Skills Are Recognized

Name:  Jonathan Sinke

Hometown:  Jordan Station, Ontario

Contest Area:  Cabinetmaking

Being a world-class competitor will earn you many things.  Like the opportunity to represent your country at the World Skills Competition, knowledge, and, of course, new skills!

Another benefit of being one of the best in the world in a skilled trade is the recognition that comes from this prestigious honour.

Jonathan Sinke, a third year Cabinetmaking apprentice and student at Conestoga College, feels that winning gold at both the Ontario Technological Skills Competition and Canadian Skills Competition has gained him recognition within his community which will help him when he starts his own business.  “When potential clients see that I have won these skills competitions and what I have accomplished, even though I am young and don’t have 25 years of experience under my belt, it should help me to gain their confidence and trust.”

At Conestoga College, Jonathan is learning all the theoretical knowledge that comes along with the trade, in addition to hands-on training in the workshop which is equipped with all of the latest machinery.  “This is great because many of us who work in smaller shops would not get the opportunity to work with some of the production machines, except through school.”  After graduation Jonathan plans to write the Red Seal Exam which would certify him as a Cabinetmaker, and is recognized throughout North America.

In preparation for the World Skills Competition Jonathan has been training at night and on weekends while working fulltime and also attending a night course in small business studies.  He is very excited to see the top young trades from all around the world.  “I am sure each nation has their own way of doing things, but we will all be brought together working on the same project with the same desire to do our best.”

Jonathan says there are good job opportunities in Cabinetmaking and that there will be even more in the future.  “Many of the competent tradesmen are now getting older and starting to retire and there are not enough young people with the skills needed to fill the gap.”  If you’re a young person thinking about a career in the skilled trades and technologies Jonathan’s advice is to definitely pursue a skilled trade because your skills will be in demand in the future!

Grace Under Pressure

Name:  Adrian Schut & Benjamin Church

Hometown:  Almonte, Ontario

Contest Area:  Mobile Robotics

How many Grade 11 students from Almonte, Ontario can you think of that will be travelling across the Atlantic to compete against the best the world has to offer?  We know two.

Adrian Schut and Benjamin Church are two of 35 young people that will be representing Canada at the 2011 World Skills Competition.  To get there they won Gold at both the Ontario Technological Skills Competition and the Canadian Skills Competition.

The Mobile Robotics contest involves knowledge of fundamental principles, automation and electrical/electronic technologies.  Using that knowledge, the competitors are required to construct and program a robot to undertake a variety of tasks.  Success in this contest requires a lot of practice and confidence.  To ensure they are ready for the challenge, Adrian and Benjamin have been spending up to 3 hours training every day.  They anticipate on increasing that to 5 – 8 hours a day as the competition comes closer.

After all the hard work to prepare for the World Skills Competition, and experience gained from the OTSC and CSC, they are confident in their abilities to perform on the world stage.  “The Ontario Technological Skills Competition has given me the confidence to perform under pressure and in a timed environment,” says Adrian.  “This will also help me in any career I pursue.”  Benjamin adds that through the OTSC he has become comfortable performing in front of an audience and gained experience competing as part of a team.

Although both have different career interests after high school, they are unified in one thing.  The advice they would give to other young people considering becoming involved in Skills Canada – Ontario’s programs is to give it a try.  “The OTSC is an awesome way to experience the thrill of the trades.”

Opening Doors for Future Career Choices

Name:  Tyler Hackney

Hometown:  Cambridge, Ontario

Contest Area:  CNC Turning

Students that participate in Skills Canada – Ontario’s programs each have their own unique experience.  Tyler Hackney, a Gold Medalist at both the Ontario Technological Skills Competition (OTSC) and Canadian Skills Competition (CSC) in 2010, used his experience to open doors for future career opportunities.

A graduate of Fanshawe College’s Manufacturing Engineering Technology program, Tyler has used his education to prepare for his career and the OTSC.  “Before I enrolled in this program I knew very little about CNC machining.”

Tyler is employed as a Quality Measuring Technician.  Many of the skills he learned in school and from his experience at the OTSC and CSC he now uses in his job.  “I’m responsible for performing quality checks on the parts going out of the plant.  I also check the pre-made parts coming into the plant from other suppliers and read blueprints to ensure that all of the parts are made correctly.”

Skills Canada – Ontario’s programs provide the stage and opportunity for students to achieve success and realize their full potential.  “For me the Ontario Technological Skills Competition opened the doors for other career opportunities that may come from competing at the World Skills Competition.  That is very exciting.”

