June 15, 2009
Ontario Skills competition brings out the best in students
Landscape competition at Ontario Skills.More than 1,600 students from across Ontario competed in over 60 categories at the 20th Ontario Technological Skills Competition at RIM Park in Waterloo on May 4th and 5th.
Among them were 14 two-person teams from secondary schools competing in landscape gardening. The teams had to demonstrate skills in paving, planting, retaining walls, wood construction and more.
“The youth of Ontario have demonstrated their abilities in the skilled trades and technologies with tremendous passion! All of the competitors should be very pleased with the results achieved at this year’s competition – they are all winners for choosing a vocation that they enjoy and have the opportunity to excel at in the future,” said Gail Smyth, executive director of Skills Canada – Ontario.
Gold medal winners from the Ontario competition, Benjamin Buchmuller and Kevin Martin of Halton CDSB, Burlington, qualified to compete in Charlottetown, P.E.I. from May 20 – 23 for the national competition. Next year Waterloo will host the national event.
Landscape Ontario’s Sally Harvey and Rachel Burt, and CNLA’s Joel Beatson and Liz Klose were on hand to assist the competition. Sponsors included Waterloo Flowers, Sheridan Nurseries, CT Canada, Valleybrook, and Zomer’s Gardens. Suppliers to the secondary level contest were Unilock, Adams Landscape Supply and Sheridan Nurseries.
For a complete listing of results, visit the Skills Ontario website at www.skillsontario.com. Skills Canada – Ontario is a not-for-profit organization whose goal is to promote the skilled trades and technologies as a first-choice career.
The competition provides an opportunity for young Canadians studying a skilled trade or technology to be tested against exacting standards and their peers from across the nation. Students vie to win the honour of being crowned the best in their chosen discipline for a chance to earn a position on Team Canada, representing the nation at WorldSkills in London in 2011.
2 - Alexander Moreira and Danny Cardoso, Toronto CDSB, Toronto
3 - Adam Barbe and Andrij Sulypka, Dufferin-Peel CDSB, Mississauga.
Other competing teams included:
Troy Nurse, Halton DSB, Georgetown, and Jason Corlett, Halton DSB, Oakville
Jesse House, Niagara CDSB, Dunnville, and Bruce Vandelaar, Niagara CDSB, Wainfleet
Martin Hilton, Upper Grand DSB, Rockwood, and Jessica Ince, Upper Grand DSB, Guelph
Aaron Miltenburg, Bluewater DSB, Priceville, and Derek Roychel, Bluewater DSB, Proton Station
Robbie McDonald and Keeryn Horton, DSB of Niagara St. Catharines
Jake Borrow and Keith Wells, Peel DSB Brampton
Chad Frey, Waterloo Region DSB, Waterloo, and Jeremy Bowman, Waterloo Region DSB, Elora
Pharen Wilson and Kate Wilson, Kawartha Pine Ridge DSB, Castleton
Aaron Duplaise and Danielle McKeown, Toronto DSB, South East Toronto
Marie-Claire Groulx, CEP de l’Est de l’Ontario, Hawkesbury, Andréanne Fournier, CEP de l’Est de l’Ontario, Chute à Blondau
Erik Post and Tobias Ireland, Thames Valley DSB, London
Caption: Landscape competition at Ontario Skills.
Among them were 14 two-person teams from secondary schools competing in landscape gardening. The teams had to demonstrate skills in paving, planting, retaining walls, wood construction and more.
“The youth of Ontario have demonstrated their abilities in the skilled trades and technologies with tremendous passion! All of the competitors should be very pleased with the results achieved at this year’s competition – they are all winners for choosing a vocation that they enjoy and have the opportunity to excel at in the future,” said Gail Smyth, executive director of Skills Canada – Ontario.
Gold medal winners from the Ontario competition, Benjamin Buchmuller and Kevin Martin of Halton CDSB, Burlington, qualified to compete in Charlottetown, P.E.I. from May 20 – 23 for the national competition. Next year Waterloo will host the national event.
Landscape Ontario’s Sally Harvey and Rachel Burt, and CNLA’s Joel Beatson and Liz Klose were on hand to assist the competition. Sponsors included Waterloo Flowers, Sheridan Nurseries, CT Canada, Valleybrook, and Zomer’s Gardens. Suppliers to the secondary level contest were Unilock, Adams Landscape Supply and Sheridan Nurseries.
For a complete listing of results, visit the Skills Ontario website at www.skillsontario.com. Skills Canada – Ontario is a not-for-profit organization whose goal is to promote the skilled trades and technologies as a first-choice career.
The competition provides an opportunity for young Canadians studying a skilled trade or technology to be tested against exacting standards and their peers from across the nation. Students vie to win the honour of being crowned the best in their chosen discipline for a chance to earn a position on Team Canada, representing the nation at WorldSkills in London in 2011.
Team ranking
1 - Benjamin Buchmuller and Kevin Martin, Halton CDSB, Burlington2 - Alexander Moreira and Danny Cardoso, Toronto CDSB, Toronto
3 - Adam Barbe and Andrij Sulypka, Dufferin-Peel CDSB, Mississauga.
Other competing teams included:
Troy Nurse, Halton DSB, Georgetown, and Jason Corlett, Halton DSB, Oakville
Jesse House, Niagara CDSB, Dunnville, and Bruce Vandelaar, Niagara CDSB, Wainfleet
Martin Hilton, Upper Grand DSB, Rockwood, and Jessica Ince, Upper Grand DSB, Guelph
Aaron Miltenburg, Bluewater DSB, Priceville, and Derek Roychel, Bluewater DSB, Proton Station
Robbie McDonald and Keeryn Horton, DSB of Niagara St. Catharines
Jake Borrow and Keith Wells, Peel DSB Brampton
Chad Frey, Waterloo Region DSB, Waterloo, and Jeremy Bowman, Waterloo Region DSB, Elora
Pharen Wilson and Kate Wilson, Kawartha Pine Ridge DSB, Castleton
Aaron Duplaise and Danielle McKeown, Toronto DSB, South East Toronto
Marie-Claire Groulx, CEP de l’Est de l’Ontario, Hawkesbury, Andréanne Fournier, CEP de l’Est de l’Ontario, Chute à Blondau
Erik Post and Tobias Ireland, Thames Valley DSB, London
Caption: Landscape competition at Ontario Skills.