The Ideal National Championship Contest Is Back!

Ideal

Feb 28, 2019

Get ready to compete in the 2019 Ideal National Championship, which showcases the abilities of electrical professionals, apprentices and students. Qualifying round events will be held across Canada and the U.S., culminating in the Championship Weekend at the end of 2019. A preliminary list of qualifying rounds appears below.

The qualifying events are conducted in partnership with electrical distributors, trade schools and other organizations. Qualifying Round winners, with the fastest times in each territory, will compete during the championship weekend in Orlando, Florida.

Last year almost  40,000 electricians across North America took part in local competitions organized by Ideal Industries. From these 40,000, a professional representative and apprentice were selected from each state and one from both Western and Eastern Canada. This marked the first time Canadian electricians were eligible to compete in the competition, vying for the title of National Champion and a prize payout of US$75,000.

This year 18 Canadians will advance to the final championship competition in Orlanda, Florida. The Canadian competitors will be drawn from four regions, an increase of two over 2018:

    • Region A —British Columbia
    • Region B — Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Northern Ontario, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut
    • Region C — Ontario
    • Region D — Quebec, New Brunswick, PEI, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador

New this year: two professional and two apprentice wildcard spots available, split evenly between Canada East and West. These four qualifying spots are for those who did not win their region, but have the next fastest time.

Qualifying rounds this month

    • Orillia — March 6
    • Exeter — March 11
    • Goderich — March 11
    • Listowel — March 12
    • Barrie — March 13
    • Woodstock — March 13
    • Stratford — March 13
    • Kincardine — March 14
    • Hanover — March 15
    • Collingwood — March 19
    • Owen Sound — March 19
    • Port Perry — March 20
    • Winnipeg — March 21

Learn more about some of Canada’s 2018 winners

Last December EIN attended the Championship Weekend and interviewed Canadian winners. Read about these two professional engineers:

    • Lance Giesbrecht, ELG Electric, Goderich, ON — Fastest Professional Electrician, Canada East http://www.electricalindustry.ca/peers-profiles/5085-lance-giesbrecht-elg-electric-goderich-on-fastest-professional-electrician-canada-east


    • Paul Hannania, Panel Upgrade Experts, Calgary, AB — Fastest Professional Electrician, Canada West http://www.electricalindustry.ca/peers-profiles/5030-paul-hannania-panel-upgrade-experts-calgary-ab-fastest-professional-electrician-canada-west

In the next issue of EIN, watch for an article on Mateo Berrio, Fastest Apprentice/Student, Canada West.

Find out more about the 2019 competition

Related Articles

Latest Articles

  • NSAA Apprenticeship Management System (AMS) is Now Available

    NSAA Apprenticeship Management System (AMS) is Now Available

    June 19, 2026 NSAA has now launched the Apprenticeship Management System (AMS) to provide a faster, easier, and more transparent way for apprentices and employers to manage apprenticeship activity. For Apprentices, Apprenticeship Management System will allow you to:  For Employers, with Apprenticeship Management System, you will be able to:  For Tradespersons Your launch of Apprenticeship… Read More…

  • IP Ratings in Lighting: What They Actually Mean in the Field

    IP Ratings in Lighting: What They Actually Mean in the Field

    By CSC LED IP ratings are among the most frequently referenced specifications in lighting, yet they are often misunderstood or oversimplified. While they may appear to be just another number on a specification sheet, IP ratings play an important role in determining where a fixture can be installed and how it will perform over time.… Read More…

  • The Role of Offshore Sourcing: An Editorial Perspective for Manufacturers, Distributors, Agents, Contractors, and Industry Stakeholders

    The Role of Offshore Sourcing: An Editorial Perspective for Manufacturers, Distributors, Agents, Contractors, and Industry Stakeholders

    The real divide is not domestic versus offshore. It is between committed, accountable partners and transactional, price‑only players. The CSA mark sits inside that story as one important signal but it is only a subset of what the market should be looking at. Read More…

  • Alberta OHS Code Review

    Alberta OHS Code Review

    June 15, 2026 Albertans are invited to provide feedback for Alberta’s ongoing review of Alberta’s OHS Code. Complete the surveys by July 8. Albertans are invited to participate in our ongoing review of the Occupational Health and Safety Code (OHS Code). This is an opportunity to improve health and safety outcomes for workers and streamline… Read More…

Changing Scene

  • AEMC® Instruments welcomes Mark Stathenas as Authorized Factory Representative for Eastern Canada

    AEMC® Instruments welcomes Mark Stathenas as Authorized Factory Representative for Eastern Canada

    June 19, 2026 AEMC® Instruments, part of the Chauvin Arnoux Group® welcomes Mark Stathenas as Authorized Factory Representative for Eastern Canada.  Mark will serve as your primary point of contact for product information, technical support, and order coordination in the Eastern Canada region. With over two decades of experience in technical sales, distribution and business development, Mark brings a… Read More…

  • BCCA Response to Investment Announcement

    BCCA Response to Investment Announcement

    June 19, 2026 Statement from BCCA: The British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA) welcomes today’s joint announcement by the federal and provincial governments to invest in housing, infrastructure, healthcare, and public transit across British Columbia, including funding to reduce Development Cost Charges (DCCs). These investments will help support the infrastructure needed to enable new housing and… Read More…

  • ECAO Recognition of Safety Achievement Award Recipients

    ECAO Recognition of Safety Achievement Award Recipients

    June 15, 2026 ECAO is proud to recognize the recipients of their Recognition of Safety Achievement Award. This award honours member companies that demonstrate exceptional commitment to workplace safety through outstanding safety performance and a strong culture of prevention. The Recognition of Safety Achievement Award celebrates organizations that maintain injury and illness statistics below the… Read More…

  • ECS Announces the Promotion of Jeff Bartlette to Branch Manager, Winnipeg

    ECS Announces the Promotion of Jeff Bartlette to Branch Manager, Winnipeg

    June 15, 2026 ECS is pleased to announce the promotion of Jeff Bartlette to Branch Manager, Winnipeg. Jeff joined ECS with a mandate to establish the company’s presence in Manitoba. Having successfully balanced both sales and leadership responsibilities, he will now focus fully on developing his team, strengthening branch capabilities, and positioning Winnipeg for continued… Read More…