Four Mount Baker Secondary School (MBS) students are among the best trades and technology students in British Columbia, honoured Nov. 22 by more than 200 attendees at the 22nd annual Skills Canada BC gala in Vancouver.

Fifty-six students from secondary and post-secondary schools throughout B.C. went head to head with students from across Canada at the 2016 Skills Canada competition in Moncton, N.B., in June. Team BC brought home 28 medals – nine gold, eight silver and 11 bronze – in areas that included welding, carpentry, electronics, robotics, 3D animation and IT systems.

Team BC was recognized yesterday by Greg Kyllo, Parliamentary Secretary for the B.C. Jobs Plan, on behalf of Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour. Kyllo was joined by Skills Canada BC president Kelly Betts along with representatives from the BC Technology Industry Association, the New Car Dealers Association of BC, Kitimat LNG, LNG Canada and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

About 500 competitors from all provinces and territories were evaluated by independent judges from the respective industry sectors. Their decisions were based on industry standards and established work practices, using specific criteria such as quality of work, safety, cleanliness, skill level and creativity.

Receiving bronze medals from MBSS were: Connor Dickeson, Ryley Holliday, Thomas Keehn and Traycer Walker of Mount Baker Secondary School’s robotics.

“We are expecting almost one million job openings in B.C. by 2025. The Skills Canada competitions serve to showcase our students’ skills and talent, while also raising awareness of the various careers available in our province. Congratulations to the participants being celebrated tonight and I wish our students continued success in the future,” said Bond.

“The members of Team BC represent the extremely high level of excellence in skilled workers who are graduating from our province’s high school trades programs and post-secondary institutions. Their achievements on the national stage bode well, not only for their own career paths, but for our province’s future prosperity by raising awareness of the various skilled-trades careers available in our province. Congratulations to everyone on Team BC, and thank you to their parents and instructors, as well as Skills BC and our industry partners who support our students’ development,” added Kyllo.

“Skills BC events give middle, secondary and post-secondary students an opportunity to showcase and strengthen their trades and technology skills through competitions at the regional, provincial and national levels. These events provide a forum for youth spectators to participate in hands-on exploration activities hosted collaboratively by educators and industry – learn to weld, operate a backhoe, join piping, lay bricks. Where can you find that and more under one roof? At a time when skills are needed more than ever, Skills BC brings together industry and educators to promote careers in trades and technology to youth through engaging and exciting events,” said Betts.

Based on the 2025 Labour Market Outlook, British Columbia is expecting up to one million job openings in the next decade due to retirements and economic growth.

Eight out of 10 of these jobs will require post-secondary education or training.

Lead image: The Mount Baker Robotics Team was also recently presented the Technology Kootenay Game Changer Award.

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