| Comments or questions about this e-newsletter? Contact Michele Rogerson [email protected] |
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Message from the CEO
As you surely know by now, Skills/Compétences Canada (SCC) recently announced the cancellation of
the Skills Canada National Competition (SCNC) 2020, as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. SCNC was scheduled to take place from May 27 to 30 in Vancouver.
The Competition was shaping up to be one of the most engaging and interesting yet. In addition to fantastic initiatives such as the networking events; Try-A-Trade ® and Technology activities; HGTV celebrities Kate Campbell and Sebastian Clovis; career exhibitors; and the Essential Skills activities, we were planning the following with our various partners:
- Young Women in Construction Trades Conference, hosted by UA Canada
- Women in Welding breakfast and 'fireside chat', hosted by the CWB Welding Foundation
- Indigenous Showcase, in partnership with the Construction Foundation of BC
- The Technology Zone, highlighting new technologies in the workplace and showing excellence in our Information Technology competitions
Although we are unable to host our flagship event this year, the cancellation of SCNC Vancouver 2020 will not stop us from promoting skilled trade and technology careers to youth and apprentices. We look forward to
working with our Skills Canada Member Organizations, and our many partners/stakeholders
to offer activities in the future months to inform
Canadian youth about the many opportunities
in skilled trade and technology careers.
We will tirelessly move forward with new initiatives while promoting the endless possibilities on our social media platforms.
I want to take this opportunity to thank our hundreds of partners and volunteers for their tremendous work at our events. It's through their commitment and support that we are able to engage Canada's future skilled workforce and share with them life changing opportunities that exist within the skilled trades and technologies.
In closing, I want to thank the many workers from the essential service sectors that include skilled trades and technology careers. Thank you to manufacturers who have shifted manufacturing processes to create products that will help keep Canadians safe. Thank you to the maintenance staff who maintain our essential buildings, including hospitals. Thank you to the truck drivers and other transportation staff that keep making deliveries. Thank you to those service representatives at our pharmacies and grocery stores that keep the shelves stocked and greet us with a smile and to the technology workers for keeping our communication systems functioning.
In these unprecedented times we are reminded of the contributions that all Canadians make to the fabric of a modern and developed country. I look forward to seeing many of you at our future events, and myself with our Skills/Compétences Canada team we wish you good health. #creatingpossibilities
Shaun Thorson
Chief Executive Officer
Skills/Compétences Canada
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Skills/Compétences Canada In the News
Here are some recent news clips featuring Skills/Compétences Canada,
its Member Organizations and the skilled trades:
- Read this article which highlights the Skills Canada British Columbia Regional Skills Competition, in
Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News on February 22, 2020:
High school trades workers compete at Westview Secondary.
- Check out this article and video featured in
Cape Breton Post on February 20, 2020 which highlights the Skills Canada Nova Scotia Skilled Futures in Oceans workshop:
Students given hands on career opportunities at Canadian Coast Guard College.
- Check out this interesting article published in
Macleans on February 3, 2020 which features Skills/Compétences Canada's CEO Shaun Thorson and several SCC Alumni:
These Careers Pay Solid Salaries, Even While You're Training.
- Read this article featured in
Macleans on February 3, 2020 on the importance of attracting more women in the skilled trades:
Why We Need More Women in These Particular Careers Than Ever Before.
- Read this article in
South Peace News published on January 21, 2020:
Students preparing for Robo Rumble.
- Check out this informative article in
Macleans on January 14, 2020:
10 Reasons You Should Absolutely Consider a Career in the Skilled Trades.
- Read this article published in
La Presse on December 28, 2020, featuring Mélodie Perez-Mousseau, competitor in Confectioner/Pastry Cook at WorldSkills Leipzig 2013:
A brioche breakfast designed Mélodie Perez-Mousseau (Un déjeuner brioché signé Mélodie Perez-Mousseau).
