Two local community college students walked away gold medal champions from last week's Skills Canada Nova Scotia competition.
The Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) Pictou campus hosted the competition on March 22. It was the first of three such events, with the remaining two set for March 31 at the Ivany campus and April 28 at Akerley.
Included in the Pictou event were automobile technology, CNC machining, hairstyling, precision machining and welding. Some other competition categories include baking, bricklaying, graphic design technology, photography, plumbing, metal fabrication and carpentry.
Pictou campus student Adam Dykstra, the provincial champion in precision machining last year, took home the gold medal again this year. Sean MacIsaac, who also studies at the Pictou campus, placed first in CNC machining.
More than 250 apprentices and students participate in 37 skilled trade and technology competitions across the province. The majority of the gold medalists in each skilled trade competition will represent Team Nova Scotia at the Canada National Competition, May 25-26, in Winnipeg, Man.
The competition is a chance for those at the beginning of their career or students who will be entering their fields to receive beneficial feedback.
The competition day also featured NSCC Pictou staff and students hosting a variety of Try-A-Trade activities. Try-A-Trade encourages high school students to be a part of competition day action while participating in their own activities. In addition to the Try-A-Trade activities is a career showcase that includes exhibits with representatives from a wide range of employment opportunities.
"As careers in skilled trades and technology continue to grow in demand, these competitions not only highlight the current skilled workforce, but shine a light on career opportunities for the next generation," said Skills Canada Nova Scotia executive director Courtney Gouthro.
Marketing and communications manager Cameron Miles described the competition as being "massively important."
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