Youth of the Peace Region Showcase Impressive Skill
Thursday, April 10th, 2025
Northwestern Polytechnic is preparing to welcome the next generation of trades professionals to our Fairview campus for the North West Regional Skills Canada Competition on April 10-11, 2025.
This two-day event brings together talented high-school students from across the Peace Region to show off their abilities. Skill areas include welding, carpentry, culinary arts, automotive, robotics, hairstyling, workplace safety and more. Competitions in 13 disciplines occur this year, with opening ceremonies on April 10th and competitions running from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm on April 11th.
“It’s always exciting to welcome talented youth to Fairview,” says Tony Shmyruk, Dean of the School of Skilled Trades, Fairview. “It’s a pleasure to have them experience our campus while making connections with their peers and our staff. As much as they are our future in the trades, we hope to be part of theirs as well."
The 90 participants will be in good company. Across the province, there are 9 Regional Skills Canada Competitions, and Fairview is proud to be a host for the North West regional qualifier.
“This is the opportunity for young Albertans who are studying a skilled trade or technology to be tested against exacting standards and against their peers,” explains Shymruk. “It’s a pretty big deal with top performers in the Regional and Qualifying Competitions automatically earning a spot to compete at the Provincial Skills Canada Competition and Gold medalists from the provincial competition going on to represent Team Alberta in the National competitive event held in June.”
Bobbi Craig-Sparkes, Dean of the School of Skilled Trades, Grande Prairie, says that NWP has been proud to support Skills Canada in promoting careers in skilled trades and technologies to Alberta youth for more than 20 years with the Fairview campus providing a great venue, volunteers, and experts in trades and technology to chair and judge various competitions.
“Careers in the trades are in high demand and are essential across a wide range of industries. The students in the Skills Canada Competition represent the future workforce of our region and province,” says Craig-Sparkes. “We’re proud to train young people in innovative, in-demand skills that grow our economy and provide rewarding careers.”
Northwestern Polytechnic’s School of Skilled Trades equips students with the tools for success. For more information about Northwestern Polytechnic’s trades apprenticeships , diplomas, and certificates, visit NWP.me/SkilledTrades.