- Check out this article featured in
Flin Flon Reminder on December 12, 2020 which highlights an event hosted by Skills Canada Manitoba:
Mentors look to inspire next generation.
- Read this article published in
The Chronicle Herald on December 6, 2020 which highlights two-time gold-medal winners in Skills Canada Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Skills Competitions:
Teenage dream: Newfoundland twins baking up success with cake business.
- Listen to this clip on
Virgin Radio featuring the 12th annual Cardboard Boat Race hosted by Skills Canada Manitoba:
Sink or Swim: students build boats with duct tape and cardboard.
- Read this article in
Education News Canada published on January 30, 2020 which features Clarissa Roque, Medallion of Excellence winner in Confectioner/Pastry Cook at WorldSkills Leipzig 2013:
Baking with the best: Clarissa Roque earns top recognition at WorldSkills.
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Social Media Highlights
Check out our top social media posts:
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Skills Canada Alumni Features
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In each edition, Skills/Compétences Canada will be featuring Skills Canada Alumni to hear about their skills story and what advice they would like to share with future generations. This quarter, Skills Canada spoke to two previous WorldSkills competitors who are also sisters, Patricia and Clarissa Roque from Vancouver, British Columbia.
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Patricia Roque Turns her Passion for Design into a Career
Patricia Roque competed at WorldSkills São Paulo 2015 in Fashion Technology and won a Medallion of Excellence.
Patricia got introduced to Fashion Technology in high school where she took her first textiles course
. The first time she competed at a Regional Skills Competition was when she was in Grade 11. What started off as being a mandatory component for school, soon became something she was passionate about because of the techniques and skills she learned through her training.
Since she had placed first at a Regional Skills Competition, she moved onto a Provincial Skills Competition where she won the gold medal. That same year she competed against the best in Canada at the Skills Canada National Competition 2014, in Toronto, and won a gold medal which qualified her to compete at the WorldSkills Competition 2015, in São Paulo, Brazil. The four days of competition at WorldSkills São Paulo 2015 were intense and challenged her in every sense, but she was happy with the results and won a Medallion of Excellence.
Her
biggest influencers and mentors have been
her
trainer, Nina Ho, the
e
xpert, Jozée Dulude, and the previous WorldSkills
Team Canada 2013
competitor
in Fashion Technology
, Donna Lu. They, along with the support
she received from
her
family and friends, have contributed to
her
unforgettable
s
kills journey
which she describes as a once in a lifetime opportunity to not only learn about her trade but to also meet other passionate people from different trades and technologies across the world.
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Patricia Roque competed at WorldSkills São Paulo 2015.
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Patricia's
advice
to youth when choosing their career path
is to stay curious
and
ask questions
. This
can help
you
determine
which industry is best suited for you
.
She also recommends doing your research
on the kind of jobs that an industry has and see if any resonate with you and then ask advisors or people you know that are in
these fields to see
how they got
there
.
Also, mention your goals and aspirations to people and see if they know anyone who can help.
She
realize
s
how talking to people about
her
goals has helped
her
grow
her
network
.
Patricia currently works as an administrative assistant at Blair
Shapera
Custom Clothing
and also
works on short films as a costume designer. She continues to stay involved with Skills Canada by volunteering as a judge at Regional and Provincial Skills Competitions.
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Clarissa Roque Bakes her Way to the Top
Clarissa Roque
competed at
WorldSkills Kazan 2019 in
Confectioner/Pastry Cook
and won a Medallion of Excellence.
Clarissa
says she
ha
s
always known that
she
wanted to work in the food industry, specifically
with
chocolate and pastr
ies
. In elementary
school
,
she
started selling cupcakes to
her
classmates and
her
parents' coworkers.
She
got into the industry when
she
was 15, starting at a café making mousse cakes and macarons.
She now
works at the Apprentice Chocolatier at Chez Christophe Chocolate and Pastries
.
