High school students in the Cariboo-Interior enrolled in trades and technology courses like automotive service, carpentry, culinary arts, electronics, welding, computer automated design (CAD) and joinery should be thinking about entering this year’s Skills Canada competition, says coordinator Cindi Thompson.
The regional high school competition is coming up soon: the annual event will be held March 25th, and will mark the 12th year UCC has hosted the competitions, which will be held throughout that day in TRU’s Trades & Technology Centre and Culinary Arts Building.
By bringing Canadian youth into the competitive spotlight, Skills Canada helps raise awareness of current and emerging skilled trades and technology careers. It also exposes students to best practices in these career areas, and allows them to see the various educational and employment opportunities available to them, all the while bolstering their confidence and interest in their chosen field.
All competitors at the regional level will receive a t-shirt and certificate of participation. The top three in each contest will be awarded a gold, silver or bronze medal and will have earned the right to compete against other regional secondary school winners at the provincial BC Skills competition, with the winners going on to compete nationally.
2006 is also a “World Skills” qualifying year, so students who win gold at the national competition will be eligible to compete against students from around the world in Japan in 2007.
Skills Canada, a national, not-for-profit organization, is serious about professional opportunities available in skilled trade and technology fields. The average age of a fully qualified tradesperson in Canada is over 48 years, which means that in the next seven to ten years there will be an almost-100% turnover in many skilled trades, accounting for an estimated 40% of new jobs.
TRU is also very aware of this looming trades and technology skills shortage, which is one reason it has long been involved in Skills Canada at both the secondary and post-secondary levels, hosting regional high school competitions on campus, and mentoring university students who choose to compete at the post-secondary level.
TRU students have done very well in the past. Last year, Computer Automated Systems Technician diploma student Greg Hibbert, who won national gold in 2004, competed internationally, while TRU joinery student Graeme Herman, who also competed while in high school, won a provincial gold medal.
High school students interested in entering Skills Canada competition please contact Cindi Thompson at 250-828-5207 or by email.For more information, please contact Cindi Thompson at 250-828-5207.
