Skills/Compétences Canada e-newsletter

Spring 2018 e-newsletter

In This Issue

Skills Canada In The News

Social Media Highlights

Skills Canada News

Upcoming Events

Industry News and Stories

Comments or questions about this e-newsletter?

Contact Michele Rogerson

[email protected]

Join SCC on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube & Flickr

Message from the CEO

Skills/Compétences Canada (SCC) is gearing up to host its' 24th Skills Canada National Competition (SCNC), in collaboration with Skills Canada Alberta. SCNC 2018 will be held on June 4 - 5, in Edmonton, Alberta, where more than 550 competitors will vie for a spot on the podium. Over 7,000 student visitors are expected to visit this exciting event and discover the many careers available in skilled trades and technology sectors. The 2018 Skills Canada National Competition will once again profile one of the nine Essential Skills, Problem Solving and how it is part of every skilled trade and technology career. Additionally, we recognize the changing dynamics of the workforce and will also highlight digital literacy and technology driven skills that are crucial to keep pace with the quickly changing job market. One example is a skill area being hosted for the first time, 3D Digital Game Art.

At SCNC 2018, medalists in approximately 30 skilled trade and technology skill areas will have the opportunity to try out for WorldSkills Team Canada 2019. WorldSkills Kazan will be the 45th WorldSkills Competition and it will be held in Kazan, Russia from August 22 - 27, 2019. SCC is developing a multistep selection process for WorldSkills Team Canada, which will reflect a performance-based philosophy, derived from feedback received from experts, trainers and competitors. WorldSkills is hosted every second year and is attended by approximately 1,300 competitors from 79 WorldSkills member countries and regions.

Although SCNC 2018 is still ahead we are starting our engagement around SCNC 2019. Skills/Compétences Canada, along with Skills Canada Nova Scotia staff, recently met with key stakeholders in preparation for SCNC 2019 that will be hosted at the Halifax Exhibition Centre on May 28 - 29, 2019. Nova Scotia last hosted the Skills Canada National Competition in 2006 and we are thrilled to bring the event back to Halifax.

In January, I travelled to Shanghai, China and chaired a meeting of the WorldSkills CEO-National Skills Organization working group. Many interesting topics were discussed focused on how our national skills organizations can share best practices which can translate into larger impact, stronger messaging and more partner/stakeholder engagement.

The WorldSkills Board was also meeting in Shanghai at that time where a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between WorldSkills, the Municipality of Shanghai and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of the People's Republic of China. This signing ceremony marked the formal start of planning for WorldSkills Shanghai 2021. Shanghai was confirmed as the host during the WorldSkills General Assembly held in October 2017.

On the domestic scene, Skills/Compétences Canada was pleased to see the 2018 Federal Budget had a variety of funding commitments, geared towards skills related initiatives. Some particular highlights for the skilled trades included, an Apprenticeship Incentive Grant for Women, Pre-Apprenticeship Program and a Women in Construction Fund. These initiatives will help individuals better understand, explore these careers and develop the skills required to succeed. Click here to read the media statement issued by SCC.

I hope to see you in Edmonton on June 4 - 5, for another memorable Skills Canada National Competition!

Shaun Thorson

Chief Executive Officer

Skills/Compétences Canada In the News

Here are some recent news clips featuring Skills/Compétences Canada and SCC's Member Organizations:

-Read this press release issued by Skills/Compétences Canada on March 7th, 2018: Thomas Skinner and the Gene Haas Foundation Renew their Partnership with Skills/Compétences Canada.

-Read this media statement issued by Skills/Compétences Canada on February 28th, 2018: Budget 2018 demonstrates ongoing commitment to skills development.

-Read this article published on February 16th, 2018, in SorelTracy Magazine, which features Compétences Québec (in French only): 15e Olympiades montérégiennes de la formation professionnelle et technique.

-Check out this article in the Fort Saskatchewan Record on February 8th, 2018: Fort students put building skills to the test, which features the Cardboard boat races hosted by Skills Canada Alberta.

