Nanaimo students have skills.
Eleven Nanaimo school district students picked up gold medals at the regional Skills Canada competition last week.
Nearly 100 students, 54 of whom were from Nanaimo, participated in the event on Friday, which took place at Nanaimo District Secondary School and Vancouver Island University.
The central Island competition includes students from Nanaimo, Powell River and Cowichan school districts.
"It went really well," said Rick McDonough, Nanaimo school district's coordinator of the Career Technical Centre. "There was super good quality work being done."
The 11 Nanaimo students won gold in nine different categories: 3D computer animation, cabinetmaking, culinary arts, fashion technology, graphic design, hairdressing, TV/video production, website development and welding.
The two students who took top place in 3D computer animation, Josiah Stefani and Jamie Ruddick, also won gold in the category at the national competition last year.
A number of Nanaimo students were also represented in the silver and bronze medal categories.
McDonough said the gold winners – and possibly some of the silver medalists – will go on to compete in the provincial competition April 18 in Abbotsford.
If the students win there, they qualify for the national competition in Edmonton and if they win at the national level, they qualify to join Team Canada 2013 in the world competition.
Participating in the Skills Canada competitions helps students meet peers who are interested in the same trade, as well as industry representatives, said McDonough. And creating something under pressure can bring out the best in students.
"It's really good for their resumé if they do well," he said.
The Skills Canada competitions are held to encourage young people to look at careers in skilled trades and technology fields.
McDonough said students learn it is satisfying to use your intellect and creativity to build or fix something.
"It's about promoting hands-on work as really valuable and important work," he said.
Kellie Spence, administrative assistant in VIU's apprenticeship program and organizer of the regional event, said judges included non-instructional faculty, retired faculty members and local industry volunteers.
Many local businesses also donated items for student grab bags or to use in the competitions, she added.
VIU also hosted its first ever Try a Trade event on the Nanaimo campus Friday that 85 students attended, said Spence.
Faculty set up hands-on and demonstration stations for nine different trades: hairdressing, electrical, automotive, carpentry, welding, heavy duty mechanics, baking and culinary arts. The event took place in the same area as some of the Skills Canada competitions, so students got a peek at some of the action.