History of the League
The Fulford League came into existence in 1948 at the suggestion of the widow of Senator George Fulford who had passed away not long before. He was a distinguished legal mind and public servant before being appointed to the Senate. Mrs. Fulford approached the four schools of what was then called the Little Big Four plus the University of Toronto Schools with the idea that they might like to perpetuate the memory of her late husband by creating a league dedicated to the noble art of debate. The watchwords of his life apparently had been "Deliberation not Contention" and these were inscribed on the base of the rather nondescript wooden trophy that was created.
A series of individual one-on-one debates took place between these schools during each of the next twenty-five years or so. The L.B.F. schools for those not familiar with this term comprised Ridley College, St. Andrew's College, Trinity College School and Upper Canada College. Each year a victor was declared who had the honour of holding onto the battered old trophy. Gradually the name Fulford became identified with the best traditions of speech and debate. Even when few people were able to remember the details of the life of the late Senator, his name was wonderfully preserved in this way.
In the late seventies, two additional schools petitioned the League to be included, these being Appleby College and Lakefield College School. Throughout this period the single most influential sponsor of debating activities was Tom. W. Lawson of Trinity College School. During a year's leave of absence from teaching Tom travelled the length and breadth of Canada drumming up interest in debating and founding what became the Canadian Student Debating Federation (CSDF) which would once a year draw young people together from every province and territory for a week of activities and discussion of a significant issue facing our country. The CSDF continues to this day coordinating debating and speaking activities across the country for young people in all school systems, public and parochial as well as independent.
In 1980 Rupert Ray of St. Andrew's College was elected to be the first official president of the Fulford League. During the subsequent three years the league experienced a quantum growth, first from seven to twelve, and then from twelve to seventeen. In this period it was decided that the awarding of the trophy would be based upon the results at three tournaments each year at which all schools except the host school on that occasion would participate. This system of organization was much more fair while being highly competitive. Member schools came to regard this as the highlight of their debating season and the right to go to the Fulford was a signal honour for the very best debaters in each school. During this period it was also felt desirable that there should be a second tier of debate whereby novice debaters could gain valuable experience. Just at this time we were saddened by the sudden death of Brian Jones of Lakefield who had shown himself to be a true friend of debate in the tradition of Senator Fulford. Consequently a silver trophy was crafted in Brian's name to be competed for by debaters in the junior and intermediate levels. Happily the standard of debate improved with each passing year.
Although the original mandate of the Fulford League has resulted in a membership confined to independent schools, it should be noted that many of the Fulford schools are fully involved in activities sponsored by the Ontario Student Debating Union. Thousands of young people each year hear the name Fulford and continue through debate and deliberation to achieve understanding and tolerance and consensus. Senator George Fulford would be very happy to see what has transpired in our schools during the past seventy years.
Rupert Ray
Former League President
The Fulford League came into existence in 1948 at the suggestion of the widow of Senator George Fulford who had passed away not long before. He was a distinguished legal mind and public servant before being appointed to the Senate. Mrs. Fulford approached the four schools of what was then called the Little Big Four plus the University of Toronto Schools with the idea that they might like to perpetuate the memory of her late husband by creating a league dedicated to the noble art of debate. The watchwords of his life apparently had been "Deliberation not Contention" and these were inscribed on the base of the rather nondescript wooden trophy that was created.
A series of individual one-on-one debates took place between these schools during each of the next twenty-five years or so. The L.B.F. schools for those not familiar with this term comprised Ridley College, St. Andrew's College, Trinity College School and Upper Canada College. Each year a victor was declared who had the honour of holding onto the battered old trophy. Gradually the name Fulford became identified with the best traditions of speech and debate. Even when few people were able to remember the details of the life of the late Senator, his name was wonderfully preserved in this way.
In the late seventies, two additional schools petitioned the League to be included, these being Appleby College and Lakefield College School. Throughout this period the single most influential sponsor of debating activities was Tom. W. Lawson of Trinity College School. During a year's leave of absence from teaching Tom travelled the length and breadth of Canada drumming up interest in debating and founding what became the Canadian Student Debating Federation (CSDF) which would once a year draw young people together from every province and territory for a week of activities and discussion of a significant issue facing our country. The CSDF continues to this day coordinating debating and speaking activities across the country for young people in all school systems, public and parochial as well as independent.
In 1980 Rupert Ray of St. Andrew's College was elected to be the first official president of the Fulford League. During the subsequent three years the league experienced a quantum growth, first from seven to twelve, and then from twelve to seventeen. In this period it was decided that the awarding of the trophy would be based upon the results at three tournaments each year at which all schools except the host school on that occasion would participate. This system of organization was much more fair while being highly competitive. Member schools came to regard this as the highlight of their debating season and the right to go to the Fulford was a signal honour for the very best debaters in each school. During this period it was also felt desirable that there should be a second tier of debate whereby novice debaters could gain valuable experience. Just at this time we were saddened by the sudden death of Brian Jones of Lakefield who had shown himself to be a true friend of debate in the tradition of Senator Fulford. Consequently a silver trophy was crafted in Brian's name to be competed for by debaters in the junior and intermediate levels. Happily the standard of debate improved with each passing year.
Although the original mandate of the Fulford League has resulted in a membership confined to independent schools, it should be noted that many of the Fulford schools are fully involved in activities sponsored by the Ontario Student Debating Union. Thousands of young people each year hear the name Fulford and continue through debate and deliberation to achieve understanding and tolerance and consensus. Senator George Fulford would be very happy to see what has transpired in our schools during the past seventy years.
Rupert Ray
Former League President
