May 4, 2012 - 4:58am
Vancouver Island University carpentry apprentice Morgan Brown is preparing to compete with other top talents from across the country at the Skills Canada National Competition in Edmonton May 13-16.
Nine Nanaimo-area students earned gold, silver and bronze medals in the Skills Canada BC competition held in mid-April in Abbotsford.
Brown won gold in the post-secondary carpentry competition. Brown, a graduate of North Island Secondary School in Port McNeil, was required to construct a scaled-down shed based on provided drawings.
VIU professional baking student Lauren Arsenault won the silver medal, closely followed by Josie Franzen who won Bronze. These talented VIU bakers were required to create cakes, tarts, chocolates and chocolate showpieces. Contestants were also marked on their ‘plating’ of these pastry creations.
VIU Cowichan Campus refrigeration apprentice Richard Wilson won silver in a competition involving wiring and tests on refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment.
Representing School District 68 on the podium were last year’s provincial gold medalists in 3D Animation, Josiah Stefani and Jamie Ruddick from Dover Bay Secondary who once again won the gold in the same category. Trent Arnott, also from Dover Bay won gold for Cabinetmaking. Matt Pierce from NDSS took the silver medal in Graphic Design as did Daniel Klatt from Dover Bay in the Web Site Development category.
Ben Perrault, a dual-credit VIU/Brooks Secondary student brought a gold medal in Secondary Carpentry back to his two schools.
Skills Canada competitions test students in more than 40 trades and technology fields. The national, not-for-profit organization works with employers, educators, labour groups and governments to promote skilled trades and technology careers among Canadian youth.
“Our students work hard to develop their skills and we’re proud of their success,” says Fred MacDonald, Dean of Trades and Applied Technology at VIU. “The competition is serious but there’s a lot of fun and camaraderie as students and their instructors prepare for regional, provincial and national Skills Canada events. It’s rewarding to see their efforts pay off with well-deserved recognition in their chosen fields.”
2013 will be a very exciting year for Skills BC as the National competitions are being held in Vancouver at BC Place from June 5 – 8.
On the web:
Trades and Technology at VIU:
Nanaimo-Ladysmith Career Technical Centre:
Nanaimo News Bulletin story:
Tags: In the Community
