GATINEAU, QC, Aug. 27 /CNW Telbec/ - Skills/Compétences Canada
(http://www.skillscanada.com/), a national not-for-profit organization that
actively promotes careers in skilled trades, today announced that Team Canada
(http://www.skillscanada.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=126&Ite
mid=171), also known as the "Great 38," along with trainers, industry experts
and Delegates, is making its way to Calgary this week to participate in the
40th WorldSkills Competition (http://www.worldskills2009.com/) which takes
place from September 1 to 7, 2009. Team Canada will compete against more than
900 Competitors from 51 WorldSkills International Member countries/regions in
Olympic-style team and individual competitions within specialized skilled
trade and technology categories.
"We are very proud of the hard work and training Team Canada has
undertaken over the last year," said Shaun Thorson, Executive Director,
Skills/Compétences Canada. "They are confident and prepared to compete
alongside the best skilled trade and technology students and apprentices from
around the world. With support and encouragement from the Government of
Canada, industry leaders and educators, these talented young individuals
represent the future of Canada's skilled trade and technology workforce, and
we couldn't be more proud."
This will be Canada's tenth participation in a WorldSkills Competition,
which takes place every two years and brings together the world's brightest in
skilled trades and technology. This is the largest team Canada has sent, with
38 competitors in the Competition. The Team Canada members will participate in
35 of the 45 skills categories. At the last WorldSkills Competition, held in
Japan in 2008, Canada won six medals, eight international competency
certificates and the Albert Vidal Award for the Competitor that achieves the
overall highest score out of all Competitors in all skill categories.
"Our Government encourages those considering a career in the skilled
trades by providing Apprenticeship Grants for eligible apprentices," said the
Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.
"Team Canada and their fellow competitors at WorldSkills Calgary 2009
represent the future. Our country needs to prepare now for an economic
recovery and the increasing skills shortages that are expected to come with
it."Team Canada 2009 - 'The Great 38'
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Team Canada Province/
Competition Description Competitor Territory
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Autobody Repair Autobody repairers restore Devon DeBoer AB
body work damage, ranging
from mechanical to cosmetic,
mainly caused by road
accidents.
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Automotive Automotive technicians are Dan Van Holst ON
Technology able to understand the
important functions of car
systems and carry out
troubleshooting, maintenance
and repair work.
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Car Painting Car painters remove, mark out Daniel Green AB
and replace vehicle body parts,
prepare vehicle surfaces, treat
the vehicle with protective
chemicals, apply prime coats
and remove rust.
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Aircraft An aircraft maintenance Brian Everts BC
Maintenance technician inspects, services,
troubleshoots, removes,
installs and repairs
aircraft systems.
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Plumbing and Plumbers install water, Brian Martin ON
Heating drainage and heating pipes
for houses and industrial
sites. Their tasks can include
gas and compressed air
pipe installations.
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Electrical Electrical installers Craig Spady AB
Installations manufacture, maintain and
repair electrical equipment
for houses, industrial
sites and power stations.
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Industrial Industrial controllers Steven Dingwall AB
Control install conduits, cables,
devices, instruments, automated
devices and control centre
fittings quickly and safely.
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Bricklaying Bricklayers work on Kevin Jeanson QC
commercial and residential
projects where they cut and
lay brick, stone, glass block
or terra cotta to build walls,
fireplaces, chimneys and
other structures.
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Painting and Involves preparing surfaces, Tiffany Vandermey AB
Decorating selecting paints and colours,
brushing, rolling or spraying
paints and applying
decorative finishes.
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Cabinetmaking A cabinetmaker works with Jonathan Arbour QC
wood to produce furniture,
cabinetry and architectural
millwork from a variety
of natural and
manufactured materials.
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Joinery The process of connecting or Travis Wieler MB
joining two pieces of wood
together through the use
of various forms of
wood joints.
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Carpentry Carpenters have expertise in Scott Blair ON
a wide variety of skills that
are needed in commercial
construction as well as
in residential building
and structural
maintenance.
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Landscape Landscape gardeners Caroline Tanguay QC
Gardening design, develop and apply Hugo Parent
landscape plans, haul and
spread topsoil, care for
plants, mow, water,
fertilize and trim.
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Refrigeration Refrigeration technicians Mathieu Boily QC
install components which form
the refrigeration system.
When your air conditioning
stops working, these are
the professionals you call.
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Information Information Network Daniel Reid AB
Network Cabling consists of the
Cabling designing, installing and
testing of telecommunication
networks.
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IT/Software Involves various uses of Stacy DuBois ON
Applications Microsoft Office software
(or similar) and
graphic programs.
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Offset Printing Offset printers are able Simon Beauchamp QC
to fit printing plates or
cylinders on presses, mix the
inks that go on them and adjust
the color flow to the image.
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Web Design Web designers use computer Jason Valdron QC
programs to produce web pages
that include links to other
pages, graphic elements,
text and photographs.
