The last 16 months have been quite the journey for Lucas Stang, Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) welding apprentice. After earning gold medals at both the Skills Canada Alberta Provincial and Skills Canada National Competitions in May 2025, Stang has been diligently preparing with Lee Yasinski, RDP Welding instructor and Skills Coach, for the 2026 WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai, China.
Left to right : Lee Yasinski, RDP Welding instructor and Skills Coach; Lucas Stang, WorldSkills competitor.
"After nationals, I took the summer off and then we started training at RDP in September [2025]", explains Stang, who helped RDP welding apprentices win their seventh national gold medal in the past eight years. "We were training about eight hours a day, Monday to Friday. Around May, we started putting in closer to 10 to 12 hours a day."
As training progressed, Stang focused on mastering the four major arc-welding processes -- Metal Inert Gas (MIG), Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG), Stick and Flux-Cored welding -- skills he will be required to demonstrate in China.
"We have a general idea about what the projects will be at WorldSkills, so I have been training in those areas, but they can change them up to 30 per cent," says Stang. "On the first day, I will have to do five x-ray welds that have to be perfectly clean inside. The next day, I will have to weld a steel pressure vessel using MIG, TIG, Stick and Flux-Cored, which must hold 1,000 psi. The last day, I will be welding aluminum and stainless-steel projects."
Alongside his preparation at the Polytechnic, Stang also competed at the American Welding Society/Lincoln Global Skills Challenge in Alabama from August 8 to 15, 2026, earning top spot against competitors from Australia, Brazil, Ireland, Switzerland and the USA.
"First place was a good accomplishment," says Yasinski. "It builds confidence."
The experience proved valuable beyond the result, offering Stang and Yasinski a preview of what to expect at WorldSkills.
"The projects, time allotment and the equipment will be very similar to WorldSkills, so it's an opportunity to be in that environment ahead of time," says Yasinski.
Yasinski has been impressed with Stang's development throughout the process.
"Lucas' progress has been exponential," notes Yasinski. "The stronger countries typically have three to four trainers, who are past competitors at WorldSkills, and they put a lot of time and money into preparation. We learned that the Brazilian competitor has been training for the past four years, six days a week, eight hours a day at minimum wage. For us to compete with that is incredible."
The WorldSkills bronze medal earned by Ben Rainforth, RDP welding alum, in 2024 has also provided Stang with added motivation.
"It's very inspiring to know that someone else has done it before me, so I know that if I put in the time, I have the opportunity to do really well," says Stang.
With WorldSkills approaching, Stang and Yasinski will leave for China on September 18, with competition beginning on September 23. They will change their training schedule in Red Deer to ease this transition overseas.
"A week or two before we leave, we will adjust our training schedule to match the time in China," says Yasinski. "That means we will start training at 6 pm and go until 4 am local time."
As Stang looks ahead to competing at WorldSkills soon, he remains focused on both performance and experience.
"The goal is to have fun and do the best that I can," adds Stang. "I think Shanghai will put on one of the best shows that WorldSkills has ever seen."
Stang appreciates the vast support behind his pursuit of a WorldSkills podium finish, support that reflects and strengthens the legacy of Red Deer Polytechnic's skilled trades program. Since 2003, RDP apprentices have earned 104 medals across Provincial and National Skills Canada competitions, along with WorldSkills events, demonstrating a long-standing tradition of excellence that Stang is grateful to carry forward.
"I'd really like to thank RDP for everything," says Stang, who grew up around Camrose. "The shop techs have spent a lot of time preparing materials for me to weld and RDP's welding department has been supportive. This wouldn't have been possible without my sponsors. My grandparents -- I've been living with them in Red Deer for the past year. Most of all, I'd like to thank Lee, my trainer, for being here every day with me. It has made a huge difference in my life, and more than just welding."
For more information about RDP's apprenticeships, including welding, visit: rdpolytech.ca/trades.
