Mar 26, 2018

Taking place May 7-9, 2018, the Skills Ontario Competition is Canada's largest skilled trade and technology competition.

The event showcases Ontario’s talented youth. Over 20,000 spectators converge on this three-day event to watch 2000 young people compete in one of the 60+ skills contests offered.

Winners are awarded with Gold, Silver or Bronze medals - and some with monetary awards, too - and the opportunity to compete at the Skills Canada National Competition. From there, competitors could be headed to a WorldSkills Competition.

In addition to contests, the Skills Ontario Competition has a number of components:

• Career Exploration Showcase — an interactive career fair in the heart of the competition. Over 70 businesses, colleges, apprenticeship programs, unions and government programs set up booths, hand out items and provide activites related to the skilled trades and technologies.

• Young Women's Conference —offers young women the opportunity to explore careers in the skilled trades and technologies by participating in hands-on activities and speaking with mentors.

• First Nations, Métis, and Inuit (FNMI) Student Conference — provides FNMI students and other stakeholders an opportunity to celebrate the success and skill of FNMI youth in Ontario. Skilled trade and technology professionals will provide advice, guidance and inspiration to the conference participants, who can also check out the Skills Ontario Competition contests and interactive booths of the Career Exploration Showcase.

Qualifying competitions for the Skills Ontario Competition will be held on April 7, 2018 at eight Ontario colleges. The locations are as follows:

• Canadore College — North Bay
• Confederation College — Thunder Bay
• Fanshawe College — London
• Georgian College — Barrie
• Humber College — Toronto
• Niagara College — Niagara
• St. Lawrence College — Kingston

Find out more: www.skillsontario.com