Evan Peters Superstar!

When he walks through the halls with his unassuming appearance, and vanilla blond hair, you might not give him a second thought. But Evan Peters is the ultimate “don’t judge a book by his cover” story. Listen to him or be forced to listen to him for a moment, and you might just never stop. If you listen, he’ll tell you about a journey that’s taken him across five continents, that has seen him claim the title of world champion and make countless new friends along the way.

Evan Peters was born on September 5, 2007, in Winnipeg, Manitoba to parents Darren Peters and Victoria Cole. As he moved into his school years attending St. Charles Catholic School, one trait quickly became apparent – his ability to speak, a gift bestowed upon him from above, endowing guile and charisma on onlookers.

Entering St. Paul’s in Grade 9, Evan made a decision that would change the course of his life: joining the speech and debate team. With his natural magnetism and verbal prowess, he was an instant success. His first national level competition came in 2022, where he placed 8^th overall, with a second place finishing in the persuasive and impromptu speaking categories. Peters described that experience as “enlightening”, saying, “It showed me that I had the skills to compete at a national level and international level.” Entering Grade 10, and by extension the senior ranks of high school debate, Peters took on Oscar Lavitt as his new debate partner and the new pair found quick success, placing fourth at the Manitoba British Parliamentary Provincial Debate Championships. 

Individually, he competed at the National Public Speaking Championships at SJR in the Fall of 2022. With a speech entitled, “The Truth Behind the Bean”, an exposé on unethical practices in the coffee industry, Peters hand-gestured (a signature trait of his speaking style) his way to a second place finish in the persuasive category, and a seventh place finish overall, earning a berth at the World Individual Debate and Public Speaking Championships (WIDSPC) all the way in Durban, South Africa, a competition no St. Paul’s student had ever previously qualified for. 

Going into WIDPSC, Peters described his mindset as “let’s just have fun,” stating “I didn’t think I’d win”. However, to Evan’s surprise, but not to those who had watched him speak, he not only qualified for the grand finals, but took first place, earning the title of world champion. Alongside persuasive speaking, Evan contested impromptu debate, interpretive reading, and impromptu speaking, placing top 10 overall. 

Following his return from South Africa, Evan set the Manitoba debate scene on fire, placing highly at provincial championships, but more importantly, serving as the spark for a new St. Paul’s debate Renaissance. 

Recently, in early 2024, Evan competed at the Canadian Public Speaking Championships, earning the national overall title. This earned him a ticket back to WIDPSC, and a shot at defending his world title in Canberra, Australia. In contrast with his more timid and unsure mentality going into WIDPSC ’23, Evan felt ready to take on the world this time around. He prepped his speech “Honey Laundering”, aiming for the global stage of the grand finals. To no one’s surprise, he made it to that stage, alongside two rivals: fellow Canadian Millie
Steinman as well as South African Matthew de Jager. Taking the stage, Evan performed eloquently hitting his high and low notes as well as nailing his trademark hand gestures to a tee. However, it wouldn’t be enough, as Evan would see his world title fall through his hands and land on the head of Torontonian Millie Steinman. 

Reflecting on his experience, Evan felt “disappointed but content that he had given it his all”. Just a month later, he rebounded with a successful performance as St. Paul’s second-best speaker at Canadian Parliamentary Debate Nationals. As he moves into grade 12, and his final year as Crusader debater, Evan’s eyes are set on making it to WIDPSC ’25 taking place in Malaysia, hoping to reclaim his world title, and perhaps even winning overall world champion. Whatever he chooses to do in 2025 and beyond, Evan Peters has surely left a speech and debate legacy not just at St. Paul’s or in Manitoba, but across the globe.