Skill Bits

The official newsletter from Skills Canada Newfoundland and Labrador

S PRI N G - S U M M E R

201 5

Team NL Captures 15 Medals at

Skills Canada National Competition

Erin Ball, Ben Hoyles, Patrick Loder & Kelly Jewer,

Silver Medalists in Robotics

Brandon Drover (Centre) after receiving his Gold

Medal in Autobody Repair

From May 27-30, Team Newfoundland and Labrador travelled to Saskatoon, SK

to compete in the 21st Annual Skills Canada National Competition, the largest
Canadian skilled trade and technology competition. Every year, this event brings
together over 500 young competitors from all provinces and territories within
Canada, along with coaches, educators and technical experts, to compete in over
40 trade, technology and employability competition areas. The main goals of the
Skills Canada National Competition are to provide competitors with hands-on
work experience and to raise awareness of the importance of skilled trade and
technology careers in Canada.
Team Newfoundland and Labrador consisted of 50 competitors whom successfully captured fifteen National medals in twelve different competition areas:
Three Gold, Six Silver and Six Bronze. Skills Canada NL is extremely proud to be
a leader of the Skills Movement and provide young skilled trades people and
technologists with an opportunity to showcase excellence in their fields, said
Skills Canada NL Executive Director Carole Ann Ryan. Skills Canada NL would
like to thank the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency for contributing to Team
NLs travel costs to this years 21st Annual Skills Canada National Competition.

Our National Medalists 2015

INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Skills Canada
National
Competition
Page 1
Home Show 2015
Page 2
Skills Work for
Women
Conferences
Page 2

Brandon Drover (CNA Prince Philip Drive) - GOLD, Autobody Repair and Best in Region Award
Jacob Manning (Queen Elizabeth Regional High School) - GOLD, Job Skill Demonstration
Amanda Larner (CNA Prince Philip Drive) - GOLD, Photography
Myles Burry (CNA Ridge Road) - SILVER, Architectural Design and Technology
Kelly Jewer, Erin Ball, Patrick Loder, Ben Hoyles (Botwood Collegiate) - SILVER, Robotics
Haley Moriarity (Holy Spirit High School)- SILVER, Job Search
Sarah Lomholt Farrell (Queen Elizabeth Regional High School)- SILVER, Baking
Tyler Andrews (UA Local 740 Training Centre)- BRONZE, Steamfitter/Pipefitter
Ashley Bent (CNA Clarenville) - BRONZE, Brick Masonry
Mackenzie Collins (Ascension Collegiate)- BRONZE, Public Speaking
Ryan Parsons (CNA Prince Philip Drive)- BRONZE, Car Painting
Johnathon Hann (CNA Corner Brook)- BRONZE, Electronics

Annual Skilled
Career Day
Page 3
ENTER:Preneur
National Launch
Page 5

Team Newfoundland and Labrador National Medalists

Skills Canada NL Takes Main Stage at Home Show

Skills Canada Newfoundland and
Labrador was delighted to host the
main stage at the Canadian Home
Builders Associations Home Show
2015 from March 20-22. Held at
Mile One Centre, the Skills Canada
Women in Trades: Easy Home Fixes
stage allowed exhibitors and spectators to test their hand at sample
residential projects such as Cabinetmaking, Carpentry and Electrical Installations. It was a fun-filled
week as hundreds of individuals
took part in these demonstrations
and spotlight challenges.

skilled-trade related tasks that

may be considered untraditional
for women. The Try-A-Trade
demonstrations are designed to
provide a tangible understanding
of the work of skilled tradespeople and technologists. Our female mentors who are currently
employed in the skilled trade sector welcomed guests to experience
their trade area and allowed many
participants their first opportunity
to handle such equipment while
illuminating an otherwise unfamiliar activity.

Women are largely underrepresented in the skilled trade

and technology sector; therefore,
Skills Canada Newfoundland and
Labradors aims to create awareness by demonstrating how fun
(and easy) it is to learn household

Skills Canada NL would like to

thank all of our female mentors
who helped make this event so
successful:
Shauna
Sutton,
Kirstene Reyes, Joann Greeley,
Nancy Dillon, Stephanie Ciz,
Celeste Mercer and Mary Clarke.

A Home Show participant learning how to install a

peephole in the Carpentry Try-A-Trade Demo

Participants learning how to plaster at Home Show

Skills Work!
Skills Canada NL successfully delivered two Skills Work For Women Conferences
this Spring for female students across the province. Conferences were offered at
College of the North Atlantic Prince Philip Drive Campus on March 27 (during
Skills Canadas Annual Skilled Career Day) while the other conference was offered
at College of the North Atlantic Clarenville Campus on May 15.

