Toastmasters Westmount

Shoutout to our club leaders making an impact! 📣
Our President, Ben Landry, and Carlos Martinez Serrano recently served as guest judges for the QAIS Public Speaking Run-Off at Selwyn House School. From what they told us, the competition was fierce, and the Grade 10 and 11 orators brought some serious talent to the stage! Congratulations to the winners and to everyone who competed.

Thank you to Selwyn House for inviting us to be part of this wonderful event! We always love seeing Westmount Toastmasters supporting public speaking excellence out in the community. 🥂🎤

Meeting Recap
Theme: The Warmth of the Sun

As the days grow longer, our club gathers to bask in the glow of shared stories and radiant ideas. The evening served as a vibrant reminder that, like the sun, our collective energy can illuminate new perspectives and foster growth within our community.

Swipe to relive the highlights from an evening that left us all feeling a little brighter ☀️✨

       

Happening THIS TUESDAY!
Visit us for an evening of Growth and fun😉

How are you framing your experiences lately? 🖼️

What we go through matters, but how we frame it shapes how we grow from it. Sometimes, all it takes is a small shift in perspective to see things in a new light. And sometimes, hearing someone else’s story can shift the way we see our own.

In design, the frame defines the focus. In life, our perspective defines our experience. Whether we look through a wide-angle lens of opportunity or a narrow lens of doubt, we are the artists choosing the frame.

Join us as we explore The Art of Perspective.

🗓 Tuesday, March 24
🕖 7:00 – 9:00 PM
📍 Victoria Hall (2nd floor)

✨ Guests are always welcome

Meeting Recap – March 10
Theme: Spring is Coming

As the seasons change, our club gathered to embrace the energy of renewal and the promise of fresh beginnings. The evening was a vibrant reminder of the growth and talent within our community.

Highlights of the Night:
A Captivating Debut: Huge congratulations to Helen for winning Best Speaker! Her "K-Drama Dream" Ice Breaker was an incredibly engaging start to her journey.
Deep Dive into the Future: Naman reached a major milestone in his Level 2 Pathway, delivering a thought-provoking presentation on "Thinking in the Age of Artificial Intelligence," followed by an insightful Q&A session.

Every session brings a new surprise, as our speakers continue to inspire us with their diverse interests and personal stories.

Swipe to relive the highlights from an inspiring evening 🌿

   

Today, on International Women’s Day, we honor the trailblazers who paved the way and the voices that continue to lead us forward. From the historic barriers broken in 1973 to the powerful leadership defining our organization today, we celebrate 50+ years of courageous steps, speaking, and leadership excellence in Toastmasters.

We are proud to be part of this legacy at . Here is to the women who have found their voice and continue to inspire us all! 🎙️✨

We're incredibly grateful to Helen for opening up her heart and sharing her powerful 'Moment of Reflection.' This story, filled with courage, vulnerability, and a deep sense of self-awareness, resonated deeply within our Westmount Toastmasters community.

Her journey, from facing the uncertainty of a career transition to rediscovering the importance of self-care and listening to her intuition, is a lesson we can all carry. The simple yet profound message to pause, look after ourselves, and prioritize our true needs over our egos is a reminder that in the face of life's changes, taking care of our mental and physical well-being is not just okay, it's essential.

Thank you, Helen, for this moving and memorable moment of reflection. We are inspired by your strength and wisdom.

Has a personal story ever given you a moment of profound clarity? Share your own experiences in the comments below! 👇

A night of clarity, confidence, and connection. 🌟

Our "North Star" meeting reminded us that while the journey to becoming a great speaker isn't always a straight line, having a supportive community makes the navigation easy.

Huge shoutout to our award winners for showing us how it’s done! (And a big thank you to the guests who joined our constellation last night! 🌌)

🗓️ Our next voyage begins: Tuesday, March 10th | 6:45 PM | Victoria Hall.

   

The "natural" speaker is a myth. 🎙️

Most people think confidence is a personality trait. In reality, it’s a physiological and mechanical process that you can hack. 🧠

If you’ve ever felt your heart race or your mind go blank the second you stand up to speak, you aren't failing—you’re just using the wrong preparation frameworks.

Based on the latest insights from , we’re breaking down the 5 science-backed shifts to move from stage fright to stage presence:

1️⃣ The Vocal Muscle Framework: Stop practicing in your head. Inner speech is significantly faster than actual speech. You must train your vocal muscles at full volume to align your brain with your breath.

2️⃣ The Anti-Mirror Framework: Ditch the mirror. It makes you a spectator of your own appearance rather than a guardian of your message. Use video recordings instead to focus on clarity.

3️⃣ Targeted Feedback: Stop asking "How did I do?" and start asking "What was my main point?". Specific questions force your audience to give you the actionable data you need to improve.

4️⃣ Anxiety Reframing: Your racing heart isn't "fear"—it's "fuel." Science shows that the physiological symptoms of anxiety and excitement are nearly identical. Say "I am excited" to reframe your energy.

5️⃣ The Virtual Reality Framework: Don't let a "silent" Zoom room rattle you. Virtual silence usually signifies concentration or external distractions, not boredom with your content.

Which of these 5 frameworks are you implementing for your next presentation? 👇
Drop a 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 in the comments!

The North Star

🌟 Happening Tomorrow 🌟

When things feel uncertain…
what guides you?

Your goals?
Your values?
Your voice?

Tomorrow at Westmount Toastmasters, we explore The North Star — discovering direction, clarity, and confidence through communication.

Whether you’re looking to:
✨ become a stronger speaker
✨ grow as a leader
✨ or simply step outside your comfort zone

You’re welcome here.

🗓️ Tuesday, March 3
⏰ 6:45 PM
📍 Victoria Hall (2nd floor)

Guests are always welcome — we’d love to see you there!

What’s your North Star right now? 🌟