SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 83 (NORTH OKANAGAN-SHUSWAP)
Students Doing Finishing Touches on Pedal Car for Competition

The Pleasant Valley Secondary (PVSS) students working on the entry for the 2025 Automotive Retailers Association (ARA) Pedal Car Challenge received some specialized instruction recently as they complete the first phase of metal and autobody work on their custom pedal car.

In March, PVSS was invited to take part in the 2025 Automotive Retailers Association (ARA) Pedal Car Challenge, along with a group of schools from around the Province. The program offers students the opportunity to design, modify, and paint a pedal car (human-powered toy car).This challenge is an innovative event powered by the ARA through its AutoCareersBC program. The goal of this province-wide event is to encourage youth to consider the automotive industry as a viable career choice.

PVSS Trades teacher Peter Tujik explains that his students were at Armstrong Collision on May 2 to work with Tim Brilz of BASF Chemicals to paint their pedal car project. That completed the first phase of metalwork and autobody work on the custom pedal car.

The car has now returned to PVSS for the students to complete the assembly work and add the final details. Students will be making a presentation about their project to Dejla Sabanac, Industry Relations Advisor for ARA on June 10.

Tujik explains that normally the car would be picked up after the presentation, but PVSS was granted the privilege to display the car at the Vintage Car Club of Canada's Father's Day Car Show in Vernon. After that, the car will be sent to ARA where the entries will be auctioned off with proceeds going towards scholarships for students pursuing education in automotive trades.

More information can be found at Pedal Car Challenge - Auto Careers BC

Senior metalwork students; Kooper Stewart, Nolan Kalf, Samuel Hanson and Rylan Baillie, accepting the PVSS pedal car after the presentation.

Tujik adds that he also has a small team competing in the Edison Motors EV Challenge again this year. That competition is on the May 31st in Merritt. More information can be found here: High School EV Challenge | Edison Motors