Schools from the Vancouver School Board sent a huge contingent to Skills Canada BC's 2018 Provincial Competition held at the Tradex, in Abbotsford on April 18. Forty VSB students, the largest group from any one district, were among the more than 600 competitors who came from around the province to participate in 58 fields like automotive, graphic design, baking, IT Network Systems Administration and fashion, to name just a few.
In addition to the competitors, there were more than 450 VSB student observers and their teachers checking out all the action. Grade 6s and 7s were included in the group for the first time. Also in attendance were parents, career educators, industry leaders, technical experts, sponsors, employers, labour organizations and government representatives. In total, there were more than 5,000 spectators.
Along with watching the main events, students could participate in Try-a-Trade activities, visit the Pathways to Careers Showcase or take in the Women in Trades and Technology Conference.
"It was fantastic," raved Scott Malin, a Grade 7 teacher from Tyee. "I was really impressed with how the companies, schools, and presenters interacted with the students -- gave them a sense of possibility and appreciation for the skills involved."
Ziyan, one of Malin's students, agreed. "It was nice to see a different variety of jobs that you could do." Classmate Angela chimed in. "It was cool to watch people animate on computers."
Two Grade 7 students from Carnarvon were pleasantly surprised at the things they saw. "Everything turned out to be a lot more interesting than I thought," says one student. "We all really seemed to enjoy watching what was happening in the baking and the cooking section because there were beautiful desserts and extremely detailed dishes."
"I enjoyed the excavator a lot because it felt like an extension of the body in a way, which I found really cool," says another Carnarvon student.
"It was amazing seeing all of the opportunities available in the trade industry and inspiring to see so many people competing for something that they're passionate about," says Avneet, a Grade 12 student from John Oliver.
Six VSB competitors won gold medals and earned spots at the national Skills competition in Edmonton this June.
VSB 39 Results
Auto Service Technician
Mary Joy Siscar Silver John Oliver / Britannia
Auto Collision Repair
Patrick Bucu Gold John Oliver
Jasdeep Bal Bronze Churchill
Job Search
Anastasia Peters Gold Kitsilano
Jordan Lok Silver Britannia
Fashion Technology
Kenneth Chow Gold Eric Hamber
Jillian Wong Silver Eric Hamber
Workplace Safety
Sara Peters Gold Eric Hamber
Juliane Jou Silver David Thompson
Michelle Singh Bronze John Oliver
Baking - Secondary
Queenie Li Gold David Thompson
Chantel Vo Bronze David Thompson
Graphic Design
Jennifer Leong Gold Eric Hamber
Alexander Regis Bronze Eric Hamber
Car Painting
Aaron Tagaca Silver Windermere
Rabin Rosario Bronze Tupper
IT Network Systems Administration
Patrick Chen Silver Killarney/Churchill
VSB 39 Alumni
Baking - Post-Secondary
Clarissa Roque Gold VCC, Eric Hamber, grad of 2017
Angela Wu Bronze VCC, Windermere, grad of 2016
Fashion Technology - Post-Secondary
Karen Cuabo Silver KPU, Eric Hamber, grad of 2017
Graphic Design - Post-Secondary
Karmen Leong Silver UBC, Eric Hamber, grad of 2016
Other VSB competitors
Welding
Eric Mancenido, Prince of Wales
Car Painting
Jason Peers, David Thompson
Lydia Terry, Tupper
Auto Collision Repair
Braeden Pokar, David Thompson
Jaiden Black David Thompson
Electrical Wiring
Riley McBride, Templeton
Hairdressing
Morgan Hurlock, Killarney
Culinary Arts
Jackie Alpha, Van Tech/Tupper
Workplace Safety
Felice Di Padova, Kitsilano
IT Network Systems Administration
Eugene Silvestre, John Oliver/Killarney
Jr Skills Spaghetti Bridge Building
Jason Soriano, John Oliver
Shaurya Setia, John Oliver
Jr Skills Gearbots
Valerie Chan, Churchill
Mars Cretu, Churchill
Tracy Liang, Churchill
Richard Luo, Churchill
Timothy Vasilyev, Churchill
Eric Wang, Churchill
Jensen Cheung, Churchill
