- Hub staff

Congratulations to local secondary school student Christian Routenburg-Evans who won the provincial semi-finals of the Royal Canadian Legion Public Speaking Competition in Hanover on Saturday.

His powerful, personal speech moved the audience to give him a standing ovation – something extremely rare in this competition.

Christian is representing Royal Canadian Legion Chatsworth Branch 464 and Royal Canadian Legion Owen Sound Branch 6. He will now take his speech to the provincial finals in Stouffville on Saturday, May 6.

The public speaking contest is part of the Legion's youth and education program, and students from Grades 1 to 12 are invited to participate in four classes according to grade.

Topics are not assigned – the individual chooses the subject matter for their original address.