Toastmasters District 61 is a bilingual (English/French) and international District, having more than 170 Clubs across eastern Ontario, Québec and Northern New York State, with over 3,000 members. District 61 was created on July 1, 1958. It had its beginnings in 1956 when a group of Canadian Toastmasters from then District 34 in upper New York State decided to form two all-Canadian Districts. Districts 60-P and 61-P were granted provisional status in 1957 and became fully fledged Districts in their own right one year later on July 1, 1958. Most Toastmasters meetings are comprised of approximately 20 people who meet weekly for an hour or two. Participants practice and learn skills by filling a meeting role, ranging from giving a prepared speech or an impromptu one to serving as timer, evaluator or grammarian. There is no instructor; instead, each speech and meeting is given feedback by a member in a positive manner, focusing on what was done right and what could be improved.