to keep moving forward as she continues evolving. 🌟

📵 Hitesh Parmar - “The Glowing Thief”
Hitesh gave a heartfelt message about screens, encouraging us to disconnect from the glow and reconnect with the people around us, rediscovering the joy of real human connection. 🤝

Special shoutout: We had three icebreakers today! 🎉 A fantastic start for three members kicking off their Toastmasters journey. And we’re wishing Hitesh the very best of luck in his upcoming competition! 🍀

🏆 Awards:
😄 Smile Award - Sean Ciampaglia
⚡ Spark Plug Award - Abhinav Lele, Marlon Lee, and Nadine Artuhanava Bargout
🎤 Best Table Topics - Sean Ciampaglia

We left the meeting with stronger connections, fresh confidence, and a little more relief in our pockets. 🧊➡️💬

Want to break the ice with us at your own pace? Come as a guest and let Markham Toastmasters help turn those first hellos into confident conversations. Sign up here: https://markhamtoastmasters.com/guest_form.html

🧧 Markham Toastmasters – Meeting Recap (Feb 17, 2026)

Theme: Chinese New Year
Word of the Day: Candid

Roy Long chaired the evening and set the tone with a Chinese New Year theme that felt like a fresh start, inviting us to reflect, reset, and step into new goals with intention. With “candid” in mind, members brought honest insights, bold answers, and plenty of good-natured fun to every role. ✨

🎙️ Prepared Speeches:
🌟 Farah Rehman – “My Icebreaker”: A warm first step onto the Toastmasters stage, introducing herself with openness and setting the foundation for a strong speaking journey.
🌸 Mariya Chaudhry – “The Woman I Became”: A reflective, unapologetic speech that pointed to growth, transformation, and the moments that shaped Mariya.
🔑 Aracelli Coelho – “The Charisma Code”: A speech that spoke about presence and charisma and how to use it.

🏆 Awards:
😄 Smile Award: Sylvia Morris
⚡ Spark Plug Award: Marlon Lee & Patricia Bardowell
🎤 Best Table Topics: Mariya Chaudhry

A night of fresh energy, candid moments, and supportive applause, here’s to carrying that momentum into the year ahead! 🥁🎆

✨ Markham Toastmasters Recap – December 2, 2025
Theme: The Gift of Words
Word of the Day: Speak

Tonight we explored how words connect us, inspire us, and reveal who we are both on and off the stage.

🎤 Speeches & Highlights

Jason He opened with “Who Am I and Why I Joined Toastmasters,” sharing his journey as a software developer, cycling enthusiast, and solo driver. A warm and thoughtful introduction from one of our newest members!

Leon Chow followed with “Lessons in Badminton: The Ultimate Reaction Sport,” guiding us through the sport’s origins, strategy, and rapid-fire gameplay. Informative, well-paced, and engaging from start to finish.

🤝 Member Induction
We were delighted to officially welcome Jason He and Manny Jorny into our Markham Toastmasters family. We look forward to cheering you on through your growth and milestones ahead!

🏅 Awards
Smile Award: Jason He
Spark Plug Award: Neruson Murugesamoorthy
Table Topics Award: Mitch D’Souza

🎄 Looking Ahead: December 16
Next meeting will feature a Christmas Potluck and Live Auction in support of the Markham Food Bank. Members and guests attending that evening are encouraged to bring a dish or an item for the auction if they wish to participate.

Another inspiring evening of growth and connection... see you at the next meeting! 🌟

What an incredible night for our Toastmasters family at the Division A Humorous Speech and Table Topics Contest on December 1, 2025! 🎉

Huge congratulations to Roy and Laura for their amazing performances — and to Hitesh as well, even though he was representing STAR Toastmasters tonight!

👏 Roy delivered a fantastic speech, “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly,” earning 2nd place in the Humorous Speech Contest.

👏 Laura took 1st place in the Table Topics Contest with the prompt “Outside Inside”! She’ll be representing our division at the District Conference on May 1–3, 2026.

👏 And a big shoutout to Hitesh, who placed 3rd in both the Humorous and Table Topics contests with strong and polished performances.

We’re so proud of Roy, Laura, and Hitesh — their dedication shows what’s possible with consistent practice and the support of our Toastmasters community. 🌟

If you’ve ever wanted to improve your speaking or confidence, come visit us! Your journey could lead you to the contest stage too. 💬✨

Best use for a hole in the wall! 😲

🎃 Markham Toastmasters Halloween Spooktacular - October 28, 2025! 👻✨

What a fang-tastic night at our Halloween-themed meeting, chaired by the ever-charismatic Hitesh Parmar! 🦇

Fresh from the District 123 Convention, where Markham Toastmasters Club #4782 was proudly named Club of the Year 🏆 and Hitesh Parmar received the Spirit Award for his outstanding community engagement, our club had every reason to celebrate! 🎉

And celebrate we did... in full costume! From vampires to witches to one very terrifying banana 🍌💀, members filled the room with laughter and creativity. Cory Wong delivered a frightfully funny speech about the scary nature of bananas while dressed as one himself!

