Minister congratulates Skills Canada participants and competition winners

Sandra Kelly, Minister of Youth Services and Post-Secondary Education, today congratulated all participants and competition winners who took part in the Skills Canada 2002 Provincial Skilled Career Day.

"I�m pleased to have been able to attend the Career Day and take in the competitions and workshops," said Minister Kelly. "There were some truly inspiring young people participating in these competitions. For some time now, we as a government have stressed the importance of raising the awareness of skilled trades in the province. If the success of this most recent Skills Canada Career Day is any indication, we are well on our way to ensuring that young people from across the province are aware of and exploring their options in the skilled trades field."

Over 850 students participated in the day-long event; which took place Friday, May 3, at the College of the North Atlantic (Prince Phillip Drive campus) in St. John�s and featured the 5th Annual Provincial Skilled Trade and Technology Competitions; skilled trade and technology demonstrations; a career fair; a national defence demonstration; professional development sessions for students and teachers; competition and campus tours; a Skills Work for Women Conference and an awards ceremony emceed by Mark Critch, with industry and government representatives; medals presentation; and a performance of Rebel Island Theatre�s �What�s On Next?�.

"The entire event was well organized and featured a broad representation of skilled trades and tradespeople," said Minister Kelly. "I was particularly impressed with the women in the welding workshop. Six of the 12 welders in the room were women; the majority of them graduates of the Orientation to Trades and Technology Program (OTT) sponsored through Women in Resource Development Canada and the Women�s Policy Office of government. I was extremely pleased to see that so many of these women, who went through the OTT program, have continued on into the skilled trades. It speaks to the positive impact this program, and others like it, are having on the number of women pursuing these fields. It was quite obvious that having six women in the workshop was a new and exciting experience for everyone involved."

Some 200 high school, post-secondary and apprenticeship finalists from all over the province competed in 29 trade and technology competitions held throughout the day. The gold medal winners of these competitions will now go on to represent the province in Vancouver on May 31 and June 1. The national competition will be broadcast live via the internet at .

"I would like to congratulate all the winners who comprise Team Newfoundland and Labrador, I look forward to meeting them all during the Skills Canada competition in Vancouver," said Minister Kelly. "And a special congratulations to everyone who participated in the Skills Canada 2002 Provincial Skilled Career Day. I hope everyone had a wonderful experience and went away with a clearer understanding of the skilled trades and the enormous potential in the various career fields."

Media contact: Janice Lockyer, Communications, (709) 729-6573.

The members of Team Newfoundland and Labrador are:

Automotive Service - Post-Secondary � Mark Butt, College of the North Atlantic St. John�s

Carpentry � Post-Secondary � Bruce Reid, Academy Canada, Corner Brook

Internet Web Design - Secondary - Ryan Pugh and Greg Pike, O�Donel High

TV Video Production - Secondary � Nick Kavanagh and Michael Wadden � Gonzaga

Job Interview - Secondary � Christine Callahan, Gonzaga

Welding - Post-Secondary � Darryl Noseworthy, College of the North Atlantic, St. John�s

Culinary Arts - Post-Secondary � Paul Murphy, College of the North Atlantic St. John�s

Autobody Repair � Post-Secondary � Fraser Rees, College of the North Atlantic St. John�s

Electrical Wiring Post Secondary � George Chaisson College of the North Atlantic, Corner Brook

Job Skill Presentation - James Dawson, Carbonear Collegiate

Prepared Speech - Secondary � Hillary Fillier, TBA

Architectural Design - Secondary � Patrick Mullins, Holy Spirit High School

Architectural Design - Post-Secondary � Michael Foley, College of the North Atlantic, Ridge Road

Mechanical Design - Post-Secondary � Greg Bolger, Academy Canada St. John�s

Principles of Technology - Secondary � Jamie Fitzpatrick, Ascension Collegiate

Information Technology � PC Network Support - Secondary � Rick Kelly, Holy Heart

Information Technology � PC Network Support - Post-Secondary � David Button, College of the North Atlantic St. John�s

Information Technology � Software Applications - Secondary � Michael Cabot, Roncalli

Information Technology � Software Applications - Post-Secondary - Kristen Anthony, College of the North Atlantic, St. John�s

Baking � Post-Secondary � Matthew Durnford, College of the North Atlantic, Bay St. George

Floristry � Post-Secondary � Martha Drake, Lawrence College

Aircraft Maintenance � Post-Secondary - Trent Ings, College of the North Atlantic, Gander

Graphic Design / Pre-Press Production - Secondary � Andrew Lewis, Roncalli

Electronics � Post-Secondary � Robert Mahon, College of the North Atlantic, St. John�s

Hairstyling - Post-Secondary � Joey Mackey, Apprentice

Sheet Metal � Post-Secondary - Travis Green, College of the North Atlantic, Happy Valley-Goose Bay

Refrigeration � Post-Secondary - Wayne Haynes � College of the North Atlantic, Ridge Rd St. John�s

Aesthetics� Post-Secondary � Christie Fudge, Corona College

Computer Animation - Secondary - Keith Wakeham and Kingsley Gifford, Holy Spirit

Worksite Safety - Secondary � Paul Wood, Ascension Collegiate

Robotics - Secondary � Steve Connolly, Chris Fleet, John Flynn, Michael Hall, O�Donel

2002 05 07                          1:30 p.m.