KDSS student Declan Mowle off to Skills Canada for second year in a row

For the second year in a row, Declan Mowle (above left, at Ontario Skills in Toronto) of Kincardine District Secondary School has qualified to represent Team Ontario at the Skills Canada competition, May 31 to June 3, in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

The Grade 12 student won gold in the small-powered equipment category, at the Ontario Skills competition, held May 1-3, in Toronto.

Last year, he brought home silver from the national skills competition in Moncton, New Brunswick.

A quiet, intense and talented student, Declan appreciates the assistance of Bryan Derksen, his technological skills teacher at KDSS, for continued support of his pursuit of knowledge and skill in everything mechanical.

Three other Bluewater District Secondary School students also captured medals at the Ontario Skills competition: Tianna Hawkins of Grey Highlands Secondary School in Flesherton, third in floristry; Laura Winters, also of GHSS, first in landscape design; and Brittney Mighton of John Diefenbaker Secondary School in Hanover, second in skilled trades entrepreneurship.

Also, five students from Sacred Heart High School in Walkerton, competed at the provincial skills contest, with one advancing to Skills Canada.

Jordan Schnurr, Victoria Stanford, Jake Spitzig, Michael Montreuil and Keaton Rich competed and did very well. Michael won silver in the computer-aided manufacturing competition, and Keaton won gold for precision machining.

Keaton was also ranked as the highest-scoring competitor among about 2,400 competitors. He will now represent Ontario and Sacred Heart High School at the national competition in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
 

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Keaton Rich (right) of Sacred Heart High School in Walkerton, with manufacturing teacher Mike McCormick; photo courtesy of principal Glenn Miller
 

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The Skills Ontario competition drew 2,300 competitors from elementary schools, high schools, and colleges across the province, in 68 skilled trades and technologies contests.

A broad range of skills and careers was represented from across the manufacturing, transportation, construction, service, and technology sectors, as students competed for gold, silver, and bronze medals. Also, $68,000 in monetary awards were presented to medallists in select contest areas and categories, as were job offers from partnered organizations, at the closing ceremony.

“Those who compete at the Skills Ontario competition are the future of skilled trades and technologies in the province,” said Gail Smyth, executive director of Skills Ontario. “Because of the contribution from many industry, education, and government partners, including the provincial government, Skills Ontario is able to help prepare Ontario’s youth for a highly-skilled workforce of tomorrow through such initiatives as the Skills Ontario competition.”