It’s a common fact that people fear speaking in public more than death itself. Think about that for a moment. It’s obviously an “irrational” fear and the Etobicoke Toastmasters are here to help us all be better public speakers and eliminate that fear.
Goodyear Toastmasters is the Etobicoke chapter of Toastmasters International and was formed way back in 1981 by members of the training department at Goodyear Tires. Over the years the venue for the club changed several times settling now in the main boardroom at the Etobicoke Civic Centre, an excellent location that is accessible easily by car or by TTC. It is located at Burnhamthorpe and the 427 with free parking and a Tim Hortons across the street. The mission of Toastmasters is to “provide a supportive and positive learning experience in which members are empowered to develop communication and leadership skills that give them greater self-confidence and personal growth”.
Etobicoke Toastmasters members meet weekly for two hours every Thursday evening and are made up of teachers, salespeople, students, professional speakers, retirees, and others. Each meeting is structured with members playing roles in various scenarios, allowing each person to learn through practice and feedback from other members. There are mentor programs, youth leadership programs, and other tools used by the organization to achieve their goals. If you’re not sure about becoming a member then come in as a guest for free and participate in some of the activities, optionally of course.
Speaking from my own personal experience I’ll occasionally come into a situation where I am required to give a speech, the most recent as best man at a friend’s wedding. Due to these situations arising infrequently I am always overcome with a bit of nervousness and worry. The funny thing is that once the speech is done I realize “That wasn’t so bad. In fact, I did well”. This is probably where Toastmasters would benefit me greatly in that by giving speeches more often it will become second nature for me and more importantly, I will get good at it!
So call up Goodyear Etobicoke Toastmasters today and come to see what it’s all about. You’ll be amongst friends each helping you to become a better public speaker and also to increase your self-confidence.
Etobicoke Toastmasters: Where and When…
| WHERE: | Etobicoke Civic Centre, 399 The West Mall, Etobicoke, ON M9C 2Y2 | |
| PHONE: | 416-503-4945 | |
| WHEN: | Every Thursday for two hours, beginning at 6:45pm | |
| WEBSITE: | goodyeartoastmasters.com |
Thank you so much for writing this article! I’ve been a member of Goodyear Toastmasters (GYTM) for over 4 years now, and I can honestly say it’s been one of the best experiences I’ve ever had.
I went from not being able to hold a conversation to not being able to stop getting into them, and my public speaking skills have increased dramatically as well.
The people here are extremely friendly and helpful. If you’re reading this and are looking for a great way (and a productive one) to spend your Thursday evenings, then I highly encourage you to come out to Goodyear Toastmasters!
Hi Jonathan,
That’s great to hear about your extreme turnaround which is why we’d encourage everyone to come out, even as a guest, to see how great an organization it is!
This is so awesome! I have been a member of this club only 4 months. Benefiting from this club, I become more and more confident about my speech. At meanwhile, I also develop my leadership skills through serving the treasure role at this club. The mentorship program allows me to spend lots of time with one of the best speakers in this club. Thanks to Goodyear Toastmaster.
Hi Apollo,
It’s great to hear from a relatively new member who has noticed an improvement so rapidly. Good luck with all you do!