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Advanced Education and Skills
November 6, 2012

Cabinetmakers Showcasing World-Class Talent in Brazil

With opportunities in the skilled trades being promoted throughout Canada during National Skilled Trades and Technology Week, two people from Newfoundland and Labrador will soon take to the world stage to showcase excellence in cabinetmaking.

From November 12 to 18, Justin Bennett, a College of the North Atlantic graduate, and his instructor, Kelly Tompkins, will be at the WorldSkills Americas Competition in São Paulo, Brazil. Mr. Bennett was offered the spot on Team Canada by Skills Canada, a non-profit organization which promotes skilled trades and technology careers as options for students. He will compete among 800 tradespeople from 31 regions and countries of North America, Central America, South America and the Caribbean.

“Justin and Kelly are examples of how the hard work, exceptional skills, and competitive spirit of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are gaining recognition worldwide,” said the Honourable Joan Burke, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills. “They are excellent ambassadors for this province and we wish them well as they showcase their impressive talents in Brazil.”

The WorldSkills Americas competition provides an exchange and comparison of world-class standards in the industrial trades and service sectors. The time for the completion of the test project is 20 hours, distributed over four working days, and the process is observed by visitors, teachers and technicians.

While studying at College of the North Atlantic in Port aux Basques, Justin Bennett met cabinetmaking instructor, Kelly Tompkins. Mr. Tompkins is well-known within the trade and has been highly influential in raising the profile of cabinetmaking across Newfoundland and Labrador. The two trained together and travelled to Skills Canada National Competitions in 2011 and 2012. The pair’s performance at the Skills Canada National Competition was rewarded with a silver medal in 2011. Last April, Mr. Bennett won gold at the Annual Skills Canada Provincial Competition in St. John’s.

"The growth and success of individuals like Justin Bennett is directly connected to our overall prosperity as a province,” said Minister Burke. “In a time when our post-secondary initiatives are leading the country, Newfoundland and Labrador continues to receive recognition for delivering an educated, skilled, and knowledgeable workforce that is ready to meet a growing labour demand.”

Since the release of the Newfoundland and Labrador Skills Task Force report in 2007, the Provincial Government has invested over $95 million in the areas of apprenticeship, science and technology, programming, training and infrastructure. In the past year, over $4 million in new funding is supporting initiatives to advance apprenticeship opportunities in skilled trades in Newfoundland and Labrador, including those for women and other under-represented groups.

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Media contact:
John Tompkins
Director of Communications
Department of Advanced Education and Skills
709-729-0753
jtompkins@gov.nl.ca

2012 11 06                               10:55 a.m.

 
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