KCI Students Put Their Trades Skills on Display

By: Caleb Crawford and Jessie McDonald 

Recently, KCI was home to Skills Canada competitions where many talented students at KCI were able to compete. When we heard about these competitions, we wanted to find out more about the amazing staff and students involved.  We took the time to interview two of the teachers involved, as well as the winner of the Culinary Arts competition.

What is Skills Canada?

During our interview with construction teacher Mr. Hipel, and communication technology teacher Ms. Laurin, we learned more about the process and organization of Skills Canada. 

According to Mr. Hipel, Skills Canada is an “organization that runs various trade competitions at three different levels: nationals, provincials, regional”. Some examples include: Culinary Arts, Team Carpentry, Graphic Design, and many more. In fact, at KCI, 18 different competitions are offered.  These competitions give students the opportunity to practice and compete in various skills related to tech courses. Operating as a tournament style, winning students from regional competitions move on to provincial and then national competitions. 

Local competitions are run at schools or other suitable locations, and students from all across the local school boards are able to compete. During these competitions, students are tested and evaluated by judges in challenges created by teachers.   

Role of Teachers 

Teachers are involved at almost every stage of the competitions; from planning the actual challenges, to finding a suitable location, to arranging lunch, if needed. Teachers are essential, as local competitions can only be run if a teacher agrees to sponsor the competition.

As students, it surprised us to the degree that teachers are essential for the running of Skills Canada competitions. We personally weren't aware of how much personal time our KCI teachers dedicate, but as always, we are impressed by the ONEKCI Community. All in all, teachers are truly the lifeblood of the local competitions.  

Student Interview

After interviewing the winner of the culinary competition at KCI, Annica Harris, we found out she was moving on to the next level: the provincial competition in London, Ontario. According to Annica, her biggest challenge was “time management,” and she wants to work on perfecting her recipes for the next competition. In this competition, they had to make 3 dishes: a salad, a dessert, and a pizza. Annica’s favourite dish was the salad. She made a hot honey orange vinaigrette dressing, and added it to romaine, arugula, pickled jalapenos, pickled red onions, and oranges for a vibrant, zesty taste. We're excited to see our KCI students compete at a higher level!

Future of Skills Canada 

Looking ahead, the future looks bright for Skill Canada competitions. Despite not necessarily  seeing an expansion of the types of competitions that are offered to KCI students, our teachers are just as passionate about the future of Skills Canada and our tech courses as a whole.