Skills Canada Regional competition…and more!

Media Release
Release Date: April 2, 2014

Camosun's Interurban campus was abuzz with activity on Friday, March 28. About 1,000 grade 8 students and more than 200 high school and middle school students were on campus for a one-day event coordinated by the South Island Partnership and Camosun's School of Trades and Technology.

This three-in-one event introduced younger students to aspects of trades careers, while secondary and middle school students showcased their skills in competition for gold, silver and bronze medals.

Regional Skills Competition

The Skills Canada BC South Vancouver Island Regional Competition brought about 80 secondary students (grades 11-12) to campus to compete in one of seven skills competitions in trades and technology. Gold medal winners will now represent the south Island region at the 20th annual Skills Canada BC provincial competition in Abbotsford, April 9.

Junior Skills Contests

A record number of middle school students (grades 6-9) signed up to test their creativity in three junior contests:  Spaghetti Bridge building, Gravity Car race and Sumo Robot contest.

YES 2 IT Hands on Activities

The Industry Training Authority provided funding for us to host and ensure our five local school districts could organize bus-loads of Grade 8 students to view the contests and to participate in one of eight 30-minute hands-on trades activities.

"We had our best turnout ever in the Junior Skills contests," says Kelly Betts, coordinator of the South Island Partnership at Camosun, and president of Skills Canada BC. "We had 19 teams building and breaking spaghetti bridges, 14 teams raced their custom-built gravity cars, and 18 individuals entered a Sumo Robot into the ring."

Camosun College is the largest trades training provider on Vancouver Island, and through the South Island Partnership, works closely with its five local school districts to help young people explore the possibilities of a career in the trades.

"This event opens doors and opens minds," explains Betts. "Senior students who are competing in the skills contests receive coaching and mentorship to build confidence as they showcase their talents. Younger students get to pick up tools, participate in the try-a-trade activities, and start to make connections between their personal interests and possible career paths."

The 2014 South Vancouver Island Regional winners of the Skills Canada contests

Architectural CAD (contest held at Pacific Design Academy)

• Gold: Boston Hall, Stelly's Secondary
  
• Silver: Nick Besler, Stelly's Secondary
  
• Bronze: Jenny Bates, Stelly's Secondary

Automotive Services

• Gold: Cole Gilbert, Cowichan Secondary
  
• Silver: Jeff Moyes, Stelly's Secondary
  
• Bronze: Scott Kennedy, Cowichan Secondary

Cabinet Making

• Gold: Jameson Watson, Parkland Secondary
  
• Silver: Kaarina Swinburnson, Edward Milne Community School
  
• Bronze: Eric Vila, Victoria High School

Carpentry

• Gold: Gavin Villa, South Island Distance Education School
  
• Silver: Finn McGuffin, Gulf Islands Secondary
  
• Bronze: Drew Light, Gulf Islands Secondary

Culinary Arts

• Gold: Samantha Jensson, Gulf Islands Secondary
  
• Silver: Apryl Sweenie, Stelly's Secondary
  
• Bronze: Matt Jackson, Stelly's Secondary

Electrical Wiring

• Gold: Keito Valcourt, Victoria High School
  
• Silver: James Pieloth, Victoria High School
  
• Bronze: James Proctor, Victoria High School

Electronics

• Gold: Solomon Lindsay, Victoria High School
  
• Silver: Spencer Macey, Cowichan Secondary
  
• Bronze: Micah Cracknell, Cowichan Secondary

Hairdressing (contest held at Belmont Secondary School)

• Gold: Shantelle Hutchinson, Belmont Secondary
  
• Silver: Hanna Vincent, Victoria High School
  
• Bronze: Kailey Garrett, Vic High School

Welding

• Gold: Steven Creasey, Claremont Secondary
  
• Silver: Kyle Kononowicz, Cowichan Secondary
  
• Bronze: Kyle Maroney, Edward Milne Community School

In addition, more than 100 middle school students participated in three Junior Skills contests.

Junior Skills Contest winners

Gravity Car Race

• Gold: Colin Balme, Connor Wardrop and Oliver Bontkes, Cowichan Secondary
  
• Silver: Tyson Henderson, Bayside Middle School
  
• Bronze: Ben Ecklin, Eric Beaudet and Evan Shumka, Cowichan Secondary

Spaghetti Bridge Building

• Gold: Blair Tahouney, Cindy Alegria, Nykolas Haskett and Trixia Ducabo, John Stubbs Middle School
  
• Silver: Cole Kopac, Daniel Dillon, Jacob Morrison, Kellan O'Neill, Lansdowne Middle School
  
• Bronze: Brooke Peters, Brooklyn Markert, Cameron Henderson and Raj Khaira, Lansdowne
  Middle School

Sumo Robot Contest

• Gold: Joey Wilson, John Stubbs Middle School
  
• Silver: Sarah Luick, Bayside Middle School
  
• Bronze: Sebastion Milne, Bayside Middle School

Contact

Kelly Betts
Coordinator, South Island Partnership
Camosun College
P 250-370-4828     
C 250-514-3659     
bettsk@camosun.ca