UCDSB students win big at SKLZ competition

Local students put their skills to the test on Tuesday. Around 300 students from the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) took part in the 2020 Eastern Ontario SKLZ competition in Cornwall. 

The event, run in partnership with St. Lawrence College, is held annually to showcase the value of the trades and celebrate the accomplishments of students skilled in them. 

Ashley Grant, co-convener of the competition, says the goal is to encourage students to consider the trades as a career. 

UCDSB students competed in 11 events, including carpentry, cabinet making and welding. 

Top competitors either qualified for the Skills Ontario Competition, to be held in Toronto in May, or advanced to the regional qualifier in Kingston on April 4. 

Students advancing to the provincials include: Aaron Skuce (North Dundas District High School) – gold in small powered equipment, Randy Ellis (Cornwall Collegiate and Vocational School) – gold in automotive service technician, Addison Hay and Caleb Raymond (Glengarry District High School) – gold in team of two carpentry, Crew Rickerd (GDHS) – gold in cabinet making, Eric Haslam (Brockville Collegiate Institute) – gold in photography and Will Lowry, Mitch Palmer, Branden Quinn and Liam Silverson (Almonte District High School) – gold in home building. 

The following students advanced to the regional competition: Rogan Beechey and Malina Vallee (North Grenville District High School) – gold in video production, Pablo Huelamo Sanz and Lars Ochsner (Carleton Place High School) – silver in video production, Aidan Ireton (Perth District Collegiate Institute) – gold in welding, Mitchell Cogdale (Seaway District High School) – silver in welding, Nicholas Oeggerli (Char-Lan District High School) – gold in individual carpentry and Cole Walt (NGDHS) – silver in individual carpentry.