Several dual-credit students from School District 69 (Qualicum) participated in the Skills BC competition at Vancouver Island University on Friday, with one taking home the first prize in their category.
Aiden Squire competed in the automotive category; Kohana Seki competed in hair dressing and Conner Presley, Matthew Dobinson and Camden Patourel competed in welding.
Seki received first place in the secondary school category for hair dressing.
Skills BC has been a provincial charitable organization since 1994. The organization works with industry educators, government and labour to promote rewarding and in-demand skilled trade and technology careers to B.C.’s youth.
Skills BC hosts 13 annual regional competitions in communities around the province. The regional competitions allows students from Grades 6 to 12 to showcase their talents in the skilled trades and technologies.
Squire, who is technically in Grade 12 but has already graduated, went to Ballenas Secondary School. He said Skills BC is lots of fun, but challenging with good competitors.
Squire was in the automotive competition on Friday. The automotive competition had multiple stations, including identifying parts and working a scan tool.
“I’ve just loved being around cars, I have a passion for cars, so it’s kind of fun to do something that you love rather than not doing something you love.”
Kwalikum Secondary School student Dobinson and BSS student Presley, who competed in welding, said they took metal shop classes all throughout high school, so they decided to continue it as trade.
But for BSS student Patourel, his interest was sparked by something else.
“I met a guy on a farm I worked at, he’s 90 years old, and he’s still doing it (welding), so I thought that dude was pretty cool,” Patourel said.
Competitors who placed first in regionals have a chance to go to provincials in Abbotsford in May.
For more information, visit www.skillscanada.bc.ca.