NEWS RELEASE W/BACKGROUNDER
For immediate release July 19, 2010
SURREY MINDS TOP THE PODIUM
AT NATIONAL SKILLS COMPETITION
SURREY – Surrey students are bringing home
ten medals from the national Skills Canada
competition, showcasing their technical abilities
and innovative thinking.
“Congratulations to Earl Marriott Secondary,
and all Surrey students, for their hard work
and impressive display of talent at this year’s
competition,” says Surrey-White Rock MLA Gordie
Hogg. “You showed the skills and creative
thinking necessary to launch into a successful
future.”
“The Skills Canada event is an amazing opportunity
to showcase the students that will lead B.C.
industries forward,” says Surrey-Cloverdale
MLA Kevin Falcon. “Surrey students are showing
Canada their potential.”
“Strong math and science skills are essential
for our trades and technical industries,”
says Surrey-Tynehead MLA Dave S. Hayer. “Our
local schools are doing a great job preparing
students for successful, professional careers.”
After winning regional and provincial Skills
Canada competitions, 45 B.C. students advanced
to the national competition, which was held
from May 20 to 23 in Waterloo, Ontario. Students
competed in fields as diverse as web design,
carpentry and aircraft maintenance. B.C. students
won seven gold, eight silver and three bronze
medals at the national competition.
“Skills Canada B.C. values this annual competition
as an important tool to support young adults
who will soon be entering the workforce,”
said Adam Thorvaldson, executive director
of Skills Canada B.C., the provincial chapter
of Skills Canada. “As projections still show
skill shortages in the coming years, this
is a great time for the province’s youth to
explore a career in trades and technology.
Skills Canada is a non-profit organization
composed of volunteers representing industry,
labour, education and government dedicated
to promoting and enhancing the image of professional
technical and trade skills. Competitions allow
students access to the newest technologies
and help give positive exposure to career
and education opportunities in the trades
and technology industry.
The Province is committed to providing trades
and technology training and opportunities
to help achieve its goal of becoming the best-educated,
most literate jurisdiction on the continent
and creating more jobs per capita than anywhere
else in Canada.
For more news from the Surrey MLAs, visit
their websites at www.gordonhoggmla.bc.ca,
www.kevinfalconmla.bc.ca
and www.davehayermla.bc.ca
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For more information, contact Russel Lolacher,
B.C. Liberal Government Caucus Communications:
250-356-5352
BACKGROUNDER
Participants from Surrey include:
· Daniel Besser (Earl Marriott Secondary):
Robotics – participation
· Nathaniel King (Earl Marriott Secondary):
Robotics – participation
· Christopher Hall (Earl Marriott Secondary):
Robotics - Gold – Provincial
· Jason Wallace (Earl Marriott Secondary):
Robotics Gold – Provincial
· Natalie Brash (Clayton Heights Secondary):
3D Computer Animation - Gold – Provincial
· Brent Hinz (Kwantlen Polytechnic University):
Industrial maintenance (Millwright): Gold
– Provincial
· Tyler Kropinak (Fraser Heights Secondary):
Welding: Gold – Provincial
· Joseph Mei (Earl Marriott Secondary): 2D
Character Animation: Silver – Provincial
· Bradley Wicks (Earl Marriott Secondary):
2D Character Animation: Silver – Provincial
· Riley Van Ryswyk (Earl Marriott Secondary):
Internet Website Design Gold – Provincial
and Gold – National
· Serena Morin (Clayton Heights Secondary):
3D Computer Animation Gold – Provincial
Visit Dave’s website at www.davehayermla.bc.ca
and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MLAHayer
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