6 ACC students advance to Skills Canada competition

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This article was published 18/04/2024 (877 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Six students from Assiniboine College have clinched their spots to compete at the upcoming Skills Canada event in Québec City after demonstrating excellence in their respective categories last week at the 26th annual Skills Manitoba competition.

Nik Ross, Loai Al-Wahabi, Kathryn Nichol, Wade Robbins, Ryanne Gareau and Chris Obsniuk emerged victorious with gold medals, paving their way to the national stage on May 29.

The gold medallists will form Team Manitoba to compete at the national level in Québec.

The event, which saw a total of 21 Assiniboine students competing in 12 categories, showcased the institution’s commitment to practical education and skill development.

Team Assiniboine lead Kevin Poirier said Skills Manitoba bridges classroom knowledge with real-world applications.

“Skills Manitoba provides students with an opportunity to apply classroom knowledge into practical scenarios,” Poirier said. “We look forward to this event every year — it brings me a great sense of pride to see our students experience this environment.”

He added Team Assiniboine’s success was notable, with 16 students securing medals across various competitions.

Gold medallists like Ryanne Gareau, who triumphed in graphic design, attributed her success to the practical skills acquired through their coursework.

“My goal for the competition was to gain experience within the realm of graphic design,” Gareau said. “The work itself was quite familiar due to having similar projects in the Digital Art and Design program, which made my time in the competition quite enjoyable.”

Wade Robbins, a gold medallist in architectural technology and design, said the competition comes with a lot of pressure.

“The competition was pretty stressful, to say the least, as it’s a lot of work to accomplish in only five hours,” Robbins said. “Each competition is unique, which makes you think on your toes just like you would in the workplace.”

The college in a statement issued on Wednesday said the philosophy behind Skills Manitoba revolves around rewarding students, involving industry professionals and ensuring training remains relevant to employers’ needs.

“Skills Manitoba not only celebrates students’ achievements but also raises awareness about Canada’s looming shortage of skilled trades workers,” the college said. “Major industry associations anticipate a significant deficit within the next five years, highlighting the importance of promoting post-secondary training in trades and technology.”

In total, 475 high school, post-secondary and apprenticeship students from across the province participated in 42 skilled trades and technology contests at this year’s Skills Manitoba event.

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