Hundreds of students from Chetwynd, Dawson Creek, Fort Nelson, Fort St. John, and Tumbler Ridge, from the secondary and post-secondary levels, visited the hangar to test their skills. A range of highly creative and challenging competitions were offered such as Spaghetti Bridge, Gravity Car and GearBots, Carpentry, Welding, Hairdressing, Esthetics, plus many more including Public Speaking, Graphic Design, and Video Production.
“The wide variety of events that we showcased this year is so important to the promotion of the skilled trades and technologies,” said Jamie Maxwell, Regional Coordinator for Skills Canada. “We hope that the students who participated can see a happy and productive future in the skilled trades from their involvement.”
Two new events were introduced at the Peace Region annual competition this year. Try-a-Trade, for grade seven students, gave students a chance to rotate through a series of trades and get a hands-on feel of what it might be like to work as a tradesperson on that particular trade. Women in Trades was a presentation aimed at young women that gave them the chance to dialogue and interact with women working in the trades and technologies sectors.
“Industry involvement was wonderful – we would like to thank BC Hydro, Calfrac and the so many more that participated through attending and/or donating supplies and awards,” said NLC’s Dean of Trades and Apprenticeships Rene Tremblay. “Hosting this event is really special for NLC.”
The Peace Region Skills Canada Committee includes partners from School Districts 59, 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.
2015 Peace Region Skills Competition Winners
Junior Skills
Spaghetti Bridge
Gold Ethan Willms and Tyler McElderry (DCSS)
Silver Juliana Reid and Anika Humborstad (DCSS)
Bronze Jessie Copes, Madison Fell and Devyn Peever (DCSS)
Gravity Vehicle
Gold Cole Regner and Shawn Coldwell (DCSS)
Silver Logan Kimmie, Tarin Clay and Edwin Bannow (Clearview)
Bronze Kakayla Martin-Fisher and Tate Fickle (DCSS)
Secondary Skills
Automotive Service
Gold Blake Jonigkeit (DCSS)
Silver Russel McIntyre (CSS)
Bronze (Tied) Felix Hehemann (DCSS) and Ryan Chmielewski (DCSS)
Cabinetmaking
Gold Payton Dekker (DCSS)
Silver Austin Baxter (NPSS)
Bronze Josef Watson (DCSS)
Graphic Design
Gold Sara Belkin (DCSS)
Silver Adriana Anderson (DCSS)
TV/Video Production
Gold Jaden Ford and Nova Lefresne (DCSS)
Silver Faw Fabon and Angelica Semilla (DCSS)
Bronze Grady McTavish and Ryan Leawood (DCSS)
Hairdressing
Gold Shelby Gustafson (FNSS)
Silver Kate Chmelyk (FNSS)
Bronze Jordan Wall (NPSS)
Public Speaking
Gold Marina Myllymaki (NPSS)
Silver Lucy Loichinger (NPSS)
Bronze Hannah Bartsch (NPSS)
Job Interview
Gold Parker Heck (NPSS)
Silver Kyle Wood (NPSS)
Bronze Jada Miller (NPSS)
Robotics
Gold Tucker Beddal and Riley Boomer (FNSS)
Silver Jordan Streeper and Harry Sibia (FNSS)
Bronze Dustin Bramhill (FNSS)
Welding
Gold Dakota Dilworth (DCSS)
Silver Layne Burton (DCSS)
Bronze Austin Parsons (DCSS)
Post-Secondary Skills
Carpentry
Gold Brad Johnson (NLC)
Silver Kyle Turner (NLC)
Bronze Matthew Link (NLC)
Esthetics
Gold Sam Holthe (NLC)
Silver Carlee Tolway (NLC)
Bronze Billie-Jean Williams (NLC)
Hairdressing
Gold Brittany Curtis (FNSS)
Silver Ashley Wallington (DCSS)