March 6 will be the busiest day. Competition is slated in two events for the Junior division, nine events for the Secondary division, and one or two events in the Post-Secondary division. As well, special activities are planned for grade seven students in School District 59 to help introduce them to trades training. Post-secondary competition will be held on March 7.
The Junior division will feature the Gravity Vehicle Race and Spaghetti Bridge events, both hosted in the gymnasium at NLC’s Dawson Creek Campus.
The Secondary division will feature the following competition events:
• Architectural CAD, Cabinetmaking, and TV/Video Production and/or 2D Computer Animation at Dawson Creek Secondary School;
• Automotive Service, and Cosmetology/Hairdressing at Fort St. John’s North Peace Secondary School; and
• Baking, Carpentry, and Welding at NLC’s Dawson Creek Campus.
Post-Secondary division events will be hosted at NLC’s Dawson Creek and South Peace campuses. Divisions include: Aircraft Maintenance, Baking, Carpentry, Culinary Arts for Dual Credit and Post-Secondary students, Cosmetology/Hairdressing, and Welding.
In conjunction with the Junior and Secondary competitions, the Peace Region Skills committee will be hosting Discover Trades events in the gym and Energy House at NLC’s Dawson Creek Campus. Volunteers from local businesses will introduce grade seven students to a sampling of trades that will not be hosting a competition that day, such as Aircraft Maintenance Engineering, Plumbing, and Electrical.
“The plan is to divide students into several smaller groups for tours of Skills competition events and rotate through several Discover Trades hands-on activities,” said Pam Eales, NLC’s Trades and Apprenticeship coordinator, and a member of the local Skills Canada organizing committee. “We want to ensure each grade seven student leaves with a self-created memento of their experience. For example, an activity such as building a marshmallow launcher will be a great way to give students a fun, hands-on experience using skills related to the Plumbing trade.”
Registration is at 8:30 am each day, with competition beginning at 9 am. Awards will be presented at 4 p.m. each day.
The Skills Canada Peace Region competition is organized by staff members from School Districts 59 and 60, and NLC. Gold medalists in each division have the opportunity to travel to Abbotsford for the Provincial Skills competition in April.
Skills Canada is a national organization that promotes excellence in skilled trades and technologies by organizing competitions at the Middle School, Secondary and Post-Secondary (Apprentice) levels.