Team NL Captures 15 Medals at Skills Canada National Competition

Skill Bits S P R I N G - S U M M E R 2 0 1 5

The official newsletter from Skills Canada Newfoundland and Labrador

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Skills Canada National Competition Page 1 Home Show 2015 Page 2 Skills Work for Women Conferences Page 2 Annual Skilled Career Day Page 3 ENTER:Preneur National Launch Page 5

Erin Ball, Ben Hoyles, Patrick Loder & Kelly Jewer, Silver Medalists in Robotics

Brandon Drover (Centre) after receiving his Gold Medal in Autobody Repair

Our National Medalists 2015

From May 27-30, Team Newfoundland and Labrador travelled to Saskatoon, SK to compete in the 21st Annual Skills Canada National Competition, the largest Canadian skilled trade and technology competition. Every year, this event brings together over 500 young competitors from all provinces and territories within Canada, along with coaches, educators and technical experts, to compete in over 40 trade, technology and employability competition areas. The main goals of the Skills Canada National Competition are to provide competitors with hands-on work experience and to raise awareness of the importance of skilled trade and technology careers in Canada. Team Newfoundland and Labrador consisted of 50 competitors whom success-fully captured fifteen National medals in twelve different competition areas: Three Gold, Six Silver and Six Bronze. Skills Canada NL is extremely proud to be a leader of the Skills Movement and provide young skilled trades people and technologists with an opportunity to showcase excellence in their fields, said Skills Canada NL Executive Director Carole Ann Ryan. Skills Canada NL would like to thank the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency for contributing to Team NLs travel costs to this years 21st Annual Skills Canada National Competition.

Team Newfoundland and Labrador National Medalists

Brandon Drover (CNA Prince Philip Drive) - GOLD, Autobody Repair and Best in Region Award Jacob Manning (Queen Elizabeth Regional High School) - GOLD, Job Skill Demonstration

Amanda Larner (CNA Prince Philip Drive) - GOLD, Photography Myles Burry (CNA Ridge Road) - SILVER, Architectural Design and Technology

Kelly Jewer, Erin Ball, Patrick Loder, Ben Hoyles (Botwood Collegiate) - SILVER, Robotics Haley Moriarity (Holy Spirit High School)- SILVER, Job Search

Sarah Lomholt Farrell (Queen Elizabeth Regional High School)- SILVER, Baking Tyler Andrews (UA Local 740 Training Centre)- BRONZE, Steamfitter/Pipefitter

Ashley Bent (CNA Clarenville) - BRONZE, Brick Masonry Mackenzie Collins (Ascension Collegiate)- BRONZE, Public Speaking

Ryan Parsons (CNA Prince Philip Drive)- BRONZE, Car Painting Johnathon Hann (CNA Corner Brook)- BRONZE, Electronics

S K I L L B I T S

Skills Canada Newfoundland and Labrador was delighted to host the main stage at the Canadian Home Builders Associations Home Show 2015 from March 20-22. Held at Mile One Centre, the Skills Canada Women in Trades: Easy Home Fixes stage allowed exhibitors and spec-tators to test their hand at sample residential projects such as Cabi-netmaking, Carpentry and Electri-cal Installations. It was a fun-filled week as hundreds of individuals took part in these demonstrations and spotlight challenges. Women are largely under-represented in the skilled trade and technology sector; therefore, Skills Canada Newfoundland and Labradors aims to create aware-ness by demonstrating how fun (and easy) it is to learn household

skilled-trade related tasks that may be considered untraditional for women. The Try-A-Trade demonstrations are designed to provide a tangible understanding of the work of skilled trades-people and technologists. Our fe-male mentors who are currently employed in the skilled trade sec-tor welcomed guests to experience their trade area and allowed many participants their first opportunity to handle such equipment while illuminating an otherwise unfamil-iar activity. Skills Canada NL would like to thank all of our female mentors who helped make this event so successful: Shauna Sutton, Kirstene Reyes, Joann Greeley, Nancy Dillon, Stephanie Ciz, Celeste Mercer and Mary Clarke.

Participants and mentors taking a photo after the mentoring session

Skills Work!

SWFW participants inside the Try-A-Trade workshop

Skills Canada NL successfully delivered two Skills Work For Women Conferences this Spring for female students across the province. Conferences were offered at College of the North Atlantic Prince Philip Drive Campus on March 27 (during Skills Canadas Annual Skilled Career Day) while the other conference was offered at College of the North Atlantic Clarenville Campus on May 15.

