On Feb. 28, TRUSU hosted the 2025/26 Regional Ethics Bowl, a collaborative competition where local students analyze and debate current moral issues and are judged on the quality of their ethical reasoning and dialogue rather than on defeating an opponent.
Students from Sahali, Valleyview, NorKam, Brocklehurst and South Kamloops secondary schools gathered in five rooms in the International Building to discuss several cases, including the use of AI as a human companion, the ethics of weight-loss medication, licensing parents and the fairness of life sentencing.
“They are learning how to engage with one another as real humans, with humility and the capacity and commitment to actually listen to one another,” said TRU philosophy professor Jenna Woodrow.
Every round lasted about one hour. In each room, two student teams from different schools simultaneously discussed a case, while an open audience, including judging panels, observed and evaluated the discussion. A moderator was also part of each round, ensuring that the conversations remained respectful and ethically guided, while observing their allotted time limits. Both teams had about one minute to discuss among themselves and three minutes to present their arguments to the opposing team, after which the opposing team had time to respond with questions. The judges also had 10 minutes to present their own questions, followed by scoring based on the strength of their arguments, ethical reasoning, and knowledge of the cases.
“It is fascinating, it is eye-opening,” said panel judge Morrigan Bonegardener, a philosophy undergraduate student at TRU. Bonegardener and other judges evaluated students on six cases, and she felt blown away by the young students’ intelligence and articulacy.
“I am really excited to see them here at the university,” Bonegardener said.
To prepare for the discussions and the unpredictability of judges’ questions, students engage in research and readings months in advance. But beyond learning how to ethically present their thesis, students also learn how to trust and rely on one another.
“It is really nice to see that [months of preparation] pay off, but it is really about spending time with the team, especially with the seniors who are leaving this year, and I love them,” Jannat Gill said.
Gill, alongside teammates Tharuli De Silva, Brooke Blair, Jess Robertson, Cayleigh Mackenzie, Anna Cameron and Ethan Turley from the Sahali Secondary School team, won three out of six cases.
“The connection we find with each other is so important. Obviously, what we talk about is important, but actually learning those skills, how to rely on each other, how to be patient, and how to share information, that is what we need,” Cameron said.
Not only do students and judges gain unique experiences and valuable opportunities, but those involved in organizing the event and mediating the conversations also develop important skills and look forward to continuing their engagement with the Ethics Bowl.
“I think it is the next step forward, for sure,” Moderator and TRU philosophy undergraduate Ivy Martens replied when asked whether she is looking forward to serving as a judge at a future Ethics Bowl and having the opportunity to articulate her own perspectives while engaging students through questions. She also shared that one of her most valuable experiences in the event was improving her public speaking skills.
In an era where many youth rely on social media platforms that often encourage quick reactions rather than thoughtful dialogue, learning how to construct respectful arguments is crucial. Events like the Ethics Bowl create space for young people to slow down and have meaningful face-to-face conversations.