-Read this article: Regional Skills Competition Underway At CNC, featured in CKPG TV on January 17, 2018.

-Check out this article published on December 27, 2018 in Smithers Interior News: Robotics Club puts on a show for Grade 4 students.

-Read this article featured in the Journal of Commerce on December 21, 2017: Construction Foundation of BC offers industry ways to give back, which highlights the foundation's latest partnership with Skills Canada BC.

-Check out this article published in the Sudbury Star on December 11, 2017: Three CSCNO secondary schools claim medals at regional Cardboard Boat Race competitions.

-Read this article published in Advertiser on December 8, 2017: Sisters earn gold at Junior Chef Challenge, which features a Skills Canada Intermediate Challenge, in St. John's.

-Check out this article in the Thompson Citizen, published on December 6th, 2017: Trades & Technology Olympics introduce elementary students to possible trades careers, which features Skills Manitoba.

-Read this article featured in The Telegram on November 27, 2017: Students dive in to Skills Canada challenge.

-Check out this article published on November 21st, 2017 in The News: Students get hands-on experience during visit to NSCC.

Social Media Highlights

Check out our top social media highlights for this quarter:

Follow Skills Canada:

Skills Canada News

Calling all YouTubers!

Skills Canada is Launching its 2018 YouTuber Search

We are looking for a young Canadian with original ideas to share the amazing realm of skilled trades and technologies with our audiences! The successful candidate will work closely with our partners, get to try all types of trades and technologies and be live on location for Skills Canada's flagship event #SCNC2018.

We are looking for someone who can execute these YouTube videos from beginning to end, independently under strict and sometimes tight deadlines. We need someone who is creative and a self-starter. We want your fresh ideas!

To apply : please send an email of 1,000 words or less telling us why we should pick you, along with your YouTube account link to [email protected].

Finalists will be asked to create a 4-6 page proposal outlining your ideas for content for this project over the next year.

Financial compensation will be discussed with the successful candidate.

Deadline: March 20, 2018

Good luck!

Another Successful Cannexus Conference

The Cannexus Conference took place in Ottawa January 22 - 24, 2018, and was very successful with over 1,000 professionals from education, youth community centres, government and private sectors . Skills/Compétences Canada (SCC) hosted a booth and provided conference attendees with numerous educational resources and hands on access to the Essential Skills mobile app.

The SCC Recharge Station at Cannexus, where attendees could charge their mobile devices while learning more about the Essential Skills and the skilled trades and technologies.

Marisa Sosa, SCC's Essential Skills Program Manager, held three Carousel sessions, where over 60 participants navigated through an Essential Skills quiz while learning how their responses related to skilled trade and technology careers.

Upcoming Events

Join us for the 24th Skills Canada National Competition!

The countdown is on for the 2018 Skills Canada National Competition which will be held June 4 - 5, at the Edmonton EXPO Centre, in Edmonton, Alberta.

The Skills Canada National Competition (SCNC) is the only national, multi-trade and technology competition for students and apprentices in the country. Every year, more than 500 young people from all regions of Canada come to SCNC to participate in over 40 skilled trade and technology competitions. By providing a forum where Canadian youth can compete at the national level, SCNC provides hands-on work experience related to skilled trade and technology careers. Through these competitions, Skills/Compétences Canada also seeks to raise awareness about skilled trade and technology sectors to Canadian youth and their influencers. Students must compete at local, regional and provincial/territorial events in order to represent their province/territory at SCNC.

Alberta's capital city sits on the North Saskatchewan River. Its past is recreated at Fort Edmonton Park, a living history museum with an 1846 fort and streets from 1885, 1905 and 1920. Edmonton's contemporary landmarks include the Royal Alberta Museum, with aboriginal-culture and natural-history galleries, and the futuristic-looking Art Gallery of Alberta, known for its First Nations Art. Points of interest include the West Edmonton Mall, Fort Edmonton Park, and the Edmonton Valley Zoo. See more of what Edmonton has to offer here .

