The talents fostered at Langley Fine Arts are not limited to drama, dance, music, photography, creative writing, and visual arts. A team of students has returned home with a second-place finish at the National Ethics Bowl held in Winnipeg last week.
The competition enables teams to "hone and wield their critical thinking skills with the most contemporary issues" after reviewing, discussing and debating ethical case studies.
The championships, which were hosted at the Canadian Museum of Human Rights, was a fitting venue for students to talk through themes including collective punishment, conflict resolution among family and friends, social-media trends, and even war.
The Langley Fine Arts team, which was one of 18 teams out of nearly 300 across the country to advance to the national stage, was comprised of Preston Bower, Corrina Cardinal, Isobel Evans, Andie Hughes, Kit Mikkelsen, Onyx Schwengler, and Ky Watson. Noah Oh and Selina Ghali were also non-competing members of the team.
Kylie Mantei, teacher/coach of the team, said it was an amazing learning opportunity.
"I couldn't be prouder of how these students represented themselves and our school throughout the Ethics Bowl season. Their dedication, insight, and teamwork were inspiring every step of the way, and they've truly earned their place on the national stage. These students, all of whom are already actively involved in various clubs and initiatives at LFAS, did an exceptional job during our season."
"Many of the students have taken Philosophy with me at LFAS and were able to apply their knowledge in real-world debate settings," Mantei continued. "They worked incredibly hard to thoughtfully analyze each case and develop reasoned, ethical stances grounded in philosophical theory."
Adam Moore, principal of Langley Fine Arts, said their performance was very much in line with the values of the school.
"An arts-integrated education encourages critical and creative thinking while bringing us all together in powerful ways. Most importantly, we foster empathy and understanding, which I believe are foundational to any kind of meaningful debate," said Moore.
Mantei explained that preparing for competition required serious commitment. Students met weekly throughout the year to study case studies, identify and unpack the moral and ethical dilemmas within each one, and deepen their understanding of philosophical frameworks and theories. They reviewed past cases, practiced collaborative discussion, and refined their ability to construct arguments with clarity and compassion.
They also participated in a friendly tournament at the SFU Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue, traveled to Nanaimo for Regionals, and returned to Vancouver for Provincials. With more than half the team being brand-new this year and only three returning students, there was a steep learning curve. They had to quickly develop their unique group dynamic and figure out how best to support each other in high-pressure debate settings.
Mantei said it was also a chance for students to push their limits as individuals and as a group.
"One of the biggest challenges was learning how to build a unified team stance while honouring each member's unique perspective. They had to listen deeply, work through personal biases, and learn when to lead and when to support," she said.
"Watching their growth over the season was incredible - they evolved from hesitant debaters into confident, thoughtful thinkers who could engage with complex ethical issues with nuance and empathy. That growth is what took them all the way to Nationals. Beyond the competition, the most meaningful part was the community they built - within their team and with students across the country. They've formed lasting friendships and discovered just how meaningful ethical discussion can be. I'm so proud of them, and so grateful to Simon Fraser University and Ethics Bowl Canada for making this experience possible."
The team is looking forward to next year, where they'll take on more complex and controversial topics relevant to our local and global community.
