Nanaimo school district students proved handy with a hammer, computer, welder, wrench, and other trade tools at the regional Skills Canada competition March 4.
Local students took home seven of 10 gold medals handed out at the event for south Island secondary school students, hosted at Vancouver Island University and Nanaimo District Secondary School.
"This is a particularly good year for us," said Rick McDonough, coordinator of the district's Career Technical Centre and apprenticeship programs.
"It was fantastic. Out of 30 possible medals, Nanaimo and Ladysmith students took home 18."
Three students in the CTC program won gold medals – Kyle Campbell for welding, Stryder Cooke for automotive and Melody Kostamo for culinary arts.
Jamie Ruddick and Joe Stefani from Dover Bay Secondary School won gold in the 3D animation category; Dover student Trent Arnott was tops in cabinetmaking; and Iris Shum from Woodlands Secondary School created the winning skirt in the fashion design category.
The gold medal winners – and possibly some of the silver medal winners, depending on space availability – will compete in the provincial Skills Canada event in Abbotsford April 20.
Even if students don't win any medals, participating in the competition is a valuable experience for them, said McDonough.
"They get to see what the other competitors do and meet some people who are interested in the same thing from different areas," he said. "It's quite intense for them, showing up early in the morning and feeling quite pressured."
VIU's Nanaimo campus and Camosun College in Victoria take turns hosting the annual south Island regional Skills Canada competition.
Silver medal winners were Zach Weaver from the CTC program in welding; Devereaux McCartan from the CTC program in carpentry; Matthew Holdt and Danny Klatt from Dover Bay in 3D animation; and Zaineb Saeed from Woodlands for fashion design.
Bronze medal winners were CTC student Meghan Wearne in hairdressing; James Perrier (CTC) in welding; Daniel Keizers (CTC) for automotive; and Derek Larsen from Wellington for carpentry.