Skills Canada Saskatchewan

Two Carlton Comprehensive High School entrants in the 14th Canadian Skills Competition have come home from the Calgary event with medals that testify to their abilities.

The event is the only national, Olympic-style, multi-trade and technology competition for young students and apprentices in the country.

Auto engine enthusiast Philip Reusser assembled a win at the two-day competition held at Calgary's Stampede Park.

Reusser, 16, a Grade 11 student, earned a silver medal in Outdoor Power and Recreation Equipment. He worked about 16 hours at four different stations.

Reusser's father is a mechanic by trade and Reusser has always followed him.

"Me and my brother help our dad at his shop," said Reusser. "We enjoy it a lot."

He is considering becoming a machinist or welder in the future and wants to open his own shop one day.

The 2008 Canadian Skills Competition is the qualifying year for World Skills Calgary 2009, which is held every two years. Only gold medal winners move on to the international level.

Brian Grosskleg, a Grade 11 student, won a bronze medal in Mechanical CADD in a four-part competition, that went for 12 hours in two days.

"I like thinking and building designs. At my age, I felt really great to win at the national level," said Grosskleg, who wants to continue his designing career after his graduation.

He is also looking forward to competing again next year.

"It's really exciting that he is the only kid in Saskatchewan that won in the mechanical designs," said Tim Braaten, Grosskleg's drafting teacher. "We are all so extremely proud of him."

Judging criteria from the two-day event included sectioning skills, plastic repair skills, measuring and accuracy, metal repair techniques and theoretical knowledge. Time, safety precautions and quality of repair were also considerations. Carlton officials were pleased to see the excitement and turnout for the national competition.

"Two out of six students from Carlton came home with medals. I feel very good about it and this year was international run off year," said Donavon Elliott, school and work co-coordinator at Carlton and chairman for Skills Saskatchewan.

"The Skills Canada competitions motivate students to pursue excellence."

Both students won the right to compete at the national level when they scored top marks in the provincial competition, held in Saskatoon in March.

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Story reprinted from: http://www.paherald.sk.ca/index.cfm?sid=140734&sc=4  

For all of the medalists check out:  Canadian Skills Competition 2008 Winners