Sault students shine at skilled trades competitions (6 photos)

Algoma District School Board (ADSB) students did the Sault proud in two skilled trades competitions held over the weekend.

After qualifying locally, eight students represented the Algoma district in three different competitions (Individual Carpentry, TV/Video and Welding) at the Skills Ontario Qualifying Competition, a regional event, in North Bay Saturday.

Nakita Johnson and Brianna Bernatchez (a team of two) from White Pines Collegiate placed first in TV/Video.

Tasha Powley from Superior Heights Collegiate’s House Building program placed third in Individual Carpentry.

“That makes us feel good about our efforts to promote women in trades, and those three young ladies have qualified to go on and compete at the provincial championship in Toronto May 6 and 7,” said Steve Burmaster, ADSB Co-op lead teacher, speaking to SooToday Monday.

In addition, eight ADSB students excelled at the inaugural Auto Service Technician Competition at Sault College over the weekend.

Joey Willet from White Pines Collegiate placed first and will represent the ADSB in Toronto at the same provincial championship in May (while fellow ADSB students Deanna Vanderloo placed second and Tyler Deans placed third).

“We have about 22 other students competing in various sectors who are going to the Toronto competition, including some Grade 7 and 8 students as well as high school students. There’s a highway coach full of our students going to Toronto to compete in some shape, form or fashion,” Burmaster added.

“We’re so proud of the accomplishments of our students and we also recognize these accomplishments came about as a result of partnerships between the schools, Sault College and also local employers.”

“Many of these students that are placing and doing well in the competitions are in co-op placements with local employers, and we’re hopeful as the semester goes on that these employers are going to sign these students to apprenticeships this year, and certainly that’s the indication from many of them,” Burmaster said.

“We’re happy to be moving ahead and hopefully will be able to fill some shortages employers have of skilled trades workers by highlighting the awesome opportunities, not only in wages but also the personal satisfaction of doing these jobs, fixing, building and creating things.”

Burmaster said the ADSB will be holding a Skilled Trades Awareness event from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 16 at The Delta, with 16 several employers on hand, including Algoma Steel, Tenaris, Rector Machine Works and Soo Foundry.

“They’ll be there for the sole purpose of telling students how they can get ready for jobs these employers are offering and will be offering in the future, so we’re inviting students, male and female of all ages, and parents, to come along and rub shoulders with these employers and get information about rewarding careers in the skilled trades.”

“We’re expecting quite a crowd,” Burmaster said.