Gold rush for Assiniboine students on national stage

Two Assiniboine students returned this week from Regina with a little extra hardware in their suitcases. Digital Art & Design student Brooke Heaman and Network Administration student Tyler Dickie both received gold medals at the Skills Canada competition held in Regina Saskatchewan, May 29-30.

“It was exciting and surreal at the same time. I go to these events for the experience and challenge but of course I want to do well too, so it was a proud experience for me,” said gold medal winner Brooke Heaman.

Heaman’s competition stream - 3D Digital Game Art had a very Assiniboine flare. Digital Art & Design instructor, Derek Ford, was part of the National Technical Committee that designed the creative challenge.

“Brooke showed remarkable composure, creativity, and technical precision throughout the intensive two-day competition. Her success reflects the dedication she’s brought to her work and the industry readiness we focus on in the Digital Art & Design program. It’s been a privilege to help guide her development as an incredible digital artist,” said Derek Ford, instructor at Assiniboine College.

Heaman will now move on to compete on the international stage at WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai China in 2026.

“I’m not sure how I will prepare, but I’m hoping my first step will be planning that. It’ll likely consist of a lot of practice and getting fluent in the programs I use. I’m really looking forward to visiting Shanghai, it will be my first trip to another continent and all the things I could see/experience there are so exciting,”

For Network Administration student Tyler Dickie, this competition was a next step in what he hopes will be a rewarding career in the IT field.

“Winning Gold was kind of shocking initially. Then a sense of relief that I hadn't done as bad as I had felt I performed throughout the competition,” said Dickie.

“Skills Canada was a much bigger event than Skills Manitoba. All the competitions were held in large rooms so you could see everything that was going on and people could walk by and watch as you competed. It also felt a lot more important competing against each province’s best competitor instead a couple from my province.”

The annual summit saw over 500 students and apprentices from across the country competing for the title of national champion in over 40 Skill Areas at the REAL District.

“We’re incredibly proud of both Brooke and Tyler,” said Dr. Deanna Rexe, Vice President Academic at Assiniboine. “Skills competitions like this are more than just contests — they’re real-world tests of the skills students will use in their careers. These results speak to the strength of our “Learn by Doing” educational philosophy, our industry-focused programs, and our exceptional faculty”

Skills Canada was founded in 1989 as a national, not‐for‐profit organization that works with employers, educators, labour groups and governments to promote skilled trade and technology careers among Canadian youth. For more information visit: www.skillscompetencescanada.com