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Grate Groan-Up Spelling Bee puts contestants’ knowledge to the test in annual showdown

April 16, 2026   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

If you’re going to enter a spelling bee, you might as well dress like you want to win.

Teams dressed in some pretty wild costumes for the Grate Groan-Up Spelling Bee, hosted by Next Step Literacy at the Club at Bond Head in Beeton on Saturday, April 11.

The event raises funds for Next Step Literacy.

As the night wore on, teams began dropping out after misspelling a word. As the evening progressed, the words got harder.

Even then, there were some pretty sharp minds who were getting the correct spelling of some obscure or difficult words.

“This is our 14th Annual Great Groan-Up Spelling Bee. This is our annual fundraiser to raise money for the free programs that we offer at Next Step,” explained Next Step Literacy Executive Director Shira Harrison McIntyre, who also serves as Ward 7 Councillor for New Tecumseth. 

“We have free adult tutoring in reading, writing, math, and computers. And now we have free English as a second language classes in the evening.”

The spelling bee has teams that take turns getting up on stage and trying to spell a word delivered by a moderator. Some of the words require serious thought, and contestants will spell the word on paper before giving their answer.

“Teams of three compete in a traditional spelling bee,” Shira explained. “There are also prizes for best costume, most team spirit, and most pledges. We also have a silent auction and a dinner. There are corporate sponsors who sponsor the event.”

Several local businesses and organizations entered teams and dressed up in themes for the event.

One by one, teams dropped out of the competition as the words became more obscure and harder to spell.

At the end of the night, one team left with bragging rights and the knowledge that they helped raise funds for a good cause. 

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