Clarissa found out about Skills Competitions through her sister Patricia Roque who had competed at WorldSkills São Paulo 2015. When she was in ninth grade, she decided to give it a go the following year and participated in two Skills Regional Competitions, four Skills British Columbia Provincial Competitions, two Skills Canada National Competitions and finally represented Canada at the 2019 WorldSkills Competition, in Kazan, Russia. Overall, Clarissa describes her skills journey as an unforgettable experience that has shown her what is possible when you set your heart on it. She has also received a lot of support and guidance along the way through her instructors at the Vancouver Community College that have been very influential and inspired her to follow her dreams.
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Clarissa Roque competed at WorldSkills Kazan 2019.
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Clarissa
believe
s
that getting people to try skilled trades and technologies is key
to building our future skilled workforce
. By exposing people to
these
careers, it gives them the opportunity to explore different paths. As a graduate of a dual-credit program in baking for high school students,
she
is adamant
that this early exposure gave
her
a taste of what the industry is like. In the future,
she
would like to see more of these trades and technology programs offered
in
schools.
She thinks it would also be
beneficial for industry leaders to visit schools and introduce
students
to a wide variety of career paths to help spark that initial interest.
Her advice to the next generation of workers
is
explore and have fun! You should be proactive by attending information sessions and workshops in order to discover what interests you. It may take time to find the right path for you but once you find it, finding motivation nearly becomes effortless.
Clarissa has continued to stay involved with skills by sharing her story at skills events to show what being involved with skills organizations has brought her. She also recently judged a Regional Skills Competition in British Columbia in Baking and hopes to judge many more.
Check out
Clarissa's
i
nstagram
@
roqueclarissa
to see all
her
latest goodies!
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Skills/Compétences Canada (SCC) Attends Engaging Meeting with Minister Qualtrough
On February 20, SCC President Karen Creditor and CEO Shaun Thorson participated in a productive first meeting with the new Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, in her Parliament Hill office.
Minister
Qualtrough
comes to the role with previous Cabinet experience, having served as the Minister for Public Services and Procurement. Before entering politics, Ms.
Qualtrough
was a human rights lawyer who focused on sports and inclusion. She also served as President of the Canadian Paralympic Association during the 2012 Vancouver Games, as well as in other senior roles related to sports administration.
A competitive swimmer herself,
Qualtrough
won three medals for Canada at the 1988 and 1992 Paralympic Games
. She is also
the recipient of
the
Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal for her work in furthering disability inclusion.
In her mandate letter from the Prime Minister,
Qualtrough
was tasked with a number of responsibilities that relate to SCC, such as:
-
Continue to support the work of the national campaign to
promote the skilled trades as first careers for young people.
-
Create the
Canadian Apprenticeship Service
in partnership with provinces, territories, employers and unions.
-
With the support of the Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth, enhance the
Youth Employment and Skills Strategy
and the Canada Summer Jobs program
.
At
the
recent
meeting
with Ms. Creditor and Mr. Thorson
, the Minister expressed a significant openness to working more closely with SCC in order to further promote skilled trades and technology careers to Canadian yout
h. She
w
as
also
impressed to hear about SCC's extensive networks with educators, colleges, corporate partners and industry sector leaders across the country.
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Shaun Thorson, CEO of SCC,
The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion and Karen Creditor, SCC's President, met to discuss the future of skilled trades.
During the conversation, the Minister acknowledged that although we cannot predict with certainty the jobs of the future, she believes that collaboration with
partners like SCC
will
help
prepare our future workforce regarding skills development and proficiency in Essential Skills.
SCC has invited Minister
Qualtrough
and her government colleagues to attend future
events.
In the coming months, SCC will continue to engage with more federal elected officials who hold skills and youth-related portfolios.
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M.P.s of all Stripes Take Part in Skills/Compétences Canada's
Future of Skills Panel
On February 27, Skills/
Compétences
Canada (SCC) hosted a multi-partisan parliamentary panel
where Members
of Parliament representing four of the major federal parties shared their insights on The Future of Skills Development in Canada.
