Red Deer Polytechnic apprentices continue to showcase their top tier knowledge and skills around the world. At the recent 2026 WorldSkills competition held in Shanghai, China, Lucas Stang earned a Medal of Excellence for demonstrating outstanding skill performance at a global standard. After four days of competition, he also ranked sixth among 39 participants globally in the post-secondary Welding category.
Credit: WorldSkills International
Leading up to the prestigious competition, Stang and Lee Yasinski, RDP Welding instructor and Skills Coach, trained 10 to 12 hours a day and adjusted their training time to align with the time change in Shanghai. Their attention to detail and sustained commitment proved invaluable.
"I want to congratulate Lucas and Lee on their tremendous accomplishments. For Lucas to rank among the top post-secondary welders in the world is quite an honour," says David Pye, Dean, School of Trades and Technology, Red Deer Polytechnic. "It is inspiring to see someone in the early stages of their career set an ambitious goal and demonstrate the drive and determination required to sustain such an intense level of training. Lucas' commitment reflects the future of the skilled trades - focused, motivated, and in very good hands. This incredible result reinforces the world-class education and training opportunities available at RDP in conjunction with our industry partners."
Twenty-two men and nine women between the ages of 18 and 22 comprised WorldSkills Team Canada, which competed in 29 of the 64 Skills Areas at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026. Stang was one of 13 Canadian competitors at WorldSkills who achieved a Medal of Excellence. Four Canadians also earned a medal.
WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 welcomed approximately 1,400 competitors from 70 countries and regions. The WorldSkills Competition, held every two years, is the world's largest international skills competition, setting the standard for excellence in skilled trades and technologies. Throughout the event, competitors were challenged to meet demanding industry standards while demonstrating their competencies.
Red Deer Polytechnic's reputation in skilled trades education and training continues to grow provincially, nationally and internationally. Since 2003, RDP apprentices have earned 104 medals across Provincial and National Skills Canada competitions, along with WorldSkills events, demonstrating a long-standing tradition of excellence.
The next Skills Canada Alberta Post-Secondary Competition will take place on May 5 and 6, 2027 in Calgary. Gold medal recipients will advance to the Skills Canada National Competition held on May 27 and 28, 2027. The top apprentices in each trade will represent their institution and Canada at the 49th WorldSkills Competition from November 15-20, 2028 in Aichi, Japan.
For more information about RDP's apprenticeships, including welding, visit: rdpolytech.ca/trades.
