Conestoga students were awarded 16 medals at the 2025 Skills Ontario Competition, recognizing exceptional skills in their trade.
Conestoga students competed at Skills Ontario, earning 16 medals and sweeping Cabinetmaking with gold, silver and bronze.
Six gold, six silver and four bronze medals were awarded to Conestoga students who competed at the provincial event held May 5-7 at the Toronto Congress Centre, culminating in a closing ceremony where the top students were presented with medals in front of an audience of 4,000 competitors, educators and guests.
The event is the largest skilled trades and technology contest in Canada for Ontario elementary, secondary and post-secondary students and apprentices to demonstrate and test their skills. Competitors participated in more than 75 contests representing a broad range of skills and careers in manufacturing, transportation, construction, service and technology sectors.
Conestoga students placed in 14 categories, representing programs from the college’s schools of Applied Computer Science & Information Technology, Engineering & Technology, Hospitality & Culinary Arts and Trades & Apprenticeship. Conestoga Woodworking Technology and Woodworking Technician students swept Cabinetmaking with gold, silver and bronze. This was also the first time Conestoga students competed in the Baking category. Baking and Pastry Arts Management student Emilie Duffin received gold.
Congratulations to Conestoga’s 2025 Skills Ontario Competition winners:
Gold
Emilie Duffin -- Baking
Chris Ferri -- Refrigeration
Mark Fischer and Mary Glass -- Geographic Information Systems - Team of Two
Aidan Merchant -- Precision Machining
Nathan McCann -- Cabinetmaking
Kyle Stiller -- Metal Fabricator Fitter
Silver
Noah Carter -- Heavy Equipment Service
Ryan Dickhout and Logan Fehr -- Mechatronics - Team of Two
Joshua Guralski -- Auto Service Technology
Lin Andre Jan Vitin -- Automation and Control
Austin Jesso -- Cabinetmaking
Keval Patel -- Web Design and Development
Bronze
David Deonarine -- CNC Machining
Ethan Paddick -- Cabinetmaking
Lucas Slingerland -- Brick Masonry
Namgel Sherpa -- Cybersecurity
Conestoga's gold medalists in Baking, Cabinetmaking, Precision Machining and Refrigeration are eligible to join Team Ontario at the Skills Canada National Competition in Regina, Saskatchewan, on May 29 and 30.
During the closing ceremony, Conestoga was also 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. Thanks to the Gene Haas Foundation, the college was awarded $5,000 to help administer scholarships to students in manufacturing programs.
The closing ceremony is available to stream 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.