Concerns about Ontario students’ education in comparison with other jurisdictions is argued with each new study. Some of them show our kids aren’t up to snuff in some subjects and some grades while others prove that Ontario is teaching its children well.

The stage of the Bora Laskin Building’s theatre was transformed into a battlefield Saturday as 18 of the region’s top young spellers fought for supremacy at the first-ever Chronicle-Journal CanWest CanSpell Regional Spelling Bee.

Ten area schools participated in the bee, which is also held in 22 cities across Canada. Over 200,000 students from grades four to eight are expected to participate nationwide.

After the tense showdowns between the 18 expert spellers at Saturday’s inaugural edition of The Chronicle-Journal CanWest CanSpell Regional Spelling Bee, organizers are already excited about next year’s event.

“The bee was a spectacular success. It exceeded all of our expectations,” said Colin Bruce, publisher and general manager of The Chronicle-Journal, which sponsored the event. “It had drama, it had excitement, it had fun — it had everything a great bee should have.”

After weeks of classroom and school spelling bees throughout the district, 18 top-notch spellers are now preparing for the inaugural Chronicle-Journal Thunder Bay and District’s Regional Spelling Bee.

The event is to take place Feb. 16 at Lakehead University in the theatre of the Bora Laskin Building. With the generous support of presenting sponsor Canada Post, the CanWest CanSpell National Spelling Bee program features local bees in 22 cities across Canada.