Event Highlights

Free event: open to the public on competition days (June 4 - 5)
Over 40 competitions, representing six sectors; Construction; Employment; Information Technology; Manufacturing and Engineering; Transportation; Service
Over 550 competitors
Over 50 Try-A-Trade® and Technology activities for visiting youth
Over 7,500 student visitors
Essential Skills Stage - interactive demonstrations by various stakeholder groups and industry celebrities designed to highlight the importance of Essential Skills.
Dedicated "Career Zone" featuring exhibitors and sponsored Try-A-Trade® and Technology activities
Essential Skills Forum - will bring together over 150 stakeholders to discuss the importance of educating young students on the Essential Skills and their prominence within the trades and technology sectors.
VIP events including opening and closing ceremony receptions; VIP tours; hospitality suite
Qualifying year for WorldSkills Team Canada 2019 to compete at the 45th WorldSkills Competition being held in Kazan, Russia, in 2019
Skills Canada Alumni attendance to discuss the future of innovation and technology
Industry celebrities in attendance will include: Sherry Holmes, Kate Campbell, Paul Lafrance and Mandy Rennehan.

To register:

School visit registration and bus subsidy information are available online .

If you would like an opportunity to gain valuable experience as a volunteer, click here for more information and to register.

For partner organizations that are interested in participating at SCNC 2018 as an exhibitor, click here to book your exhibitor space and obtain additional information on the available opportunities.

For more information about the 2018 Skills Canada National Competition, click here.

Essential Skills Webcast

Skills/Compétences Canada (SCC) will be partnering with Futureworx for the Essential Skills webcast, taking place during the 2018 Skills Canada National Competition (SCNC), June 4 - 5, in Edmonton. Futureworx is an enterprising not-for-profit organization based in Nova Scotia, whose mission is to help people maximize their potential professionally and in their community. They achieve this by providing integrated training programs that focus on the development of soft skills and attributes first, while ensuring that graduates have the essential and technical skills employers want.

SCC alumni, along with partners representing industry and education, will participate in conversations relating to the Essential Skills and the skilled trades at the Edmonton Expo Centre. There will also be panel discussions with industry celebrities who will be participating at SCNC. We're expecting a viewership of over 1,500 for the live webcasts. Watch SCC's social media channels for updates and more information.

Follow our Journey to Kazan for the World's Largest Skills Competition!

Every two years, the WorldSkills Competition represents the best of international excellence in skilled trades and technologies. 2019 will mark the first time that Russia is hosting the WorldSkills Competition. On August 22-27, 2019, young competitors from around the globe will gather at the Kazan Expo International Exhibition Centre for the 45th WorldSkills Competition, with the goal of earning the title of world champion in their skill area.

These competitors represent the best of their peers and have earned a spot on their country's team through dedication and hard work. At the WorldSkills Competition, competitors will participate in simulated real work challenges, and will be judged against international quality standards.

About WorldSkills Kazan 2019 :

More than 1,300 competitors from over 70 Member countries and regions will compete in over 50 skill areas representing six sectors:

Manufacturing and Engineering Technology
Information and Communication Technology
Construction and Building Technology
Transportation and Logistics
Creative Arts and Fashion
Social and Personal Services

The Competition takes place in front of approximately 150,000 spectators in over 800,000 square feet of space in a newly constructed building.

The WorldSkills Competition inspires youth to discover the many careers that are available in the skilled trade and technology sectors. With an increasing demand for skilled workers, the trade and technology sectors represent a lucrative and exciting career path for youth around the world.

Throughout the Competition, stakeholders from industry, government, and education are provided with the opportunity to exchange information and best practices regarding industry and professional education at networking events and thought-provoking conferences.

The event slogan is "Skills for the Future", which is also the official Competition hashtag: #skillsforthefuture .

