Skills Canada Regional competition showcases local talent

DAWSON CREEK, B.C. — Northern Lights College’s (NLC) Dawson Creek campus recently hosted the Skills Canada Regional Event, showcasing the talents of local students in trades.

Skills Canada helps students prepare for chosen skilled careers through competitions, in-school programs, online challenges and young women’s conferences, according to Skills Canada BC’s website.

The event occurred on February 16th and included students from school districts representing Peace River South, Peace River North, and Fort Nelson.

The competition celebrated skills in trades but also dedicated a special event to highlight the achievements of women in the field with the Women in Trades conference.

According to Skills Canada BC, the event served as a platform for 60 women to showcase their skills in traditionally male-dominated trades.

Another event consisted of about 16 hands-on activities or informational tours attended by 250 School District 59 grade eight students. It was hosted by School District 59 tradespersons, NLC instructors and students.

The Skills Canada Regional Event is where students compete based on their chosen profession. The students are split into whether they were in secondary school or enrolled in Northern Lights College.

The skills event consisted of students being given a set of blueprints or a plan, materials and a set amount of time to complete the task.

Those who placed first in their chosen field during the annual competition have the opportunity to head to provincials.

This year, provincials will be held in Abbotsford on April 17th.

The competitions were in skilled careers such as carpentry, hairstyling, video production and welding.

The full competition results can be viewed below: