From May 1 to 3, skilled trades were in the spotlight at the Skills Ontario Competition held at the Toronto Congress Centre. Among the 4,000 competitors from across the province gathered to celebrate and showcase the skilled trades were several student competitors from Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon secondary schools.
As part of the Skills Ontario event, 40 girls from CSC Nouvelon's secondary schools located in Greater Sudbury participated in the Young Women in Trades Conference. They were able to watch competitors practice their skills in multiple skilled trades and learn about possible pathways to the trades through interactive booths. They were also inspired by a keynote speaker, a female carpenter by trade, as well as a Speaker Panel of students and professionals in the skilled trades who identify as female.
Fourteen students from École secondaire catholique Champlain (Chelmsford), École secondaire catholique l'Horizon (Val Caron), École secondaire du Sacré-Coeur (Sudbury) and École secondaire Notre-Dame-du-Sault (Sault Ste. Marie) stood out at the Skills Ontario Competition. These competitors performed well in auto service technology, carpentry, electrical installations, hairstyling, heavy equipment service, mechanical CAD, outdoor powered equipment, welding and robotics.
In addition, two CSC Nouvelon students each won a silver medal in their event. Evan Lafontaine, a grade 11 student at ÉSC l'Horizon, won a silver medal in outdoor powered equipment, while Owen Monette, a grade 12 student at ÉSC Champlain, earned a silver medal in heavy equipment service.