Sparks fly at skilled trades and technical competition
Skills Canada NWT/NU's 7 th annual Territorial Skills Competition promotes careers in skilled trades and technologies to northern youth. The one-day event engaged 110 young people in 18 trades/technology contests with the gold medal winners qualifying to represent the Team NWT/NU at the Canadian Skills Competition in Edmonton in June.
Click here for photos from the event
This year's competition was held on Thursday, April 21 st in Yellowknife at Sir John Franklin High School, St. Patrick High School, and the Kimberlite Career & Technical Centre.
The accompanying Career Expo, sponsored by the Department of Education, Culture, and Employment North Slave region attracted 1,300 students from eight schools and 28 exhibitors and employers. How about that for an interactive career exploration!
“Anyone who visited the competition sites witnessed the pride and dedication of the young competitors and contest organizers. Hopefully the message is getting out about the numerous job openings and competitive salaries of skilled trades and technical careers”, explained Skills Canada NWT/NU Executive Director, Guy Barnable. “Sir John Franklin High School, St. Patrick High School, and the Kimberlite Career & Technical Centre were incredibly accommodating venues and active promoters of skilled trades and technical careers.”
What follows is a list of results from the 2005 Territorial Skills Competition plus the composition of Team NWT/NU 2005:
| Contest |
Gold Medalist |
| Welding |
Lawrence Lafferty |
| TV/Video Production |
Miranda Booth & Morgan Barrett, Yellowknife |
| Carpentry |
Mitchell Madsen, Yellowknife |
| Prepared Speech |
Lauren Solski, Iqaluit |
| Worksite Safety |
Peter Boggis, Yellowknife |
| Worksite Safety (Jr) |
Laura Corey, Yellowknife |
| Electrical Wiring |
Matthew Fraser, Yellowknife |
| Graphic Design |
Andrea Fleury, Yellowknife |
| Heavy Duty Mechanic |
Reg Evans, Hay River |
| Small Powered Equipment |
Kyle Wheaton, Yellowknife |
| Restaurant Service (Post Secondary) |
Julian Morse, Yellowknife |
| Restaurant Service (Secondary) |
Aaron Morrison, Yellowknife |
| Plumbing |
Lee Buller, Yellowknife |
| Aesthetics |
Paige MacIntosh, Yellowknife |
| Aircraft Maintenance |
Mark Roberts, Yellowknife |
| Culinary Arts (Post Secondary) |
Ethan Mackenzie, Yellowknife |
| Culinary Arts (Secondary) |
Thomas McOuat, Yellowknife |
| Auto Service |
Chris Gillander, Yellowknife |
| Hairstyling (Post Secondary) |
Sheilla Aoudla, Iqaluit |
| Hairstyling (Secondary) |
Gillian Rivers, Yellowknife |
| Diamond Polishing (Round Brilliant) |
Lisa Ulrich, Yellowknife |
| Diamond Polishing (Straight Line Fancy) |
Noonee Spanspariel, Yellowknife |
| NWT Participation: 88 Participants |
Nunavut Participation: 22 Participants |
| Yellowknife: 74 |
Iqaluit: 14 |
| Fort Smith: 7 |
Cape Dorset: 3 |
| Hay River: 4 |
Kugaaruk: 2 |
| Fort Simpson: 2 |
Pond Inlet: 2 |
| Rae: 1 |
Taloyoak: 1 |
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| Will compete at 2005 Canadian Skills Competition in Edmonton, June 3-6
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Mandy Lyons |
Lee Buller |
|
Lana Shave |
Miranda Booth |
|
Reg Evans |
Morgan Barrett |
|
Ashley Tufts |
Andrea Fleury |
|
Peter Boggis |
Matthew Fraser |
|
Mark Roberts |
Mitchell Madsen |
|
Lauren Solski |
Gillian Rivers |
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Kyle Wheaton |
Jennifer Twerdin |
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Lawrence Lafferty |
Sheilla Aoudla |
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Ethan Mackenzie |
Elizabeth Harrison |
| Eliane Kanayuk-Gabriel |
Thor Simonsen |
| Sarah Critelli-Kerr |
Chris Gillander |
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Thomas McOuat |
Aaron Morrison |
Thanks to our Program Sponsors as well as the following community and youth-minded businesses/organizations who sponsored the event:
| St. Patrick High School |
Sir John Franklin High School |
Kimberlite Career & Technical Centre |
| Finning Canada |
North Slave Region of GNWT |
Petersen & Auger |
| BHP Billiton |
Workers' Compensation Board NT/NU |
Diavik Diamond Mines |
| Ryfan Electric |
Central Mechanical Systems |
Buffalo School of Aviation |
| Le Frolic Bistro |
Le Frolic Catering |
Le Stock Pot |
| Essentials 98 Ltd. |
Rotary Club of Yellowknife |
Aurora College |
| Yellowknife Co-op |
Diana Curtis Design |
City of Yellowknife |
| Merle Norman Spa |
Construction Association of the NWT |
CBC North |
| Tamarack Computers |
Bartle & Simpson Co. Ltd. |
EECOL Electric |
| Igloo Building Supplies |
Westburne Electric |
Foothills Acoustics |
| JSL Mechanical |
Elite Commercial Flooring |
J&R Mechanical |
| Clark Builders |
NWT Housing Corporation |
Acklands-Grainger Inc |
| Pro Can Tools |
Nahanni Construction |
Slades Fire Protection |
| Office Compliments |
PCL Constructors Northern |
Northern Food Services |
| Old Town Landing |
The Explorer Hotel |
EMCO Frontier Mining |
Thank you to the Volunteers who brought spirit to our event. Special thanks to the volunteer Tech Chairs who coordinated our competitions:
| Karen Staples |
Mark Plouffe |
Maggie Butz |
Bill Aho |
Chad Bruce |
| Mike Botha |
Norby Gerstel |
Al Hoeft |
Jay Pickering |
Darren Fraser |
| Rares Ungureanu |
Pierre LePage |
Kevin Stroeder |
Tami Johnson |
Margaret Purdy |
| Greg Skauge |
Gary Milligan |
Herb Lannaghan |
Sandi Dowdall |
Doug Wourms |
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| Kate Bruce |
Peter Kalyn |
Carol Moore |
Mary Rivers |
Ann Kall |
| Zenia Kalyn |
Stacy Ogilvie |
Cindy Tom |
Anna Case |
Sherry Lovely |
| Cathy Olson |
Lori Twissell |
Vivian Gustafson |
Joanne McGrath |
Allyson Stroeder |
| Rose von Shilling |
Robert Ward |
Shawn Whiteman |
Julie Vaillancourt |
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Thanks to the North Slave region of the GNWT for organizing our Career Expo!
What did competitors have to say about the event?
Niki Yoder - I enjoyed it very much, I'll be back next year.
Sheilla Aoudla - I had a lot of fun!! Hope to come back again.
Peter Boggis - Very well done!!
Julian Morse - More challenging then I expected.
Danny Acton - I learned lots I didn't know. Thanks to all the judges.
Micheal Francis - Thanks for having me. I had fun!!
Jennifer Twerdin - I would recommend this to people because it's a great challenge and also a great experience.
Lauren Solski - A great trip, a great experience and I can't wait until next year!!
Ashley Tufts - Great peope, the competition itself was well organized and the materials needed were all accessible,
good location, right amount of time needed to complete everything.
Katie Heine - It's a great opportunity to learn and have fun I loved it!!!
Elizabeth Harrison - Thanks for making this competition available.
Patrick Lyall – Keep up the good work!!