A number of local high school students had excellent showings at the 2026 Regional Technological Skills Challenge.
Students in skilled trades programs from Bluewater District School Board and Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Board headed to Owen Sound on February 27 to compete in a number of competitions.
The challenge is hosted annually by the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program. This year featured over 50 students from six schools facing off in the categories of Precision Machining, Electrical, Carpentry – Team of Two, Hairstyling, and Welding.
Competitions were held once again at the Sydenham Campus of Georgian College, and Owen Sound District Secondary School.
The top three Welding students from each board will move on to the 2026 Skills Ontario Qualifying Competitions in Barrie on Saturday, April 11. The first-place finishers in the other remaining categories will advance directly to the 2026 Skills Ontario Competition on May 4 and 5 in Toronto.
The top three students/teams from each category are as follows:
Precision Machining
1. Evan McLaughlin – John Diefenbaker Senior School
2. Hunter Forester – John Diefenbaker Senior School
3. Jerry Val – John Diefenbaker Senior School
Electrical
1. William Stroeder – Sacred Heart High School
2. Reegan Schiestel – Sacred Heart High School
3. Brooke Thompson – Grey Highlands Secondary School
Carpentry – Team of Two
1. Jacob Conoway and Ethan Dippel – Sacred Heart High School
2. Tyson Strutt and Dallas Lougheed – Grey Highlands Secondary School
3. Nathan Graf and Jackson Squire – Grey Highlands Secondary School
Hairstyling
1. Connor Adams – Owen Sound District Secondary School
2. Nieva Newfield – Owen Sound District Secondary School
3. Monica Hines-Stoneleigh – Owen Sound District Secondary School
Welding
1. Ryan Barnes – John Diefenbaker Senior School
2. Graydon Younghusband – Owen Sound District Secondary School
3. Noah Reay – Sacred Heart High School
In addition to those listed above, Christian Yensen of John Diefenbaker Senior School, and Kaleb Brindley and Bryce Bull, both of Sacred Heart High School, have also qualified to advance in Welding.