Despite taking place during Ottawa's worst winter storm of the season, t
he event was
well
attended
by
many national sector leaders and corporate partners
, as well as SCC
's
National Board members.
Taking part on the panel were the following Members of Parliament:
- Dan Albas, M.P. for Central Okanagan- Similkameen - Nicola, B.C., Conservative Shadow Minister to Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion
-
Daniel Blaikie, M.P. for Elmwood Transcona, MB, NDP Critic for Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion
-
Louise Chabot
, députée de Thérèse-De-Blainville, QC, Porte-parole du Bloc québécois en matière d'Emploi, développement de la main-d'œuvre et travail
- Adam Vaughan, M.P. for Spadina - Fort York, ON, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
Moderated by SCC's President Karen Creditor, panelists were asked what more should be done to increase awareness of skilled trades and technology careers to youth, and how their respective parties plan on creating policies and programs which would encourage a more diverse and inclusive cohort to consider these jobs.
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From left to right: Dan Albas, Louise Chabot, Daniel Blaikie, Adam Vaughan and Karen Creditor participate in a Future of Skills panel.
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Despite representing different ideologies, all panelists seem to be in agreement that more must be done to demonstrate the benefits of skilled trades and technology careers to youth and their parents. They also agreed that finding solutions to the skills mismatch was a fundamental challenge to Canada's economic prosperity.
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March 8th Marked International Women's Day
International Women
'
s Day, which was held on
March 8, 2020
, is a global day recognized annually which celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marked a call to action for accelerating gender parity and is adopted by many organizations.
International Women
'
s Day is all about unity, celebration, reflection, advocacy and action. It has been occurring for well over a century and continues to grow. Purple is the colour chosen to signify International Women's Day as it signifies justice and dignity.
This year's campaign theme
was
#
EachforEqual
because an equal world is an enabled world. Collectively, each one of us can help create a gender equal world. Join us in
mak
ing
a positive difference for women
and
ensur
ing
that the future for girls is bright, equal, safe and rewarding.
Take action for equality!
#IWD2020 #EachforEqual
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NOTICE OF CANCELLATION -
Skills Canada National Competition 2020
It is with great regret that due to the uncertainty of the
Coronavirus
(COVID
-
19)
situation,
we are
announcing the
cancel
l
ation of
the
Skills Canada National Competition
2020
that was scheduled
from May 27
to
30
in Vancouver.
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
provid
ed by Canada's public health authorities.
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.
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The Office of Literacy and Essential Skills will be launching an updated Essential Skills framework
.
Many changes will make up the new framework including a new name, the addition of two skills, and edits to existing ones. Look for the new Framework launch by the summer of 2020.
Together with RBC Foundation, Skills/
Compétences
Canada supports Skills Canada Alumni in various activities across the country. These activities are targeted at informing and helping young Canadians acquire the skills they need for 21st century jobs. Activities include presentations to students, Try-A-Trade® and Technology activities, mentoring bursaries, alumni networking events, meetings and participation at several provincial/territorial skills competitions and the next Skills Canada National Competition.
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Save the Date for the Skills Canada National Competition 2021!
Next year's Skills Canada National Competition (SCNC) will be held June 3 and 4, 2021 at the Centre de
foires
de Québec, in Québec, QC.
The year
20
2
1
will mark
the
27
th
Skills Canada National Competition.
Through SCNC, Skills/
Compétences
Canada
promotes
skilled trade and technolog
y careers
to
Canadian
youth.
The Skills Canada National Competition is our flagship event and is a
n ideal
way to connect with tomorrow's workforce!
