CONESTOGA COLLEGE
Conestoga students win four medals at national skills competition

Hosted annually, SCNC is the only national, multi-trade and technology event for students and apprentices in the country. This year, the event welcomed more than 500 participants from across the country to compete for the title of national champion in more than 40 skills areas.

Top competitors were awarded medals during the closing ceremony on May 30 in six skilled trade and technology sectors, including transportation, construction, manufacturing and engineering, information technology, services and employment. Competitors were evaluated based on strict industry standards and competed against the best in young skilled talent from across Canada.

Aidan Merchant, a recent General Machinist (Apprenticeship) graduate, earned gold in the Precision Machining category.

Steven Kranendonk, a Brick and Stone Mason (Apprenticeship) student, earned silver in the Bricklaying category.

Annie Vaillancourt, an Electrician - Construction and Maintenance (Apprenticeship) student, earned silver in the Electrical Installations category.

Samuel Konyer, an Automotive Service Technician (Apprenticeship) student, earned bronze in the Automobile Technology category. 

Merchant, Kranendonk and Konyer represented Conestoga at the competition, while Vaillancourt represented IBEW Local 105. All four advanced to the national competition after placing first in their respective categories at the Skills Ontario Competition in early May in Toronto, where Conestoga earned 15 medals in 13 categories by students from programs in the schools of Applied Computer Science & Information Technology, Engineering & Technology and Trades & Apprenticeship. Conestoga gold medalists in Auto Service Technology, Brick Masonry, Cabinetmaking, Precision Machining and Welding were eligible to join Team Ontario at the national competition.

"At SCNC, we see the future of Canada's workforce in action," said Shaun Thorson, chief executive officer, Skills/Compétences Canada, in a press release. "This competition not only highlights excellence in skilled trades and technologies, it inspires young people to pursue meaningful, high-demand careers that will our country forward."

Founded in 1989, Skills/Compétences Canada is a national, not-for-profit organization working with employers, educators, labour groups and governments to promote skilled trade and technology careers among Canadian youth. 

Conestoga is a provincial leader in the delivery of skilled trades and apprenticeship training to serve industry needs and the growing community. Comprehensive programming includes a wide range of programs that provide pathways to employment in trades careers as well as pre-apprenticeship training and in-school training for apprentices.