Technological Skills Competition takes place March 4th

On Tuesday, March 4, 2008, Rainbow District School Board will host is fourth annual Technological Skills Competition at Cambrian College. Approximately 90 secondary school students will test their skills in seven events – auto service technology, carpentry (team), welding, precision machining, autoCAD, Rube Goldberg and cabinet making. Students will vie for an opportunity to compete in the provincial Skills Competition in Waterloo this May.

The Conference Board of Canada estimates that there will be a shortage of one million workers in the trades and related occupations within 20 years. “Industries that rely on apprenticeships, including construction, transportation, manufacturing and services, have been growing and need new workers,” says Rainbow District School Board Chair Judy Hunda.  “The Technological Skills Competition will promote and profile careers in the skilled trades and technology, making students aware of the wealth of opportunities that exist.”

As part of the competition, 100 Grade 8 students will visit Cambrian College and take part in four one-hour workshops. These workshops, being delivered by Vale Inco and Cambrian College, will provide insight into career opportunities in the mining industry and programs offered at the college.

“Students need to begin thinking about careers at an early age,” says Sofia Gallagher, the Rainbow District School Board’s Curriculum Coordinator for Science and Technological Studies. “Linking classroom instruction with real life experiences is a key component of our destination based curriculum. The Technology Skills Competition brings learning to life in a fun and creative way. It also enables us, as educators, to respond to the needs of employers by exposing students to the world of opportunities that await them in the exciting field of trades and technology. The mining component of this year’s event will enable our students to prepare for Rainbow District School Board’s Specialist High Skills Major in Mining which is currently being piloted in Rainbow Schools.”

The trades and technology departments at Cambrian College are providing the locations for the various events and have prepared the written and practical tests for the day for the secondary competitors.  They are also providing judges. Two of the events will be held at Lasalle Secondary School. Teachers from the Board have been involved in developing the scopes for some of the competitions. 

Participants will have an opportunity to go home with some wonderful prizes thanks to the support of community businesses and organizations, including the Sudbury & Manitoulin Partnerships Board, Dixon Electric, Handyman Connection and OYAP, among others. A plaque will be presented to the winning school in each category. 

The awards ceremony will begin at 2:30 pm in the Cambrian College Student Centre. Parents/guardians are welcome to attend.

Rainbow District School Board salutes the many staff members who have worked in partnership with the community to organize the Technological Skills Competition:

Rob Smith – Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School
Chair of the Rainbow District School Board Tech Association
Denis Dormer – Chelmsford Valley District Composite School
Sofia Gallagher – Rainbow District School Board
Irving Noble – Manitoulin Secondary School
Rob O’Neill – Sudbury Secondary School
Sharon Orlak – Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program
Peter Vigna – Lasalle Secondary School

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Media Contact:

Sofia Gallagher, Curriculum coordinator, Science and Technological Studies
Rainbow District School Board, (705) 523-3308 ext. 8203