Québec
City, located along Canada
'
s St. Lawrence River, is known for its classical architecture and a distinctive European feel. The Historic District of Old Québec
'
s fortified city walls are the only ones of their kind left standing in northern North America, and in 1985, were designated a
UNESCO
World Heritage Site. Most of the city
'
s economy is based on transportation, tourism, the service sector, and defense. Québec City is one of the largest and most visited places in Canada. Tourists flock to its various festivals. It also boasts a host of historic sites, including Citadel of Québec, as well as numerous museums.
We could not hold an event of this magnitude without the support of our partners and stakeholders, including the Government of Canada, our industry and education partners and many, many others. To find out more about our sponsorship opportunities and discuss what could best suit your organization, please contact: Gail Vent, Director, Business Development and Marketing, Skills/
Compétences
Canada, at 1-877-754-5226 ext. 507,
[email protected].
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In
dustry News and Stories
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UA Canada Supports the Efforts of All!
As we approach our
eight
h year as a Presenting Sponsor of the Skills Canada National Competition
(SCNC),
our
excitement and dedication to this event has only grown stronger. The relations
hips
which
have
been created with all
the
groups and the hard work which is being done every
day by the Skills
/
Compétences
Canada
s
taff and
the
o
rganization has been second to none. UA Canada shares
a lot of the same core values
as Skills Canada
which is to
p
romote,
e
ngage,
s
upport and
m
entor today's generation
by highlighting
the skilled trades
as
a very rewarding opportunity
that is in high demand.
The
promoti
on of
skilled trades will
continue to
be
a topic of
discussion as we see the advancements in technology and how important it is to grow collectively to meet the
future demand
.
Engaging
our youth to better understand that
apprenticeship and the s
killed trades and
technology sector
s
are
a viable alternative to attending University
is
key in creating awareness of the many opportunities in these fields.
Everyone at SCNC
are committed to the future of our Canadian youth
; from the sponsors to the volunteers who dedicate countless hours of their time so that this experience is a positive one.
We hope that you will join us
as at the next SCNC as we celebrate the achievements of
competitors
from across Canada
who
will be here
showcasing their
skills and dedication to their craft.
Contributed by: UA Canada
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Mind Over Metal Camp Wrap-up Celebration at Orangeville District Secondary School
Recently 20 grade eight students participated in a Mind over Metal Camp at Orangeville District Secondary School. They celebrated their wins and learnings with their parents, instructors, and high-school student volunteers at a dinner that was held at the school upon completion on November 28, 2019.
One of the camp instructors,
Richard Alexander
,
has been a welding instructor for
more than
14 years and brings his passion for the trade into the classroom every day. "I love that welding is what you put into it
," said Alexander
.
"
Anyone can weld, but to weld well, it takes time. You need the perseverance to excel in one process and when you have the choice, learn more.
"
This is the second camp hosted at Orangeville District Secondary School, and Alexander gives credit to the high
-
school volunteers
who
have helped keep this initiative alive through their support and encouragement
of
the younger students.
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Welding instructor Richard Alexander (right) interacts with students at a Mind over Metal Camp celebration at Orangeville District Secondary School.
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CWB Welding Foundation Mind over Metal Camps began with a pilot camp in 2014, and serves to change the perceptions of youth and their parents about careers in welding. The camps have helped more than 3,500 students since their inception. Through these initiatives, the CWB Welding Foundation aims to create awareness and promote welding as an exciting, safe, and well-paying career option. Learn more at
www.cwbweldingfoundation.org
.
Contributed by: CWB Welding Foundation
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Rhys Eastham Shares his Career Journey at Volvo Construction Equipment
Interview with Uptime Services Director at Volvo Construction Equipment, Rhys Eastham, who started in the field nearly 20 years ago as a diesel tech at Volvo Construction Equipment.
Rhys has been in the role of Director of Uptime and technical services for the past six years. He ensures their dealers have the tools needed to repair machines in order to maximize uptime. Rhys has been around heavy equipment his entire life as his dad worked for
another manufacturer
while he was growing up. He developed an interest in large scale machines early on as they always had antique engines in their garage when he was younger.
