By Mike Davey
Toronto, Ontario — April 6, 2016 — It looks like Waterloo’s loss will be Toronto’s gain. Skills Ontario has revealed that the Ontario Technological Skills Competition (OTSC) will move to the Toronto Congress Centre for the 2017 event. The competition currently takes place in Waterloo at RIM Park.
The OTSC is Canada’s largest skilled trades and technology competition. Every year the competition draws 2,200 competitors and over 20,000 spectators and those numbers continue to grow each year. According to an official statement from Skills Ontario, the Toronto Congress Centre will provide an upgraded space that will allow every contest to be hosted under one roof, making the contests less weather-dependant. In addition, associated events such as the OTSC closing ceremony and Young Women’s Conference, which are currently hosted off-site in Waterloo, will now be hosted at the Toronto Congress Centre.
The announcement was made at the Toronto Congress Centre by Skills Ontario Executive Director, Gail Smyth.
“Ontario continues to experience a critical skills shortage and Skills Ontario is addressing this ongoing challenge through interactive, hands-on programs in addition to the OTSC,” said Smyth. “We are thrilled to be moving the pride of Ontario to the Toronto Congress Centre, a facility that will help us heighten the awareness of the tremendous career opportunities in skilled trades and technologies to young people from across Ontario.”
Toronto’s Deputy Mayor, Vincent Crisanti, was also present and provided remarks on the significance of the OTSC’s move to Toronto in 2017.
“Skills Ontario is an essential organization that for the last 27 years has encouraged our youth to learn about and pursue exciting careers in the trade and technology sectors, while growing a competitive and skilled workforce in Ontario,” said Crisanti. “Having experienced firsthand a Skills Competition, I am excited that this event will be taking place in North Etobicoke, at the Toronto Congress Centre in 2017.”
Qualifying competitions for the 2016 OTSC start April 16 at designated colleges across Ontario. The 27th annual Ontario Technological Skills Competition will take place May 2 to 4, 2016, at RIM Park in Waterloo. The first event held at the Toronto Congress Centre will take place in 2017.
