Local high school students joined a woodworking skills competition held at Conestoga’s Kitchener - Doon campus.
Twelve students from both Waterloo Region school boards competed in the Regional Skills - Cabinetmaking event at Conestoga’s Woodworking Centre of Ontario, with the top winners going on to the Provincial Skills competition.
Twelve students from both Waterloo Region school boards competed in the Regional Skills - Cabinetmaking event at Conestoga’s Woodworking Centre of Ontario on March 5, with the top winners going on to the Provincial Skills competition.
The project the students are challenged to build changes every competition, and this year’s project was a small bench.
Hosting the competition gives students the chance to see the college’s well-equipped facilities and learn more about the programs offered.
Trevor Hibbs, professor in the School of Engineering & Technology and Trades & Apprenticeship, coordinates the competition and afterwards takes the students on a tour of the shop and explains the machinery and techniques they would be learning if they enrolled.
“The students understand that being asked to participate in the competition is an indication that their teacher sees their skills and feels that there may be a possible future within the woodworking industry for them,” Hibbs said.
Their problem solving and critical thinking skills is always impressive for Hibbs, who also wants the students to realize they’re capable of becoming a professional woodworker through their experience in the day-long competition and getting to work in Conestoga’s top-notch facilities.
“My hopes are for the high school students to see that woodworking is a viable option for a career and that woodworking has many different career paths,” Hibbs said.
And some are excited by the option after the hands-on experience. Hibbs has noticed a few competitors every year enrol in Conestoga programs for the fall intake.
The Woodworking Centre of Ontario at Conestoga, established in 1988, is one of the largest facilities of its kind in North America and counted among the leading training centres for woodworking. At about 50,000 square feet of space, students have access to custom woodworking and production training as well as the latest in Computer Numerical Control (CNC) and computer drafting technology.