Skills Canada Saskatchewan

This year will see about 20 L.P. Miller students heading to Regina next week to compete in the 11 th annual SKILLS Canada trades and technology event. SIAST Wascana Campus, Richard's Beauty School, Winston Knoll Collegiate and Campbell Collegiate will be our hosts this year.

About 340 competitors from all over Saskatchewan are registered to show their skills to the world. Representa-tives from skilled trades will be there to host, organize, judge and maybe even scope out future employees for their companies. SKILLS is the Olympic Games of trades and technology. At the Canadian level, gold medallists from all corners of Canada will gather in Charlottetown, P.E.I., this May to vie for top honours in over 40 trades ranging from hairdressing to welding. L.P. Miller hopes to be well represented there.

SKILLS offers a great career option to our students and L.P. Miller has been privileged to be a part of it for 12 years! Hundreds of our students have taken part and many have been awarded top place medals in their trade area. Many have moved on to become very successful in their chosen profession. Carpentry, welding, mechanics and video technicians - just to name a few.

L.P. Miller works closely with the Youth Apprenticeship program in Saskatchewan. We offer our students a chance to earn hundreds of hours toward a journeyperson certificate. This equates to thousands of dollars in their pockets in the long run.

Also, they have many opportunities to check out the trades at our school. Small engine repair, welding, auto mechanics, machining, electronics, electrical wiring, cooking, sewing, drafting, career education, entrepreneurship, leadership, cabinetmaking and carpentry, plus great computer courses are offered. Guest speakers from the community plus videos links offer the students a chance to make informed decisions about their career pathways.

This year's competitors are: David Unger, Lucas King and Steven Leveque in electronics. Kale Lokken and Braun Vatamaniuck will take on an all-day welding project. The elusive concept of workplace safety will be explored by Richard Walter and Ross McBain.

Cody Yelland will participate in electrical wiring and Ryan Wesnoski in carpentry. Tyson McBain and Andrea Ens will be joined by Jonathan Campbell from the Christian School in outdoor power equipment. Mitchel Yelland will compete in cabinet making.

Brendan Kozun won gold last year in prepared speech. Silver medallist Diana Hoppe will try job skill demonstration this year. Matthew Thompson will participate in architectural CADD and Aaron MacLennon in electronics.

Devin Brisbin will bring another year of experience to automotive service. Justin Ens and Tyler Brothwell will go for the job interview of their life. Steven Hoppe, who is Canada's gold medallist in outdoor power equipment, will take on post-secondary automotive repair this year. Good luck to all!

An old saying states: "If you think the price of an education is high - just try ignorance."

SKILLS Nipawin would like to add: "If you think that finding a plumber is tough today - just wait for tomorrow."

Since 1998 SKILLS Saskatchewan has been promoting trades and technology for the students of our province. SKILLS Canada is a trades Olympics where our students can compete in a skill that might later lead to a great job. L.P. Miller is entering its twelfth year in this exciting competition that promotes trades and technology as a "First Choice" career option for our young people.

SKILLS Canada has asked local instructors Brad Amy (electronics) and Tim Paetkau (outdoor power equipment) to take roles as provincial and national technical experts. As such, they help plan Canada-wide SKILLS competitions, which prove that SKILLS work!

We would like to thank the many local businesses and individuals who have offered support in the forms of encouragement, training, equipment and finances. We could not succeed without you!

 

PUBLICATION:     The Nipawin Journal
DATE:     2009.04.01
EDITION:     Final
SECTION:     News
BYLINE:     TIM PAETKAU