The night was filled with spooky fun, visually inspired table topics speeches, and a strong sense of support and togetherness. Once again, we proved that confidence and communication can be spooktacularly fun! 👻🗣️

🎤 Markham Toastmasters Shines at the Area A42 Speech Contests Recap - October 21, 2025 🌟

What an incredible evening at the Area A42 Table Topics & Humorous Speech Contests! 👏

Speakers from across the area brought their best humour, creativity, and quick thinking to the stage. We’re thrilled to share that every one of our Markham Toastmasters representatives placed in the Top 3! 💪✨

💬 Table Topics Contest
1️⃣ Laura Connor — 🥇 1st Place (Markham Toastmasters)
2️⃣ Richard Lai — 🥈 2nd Place
3️⃣ Sean Ciampaglia — 🥉 3rd Place (Markham Toastmasters)

😂 Humorous Speech Contest
1️⃣ Roy Long — 🥇 1st Place (Markham Toastmasters)
2️⃣ Markham Toastmasters Representative — 🥈 2nd Place (Markham Toastmasters)
3️⃣ Shirley Li — 🥉 3rd Place

👏 A big thank-you to Contest Chair Mani Sathiyavelu and Chief Judge Ray Lim for organizing a smooth, inspiring, and laughter-filled event — and to all the dedicated volunteers who helped make it happen.

The spirit of Toastmasters was alive and well that night with learning, laughter, and leadership in action! 💬✨

If you’ve ever wanted to speak with confidence, think on your feet, and have fun doing it, join us at Markham Toastmasters!

🌟 Markham Toastmasters Meeting Recap – September 30, 2025 🌟
Theme: The Pause Between Seasons
Word of the Day: Interlude

✨ With Meilisa Soepiter as our chair, we reflected on transitions and moments of stillness. Some of our members also wore orange shirts in recognition of Orange Shirt Day for National Truth and Reconciliation Day, honoring the children who never returned home and the survivors of residential schools.

🎤 Prepared Speeches:
🌱 Sunil Deonaraine: In “The Gift of Getting Your Way,” Sunil discussed the finer points of negotiating while reminding us not to lose sight of who we are.
🌿 Hitesh Parmar: In “Boredom,” Hitesh shared how there are many different ways to deal with life’s duller moments.

💡 Table Topics: We even enjoyed lively discussions around habits, timely and practical as we adapt to the changes in our environment.

🏆 Awards:
😄 Smile – Sunil Deonaraine
⚡ Spark Plug – Hitesh Parmar
🎯 Table Topics – Sunil Deonaraine

🎤 Toastmasters Markham Contest Recap – September 25, 2025 🎤

What an electrifying evening! This week, our club gathered for Table Topics and Humorous Speech Contests. It was a night full of quick wit, sharp storytelling, and plenty of laughs. Our first-place winners now qualify to represent us at the Area Contest, with the potential to advance even further.

🗣️ Table Topics Contest

Placements
🥇 1st – Laura Conner
🥈 2nd – Sean Ciampaglia
🥉 3rd – Roy Long

Additional Participants: Ethan Davis, Sunil Deonaraine, and Hitesh Parmar

😂 Humorous Speech Contest

Placements
🥇 1st – Roy Long
🥈 2nd – (unnamed by request)
🥉 3rd – Hitesh Parmar

Additional Participant: Sunil Deonaraine

👏 A huge congratulations to all our winners and participants for their courage and creativity. We can’t wait to cheer on our champions at the next level. Good luck at the Area Contest!

🌐 Markham Toastmasters – Meeting Recap (Sep 16, 2025)

Theme: Red Pill vs. Blue Pill: Which Reality Would You Choose?
Word of the Day: Visceral

Mitch D’Souza chaired the evening with a thought-provoking Matrix-inspired theme. He invited members to consider whether they’d prefer to live blissfully unaware or embrace inconvenient truths that could change our reality. Many came dressed in red or blue to show their pill choice, while others leaned into the Matrix vibe with sharp themed outfits.

✨ Prepared Speeches:

🌱 Mariya Chaudhry: In her speech “No is a Complete Sentence,” Mariya reminded us that honoring our values helps us make decisions true to ourselves.

🌿 Pinkal Patel: In her icebreaker speech “Roots to Quality,” Pinkal introduced herself by sharing her love of plants, her artistic family, and her career in drugs.

📚 Sylvia Calleri: In her speech, Sylvia emphasized that we are always capable of learning and invited members to join her at an upcoming event she is organizing.

🏆 Awards:
😄 Smile: Roy Long
⚡ Spark Plug: Mitch D’Souza
🎤 Table Topics Master: Roy Long

The evening left members energized and reflective, striking a balance between fun Matrix references and meaningful insights about truth, choice, and growth.