These conferences, designed for intermediate and secondary female students, are divided into a two part day. Participants have the opportunity to explore hands-on Try-A-Trade areas such as Carpentry, Electrical Installations, Welding, Steam-fitter/Pipefitter and many other skilled areas. The young women will then engage in lively discussions with female mentors currently working or studying fields of skilled trades or technologies. Mentors at these conferences bring perspective to female students by explaining why they chose the career they did and the chal-lenges and successes they experience in a male-dominated work environment.

Skills Work for Women Conferences have received glowing reviews since their inception in 2001. Women make up a very small percentage of those employed in skilled trades and technologies and this scarcity exemplifies the untapped workforce that exists in the Canadian female population. It is the intention of Skills Work for Women Conferences to invite young women to explore the different career options available in skilled trades and technologies that are waiting to be filled. By showing young females employment areas that they may have not otherwise considered, Skills Canada NL is ensuring Canadas continued economic prosperity. Skills Work for Women Conferences are proudly sponsored by the Provincial Governments Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.

SWFW participants who attended the May 15 conference at College of the North Atlantic

Clarenville Campus

Skills Canada NL Takes Main Stage at Home Show

Participants learning how to plaster at Home Show

A Home Show participant learning how to install a peephole in the Carpentry Try-A-Trade Demo

P A G E 3

Annual Skilled Career Day featuring the

18th Provincial Competitions

Team Newfoundland and Labrador 2015

On March 27, Skills Canada NL hosted their Annual Skilled Career Day in conjunction with the 18th Annual Provincial Competitions at College of the North Atlantic Prince Philip Drive Campus. This day is dedicated to celebrating the work of young skilled trades-people and technologists and highlighting the array of rewarding career opportunities available in these fields. With over 250 competitors, over 100 volunteers and nearly 600 visiting students touring the competition sites, Annual Skilled Career Day is Skills Canada NLs largest event of the year! Attractions at this years instalment included nine different Try-A-Trade demonstrations, a career showcase, a youth leadership conference delivered by the St. Johns Board of Trade, a Skills Work for Women Conference, a partnership luncheon and guided tours of the facility. Most prominent throughout the day, however, were the Skills Canada Provincial Competitions where Gold-medal winners, along with top-placing performers, earned a spot on Team Newfoundland and Labrador 2015 to compete at the 21st Annual Skills Canada National Competition in Saskatoon, SK.

Baking (Secondary) Sarah Lomholt Farrell Queen Elizabeth Regional High (Post Secondary) Alex Nash- C.N.A. Seal Cove Culinary Arts (Secondary) Hilary Howell Holy Spirit High School (Post Secondary) Tiffany Waye C.N.A. Bonavista Hairstyling Lewis Tang Keyin College St. Johns Aesthetics Amanda Thompkins Ocean Quest Spa Industrial Mechanic Millwright Brad Holmes Carpenters Millwrights College Architectural Technology & Design Myles Burry- C.N.A. Ridge Road Carpentry Michael Newhook C.N.A. Clarenville Steamfitter/Pipefitter Tyler Andrews UA Local 740 Plumbing Curtis Jackson UA Local 740 Cabinet Making Stephanie Ciz C.N.A. Port Aux Basques Automotive Service Jeremy Pope C.N.A. Prince Philip Drive Electrical Installations Myles Faulkner C.N.A. Seal Cove Steamfitter/Pipefitter Matthew St. George UA Local 740

Car Painting Ryan Parsons C.N.A. Prince Philip Drive Robotics Ben Hoyles, Patrick Loder, Erin Ball, Kelly Jewer- Botwood Collegiate Welding Zack King C.N.A. Corner Brook Mechanical CADD Brad Simon-C.N.A. Ridge Road Graphic Design (Secondary) Kathryn Brophy ODonel (Post-Secondary) Karen Mercer C.N.A. Prince Philip Drive TV/Video Production Allyson Dawe & Emily Howe Holy Spirit High Electronics (Secondary) Harold Dela Vega Gonzaga High School (Post-Secondary) Johnathon Hann C.N.A Corner Brook IT Network Systems Administration (Secondary) Matthew Bishop Frank Roberts Jr High IT Software Solutions for Business (Secondary) Adrienne Deering Ascension Collegiate (Post-Secondary) Angie McDonald C.N.A Prince Philip Drive Brick Masonry Ashley Bent- C.N.A Clanreville Automation and Control Jamal Tinkov C.N.A. Ridge Road Refrigeration/ Air Conditioning Myles Mackey C.N.A. Ridge Road

