"Drink beer. Spell words. Compete for glory," is the mission outlined by Spelling Bae organizer Eli Burnstein, who started the event after winning the right to organize another bar's spelling competition.
The Spelling Bae functions with all the rules of a traditional spelling bee, but is made unique by Burnstein's embracing of modern slang and internet culture in his choice of words.
"Online, it's easy to see what we've lost in language over time - the formality, the 'correct' usage of English," he told the CBC. "But you might miss out on what we've actually gained. Language is always evolving, and there's so much linguistic evolution online. This spelling bee is a way to celebrate our language, both new words and old."
Spelling Bae hopefuls can pay $1 to participate in the monthly event for the chance to win prizes as well as bragging rights.