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IT/PC Network Consists of assembling Matthew Chadder AB
Support personals computers (PCs)
with accessories and network
devices for home and
business environments.
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Mechatronics Technicians build, maintain, Andrew Marcolin ON
repair and program equipment Jamie Feenstra
control systems for the
automation industry.
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Mechanical Covers the use of computer- Germain-Samuel QC
Engineering aided design (CAD) technology Sauvé
Design - CAD to produce documentation in
manufacturing, including
product drawings, paperwork
and 3D models.
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CNC Turning A process used to produce Guillaume Grenier QC
cylindrical components through
metal cutting using computer
numerically controlled
(CNC) lathes.
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CNC Milling Involves cutting metal Karl Loos YK
materials with computer
numerically controlled
(CNC) milling machines.
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Welding Involves the fusing and Marc-Olivier QC
separation of materials Bélanger
using a variety of processes.
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Electronics Involves manufacturing, Jud Tofflemire ON
testing and troubleshooting
electronic equipment.
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Mobile Robotics A team competition that Pavlo Tovaryanskyy MB
requires competitors to Myles Robinson
assemble, set-up, manage
and maintain mechanical
systems within a
mobile robot.
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Sheet Metal Sheet metal technologists Brad Chyz AB
Technology fabricate and install a wide
variety of construction-related
items using sheet metal
or plastic material
components.
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Floristry The art of creating bouquets Elisa Paquet QC
and compositions from flowers, -Lessard
foliages, ornamental
grasses and other
botanical materials.
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Fashion Fashion designers develop Daisy Liang BC
Technology and create new clothing and
accessory designs, as well
as analyze fashion trends,
choose the colours and
fabrics and work closely
with production, marketing
and sales departments.
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Graphic Design Graphic designers research David Boivin QC
Technology and manage virtual design
projects, with a primary
focus on electronic media.
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Ladies/Men's Hairdressers must demonstrate Samuel Chabot QC
Hairdressing the correct cutting techniques,
curling, colouring and
barbering with creativity,
imagination and technical
ability.
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Beauty Therapy A beauty therapist is a Isabelle Collin NB
specialist in skin care,
skin care advice, massage
and makeup.
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Confectioner/ Confectioners and pastry Caitlin Mayo BC
Pastry Cook cooks create delicious
products for all kinds
of events, needing artistic
flair and talent.
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Cooking A cook is trained to manage Sébastien Laframboise QC
commercial kitchens, plan
menus and prepare appealing
and nutritious meals
according to health and
safety regulations.
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Restaurant Professional restaurant Pierre-Luc Côté QC
Service servers are skilled in
serving food and drinks,
mixing international drinks
and working behind the bar.
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WorldSkills Calgary 2009The Canadian Skills Competition is an important training opportunity for
representatives from Team Canada 2009
(http://www.skillscanada.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=126&Ite
mid=171) who were chosen at last year's Canadian Skills Competition, and who
will be competing at WorldSkills Calgary 2009
(http://www.worldskills2009.com/). This four-day international competition,
which is the biggest of its kind in the world, takes place September 1-7, 2009
at Stampede Park where more than 900 skilled young people from trade, service
and technology programs from 50 member regions/countries will gather to
compete. WorldSkills Calgary 2009, the 40th WorldSkills Competition, will be
the city's largest international competitive event since the 1988 Olympic
Winter Games. The organizing committee, WorldSkills Calgary 2009 is leading
the event coordination with support from WorldSkills International
(http://www.worldskills.org/), Skills/Compétences Canada
(http://www.skillscanada.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=126&Ite
mid=171), and Skills Canada Alberta (http://www.skillsalberta.com/). Along
with numerous sponsors and suppliers, the major event funding partners
include: Government of Canada, Government of Alberta and The City of Calgary.
About Skills/Compétences Canada
Skills/Compétences Canada was founded in 1989 as a national,
not-for-profit organization that works with employers, educators, labour
groups and governments to promote skilled trades and technology careers among
Canadian youth. Its unique position among private and public sector partners
enables it to work toward securing Canada's future skilled labour needs while
helping young people discover rewarding careers. Skills/Compétences Canada
offers experiential learning opportunities including skilled trades and
technology competitions for hundreds of thousands of young Canadians through
regional, provincial/territorial, national and international events, as well
as skilled trades awareness programs. Headquartered in Gatineau, Quebec,
Skills/Compétences Canada is the Canadian Member organization of WorldSkills
International. For more information visit www.skillscanada.com or call
877-754-5226.
For further information: Media Contacts: Christianne Scholfield,
Director, Communications, Skills/Compétences Canada, (819) 771-7545 or (613)
282-3774, christiannes@skillscanada.com; Caroline McGrath, CMM Communications
Group (for Skills/Compétences Canada), (416) 972-1642,
caroline@cmm-communications.com
