Comox Valley students earned 24 medals in the recent Skills Canada regional competitions.
Fifty local students travelled to North Island College in Campbell River to participate in the Skills Canada regional competitions with more than 100 of their peers.
Eleven students won gold medals and advanced to the provincials April 20 in Abbotsford, including Nick Huxam of Vanier — welding; Troy Kilmury of Highland — automotive service; Tina Tang of Vanier — culinary; Tatyanna Kurucz of Isfeld — baking; Shaun Roberge of Vanier — mechanical CAD; Andre Sargeant and Ben Hartman of Highland — 2D computer animation; Curtis Screpnec and Glenn Borland of Highland — 3D computer animation; Erica Pallos of Highland — graphic design; and Chris Leclair of Vanier — electronics.
Silver medal winners were Kathryn Wierenga of Highland — culinary arts; Ruby Chen of Vanier — baking; Danny Koke of Isfeld — cabinetmaking; Nico Graceffo of Vanier — carpentry; Hana Mareck of Highland — graphic design; Rachelle Carroll of Highland — digital arts; and Anthony Chavez of Vanier — electronics.
Bronze medals were presented to Jerrett Lindal of Vanier — welding; Gordon Murray of Vanier — culinary arts; Brandon Simms of Isfeld — baking; Brandon Armstrong of Vanier — carpentry; Paige Thurston of Highland — graphic design; Kayleh Farnham of Highland — digital arts; Graham Bergey of Vanier — electronics; and Eric Wilson of Vanier — automotive.
The annual Skills Canada regional competition is a step to the provincials for the winning students and is an opportunity for young people to see how their skills compare to other high school students' skills, according to Randy Grey, School District 71 career programs co-ordinator and organizer of the event.
"For some, it is an opportunity to be exposed to college facilities and instructors, such as in welding, auto mechanics, electronics, culinary and baking," he said in a press release. "For others, it is just a day off school.
Well, for the students who think they are getting a day off school, think again."
The contests include written tests, fabrication, assembly, creativity and problem solving, all under the watchful eye of the clock.
"It is really a great day to put together what they have learned from the high school teachers over the year in their classes as they produce a product for evaluation," said Grey.
Grey would like to see even more participation by students.
“All it takes is a teacher to encourage and excite a student to participate,” he said.
Jamie Leslie, a Highland electronics teacher, explains that when he sees a student in one of his classes who shows some skill towards an event, he tells the student he is going to sign him up for Skills Canada Regionals. At that point, the student is getting fantastic recognition for his progress in class, starts to ask questions about skilled trades and about Skills Canada and then puts in extra effort at school preparing for the event, he explained.
Grey feels there are lots of students in our schools who just need some encouragement to excel, and Skills Canada is just one avenue.
Skills Canada is a non-profit organization with very little funding that is run by volunteers, and one of its purposes is to promote the skilled trades in society.
Grey feels it has done a huge job in turning the focus of parents from believing the university route is the only way for their kids to be successful. He has been involved with Skills Canada for more than 10 years and has seen the awareness of parents change towards skilled trades.
In fact, three years ago in our district, there was only one student taking first-year apprenticeship training while in high school, and there are now 22, explained Grey.
The percentage of students who go into trades training is getting a bit more proportional, considering more than 600 students graduate each year in this district, he noted.
