By Optimist Brenda Zynomirski
To The Haldimand Press
DUNNVILLE—The Optimist Club of Dunnville hosted its annual Optimist Oratorical Contest on Saturday, April 15, 2023.
Friends and family gathered to hear three youth present speeches on “Discovering the Optimism Within Me”. The youth discussed ways in which they discovered optimism in their life and the effects that it had on them.
Addison Houser noted that if you change your point of view to one of optimism, it made life more fun. Sophie Hedley stated that “optimism is a challenge that takes work” but noted it is worth it and, better yet, it is “contagious”. Hailey Diduck spoke of her personal experiences and how she found that “optimism has transformed me into the most amazing optimistic person that I am today.”
The winners of the Optimist Club of Dunnville Contest receive medallions and cash prizes of $150 for first place, $100 for second place, and $50 for third place. First-place Hailey Diduck and second-place Addison Houser advance to the Central Ontario District level on May 13 in Oakville and will compete for scholarships of up to $2,500. The district-level scholarships are funded by the Canadian Children’s Optimist Foundation.
Since its start in 1928, the Optimist Oratorical Contest has become the longest-running program sponsored by Optimist International. The contest is designed for youth to gain experience in public speaking, perfect self-expression, gain self-assurance, improve communication skills, and provide them with the opportunity to compete for a post-secondary scholarship.
Dunnville’s Optimist Club is a place where people can make friends and have fun while working to bring out the best in the youth in the community. For more information or to join the Optimist Club, message them on Facebook or email them at
optimistdunnville54@gmail.com.
