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(Image Credit: Red Deer Polytechnic/Supplied)
central Alberta representation

RDP apprentices, Chinook’s Edge students win gold at 2026 Skills Canada competition

Jun 2, 2026 | 1:30 PM

Three Red Deer Polytechnic apprentices and a pair of Chinook’s Edge students all brought home gold medals at the 2026 Skills Canada National competition.

The event took place in Toronto from May 28-29, where they faced the top competition from across the country.

The three apprentices, Ty McCartney (carpentry), Nathan Brehaut (sprinkler systems installer) and Dane Schmidt (welding) won gold. Brehaut also won the RBC Best of Region Award for having the best weighted score from Alberta.

RDP says these medals support the institution’s national reputation for exceptional skilled trades training. The polytechnic reports that since 2003, apprentices have earned 104 medals across provincial, national, and international skills competitions.

“Our apprentices continue to demonstrate the strength of RDP’s skilled trades training, and their national success reflects the deep value of our instruction and partnerships with industry,” said David Pye, Dean of the School of Trades and Technology at Red Deer Polytechnic. “By leveraging the Central Alberta Trades Strategy, we are modernizing how learners access training, strengthening coordination across the region and ensuring long‑term sustainability in the skilled trades. These efforts position our graduates to meet industry needs with confidence and to contribute meaningfully to Alberta’s economic prosperity.”

Lucas Stang (welding) will represent RDP and Canada at the 48th WorldSkills Competition that will be held in Shanghai, China, from September 22-27.

Meanwhile, Chinook’s Edge School Division student Logan Swanson of Didsbury High School won gold in welding, and Jack Butts, a graduate of Innisfail High School, also claimed gold for Team Alberta in the industrial mechanic category.

Cassie Quick, Logan’s industrial arts teacher, said it was wonderful to see Swanson in his element, doing what he loves to do.

“He has worked incredibly hard to harness his skills in welding, and it truly shows. I am proud to have gotten to teach Logan at DHS and encourage him to take the Skills journey. Logan has a bright future and a wonderful career ahead of him,” Quick said.


(Image Credit: Chinook’s Edge School Division/Supplied)

(Image Credit: Chinook’s Edge School Division/Supplied)