About Comp-Talk Toastmaters

Comp-Talk Toastmasters was formed in 1986 to serve the employees of The Worker's Compensation Board (now WorkSafeBC). The club is now open to everyone and is part of Division 21. Comp-Talk meets every Wednesday from 5-6:30 PM at WorkSafeBC in Richmond, BC. For more specific meeting details and directions please visit our directions page.

At Comp-Talk we have the latest multimedia equipment for our members to use and practice making presentations with. New members are assigned a mentor to guide them through orientation to the club and the first three speeches.

To find out more about becoming a member please visit our membership information page or if you would like to come as a guest check out the info for guests.

If you have any other questions or concerns please contact us.

About Toastmasters

Toastmasters International was started by Dr. Ralph Smedley in 1924. It was part of a program to help young men learn to master their fear of public speaking. Today, Toastmasters has grown into a worldwide network of men and women working together in over 8,600 clubs in 70 countries. In B.C. alone Toastmasters has grown to nearly 200 exciting and dynamic clubs. For more information about Toastmasters and B.C. visit the District 21 website.

Toastmasters' success is based upon its self-paced Communication and Leadership Program (pictured below). In the Communication Program members make speeches that have clear objectives and goals in order to help the speaker learn or strengthen a specific skill. For example, the Competent Communicator Program helps develop things like organization, vocal variety, using appropriate language and gestures, and speaking persuasively. While the Advanced Programs build on the basics and focus on broader skills such as how to be an entertaining speaker or how to speak to inspire.

At the same time as working on the Communication Program, members develop leadership skills through the Leadership Program. In the beginning, members take on roles during the meeting such as the Chair or Toastmaster (to learn more about these roles click here) and later can take a role on the club Executive. Eventually, members can become District and Area Governors who oversee the operation of a number of clubs. After completing all the requirements of both Programs, members can apply for the highest Toastmaster honor, the Distinguished Toastmaster award.