Skilled trades competition brings together students from Burlington, Milton, Oakville

The road to the Skills Canada National Competition for high school students in Oakville, Burlington, Milton and Halton Hills begins next week.

The 32nd annual Halton Skills Competition (secondary panel) will be held Wednesday, March 27, at Georgetown District High School from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. A dinner celebration begins at 4 p.m. and ends with an awards ceremony at 5:30 p.m.

A Career Showcase will take place during the day profiling representatives from the community, business, industry and education sectors.

“The Halton Skills competition champions essential skilled trades alongside modern technologies and seamlessly integrates principles of science and engineering,” said Lisa Ashenhurst, Instructional Program Lead – Experiential Education STEM/Safety with the Halton District School Board.

“By providing a distinctive platform for students to showcase their talents, this competition prepares them for diverse career pathways while emphasizing the interconnectedness of these fields in today’s workforce.”

About 175 students in Grades 9 to 12 will compete in a wide range of skills including 2D character animation, architectural technology & design, auto technology service, baking, cabinetmaking, carpentry, coding, computer-aided manufacturing, culinary arts, IT network systems admin electronics, graphic design, hairstyling, horticulture and landscape, IT network systems admin, mechanical CAD, outdoor power and recreational equipment, photography, precision machining, TV & video production, and welding.

Students successful in the competition will go forward and represent the HDSB at the Ontario Skills Competition in Toronto from May 6-8. From there, the top qualifiers will move on to the Skills Canada National Competition.

A Board spokesperson said participation in activities like the Halton Skills Competition help students develop innovative strategies and connect learning to the real world.