Conestoga students finished with 13 medals at the 2022 Skills Ontario Competition. Winners were announced during the virtual closing ceremony on May 4.
The event is the largest skilled trades and technology contest in Canada and offers an opportunity for students from all regions of the province to demonstrate and test skills. This year, elementary, secondary and post-secondary students participated in over 50 contests that represented a broad range of skills and careers in manufacturing, transportation, construction, service, and technology sectors. In addition to gold, silver and bronze medals, students competed for monetary awards in select categories.
Traditionally held in person, the competition was adapted again this year for a virtual format amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. From April 19 to 29, students competed remotely from appropriate workspaces and were judged via live video feed in addition to other project submission requirements.
Conestoga students placed in nine different categories, representing programs from the college’s schools of Applied Computer Science & Information Technology, Engineering & Technology, and Trades & Apprenticeship. In addition to a gold medal in CNC Machining, Tool and Die Maker (Apprenticeship) student Daniel Kiss also received the Award of Excellence as the top-ranking college competitor.
Congratulations to Conestoga’s 2022 Skills Ontario Competition winners:
Gold:
- Kyle Durrer - Brick Masonry
- Daniel Kiss - CNC Machining, Award of Excellence
- Vincent Kornelsen - Metal Fabricator Fitter
- Ethan Kroetsch - Cabinetmaking
- Vlad Tanas - Web Design and Development
- Dennis Thomson - Industrial Mechanic Millwright
Silver:
- Eddy Alam - Cabinetmaking
- Regan Benner - Web Design and Development
- Cameron Krause - Brick Masonry
- Jackson Macor - Welding
Bronze:
- Collin Burns - CNC Machining
- Asha Hartnell - Automation and Control
- Aaron Hazelwood - Architectural Technology and Design
Conestoga’s gold medalists in Brick Masonry, CNC Machining and Cabinetmaking will represent Team Ontario at the Skills Canada National Competition in Vancouver, British Columbia, from May 26 to 27, where they will also compete to represent Canada at the WorldSkills International Competition in Shanghai, China, later this year.
During the closing ceremony, Conestoga was named the recipient of the Manufacturing Award in recognition of the college’s dedication to promoting the manufacturing sector based on results at the competition. Sponsored by the Gene Haas Foundation, the college was awarded $5,000 to help administer scholarships to students in manufacturing programs.
The virtual closing ceremony is available online.
Conestoga is a provincial leader in the delivery of skilled trades and apprenticeship training to serve industry needs and the growing community. Comprehensive programming includes a wide range of programs that provide pathways to employment in trades careers as well as pre-apprenticeship training and in-school training for apprentices.