For more information, visit: worldskills2019.com .

A few interesting facts about the host country - the Russian Federation:

- The territory of Russia is 1/9 of the Earth, so, there are ten time zones
- Global wide Russia is a European country but 2/3 of its territory are located in Asia
- Russian population is 145 million people of 160 nationalities in total
- Climate is various: in Sochi the winter temperature can be +5°C and while in Yakutia it touches on -55°C. The average summer temperature is around +20°C
- Moscow is the capital of Russia, its population is 11 million people
- Kazan, the host city of WorldSkills Kazan 2019, is the capital of one of the Russian regions, Tatarstan. In 2009 Kazan has gained the name «Third capital of Russia».

In dustry News and Stories

From Regionals to Internationals: Jenica Branscombe Explains How Skills Canada Competitions Shaped Her Career

Skills/Compétences Canada spoke with Jenica Branscombe, WorldSkills Team Canada 2011 competitor in Beauty Therapy, about her professional journey.

Jenica Branscombe's journey into the skilled trades began in high school when one of her teachers asked if she would be interested in participating in a Skills Competition. The question surprised Jenica as she considered herself to be one of the worst in her class. However, after giving it some thought, she competed in Beauty Therapy at regionals, which led to provincials, followed by the Skills Canada National Competition. After having earned a spot on WorldSkills Team Canada 2011, Jenica competed internationally at WorldSkills London, 2011.

Reflecting on her Skills Canada experience, Jenica credits WorldSkills Team Canada 2009 Beauty Therapy competitor Isabelle Collin for her success. Isabelle gave a presentation at Jenica's school about her experience competing at WorldSkills Calgary 2009. Although competing was outside Jenica's comfort zone, Isabelle's story motivated and inspired her enough to participate in a Skills Canada Competition. Isabelle took Jenica under her wing and worked with her to help her fully realize her potential. Jenica has acknowledged that she could not have gone as far as she did without Isabelle's support. All of Jenica's training and hard work resulted in a silver medal win in Beauty Therapy on the international stage at WorldSkills London 2011.


	Jenica attended WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017 as a member of the WorldSkills Champions Trust.

Participating in Skills Canada and WorldS kills Com p etition s ha s allowed Jenica to develop her personal goals and passions, and it's lea d to several professional opportunities, including repre senting Canada at a WorldSkills Youth Forum in Jeju, South Korea. She has spoken about he r incredible expe riences at Skills ev ents, and she r ecently judged the Beauty Therapy contest at a provincial Skills Competition. The opportunity Jenica cherishes most was representing the Americas for the WorldSkills Champions Trust. This progra m was developed by WorldSkills staff to create ongoing opportunities for medal Champions to remain engaged beyond the Competition. Being a part of the Champions Trust made Jenica feel like she was a part of something bigger than herself while allowing her to stay involved with WorldSkills programs and alumnus.

Jenica is currently employed as a lash and nail technician, is a product distributor for nail enhancements and is following her passion. Although she is proud of her career and many professional accomplishments, she says her biggest job is "being a mom to two precious little rascals". Her advice to youth when choosing a career path is to take the time to reflect about what makes you happy and what you are passionate about. Jenica believes that progress has been made in reducing the stigma associated with pursuing a vocational education, however there is still work to be done. Jenica encourages others to explore their options before they make important career decisions, and to always follow their heart. "When you love what you do, it is no longer a job," said Jenica.

Contributed by: DeWalt

Millennials: What are they good for?

noun: millennial; plural noun: millennials; noun: Millennial; plural noun:

Millennials

definition: a person reaching young adulthood in the early 21st century.

"the industry brims with theories on what makes millennials tick"

Source: Google Dictionary

The Millennial generation is categorized by adults born between 1981-1999. Today, Millennials' ages range from 19 to 36, which are the prime ages for entering the workforce. This generation has grown up in a world that is showing record speed for digital and technological advancement. They have seen 8-tracks to mp3 music streaming, and bunny ear TV antennas to Android boxes and 4K Smart TVs. This generation has witnessed more technological change than previous generations.

