Avon Maitland District School Board (AMDSB) students are preparing to showcase their technical skills on the provincial stage after standout performances at local and qualifying Skills Ontario competitions.
On April 3, AMDSB hosted its annual local Skills Ontario Competition at Listowel District Secondary School (LDSS), where students from three high schools competed in Team of Two Carpentry and Welding events.
In a closely contested carpentry challenge, Dylan McNeil and Braydon Curran from Goderich District Collegiate Institute (GDCI) claimed victory for their craftsmanship and ability to complete the project within the allotted time. They’ll now advance to the Skills Ontario Provincial Competition on May 6 at the Toronto Congress Centre.
The Welding competition featured Julien Craiovan and Theo Bruhacher from LDSS, along with Carson Van Fleet from St. Marys DCVI.
Craiovan credited his success to the time spent in his manufacturing class and a cooperative education placement at Dynamic Millwrights.
“I spent a lot of time in class working on welds, and being out at co-op gave me the opportunity to continue to practice some skills that helped me in the competition,” he said.
Van Fleet, competing for the second year in a row, noted the advantage of experience.
“I wasn’t nervous about the competition because I did it last year,” he shared.
Bruhacher, a Grade 11 student, plans to return next year, saying, “it was a good experience to have.”
Craiovan and Van Fleet qualified for the next round at Fanshawe College on April 5, where Van Fleet captured first place to secure a spot at provincials.
Logan Karges from GDCI also struck gold at Fanshawe. A registered General Carpenter apprentice through the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program, Karges has developed his skills with McGee Construction and will compete at the Toronto provincial event.
Luke Jackson from Stratford District Secondary School will also represent AMDSB in the Automotive Service Technology competition.
Additionally, AMDSB is sending 40 elementary students to compete in a variety of categories, including LEGO Robotics, VEX IQ Robotics, Technology, Character Animation, and Construction, on May 5.
The AMDSB community will be cheering them on as they head to Toronto to demonstrate their skills and passion for trades and technology.