By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Skills Canada contest brings students back out to RDC

Apr 26, 2018 | 4:05 PM

Students are once again showcasing their talents in the regional Skills Canada Alberta skills competition this week.
 
Those proficient in areas such as carpentry, cabinet-making, welding and video production were at Red Deer College on Thursday while others striving for greatness in baking and hairstyling were at Notre Dame High School.
 
Winners will advance to the provincial skills competition next month.
 
Dwayne Rausch, RDC Carpentry Apprenticeship Instructor, says the opportunity to display their skills teaches goes a long way towards teaching students about work ethic and how to be organized.
 
“All the students we’ve had in as far as apprentices go, they’re all working,” he says. “The housing market seems to be down a bit right now, and with average age of a tradesmen being in the high-50s, we’re going to have a drastic shift in the coming years. Younger people are coming into the trades, but not enough of them, and I’m sure in the future, we’re going to see a shortage.”
 
This will result in people with inadequate training doing work they shouldn’t, says Rausch, and he hopes more youth decide to take up the trades and other non-conventional careers.
 
Enrolment for next year’s caprentry program is down 15-20 per cent, according to Rausch, while other trades have seen dips around 40 per cent.
 
More on the competition is at SkillsAlberta.com.