This means that out of any other generation, Millennials have become very adept to change. They embrace it and welcome it, and by doing so, this has allowed for a more diverse and inclusive environment. They are sometimes deemed as "lazy", "entitled" and "privileged". However, on the contrary, they should more accurately be referred to as "open-minded", " self-expressive" and "passionate about equality".

Why is this so important for the trades? Why do we need to train Millennials?

Because it is estimated that by the year 2025, 75% of the Canadian workforce will be made up of the Millennial generation. Baby Boomers, who were born between 1946 - 1964, are retiring at an alarming rate. Ensuring that we have the right individuals to fill that labour gap is of extreme importance. Not only do we have retirees, but we also have younger Journeymen pushing into leadership roles and climbing the career ladder.

The Apprenticeship program is based on a work-as-you-learn platform, and mentorship plays a key role in passing the knowledge from one generation to the next. Our responsibility as an industry is to ensure that we are properly training the youth of today to prepare them for the jobs of tomorrow.

UA Canada is a construction trade union of piping professionals that include HVACR techs, Plumbers, Steamfitters/Pipefitters, Sprinkler Fitters and Welders. We have been involved with Apprenticeship in every aspect with relation to the pipe trades since they were first named under Apprenticeship regulations. The UA spends more on training the future skilled trade workforce of Canada than any other organization. We are fully dedicated to training our members, both Journeymen and Apprentices, to keep pace with the ever-changing technological world. We ensure that our members are properly trained and ready to use the specialized technological tools that industry is producing. What better generation to train than those who have driven the transition toward the digital world. Their tech-savvy minds are ready to embrace this new technology on the jobsite, and the UA is there to help them succeed.

In the construction industry, we cannot take for granted what previous generations have accomplished. It is with their success that we are able to move forward and advance in this ever-changing world.

Let your actions speak for themselves. Give the Millennial generation the opportunity to succeed, the knowledge and training to develop the skills to advance in their trade, and the recognition of a job well done. It is the youth of today who will be changing our world for tomorrow, so let's start them off on the right foot and let them prove how capable they truly are.

Contributed by: UA Canada

Gaining Technical Experience and Essential Skills on the Job

Every year, the Computers for Schools (CFS) program provides technical employment to hundreds of youth through the Technical Work Experience Program (TWEP) funding from the Government of Canada. Youth hired by CFS refurbish donated technology while gaining experience and skills relevant to future careers in information and communications technology ( ICT).

"The program is a great chance to learn and experiment," says Owen Johnson, a current TWEP intern with the CFS program in Alberta. "I'm getting the opportunity to work with the types of hardware I might end up developing and gaining valuable interpersonal skills at the same time."

A student at the University of Alberta studying Nanoscale System Design, a Computer Engineering option, Owen's work with Alberta Computers for Schools (ACFS) is contributing to the second work term of his Co-op program.

TWEP interns are given the opportunity to learn critical skills while serving a great cause. The CFS program distributes the technology that is used to refurbish computers used in schools, libraries, not-for-profits and Indigenous communities across Canada. Since 1993, the program has refurbished and distributed more than 1.5 million computers. These efforts are made possible thanks to financial support from Innovations, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and the dedicated work of interns like Owen.

"In the few short weeks I've been here, I've already experienced all the steps in the refurbishing process, from packaging to repairs and troubleshooting," he explained . "I've gained a solid understanding of the hardware components and how they interact. Knowing 'I can touch this electrical component without damaging the whole system' has bolstered my confidence when dismantling and repairing hardware. I've been able to dissect the hardware and observe working components versus damaged ones."

TWEP allows interns to gain a variety of knowledge and skills, including many of the Essential Skills needed in the workplace.

"Working with a team is a different dynamic than working with a single partner on a programming project," says Owen. "We take turns directing the work, so I'm further able to hone my leadership skills; finding everyone's strengths and figuring out the best way to use them."

