Central Alberta high school students put their skills to the test this weekend in Red Deer.
Dozens of students participated in the Skills Canada Alberta Regional Skills Competition at Red Deer College Saturday.
The event is held “so (students) can challenge themselves and really show off what their skill-set is. It’s also about how well they can do while showcasing the skills they’re learning at school,” said Katherine Kupchenko, Skills Canada Alberta event and registration co-ordinator.
Competitions included culinary arts, baking, hairstyling, welding, carpentry and video production. Some of the competitions were held earlier in the week at École Secondaire Notre Dame High School.
More than 900 students across Alberta compete in the regional events. The top two from each competition in regional events move on to provincials, which is in May at the Edmonton EXPO Centre.
Kupchenko said the students competing inspire her to learn.
“It’s amazing to see how these students learn and accomplish so much in a day – at the provincial competition they’ll have two days so this is a little bit of a condensed version of what they’ll be doing there.”
The competitors were selected by their teachers.
“Often it’s the students who are not only really good at their skill, but can handle pressure well and can excel in a competition environment. It’s not something that is part of a normal school situation,” Kupchenko said.
Winners at provincials move on to Skills Canada Nationals in June. The winners there will move on to WorldSkills International in October.
List of winners from the central regionals to come.
