Since Toastmasters began, more than two million men and women have benefited from the
communication and leadership programs of the organization.
The first club was formed in October 1924, when a group of men assembled by
Dr. Ralph C. Smedley met in the basement of the Santa Ana, California YMCA to form a club
"to afford practice and training in the art of public speaking and in presiding over
meetings, and to promote sociability and good fellowship among its members."
The group took the name "Toastmasters."
A year later, a second club was started in Anaheim, California, followed by a third
in Los Angeles. By 1930, it was apparent that a federation was necessary to coordinate
activities of the clubs and to provide standard methods. After formation of a club in
Victoria, British Columbia, the group became known as Toastmasters International.
Growth was slow during the early years, but the number of clubs increased steadily.
The forerunner of today's Communication and Leadership program, Basic Training,
was introduced in 1942 and has been expanded and updated many times since then to keep
abreast of the times and members' needs.
Membership in Toastmasters International increased rapidly after the end of World War II,
and by 1954 the number of Toastmasters clubs had approached 1500.
Gavel Clubs were formed in 1958 to accommodate groups wanting Toastmasters training but
not qualified for Toastmasters membership. These clubs provide communication and
leadership training in correctional institutions, hospitals, and schools.
In 1966, the Youth Leadership Program, for young people in junior and senior high school,
was added to the list of established community programs being presented by Toastmasters.
In 1962, World Headquarters offices were moved to a new building in Santa Ana, California,
not far from where the first club began.
In 1973, Toastmasters club membership was opened to women, enabling them to benefit also
from self-development in communication and leadership. In the same year, a comprehensive
listening program was introduced to further help members develop their communication
skills.
The following year saw a celebration of their organization's first 50 years and the
promise of an even more successful second half-century.
New programs, including the modular Advanced Manual Series, Success/Leadership Series,
and self-study cassette tape programs, were added to augment the Communication and
Leadership program. Growth in new clubs, especially in the corporate sector, reached new
highs in the late 1980s, with more than 7000 clubs, and there are now over 10,000.
Toastmasters International is the undisputed world leader in public speaking training with
the promise that the best is yet to come.
1956 February 25, club chartered as Simpsons & Simpson-Sears Toastmasters Club
1959 Membership opened to non-employees of Simpsons and Simpsons-Sears
1961 Club joined District 45
1963 Sponsored Dartmouth Toastmasters Club
1966 Bill Atton first club contestant in District 45 Speech Contest
1967 Conducted Speechcraft Course for Maritime Tel & Tel
1968 Sponsored Telco Toastmasters Club
Sponsored Yarmouth Toastmasters Club
1969 Sponsored Waverly Toastmasters Club
Bill Chase named District 45 Area Governor of Year
1970 Sponsored Cobequid Toastmasters Club
Conducted Speechcraft Course for Junior Chamber of Commerce
Conducted Youth Leadership Course at YMCA
Bill Chase elected District 45 Governor
1971 Named District 45 Distinguished Club
1972 Conducted Speechcraft Course for Maritime Tel & Tel
1973 Jack Kiuru named District 45 Toastmaster of the Year
1974 Jack Kiuru named District 45 Area Governor of the Year
1975 Club inducted 15 new members, a record
1976 20th Anniversary, Lord Nelson Hotel
Club awarded Certificate of Recognition for Membership Growth
1977 Conducted Speechcraft Course for Royal Bank Managers
August, club name changed to Sears-Halifax Toastmasters Club
Bill Chase on Nominating Committee for Toastmasters International Executive
1978 Conducted Speechcraft Course for Chartered Accountants
Bill Atton gave 7 Speech Presentations Outside the Club
Named Distinguished Club
1979 Sponsored Schooner Toastmasters Club
Jack Kiuru awarded first DTM in Nova Scotia
Jack Kiuru named District Governor of the Year
1980 Jack Kiuru elected International Director
Bill Atton appointed Provincial Judge
Don Curren presented with "Order of Canada"
Britt Deedo named Area Governor of the Year
1981 25th Anniversary, Lord Nelson Hotel; guest speaker Gerry Grandy, Sears General Manager
Sponsored Sackville Toastmasters Club
Britt Deedo conducted Speechcraft courses for Sears and Environment Canada
Named Governor’s Distinguished Club
1982 Named Governor’s Select Club
1983 Named Governor’s Distinguished Club
Hosted Region 7 Conference
1984 Named Governor’s Distinguished Club
November, first woman inducted into the club
1985 Named Governor’s Distinguished Club
Bill Atton resigned after 25 years as a club member
1986 Named Governor’s Select Club
1987 Club inducted 18 new members, a new record
Named President’s Distinguished Club
1989 Britt Deedo conducted three Speechcraft Courses
Named President’s Distinguished Club
1991 35th Anniversary, Chateau Halifax; guest speaker Gary Ferris, Sears General Manager
Named Select Distinguished Club
Vince Marsh won Region 7 Speech Contest, competed in International Speech Contest
1992 Named Distinguished Club
Connie Carruthers won District 45 Table Topics Contest
Malcolm Pinto won District 45 Speech Contest, participated in Region 7 Speech Contest
1993 Hosted District 45 Conference
Named Select Distinguished Club
1995 Named Distinguished Club
1996 40th Anniversary, Sheraton Halifax; guest speaker Mark Brown, 1995 World Champion
Named Distinguished Club
1997 Named Distinguished Club
1999 Named Distinguished Club
2001 45th Anniversary, Holiday Inn, Dartmouth; guest speaker Geoff Regan, MP
Named Distinguished Club
2002 Named President’s Distinguished Club
2003 Named Select Distinguished Club
2004 Named Select Distinguished Club
2005 Named Select Distinguished Club
2006 50th Anniversary, Westin Nova Scotian Hotel, Halifax; guest speaker Rt Hon John Buchanan
Named President’s Distinguished Club