Skills Competition and Yes 2 IT trades events to attract 2,000 middle and secondary school visitors to Camosun

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Friday, March 26 at Interurban campus

March 23, 2010

Camosun’s Interurban campus will be alive with activity as three big events are hosted simultaneously. Up to 2,000 students in grades 6 through 12 will be on campus to participate in events showcasing trades and technology skills and careers.

Camosun is organizing the day in partnership with the five south Island school districts of Victoria, Saanich, Sooke, Gulf Islands and Cowichan Valley with sponsorship from the Industry Training Authority (ITA).

Skills Canada BC South Vancouver Island Regional Competition
About 100 grade 11/12 students will be on campus to compete in nine different trades and technology skills contests. Gold medal winners will then represent the South Island region at the upcoming Provincial competition in Abbotsford on April 21.
Junior Skills Competitions
About 50 grade 6-9 students will participate in two junior skills team contests: sumo robot wrestling and spaghetti bridge building.
Yes 2 IT trades exploration
With the help of ITA funding, 1,400 grade 8 students from 18 middle schools will be bused to Interurban campus for hands-on activities in 12 trades career areas. Industry partners are working with Camosun’s trades faculty to host Try a Skill activities in 11 trades. In addition, hundreds of other grade 8 students will be on campus for a tour of the facilities and to observe the Skills contests in action and to check out the “Tools of the Trades” displays.

“Everything started with the south Island regional competition,” says Kelly Knister, coordinator of the Camosun – School District South Island Partnership. “We saw that event as a great opportunity to showcase trades and technologies to younger students. Hopefully, early exposure will interest some students in choosing a trades or technology career path.”

“A key aspect of this day is the participation of the ITA and employers,” says Stew Wheeler, career coordinator for the Victoria school district. “Employers are giving up their time to interact with the students because they know that industry will be facing a shortage of skilled employees over the next few years. It’s definitely in the best interest of our regional economy to encourage young people to learn about and consider the trades and apprenticeship options.”

About 100 Leadership 12 students from four school districts will gain volunteer credits by helping out as tour guides for the day. The Leadership students will greet the grade 8 students as they arrive by bus, and then escort them to their pre-scheduled activities and trades tour. Students not participating in the activities will receive a longer guided tour of the campus that will include a technologies showcase.

Agenda and industry participation...

Contact

Kelly Knister,
Coordinator, South Island Partnerships,
Camosun College
office: 250–370–4828
cell: 250–514–3659
knister@camosun.bc.ca

Agenda - Skills Competition / Yes 2 IT trades events

Camosun College, Interurban campus, Friday, March 26

Skills Canada BC South Island Regional Competition 9am start

Automotive Services Jack White bldg 114
Architectural & Mechanical CAD Technology bldg 145
Cabinet Making Jack White bldg, Fine Furniture Shop
Carpentry John Drysdale bldg, Carpentry Shop
Culinary Arts Helmut Huber Cook Training Centre
Electronics Technology bldg 201
Fabrication and Welding Jack White bldg 106
Internet Website Design Technology bldg 151

Junior Skills Contests 10am start

Spaghetti Bridge Building Campus Centre 122
Sumo Robot Wrestling Technology bldg 181

Awards Ceremonies – Helmut Huber Cafeteria Annex, 2–3:30pm

Architectural & Mechanical CAD Automotive Services
Culinary Arts Cabinet Making
Junior Spaghetti Bridge Carpentry
Junior Sumo Robot Contest Electronics
Fabrication and Welding
Internet Website Design

Industry participants

Premier Sponsor: Industry Training Authority (ITA) – Roger Hargreaves rhargreaves@itabc.ca

Activity Partners:

Automotive ITO (Lloyd Stamm)
Automotive Showcase
Construction ITO (Dave Coleman)
Carpentry Activity
Propel (Linda Halington)
Cook and Baking Activity
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (Drew Garcia)
Electrical Activity
United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters (Jamie McPherson)
Plumbing and Piping Activity
Resource Training Organization (Michelle Skelly)
Welding Activity
Vancouver Island Construction Association (Greg Baynton)
Sheet Metal Activity
TransCDA ITO (Russ Robertson)
Heavy Duty Equipment Showcase
Horticulture ITO (Anne Cadwell)
Horticulture Activity
Cosmetology (Martier School of Hair Design and Aesthetics)
Cosmetology Activity