Later this month, it might look like OC's Kelowna campus has been taken over by middle and high school students.
The 2026 Skills B.C. Regional Trades and Technologies competitions are expected to see more than 200 middle and high school students at Okanagan College on Feb. 20, competing in a wide variety of competitions, ranging from cabinetmaking to automotive services, and welding to culinary - with many more in between.
Expanded sessions for this year include animation, public speaking, junior skills sumo robots and IT office services.
Okanagan College has been the only Southern Interior competition site for the annual Skills Regionals for more than two decades, bringing teenaged students onto campus to explore potential post-secondary options and careers, all while competing against their peers, with a chance to advance to provincial and national competitions.
"These competitions encourage young people to explore the trades and discover their full potential," said Jessie Sunner, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. "It's inspiring to see students showcase their skills and confidence from such a young age. When youth step into the trades, they open doors to new possibilities for themselves and for our province to thrive."
The competitions are open to the public to observe and are focused on introducing younger students to a range of career options and feeding the growing demands for skilled workers in the province.
"There is a high demand for skilled trades professionals and technologists across several industries in our region and across B.C.," said Dr. Samantha Lenci, OC Provost and Vice President Academic. "Events like this one are valuable because they give students opportunities to explore and gain skills for the competition, and then to attend our college campus, where they can start to think about their next steps in education and their career. Skills Regionals is a place where students get that first spark of inspiration that excitement that motivates them to think about future jobs."
The competitions are open to students within the Central Okanagan school districts, an area that ranges from Revelstoke to Osoyoos.
The 41st annual civil engineering-inspired Spaghetti Bridge Building contest will also be a part of the event, with students participating in three categories: Grade 6-9 team building, Grade 10-12 team building, and heavyweight competition.
"Welcoming students to our campus for the Skills Regional competitions is always a highlight for us," said Caitlin Hartigan, Dean of Trades and Apprenticeship. "These competitions give students the chance to explore their strengths, build confidence and see what's possible for their future. We are committed to fostering professional growth by immersing students in real-world challenges, ensuring they have the supportive environment and hands-on experience needed to bridge the gap between the classroom and their future careers."
Medalists won't have to wait long to showcase their skills. The Skills Canada province-wide contest will be held in Abbotsford, with winners moving on to the national Skills Canada event that takes place in Toronto this May.
The event is made possible with the support of Okanagan College sponsors, including Allnorth Consultants Limited, Faction Projects and FortisBC. The competitions begin at 10 a.m.
View the event photo gallery on Flickr.
For more information, visit the Skills Canada BC website.
