Winnipeg, Manitoba — More than 500 talented students descended upon Winnipeg for this year’s Skills Canada National Competition, where nearly 250 medals were awarded to those who will become Canada’s next generation of skilled tradespeople.
This year’s event, which ran Thursday to Friday last week at the RBC Convention Centre, saw fierce competition across 45 different skill categories, resulting in a medal-worthy performance for one young painter familiar to Bodyworx Professional readers.
Former Bodyworx Professional cover star and St. Claude Autobody mainstay, Dorrian Selley had an impressive showing in his home province by coming away with a silver medal in this year’s post-secondary car painting competition, falling just short of Team New Brunswick’s Alice Michaud, but beating out Jesse Johnson from Nova Scotia.
Michaud would go on to be recognized later in the competition with the RBC Best of Region Award, honouring her as the top performer from New Brunswick this year.
Concerning car painters in the secondary school age group, Devin Friesen brought the gold medal home for Manitoba, edging out Québec competitor Evans Gagné and Alberta’s Harleigh Russell.
Ontario’s Joseph Michael Bickell took home gold in the post-secondary autobody repair competition, surpassing Zachary Duguay and Logan Gratton, from New Brunswick and Alberta respectively.
For up-and-coming secondary student body technicians, James Bartel of Manitoba won gold, while Henri Santerre of Quebec and Breena Massey of Alberta will be bringing home silver and bronze.
“Events like the Skills Canada National Competition encourage Canadian youth to discover skilled trade and technology careers through interactive activities, and find their passion. It also allows us to raise awareness of these important and lucrative careers to our future skilled workforce,” said CEO of Skills/Compétences Canada, Shaun Thorson.
With the close of this year’s national competition came the announcement of the 2024 event, which is currently set to run from May 30 to 31 at ExpoCité in Québec City.
