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.” We are a local chapter of Toastmasters International.

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 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 or two. Each meeting gives everyone an opportunity to practice conducting meetings, giving impromptu speeches, presenting prepared speeches, and offering constructive evaluation.

Our club meets on the 2nd, 4th, and (when they occur) 5th Monday of each month upstairs in the Miller's Oven Restaurant (address above) at 7:30 PM sharp.

Click here for a map to the Miller's Oven. We invite you
to come out as our guest and see for yourself whether our club can
help you realize your own personal goals for self development.

View Chris Ford photo album of September 2007 celebrating his accomplishment of Toastmasters International President.
Tree planting in Manotick and party celebration. See Chris Ford, Manotick Members and Fellow Toastmasters ALBUM