SWFW participants inside the Try-A-Trade workshop

Participants and mentors taking a photo

after the mentoring session
SWFW participants who attended the May 15
conference at College of the North Atlantic
Clarenville Campus

SKILL

BITS

These conferences, designed for intermediate and secondary female students, are
divided into a two part day. Participants have the opportunity to explore handson Try-A-Trade areas such as Carpentry, Electrical Installations, Welding, Steamfitter/Pipefitter and many other skilled areas. The young women will then engage
in lively discussions with female mentors currently working or studying fields of
skilled trades or technologies. Mentors at these conferences bring perspective to
female students by explaining why they chose the career they did and the challenges and successes they experience in a male-dominated work environment.
Skills Work for Women Conferences have received glowing reviews since their
inception in 2001. Women make up a very small percentage of those employed in
skilled trades and technologies and this scarcity exemplifies the untapped
workforce that exists in the Canadian female population. It is the intention of
Skills Work for Women Conferences to invite young women to explore the
different career options available in skilled trades and technologies that are
waiting to be filled. By showing young females employment areas that they may
have not otherwise considered, Skills Canada NL is ensuring Canadas continued
economic prosperity. Skills Work for Women Conferences are proudly sponsored
by the Provincial Governments Department of Education and Early Childhood
Development.

PAGE

Annual Skilled Career Day featuring the

18th Provincial Competitions

Skills Canada Provincial Culinary Art Competitors

Some of the Gold Medal Provincial Winners.

Meet Team Newfoundland and Labrador 2015!

Baking (Secondary)
Sarah Lomholt Farrell
Queen Elizabeth Regional High
(Post Secondary)
Alex Nash- C.N.A. Seal Cove

On March 27, Skills Canada NL hosted their Annual Skilled Career Day in
conjunction with the 18th Annual Provincial Competitions at College of
the North Atlantic Prince Philip Drive Campus. This day is dedicated to
celebrating the work of young skilled trades-people and technologists
and highlighting the array of rewarding career opportunities available in
these fields. With over 250 competitors, over 100 volunteers and nearly
600 visiting students touring the competition sites, Annual Skilled Career
Day is Skills Canada NLs largest event of the year!
Attractions at this years instalment included nine different
Try-A-Trade demonstrations, a career showcase, a youth leadership
conference delivered by the St. Johns Board of Trade, a Skills Work for
Women Conference, a partnership luncheon and guided tours of the
facility. Most prominent throughout the day, however, were the Skills
Canada Provincial Competitions where Gold-medal winners, along with
top-placing performers, earned a spot on Team Newfoundland and
Labrador 2015 to compete at the 21st Annual Skills Canada National
Competition in Saskatoon, SK.

Team Newfoundland and Labrador 2015

Car Painting
Ryan Parsons C.N.A. Prince Philip Drive

3D Computer Animation
Keagan Dalley & Hayley Martin Holy Spirit High
School/Carbonear Collegiate

Robotics
Ben Hoyles, Patrick Loder, Erin Ball, Kelly JewerBotwood Collegiate

2D Computer Animation
Chelsie Cake & Breanna TilleyFrank Roberts Jr. High

Welding
Zack King C.N.A. Corner Brook

Mechatronics
Devan Vokey & Mitchell Fowler C.N.A. Ridge Road

Hairstyling
Lewis Tang Keyin College St. Johns

Mechanical CADD
Brad Simon-C.N.A. Ridge Road

Job Search
Haley Moriarity Holy Spirit High School

Aesthetics
Amanda Thompkins Ocean Quest Spa

Graphic Design (Secondary)

Kathryn Brophy ODonel
(Post-Secondary)
Karen Mercer C.N.A. Prince Philip Drive

Public Speaking
Mackenzie Collins Ascension Collegiate

Culinary Arts (Secondary)

Hilary Howell Holy Spirit High School
(Post Secondary)
Tiffany Waye C.N.A. Bonavista

Industrial Mechanic Millwright

Brad Holmes Carpenters Millwrights College
Architectural Technology & Design
Myles Burry- C.N.A. Ridge Road

TV/Video Production
Allyson Dawe & Emily Howe Holy Spirit High

Job Skill Demonstration

Jacob Manning Queen Elizabeth Regional High
Work Place Safety
Steven Rideout Queen Elizabeth Regional High

Electronics (Secondary)
Harold Dela Vega Gonzaga High School
(Post-Secondary)
Johnathon Hann C.N.A Corner Brook

Heavy Equipment Service Technician

Keegan Hulan C.N.A. Corner Brook

IT Network Systems Administration (Secondary)

Matthew Bishop Frank Roberts Jr High

Photography (Secondary)
Ally Wragg- MacDonald Drive Junior High
(Post-Secondary)
Amanda Larner- C.N.A. Prince Philip Drive

