May 21, 2015
Province Announces 60 Young Skills Manitoba Gold Medallists Head to National Competition
– – –2015 Skills Compeition Winners will Represent Team Manitoba in Saskatoon: Minister Chief
Talented youth from across Manitoba will be taking part in the Skills Canada National Competition in Saskatoon from May 27 to 30, Jobs and the Economy Minister Kevin Chief announced today.
"Some of our province’s most talented and hard-working young people are teaming up to show the rest of the country the skills they have trained so diligently to develop,” said Minister Chief. “They are amazing role models in their hometowns and they are Manitoba proud.”
Participants in the national competition are youth and apprentices enrolled in trades training at a total of 18 colleges and high schools across the province. They will be representing Manitoba in several skills categories including car painting, 3D character computer animation, precision machining and electronics.
“The Skills Canada National Competition highlights skilled trades and technology careers in a competitive environment and reinforces their importance in building a strong and vibrant Canadian economy,” said Shaun Thorson, CEO, Skills/Compétences Canada.
More than 500 youth from across Canada will participate at the national competition and the event is anticipated to attract more than 8,000 visitors from across the country, the minister said. Skills Canada has selected Manitoba to host the 2017 Skills National Competition. The event will take place in Winnipeg in spring 2017 and provide Manitobans with an opportunity to look at career options in skilled trades and technology, Minister Chief said.
“We’re very proud that nine students from River East Transcona School Division – four of them from Kildonan-East Collegiate – won gold medals at the Skills Manitoba competition and will be going on to the national competition,” says Darwin MacFarlane, principal, Kildonan-East Collegiate. “Our success shows that as a division, we understand the importance of encouraging students to choose careers in the trades. These students are wonderful examples of young people who are choosing that path.”
“We have the youngest and fastest-growing demographic in the country and young people are finding incredible opportunities to give back to Manitoba through a career in the trades,” said Minister Chief. “Young trades people are key to keeping our economy the fastest growing in Canada and they are sending a clear message that our future is bright.”
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