WASHINGTON — Spellers from around the world learned the meaning of the word tension Tuesday as 293 of them began the first test at the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
The written portion of the Scripps bee, considered the world’s toughest spelling test, was also the first time this week for 22 Canadian regional champions to show how they measure up against the best wordsmiths from the U.S., China, Guam and New Zealand.

Among the Canadian contingent is Thunder Bay’s Emilio Lachaine-Robertson.

Last year, 11-year-old Tegan Odland tied for 108th place.

He may be a young man of few words, but he certainly knows how to spell them.

Thunder Bay’s Canwest Canspell champion, 13-year-old Emilio Lachaine-Robertson, is off to Washington, D.C., today to compete against 292 more young word masters in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

“Just going somewhere new,” he said of what he’s looking forward to the most in the U.S. capital.

OTTAWA — Though he will not be crowned champion of the Canwest Canspell 2009 National Spelling Bee, Emilio Lachaine-Robertson had a strong showing, outlasting six other competitors en route to a 15th place finish in the nationwide competition.

Lachaine-Robertson seemed to be in control of the moment as he sat calmly under the bright TV lights in front of a packed auditorium as Canadian television personality Rick Campanelli introduced the competitors and the rules.

Vauxhall Advance - Second time the charm?

Edmonton Journal - Calgary speller a finalist in national spelling bee

Lethbridge Herald - Tegan finishes ninth at national bee

Veronica Penny, Hamilton ON
Émilie Lafleur, Montreal QC
Claudine Broussard, Sydney NS
Marizette Gonzales, Calgary AB
Laura Newcombe, Toronto ON
Rachael McDaniel, Vancouver BC
Jonathan Schut, Charlottetown PEI
Anna Lawrence, Ottawa ON

Round #1

1. Madeline Gallard (Victoria)
Word: graffiti
Incorrect spelling: grafitti

2. Nora McVinnie (Windsor)
Word: hominy
Incorrect spelling: homeni

3. Yeyoung Won (Winnipeg)
Word: cantata
Incorrect spelling: contata

Round #2

4. Jonathan Donas (Kamloops)
Word: formidable
Incorrect spelling: formidible

Round #3

5. Adrian Muhajarine (Saskatoon)
Word: enthusiasm
Incorrect spelling: enthusiasim

6. Katelin Peters (Regina)
Word: ominous
Incorrect spelling: omnious

Round #4

Winnipeg Free Press - Manitoba champ eliminated in National spelling bee

Edmonton Journal - Tree fells Edmonton speller at national bee

Canada.com - Top young spellers compete for title

Live coverage of the Preliminary Rounds at the Canadian Museum of Civilization begins at 11:00 a.m. ET on April 16th, webcast on www.canspell.com. Approximately 10 of the 22 finalists will advance to compete in the Final Rounds, which will be broadcast on Saturday, April 18th, at 8:00 p.m. ET on Global Television and on NTV in Newfoundland/Labrador (please check local listings).

Live Webcast

OTTAWA — A 13-year-old Thunder Bay boy’s uncanny ability to put I before E except after C, sometimes, has made him the city’s great hope to win the 2009 edition of the Canwest Canspell National Spelling Bee.

Sitting calmly and collectedly in the lobby of the historic Lord Elgin Hotel in downtown Ottawa, Emilio Lachaine-Robertson is surprisingly economical with the words he so gracefully commands as he reflects on his first day in the nation’s capital.