Mr. Eastman believes that in order to attract more people to the skilled trades and technologies, it is important to show youth what the future of this industry looks like as automation will play a bigger role in the future and machines will be transformed into computers. He also feels
they
need to transition their programs to peak the interests of the next generation of technicians. His advice to youth is to look at all options before choosing a career path. Everyone
has to
start somewhere to build their future. This is a large industry which can open many doors and take you anywhere in the world.
Rhys believes a strong support system has allowed him to be successful in his role and is grateful to his wife for providing a solid home life. In his spare time, he is a firefighter and
Lieutenant with
Carlisle
Fire and Rescue.
Contributed by: Volvo Construction Equipment
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Pivot Point Supports Skills Canada National Competition
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We look forward to seeing all of the competitors at SCNC Québec 2021 shine!
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Contributed by: Pivot Point
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Reaction to a First Experience at WorldSkills
Last summer, several staff members of
ConsuLab
went to Kazan, Russia to provide support for the 2019 WorldSkills Competition. As official suppliers of training support for the event, we brought members of our engineering and production teams to Russia.
Martin
Vallières
was a member of our production team who took part in this event. He tells us that the WorldSkills Competition changed his life, not just because he flew to the other side of the world but because he was able to see
first-hand
the passion and skill levels of the competitors.
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Consulab was a proud supporter of WorldSkills Kazan 2019.
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"For my first time at this kind of event, I can tell you that it was a truly enriching experience that has changed the way I see our products," he said. "Having seen how 36 young people from different countries and different levels of schooling work at their tasks, I have a better understanding of how we can improve our products."
Martin
Vallières
was one of seven
ConsuLab
employees who made the long trip to Russia to provide support at the WorldSkills Competition. This hands-on support is what motivates ConsuLab and is the foundation of our business planning.
"I saw with my own eyes how important these skills are for Canadian industry
.
In my opinion,
high-level
comp
e
titions
such as
the
WorldSkills
Competition
lead to a level of
excellence
and an instinct for analysis that gives
these competitors
great
cr
e
dibilit
y in their field, and
opens
exciting career possibilities
for them
,
"
concludes
Martin
Vallières
.
Contributed by:
Consulab
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A Career in the Trades is your Ticket to an Exciting Future
"You can be anything you want!"
The career path for youth
is
full of possibilities.
Many students have already decided that t
he
skilled
trades
are
where they want to be
-
great salary,
job security,
working on
exciting projects.
But did you know that being a tradesperson can
also
be a stepping stone to
other
rewarding
options
?
Youth in trades have the freedom to build
a
career path
that can go far beyond working
with
tools
. They can move up within a
company
,
be a project manager,
start their own business
,
or
be
a
n
instructor
. There
are varied c
hoices
that
provid
e
a good living
and help
a new generation of apprentices.
The skilled trades
aren't
solely
about construction
-
the field's
evolving with technological innovations.
Many industries
like
technology, entertainment, marine, agriculture, hospitality, beauty
,
and aer
ospace need qualified
trades professionals
.
Earning a trades
certification
can
give youth an edge
when
explor
ing
other fields like engineering, construction management, technology, and manufacturing.
C
arpentry skills can be useful in civil engineering; electrical skills in renewable energy, technology, and instrumentation engineering.
Certified tradesp
eople
also have great
careers in education, government services
,
and civil defense.
W
hatever
your
strengths
-
creative, analytical, mechanical
,
dexterous
,
inventive
-
there's a trade for you at
itabc.ca
.
Contributed by: Industry Training Authority (ITA)
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SCNC 2020 Presenting Sponsors
SCNC 2020 Premier Sponsors
SCNC 2020 Official Sponsors
SCNC 2020 Supporting Sponsors
Try-A-Trade® and Technology Partners
Multi-Year Suppliers
Click here for a list of all sponsors and suppliers for SCNC
Vancouver 2020.
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