Halton District School Board (HDSB) students earned top honours at the 2025 Skills Canada National Competition, showcasing their exceptional abilities across a wide range of skilled trades and technology disciplines. The Skills Canada National Competition is the only national, multi-trade and technology competition for students and apprentices in the country. Each year, more than 500 of Canada's best in skilled trades and technologies compete in over 40 skilled trade and technology competitions. The event provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate their technical skills on a national platform and connect with industry professionals, educators and peers.
Representing Team Ontario, HDSB students competed with distinction and brought home Gold, Silver and Bronze medals.
Gold Medal Winners:
- Sabina Armstrong, Grade 12 student at Nelson High School, for Auto Painting
- Neel Shah, Grade 10 student at Abbey Park High School, for IT Network Systems Administration
- Adam Scruby, Grade 11 student at Aldershot School, for Mechanical CAD
Silver Medal Winners:
- Bella Zhao and Tegan Tao, Grade 11 students at Garth Webb Secondary School, for 2D Character Animation
Bronze Medal Winner:
- Jacob Bondarenko, Grade 12 student at Nelson High School, for Auto Collision Repair
The HDSB is committed to offering diverse pathways and hands-on learning opportunities for students, including the Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) program, the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP), the Dual Credit Program and Cooperative Education placements. These initiatives help students explore careers in the skilled trades and technologies, earning valuable experience during high school.
Learn more about the Skills Canada National Competition student experience in this Spotlight on Schools story.
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"The outstanding achievements of our students at the Skills Canada National Competition are a testament to their hard work, talent and the learning experiences available through programs and opportunities within the HDSB," says Curtis Ennis, Director of Education for the Halton District School Board. "Their success on the national stage reflects not only their advanced technical skills but also the confidence, creativity and resilience they have developed along the way. These hands-on competitions play an important role in fulfilling our commitment to Learning, Engagement and Achievement, as outlined in the HDSB's 2024-2028 Multi-Year Strategic Plan. By applying their knowledge in real-world scenarios, students are building essential skills and exploring meaningful career pathways in the skilled trades and technology sectors. We are incredibly proud of our students for representing the HDSB and Ontario with such excellence."
HDSB 2024-2028 Multi-Year Strategic Plan
The 2024-2028 Multi-Year Strategic Plan sets direction and prioritizes the collective actions of all students, staff, families and community members. This plan ensures our efforts as an organization are aligned and coordinated to support more than 67,000 students, 11,000 staff and the broader HDSB community. The six commitments identified in this four-year plan intersect and overlap to ensure that we take a cohesive approach to fulfilling its objectives.
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