Cabinet Making
Stephanie Ciz C.N.A. Port Aux Basques

IT Software Solutions for Business (Secondary)

Adrienne Deering Ascension Collegiate
(Post-Secondary)
Angie McDonald C.N.A Prince Philip Drive

Sheet Metal
Karen Poulain C.N.A. Burin

Automotive Service
Jeremy Pope C.N.A. Prince Philip Drive

Brick Masonry
Ashley Bent- C.N.A Clanreville

Electrical Installations
Myles Faulkner C.N.A. Seal Cove

Automation and Control

Jamal Tinkov C.N.A. Ridge Road

Steamfitter/Pipefitter
Matthew St. George UA Local 740

Refrigeration/ Air Conditioning

Myles Mackey C.N.A. Ridge Road

Carpentry
Michael Newhook C.N.A. Clarenville
Steamfitter/Pipefitter
Tyler Andrews UA Local 740
Plumbing
Curtis Jackson UA Local 740

Autobody Repair
Brandon Drover C.N.A. Prince Philip Drive
Precision Machining
Shane Kelly C.N.A. Placentia

PAGE

Vale In-School Presentation Program

During the 2014/2015 school year, staff from Skills Canada NL made frequent visits to classrooms across
the province to discuss skilled careers, the benefits and opportunities in skilled trades and technologies, the
work of Skills Canada NL and how it get involved in Skills Canada programming. These presentations last
anywhere from 45-60 minutes in length and are designed for students at the intermediate, secondary and
post-secondary level. With ample career information available to Canadian youth, these presentations are
designed to help students explore the exciting career opportunities that await them in the skilled trade and
technology sector.
Skills Canada NL has proudly partnered with Vale since January 2015 to deliver the In-School Presentation
Program. Vale has a prosperous history, not only at a national and international level, but within the
province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Their mission and values are a natural fit with Skills Canada NL
and aim to ensure Canadas continued economic prosperity. By raising awareness to young Canadians and
the future workforce about the incredible careers in trades and technologies, Skills Canada NL and Vale
partner together to bridge the skills gap.
To request an in-school presentation for your class for the
upcoming school year or to find out more information, please
contact Jess Baldwin, Communications Manager,
at jessicab@skillscanada.com.

Essential Skills
The Government of Canada and other national and international agencies have developed nine essential skills that
are needed for work, learning and life. Continuous Learning, Document Use, Oral Communication, Digital,
Numeracy, Reading Text, Thinking, Working With Others and Writing are the nine essential skills needed for work
and learning; however, they also help individuals evolve with their jobs and allow for change in the workplace.
Essential Skills are especially important to technical training and thats why the Federal Government, Skills/
Comptences Canada and its member organizations are working together to promote these skills to Canadian
youth. For more information and learning resources about Essential Skills, please visit :
http://skillscompetencescanada.com/en/programs/essential-skills/

PAGE

ENTER:Preneur National Launch

On May 28, during the 21st Annual Skills Canada
National Competition in Saskatoon, SK, Skills Canada NL
and the NL Association of CBDCs hosted a National
Reception to promote their newly established
ENTER:Preneur program to other Skills Canada members
and supporters of the Skills Movement.
The ENTER:Preneur Program includes: Apprenticeship
Conferences for skilled trade students, Dragons Den
simulations for intermediate and secondary students,
Lunch and Learn seminars for educators and the CBDC:
Pitch, a Skills Canada Provincial Competition where
students can pitch their business ideas to a panel of
entrepreneurs.
If youre interested in learning about the ENTER:Preneur
Program, please contact Entrepreneurship Project
Coordinator, Alison Peach, at alisonp@skillscanada.com
for more information. The ENTER:Prenuer Program is
proudly funded by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities
Agency.

Carole Ann Ryan, Executive Director of Skills Canada

NL (left), Roseanne Leonard, Managing Director of
CBDCs (centre), Tom Donovan, former
Project Manager of Skills Canada NL (right)

Skills/Comptences Canada National President,

John Oates, brings greetings at National Reception

HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!

Carole Ann Ryan
Executive Director
newfoundland@skillscanada.com

Deanne Oliver
Competition Manager
deanneo@skillscanada.com

Skills Canada NL
75 Barbour Drive (2nd Floor)
Mount Pearl, NL
A1N 2X3
www.skillscanada-nfld.com
Phone: (709) 739-4172
Fax: (709) 739-4198

Jess Baldwin
Communications Manager
jessicab@skillscanada.com

Alison Peach
Entrepreneurship Coordinator
alisonp@skillscanada.com

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Skills Canada NL receives funding from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency,
Employment and Social Development Canada and the Provincial Governments
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development,
Department of Advanced Education and Skills and Vale.