TRU Trades & Technology hosts regional skills competition

Mar 8, 2019 | 4:04 PM

KAMLOOPS — Over 300 students from around the Interior and Cariboo took over TRU’s Trades and Technology Building yesterday to try out different trades, and take part in a regional skills competition. 

Students ranging from Grade 6 to second year apprenticeships in university all took part in the competition, which has been going on for about a decade in Kamloops. 

“The purpose of the Skills Canada BC Skilled Trade & Technology competition is definitely to expose the next generation of workers to the skilled trades and technology careers,” Says Skills Canada Executive Director, Elaine Allan. 

While letting young people in the trades see how they stack up with other skilled workers, the event also aims to leave a good impression to attract future trades students. 

Skills Competition Coordinator and Plumbing Instructor at TRU, Pat Barringer, says he’s seen elementary students who took part actually wind up as university trades students.

“You see them come through, you talk to them “oh I came here when I was in grade 7, and I sautered one of the candle things”, so yeah it does open their eyes to what they can and can’t do.”

The winners will be eligible to compete in the Skills BC competition held in Abbostford next month, and possibly the national competition in Halifax in May.