Minister congratulates students attending World Skills Competition

Youth Services and Post-Secondary Education Minister Anna Thistle expresses congratulations to four Newfoundland and Labrador college students who have won the right to represent Canada at the 37^th World Skills Competition in St. Gallen, Switzerland, from June 15 to 23, 2003.

As members of the Manufacturing Team Challenge competition, Jason Conway, Jason Sparrow, Mike Greene and Alfred Sanford, all students in the Manufacturing Engineering Technology and Industrial Instrumentation Technology programs at the College of the North Atlantic, were awarded the gold medal at a recent National Skills Canada Competition held in St. John�s. Their trainers are Steve Hicks and Neil Piercey, instructors at the college.

The team�s challenge was to design and manufacture, in four days, a self-sufficient, automated water irrigation system (essentially, a solar-powered water pump and controlled irrigation system) for use in a remote African village. The team will be given a similar challenge when they compete at the World Skills Competition next week.

"Young people in Newfoundland and Labrador are doing great things in every industry sector - especially as they relate to developing skills and technologies for future career successes and economic growth," said Minister Thistle. "At the world competition these young people will be challenged to achieve world-class standards and I wish them all the best."

Photo # 1: Youth Services and Post-Secondary Education Minister Anna Thistle with members of the Manufacturing Team Challenge group which will represent Canada at the World Skills Competition, June 15 to 23, 2003.

Media contact: Kathy Dicks-Peyton, Communications, (709) 729-6573

2003 06 12                                     11:45 a.m.