Date: April 12, 2012
Time: All Day Event
Location: Red River College
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What is the Skills Manitoba Competition?
The Skills Manitoba Competition is a one day event that provides young Manitobans the opportunity to showcase their talents in an Olympic-style, province wide contest, held at Red River College. Students compete in over 40 different hands on contests at the secondary and post secondary/apprentice level that are designed (and judged) by industry professionals and educators. The philosophy behind the competition is to reward students, involve industry and to keep training relevant for employers’ needs. Winners of the provincial competition may form team Manitoba and compete against their peers at the Skills Canada National Competition.
In 2011, over 500 students and 300 volunteers participated and the numbers are sure to increase again for 2012. The competition also coincides with Red River College’s open house, where middle and high school students tour the college facilities and contest sites. The tours offer hands on activities at different contest sites and detailed program and entrance requirements.
Why a skills competition?
The Skills Competitions provide the much needed awareness of Canada's skilled workforce shortage. In report, To-ward a Bright Future: Recommendations for Addressing Skills Shortages in Western Canada, Todd Hirsch (Chief Economist of the Canadian West Foundation), says 73 of the 76 major industry associations in the west expect moderate to severe worker shortage within the next five years. 41 of those associations said the number of students currently graduation from post secondary institutions will not be enough to meet the demands of their industries. Many students, educators and parents are uninformed of the merits of post secondary training in trades and technology (good pay, job security and flexibility) and the skills competition is an excellent venue to overcome these misconceptions.
Who can participate?
Contests are open to students who meet all the criteria (see below) for the level at which they wish to participate. Some contests have limits to the numbers of students (i.e. one student per contest, school), in which case we suggest an “in-school” competition run off.
Competitors are eligible to register in a SECONDARY LEVEL contest if they:
- Have taken a skilled trades or technology program related to the contest as part of their core high school course any time from July 2011 to present; and
- Are under 21 years of age as of June 30, 2012; and
- Are currently attending a secondary school in Manitoba and have not received a Grade 12 diploma; and
- Are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
Note: If home residence is a province or territory other than Manitoba, a waiver must be signed to indicate that the competitor will not represent their home province or territory at the 2010
Competitors are eligible to register in a POST-SECONDARY/APPRENTICE LEVEL contest if they:
- Have taken a skilled trades or technology program related to the contest through an accredited institution any time from July 2011 to the present; and/or
- Are not a certified journeyman in the contest area for which they have registered; and/or
- Are currently a registered apprentice in Manitoba; and/or
- Are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
Note: If home residence is a province or territory other than Manitoba, a waiver must be signed to indicate that the competitor will not represent their home province or territory at the 2011 Provincial and National Skills competitions.
Scope of Testing
Criteria for each contest (scope) are developed by volunteer industry professionals and trade and technology educators and reflect standards recognized provincially, nationally and, in some cases, internationally. Contest scopes are to be reviewed by the competitor well in advance of the
competition to understand all the contest parameters, such as skill requirements and knowledge level, accepted tools and appropriate dress.