Training for the World Skills Competition requires a lot of dedication.  Tyler has been preparing by working with the computer software that he will be using in the CNC Turning contest. “After a few months of practice with the software I will start to work hands-on with the machine and running off parts.”

Tyler feels that there are a lot of great job opportunities in his field.  His advice to other young people considering a career in the skilled trades and technologies is to take as much schooling as you can.  “I will always be looking for opportunities to learn and grow in my career so I can advance my skills and earn more money.”

Love What You Do!

Name:  Tom Middlebro'

Hometown:  Guelph, Ontario

Contest:  Offset Printing

The equation for a successful career is one part perspiration, one part passion.  There couldn't be a better description for Tom Middelbro', Canada’s representative in Offset Printing at the 2011 World Skills Competition.

A graduate of the Graphic Design Production – Digital program at Mohawk College, Tom, has learned lots about pre-press and how to make designs that will be practical for the application where they will be used.  Now that he has finished school he has one goal in mind:  win Gold at the World Skills Competition in 2011.

“As a kid watching the Olympics on TV, or any sort of world competition for that matter, I always wished that someday I could represent the country that I love, as well as make something of myself on the world stage,” says Tom.  “Not many people get to do that, and I think it is an amazing opportunity that I will never forget.”

Tom credits the Ontario Technological Skills Competition with helping him prepare for his career.  “It was a great chance for me to continue doing what I had found that I loved doing, which was printing. When I entered this competition and was given the chance to further develop my skills on the press I was very excited.  When I won the Canadian Skills Competition and qualified for Team Canada, I was ecstatic because I was given the chance to become one of the best press operators in the country, and possibly the world. If it wasn't for that first competition, I would likely have never touched a printing press again, and for the chance that competition gave me, I am grateful.”

As for career choice, Tom feels that a perfect storm is brewing.  “The print industry is going through a huge change at the moment. Companies are switching from offset printing methods to digital printing, but this is the perfect opportunity for me to get into the printing world and learn the new technologies.” 

His advice for other students a career in the skilled trades and technologies is quite simple.  GO FOR IT!

“We need skilled tradespeople. I remember being in high school and not thinking of the skilled trades as a career option, but once I got to see how amazingly skilled these people are, combined with the demand for people of this calibre, I realized how fun and important these trades are.” 

No Limits

Name:  Ryan Gomes

Hometown:  Cambridge, Ontario

Contest:  Aircraft Maintenance

Pearson International Airport is one of the world’s busiest airports – 19^th actually.  Over 30 million passengers and 400,000 airplanes move through the airport each year. 

To carry all those passengers safely to their destination requires that the planes be maintained by qualified professionals.  Talk about pressure.

Ryan Gomes will be representing Canada at the World Skills Competition.  He says the Ontario Technological Skills Competition and the Canadian Skills Competition taught him how to work under pressure. “The competition is a fun and exciting experience, and at the same time can be stressful for a first time competitor because everyone wants to do their best.”  Ryan also said that after being expected to perform your best while surrounded by spectators and then having your work thoroughly judged at the competition, it is easy to go to work and be confident and work your hardest and best. “The competitions not only help you become better at your trade, by the careful examination and advice afterwards from the experts, but it helps you become a better trades person in general by applying a bit of pressure to you, and letting you perform your best.”

To learn his trade, Ryan attended Centennial College’s School of Transportation.  This program taught him all the basics skills to become an Aircraft Maintenance Technician and perform his job with confidence. “I know that the aircraft I work on will conform to the standards of airworthiness.”

Ryan currently works for an Approved Maintenance Organization where he is working towards his Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) Licence. After he obtains his licence his options are wide open.  “I have always wanted to be in charge of my own career, in charge of make my own decisions.”  Those decisions might include starting a small aircraft maintenance company, possibly working for Transport Canada, or being a teacher.

Currently Ryan is also busy preparing for the World Skills Competition which will be an intensive year long training program.  “I really want to prove to the world and myself, that I am the best that Canada has to offer, and there is no reason that I cannot be the best. It isn't out of my grasp, I just need to make sure I put the hard work and dedication that I have like everything that I do.”

Aircraft Maintenance is a field that has limitless job opportunities. As an AME, there are very many opportunities to travel the world, and work on planes in remote areas. “There are no limits to how much you can do in aviation, except for you telling yourself that you can't.”  Ryan’s message to other young people is that the skilled trades are an excellent career choice, whether you decide to be an aircraft maintenance engineer, or any other of the great skilled trades Canada has to offer. “Students should really consider skilled trades if they like working with their hands, their head, and like a great paying, rewarding career.”