Toronto, Ontario — Skills Canada has announced the cancellation of its 2020 National Competition, which was scheduled to be held from May 27 through May 30 in Vancouver, B.C.
“It is with great regret that due to the uncertainty of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, we are announcing the cancellation of the Skills Canada National Competition 2020 that was scheduled from May 27 to 30 in Vancouver,” the organization said in a statement. “After much discussion with our Provincial/Territorial member organizations, stakeholders and taking guidance from our public health authorities, we felt it was prudent to cancel the event. The health and safety of our student participants, spectators, volunteers, partners and staff are paramount and we did not feel we could deliver an event that would meet the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) guidelines provided by Canada’s public health authorities.”
The decision comes after provincial Skills Canada branches cancelled hosts of regional competitions last week.
Each year, Skills Canada’s provincial branches hold several Olympic-style regional trade and technology competitions. The competitions hold two main purposes; first, to celebrate and reward students for excellence in their mastery of skilled trade and technology skills in a manner that directly involves the industry in evaluating student performance and that keeps training relevant to employers’ needs. The second is to create an interactive and engaging environment for the thousands of young people who attend the competitions as spectators.
Without the regional competitions, no provincial winners can be determined, leading to the cancellation of the National contest.
“We look forward to working with our many partners and stakeholders to continue to offer activities in the future that inform Canadian youth about the many opportunities in skilled trades and technology careers,” said Skills Canada.
Stay tuned to Skills Canada’s website and social media for developments.
