Students enrolled in skilled trades courses participated in the annual Provincial Skills Competition in Abbotsford, B.C. on April 17.
The automotive trade was represented by two categories, automotive service, and automotive collision repair. Students in high school as well as post-secondary institutions were eligible to participate. The finalists in these events were:
Automotive Service – High school level:
Gold: Jordan Blake
Silver: David Lawton
Bronze: Austin McCoombs
Automotive Service- Post-Secondary:
Gold: Keith Stonehouse
Silver: Nick Spottock
Bronze: Cory Cooper
Auto Collision Repair- High School:
Gold: Kurtis Gordey
Silver: Cesar Busine
Bronze: Kyle Steven
Auto Collision Repair- Post-Secondary:
Gold: Brandon Scott
Silver: Steven Dardengo
Bronze: Philip Laffin
With over 40 events, the competition attracts top students from all sorts of skills including hairdressing, cooking, robotics, computer programming, auto repair, auto body and a number of other trades. Three new events were introduced this year including heavy-duty operators, job interviews and public speaking.
“Our mandate at Skills Canada is to feature every skilled trade and technical career that is non- academic,” said Amber Papou, executive director, Skills Canada BC. “This year we had the most ever with 567 competitors and over 4000 spectators.”
Skills competitions provide opportunities for Canadians studying a skilled trade or technology to be tested within exacting standards and against their peers from across the nation. A number of interactive hands-on activities were available, encouraging students to get engaged and excited about a future in skilled trades or technology.
Gold medal winners from the Provincials will proceed to the Nationals, which will take place in Vancouver from June 5–8, 2013.
Started in 1994, the Skills Canada National Competition remains the only national, Olympic-style, multi-trade and technology competition for young students and apprentices in the country.
Successful competitors from the Nationals will compete in the WorldSkills Competition that takes place every second year. WorldSkills is a free-standing, non-political organization that provides a cost effective means for international government and industry cooperation in achieving higher standards and status for vocational education and training on a worldwide basis.
The 42nd WorldSkills Competition will be held in Leipzig, Germany, July 2–7, 2013.
KPU’s faculty of trades and technology offers leading-edge trades and technology programs, including: appliance servicing, automotive service technician, carpentry, CADD technologies, electrical, farrier, masonry, millwright, parts and warehousing, plumbing, public safety communications and welding.
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