July 19, 2010
Hugh Boyd Collects Gold at Skills Canada Competition

RICHMOND – Students at Hugh Boyd Secondary School are bringing home eight provincial medals from the national Skills Canada competition, showcasing their technical abilities and innovative thinking.

“Congratulations to the impressive display of talent demonstrated by Richmond’s Hugh Boyd Secondary students,” says Richmond –Steveston MLA John Yap, “Innovation, creativity and the ability to implement those skills is vital for a successful, professional career. Skills Canada is a great event for our Richmond and B.C. students to really show what they can do on a national stage.” 

Winners from Hugh Boyd Secondary include:
•    Colleen Booker (Jr. Skills – Gravity Vehicle Race): Gold – Provincial
•    Lucas Estabrook (Jr. Skills – Gravity Vehicle Race): Gold – Provincial
•    Leia Morit (Jr. Skills – Gravity Vehicle Race): Gold – Provincial
•    Ian Weber (Jr. Skills – Gravity Vehicle Race): Gold – Provincial
•    Justine Do (Jr. Skills – Spaghetti Bridge): Gold – Provincial
•    Cassandra Goh (Jr. Skills – Spaghetti Bridge): Gold – Provincial
•    Shaane Nathu (Jr. Skills – Spaghetti Bridge): Gold – Provincial
•    Jacob Pawer (Jr. Skills – Spaghetti Bridge): Gold – Provincial

After winning regional and provincial Skills Canada competitions, 45 B.C. students advanced to the national competition, which was held from May 20 to 23 in Waterloo, Ontario. Students competed in fields as diverse as web design, carpentry and aircraft maintenance. B.C. students won seven gold, eight silver and three bronze medals at the national competition.

“Skills Canada B.C. values this annual competition as an important tool to support young adults who will soon be entering the workforce,” said Adam Thorvaldson, executive director of Skills Canada B.C., the provincial chapter of Skills Canada. “As projections still show skill shortages in the coming years, this is a great time for the province’s youth to explore a career in trades and technology.

Skills Canada is a non-profit organization composed of volunteers representing industry, labour, education and government dedicated to promoting and enhancing the image of professional technical and trade skills. Competitions allow students access to the newest technologies and help give positive exposure to career and education opportunities in the trades and technology industry.

The Province is committed to providing trades and technology training and opportunities to help achieve its goal of becoming the best-educated, most literate jurisdiction on the continent and creating more jobs per capita than anywhere else in Canada.

For the latest constituency news from MLA Yap, visit his websites at www.johnyapmla.bc.ca and follow him on Twitter, www.twitter.com/John_Yap.