The CFS program and Computers for Success Canada (CFSC) support the Skills Canada National Competition (SCNC) through a Gold Multi-Year Supplier partnership. This year, ACFS is proud to encourage youth in the pursuit of skilled trade and technology career opportunities by supplying computers for SCNC Edmonton 2018.

Contributed by: Computers for Schools

Nathan Banke Takes on a New Role Within ConsuLab

ConsuLab is excited to announce that Nathan Banke has taken a new position that will allow him to help grow the company's product development while also holding true to the company's slogan of Helping You Teach Technology. Nathan, previously Director of Business Development, is now part of ConsuLab's engineering and research and development department. ConsuLab President Kevin Boden said the move made sense for Nathan as well as for ConsuLab's customers. In his new role, Nathan will focus on product development rather than business development. Nathan's new role, according to Boden, "will have a greater impact on the quality of education by assisting our engineering team to design products that will help our instructors teach, and help students learn. Nathan's experience within this industry is unique, and I cannot think of a better person to be able to understand both teachers and students today and design products that will meet their needs."

Nathan said: "My new role is what a lot of customers thought I always did: developing ConsuLab products. Now in the engineering department, I will act as a facilitator between customers, teachers, production and our education team. I believe I will be able to understand from a teacher's perspective what we want to build and accomplish with our products. I'm excited for the challenge and believe it will have a long-term, positive impact on the entire product line and the way our customers will interact with our products. "

Contributed by: Consulab

Emerson Apprentice Day Highlights Refrigeration Industry

In the fall of 2017, over 65 HVAC-R apprentices visited the Emerson facility in Brantford, Ontario to participate in the first ever Emerson Apprentice Day, a complimentary training event.

The event hosted apprentices from all over Ontario to participate in a day of understanding and identifying compressor failures. The day included in-class theory and a hands-on session involving various stations on floodback, electrical failures, liquid & oil slugging, and high discharge temperature. Discussions included how to identify failures and available solutions. In addition, participants partook in discussions around current industry trends and were given the opportunity to network with their peers and leaders in the HVAC-R industry.

The day closed with lunch and prizes sponsored by various industry leaders and Emerson Authorized Wholesalers.

Speaking on the motivation behind the event, the Director of Marketing and Business Development, John Rabbito said " This is the most dramatic period of change that the refrigeration industry has ever seen. Refrigeration Mechanics will need continued education to keep up with this fast pace of change. Investment in our apprentices is critical to the success of our industry. "

Emerson's next Apprentice Day will be held on September 15, 2018 in Brantford, ON.

For more information, contact: Pamela Jordan, [email protected] , 519-720-2246.

Contributed by: Emerson

Mitotuyo Canada Inc. Partners with Skills/Compétences Canada to Engage Youth in the Skilled Trades

Mitutoyo Canada Inc. has been a proud partner with Skills/Compétences Canada for the past five years. This partnership has led to our involvement with Skills Competitions at a provincial, national and international level. As a company, we believe that it is very important to be involved with youth in skilled trades to ensure they have access to the best metrology equipment in the world. Mitutoyo Canada Inc. is also heavily involved in supporting Canadian academic institutions and aiding in building solid skill sets for the future workforce.

Our philosophy is that the sale of a product is not the end of the process, but the beginning of a long term partnership with our customers. Established in 1973, Mitutoyo Canada Inc. has been bringing the full spectrum of Mitutoyo's R&D, manufacturing expertise, products and knowledge to the Canadian manufacturing market to help industry improve product quality and company profits. Mitutoyo offers total metrology solutions for today's manufacturing challenges and is trusted worldwide to deliver quality, affordability and durability. Our wide array of measuring devices totals over 8,000. As a leader in the precision measuring instrument market, it is Mitutoyo's responsibility to advance precision measurement technology at the manufacturing level.

Contributed by: Mitutoyo Canada Inc.