3D Computer Animation Keagan Dalley & Hayley Martin Holy Spirit High School/Carbonear Collegiate 2D Computer Animation Chelsie Cake & Breanna TilleyFrank Roberts Jr. High Mechatronics Devan Vokey & Mitchell Fowler C.N.A. Ridge Road Job Search Haley Moriarity Holy Spirit High School Public Speaking Mackenzie Collins Ascension Collegiate Job Skill Demonstration Jacob Manning Queen Elizabeth Regional High Work Place Safety Steven Rideout Queen Elizabeth Regional High Heavy Equipment Service Technician Keegan Hulan C.N.A. Corner Brook Photography (Secondary) Ally Wragg- MacDonald Drive Junior High (Post-Secondary) Amanda Larner- C.N.A. Prince Philip Drive Sheet Metal Karen Poulain C.N.A. Burin Autobody Repair Brandon Drover C.N.A. Prince Philip Drive Precision Machining Shane Kelly C.N.A. Placentia

Skills Canada Provincial Culinary Art Competitors

Some of the Gold Medal Provincial Winners. Meet Team Newfoundland and Labrador 2015!

P A G E 4 Vale In-School Presentation Program During the 2014/2015 school year, staff from Skills Canada NL made frequent visits to classrooms across

the province to discuss skilled careers, the benefits and opportunities in skilled trades and technologies, the

work of Skills Canada NL and how it get involved in Skills Canada programming. These presentations last

anywhere from 45-60 minutes in length and are designed for students at the intermediate, secondary and

post-secondary level. With ample career information available to Canadian youth, these presentations are

designed to help students explore the exciting career opportunities that await them in the skilled trade and

technology sector.

Skills Canada NL has proudly partnered with Vale since January 2015 to deliver the In-School Presentation

Program. Vale has a prosperous history, not only at a national and international level, but within the

province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Their mission and values are a natural fit with Skills Canada NL

and aim to ensure Canadas continued economic prosperity. By raising awareness to young Canadians and the future workforce about the incredible careers in trades and technologies, Skills Canada NL and Vale

partner together to bridge the skills gap.

To request an in-school presentation for your class for the

upcoming school year or to find out more information, please

contact Jess Baldwin, Communications Manager,

at jessicab@skillscanada.com.

Essential Skills The Government of Canada and other national and international agencies have developed nine essential skills that

are needed for work, learning and life. Continuous Learning, Document Use, Oral Communication, Digital,

Numeracy, Reading Text, Thinking, Working With Others and Writing are the nine essential skills needed for work

and learning; however, they also help individuals evolve with their jobs and allow for change in the workplace.

Essential Skills are especially important to technical training and thats why the Federal Government, Skills/ Comptences Canada and its member organizations are working together to promote these skills to Canadian

youth. For more information and learning resources about Essential Skills, please visit :

http://skillscompetencescanada.com/en/programs/essential-skills/

P A G E 5

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Skills Canada NL

75 Barbour Drive (2nd Floor)

Mount Pearl, NL

A1N 2X3

Jess Baldwin

Communications Manager

jessicab@skillscanada.com

Carole Ann Ryan

Executive Director

newfoundland@skillscanada.com

www.skillscanada-nfld.com

Phone: (709) 739-4172

Fax: (709) 739-4198

Deanne Oliver

Competition Manager

deanneo@skillscanada.com

ENTER:Preneur National Launch On May 28, during the 21st Annual Skills Canada National Competition in Saskatoon, SK, Skills Canada NL and the NL Association of CBDCs hosted a National Reception to promote their newly established ENTER:Preneur program to other Skills Canada members and supporters of the Skills Movement. The ENTER:Preneur Program includes: Apprenticeship Conferences for skilled trade students, Dragons Den simulations for intermediate and secondary students, Lunch and Learn seminars for educators and the CBDC: Pitch, a Skills Canada Provincial Competition where students can pitch their business ideas to a panel of entrepreneurs. If youre interested in learning about the ENTER:Preneur Program, please contact Entrepreneurship Project Coordinator, Alison Peach, at alisonp@skillscanada.com for more information. The ENTER:Prenuer Program is proudly funded by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

Skills Canada NL receives funding from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Employment and Social Development Canada and the Provincial Governments

Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Department of Advanced Education and Skills and Vale.

Carole Ann Ryan, Executive Director of Skills Canada NL (left), Roseanne Leonard, Managing Director of

CBDCs (centre), Tom Donovan, former Project Manager of Skills Canada NL (right)

Skills/Comptences Canada National President, John Oates, brings greetings at National Reception

HAVE A GREAT SUMMER! Alison Peach

Entrepreneurship Coordinator

alisonp@skillscanada.com