Nine Assiniboine students medal at Skills Manitoba, five to advance to Skills Canada

Five students from Assiniboine―Albert Simpson, Hailey Burghart, Braxton Yurkiw, Dreyson Potter and Krinal Patel―will move on to compete at Skills Canada in Winnipeg in May, 2023 after winning gold in their respective categories at the 25^th annual Skills Manitoba competition.

“Skills competitions like this give students an opportunity to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to real-world situations. Watching them showcase their skills and abilities while honing in on their craft is impressive to watch,” said Kevin Poirier, Dean of Trades and Team Assiniboine Lead. “We congratulate our students, who have all done so well in displaying their skills, along with the coaches who mentor them. We look forward to cheering on Albert, Hailey, Braxton, Dreyson and Krinal in the national competition.”

Of the 16 Assiniboine students who competed in Skills Manitoba, nine won gold, silver or bronze in their competitions.

Throughout the province, 475 high school, post-secondary and apprenticeship students competed in 42 skilled trades and technology contests at this year’s Skills Manitoba event and the gold medal winners will form Team Manitoba to compete against their peers at the Skills Canada Competition to be held in Winnipeg in May, 2023.

“This gold medal win at the Skills competition has given me a greater level of confidence in this field. It has also exposed me to some challenging situations to work through and given me an opportunity for scholarships to help me complete my education,” said Dreyson Potter, an Assiniboine Civil Technician student, who won gold in the Mechanical Engineering competition.

“Winning the Skills Manitoba gold has been a great honour. It is a nice experience to meet new people from the same industry, and seeing each other work is really inspiring,” said Krinal Patel, an Assiniboine Web and Interactive Development student, who won a gold medal in Web Technologies. “It has also inspired me to continue pushing the boundaries of what's possible in web design, using cutting-edge tools and technologies to deliver even more innovative and engaging user experiences. I am very thankful to Assiniboine Community College for giving me the opportunity to participate in this competition.”

The philosophy behind the competition is to reward students, involve industry and to keep training relevant to employers’ needs. Competitions are designed and judged by industry professionals and educators.

The Skills Competitions also raise awareness about Canada's shortage of skilled trades workers—major industry associations expect a moderate to severe shortage of workers within the next five years. They also help raise awareness among students, educators and parents about the advantages of post-secondary training in trades and technology, including good pay, job security and flexibility.