Skills Canada BC hosted their 30th annual Provincial Trade and Technology competition on April 17, 2024 at the Abbotsford Tradex. Over 600 secondary and post-secondary students competed to prove their technological excellence and passion for their chosen career path. The free event, open to the public, held 56 different trade and technology competition categories.
The tasks at hand required excellent attention to detail and concentration to produce a well-made product for final judgment. For example, the bakers of the competition had to complete four different modules while maintaining strict safety, organization, and sanitation requirements.
The winners will move on to compete in the national event in Quebec City May 29 to June 1, 2024. Beyond that, Canada’s elite young talents who prove their mettle will move on to the international WorldSkills competition in Lyon, France this September.
Students and educators witnessed the competitors in action from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and were welcomed to visit the Pathways to Careers showcase for an opportunity to try some interactive activities such as heavy equipment operator simulators, or operating a mobile crane. Viewers could watch a variety of job skill demonstrations throughout the day, and middle school students participated in the junior skills competition, constructing spaghetti bridges, sumo robots, and wind turbines.
All the provincial competitors earned their spots through the numerous regional competitions held throughout British Columbia. Many competitors took home very deserving medals including a few UFV students. Andrew Majka and Henry Majkawon won silver and bronze, respectively, in IT Network Systems Administration; Ashley Young claimed bronze for plumbing; Ethan Black and Dominic Anderson captured silver medals in Automotive Service; and Connor Harrison took home the Gold in Cooking.
Veronica is a Staff Writer at The Cascade. She loves to travel and explore new places, no
matter how big or small. She is in her second year at UFV, pursuing the study of Creative
Writing.
