Upper Grand District School Board students brought home 10 medals, including five golds, in the 20th annual Ontario Skills Canada Competition.
In addition, the board won the School Board Award of Excellence for being the top overall school board in Ontario.
The event, held at RIM Park in Waterloo on May 5, brought together Ontario students to demonstrate abilities in the skilled trades and technologies. More than 1,600 students from high schools and community colleges competed in over 50 contests, from culinary arts to cabinet making.
The five Upper Grand gold medal winners will go to the Canadian Skills Competition in Charlottetown, from May 20 to 23. A total of 40 students from eight district secondary schools participated.
“I was amazed at the hard work and effort that our students demonstrated,” said board chairman Bob Borden. “And winning the School Board Award of Excellence shows just how much support there is in Upper Grand for the skilled trades and from the teachers who are passionate about working with these talented students.”
More than 30,000 spectators were on hand over the two days of competition which is the showcase event for Skills Canada – Ontario, a not-for-profit organization whose goal is to promote the skilled trades and technologies as a first choice career option for young people.
Gold Medals winners are:
– Katherine Bowen, Centre Wellington DHS, in culinary arts;
– Kendra Doman, Centre Wellington DHS, fashion design;
– Alexis Wagner, Centennial CVI, IT – Office Software Applications;
– Julia Riddle, Centennial CVI, Job Skill Demonstration; and
– Carly Wing, CWDHS, workplace safety.
Silver medal winners are:
– Ashley Leers, restaurant service, Orangeville DSS;
– Nishin Nathwani, Center Wellington DHS, prepared speech; and
Nicholas Komarnitsky and Matthew Lee, Centennial CVI, geographic information systems (for team of two).
Bronze medal winners are Rebecca Grose, Center Wellington DHS, floristry, and Myles Lusk, Orangeville DSS, cabinetmaking.
The teacher coaches for the Upper Grand group are:
– Centre Wellington DHS: Linda Adams, Robin Ysselstein, Geoff Patterson, Jenny Ritter;
– Centennial CVI: Elizabeth Davidson, Krista Crawford, Joanne Harris, Louise Coffey, Meghan Lowry; and
– Orangeville SS: Giovanni Silveri, Ian Budgell.
