(Fort McMurray, AB - June 15th, 2023) Keegan Sturge, a grade 12 student at École McTavish High School, was awarded second place (Silver Medal) in Electrical Installations at the Skills Canada National Competition (SCNC) on May 27th in Winnipeg.
Earlier in the year, Keegan received the Gold Medal during the Wood Buffalo Regional Competition. After having placed third (Bronze Medal) last year at Provincials, he finally received the Gold Medal to send him to Nationals in Winnipeg.
During the SCNC, over 550 student competitors from high schools, apprenticeship programs and postsecondary programs from across Canada in 45 competitions represented six sectors: Construction, Employment, Information Technology, Manufacturing & Engineering, Services, and Transportation. The main goals of this event are to provide competitors with hands-on work experience and to raise awareness for the general population of the value and challenge of skilled trades and technology careers. The SNCC showcases the talent and expertise of competitors from across Canada.
Two methods are employed to evaluate participants: measurement and judgement. Measurement examines accuracy and precision, while judgement assesses the quality of performance. Though external benchmarks may cause minor discrepancies in judgement, both methods utilize explicit external benchmarks derived from industry and business best practices for reference in their assessments and marking. The baseline for awards is acceptable industry standards for the specific categories.
This is the first time a student from École McTavish has received a medal from the Skills Canada National Competition.
At FMPSD, students can participate in Skills Canada and excel in various categories, including Construction, Employment, Information Technology, Manufacturing & Engineering, Services, and Transportation. We prioritize providing students with numerous opportunities for success.
Annalee Nutter, Superintendent of Schools, emphasizes the importance of providing comprehensive educational opportunities to students in high school.
“An important aspect of Education is preparing students for life after high school. Providing education about what is available to students is the work done by our teachers in grades 5-9 which is followed in high school by opportunities which are discussed with academic counsellors, Off-campus coordinators and Work experience supervisors in high school. We value the connections we have with partners such as Keyano College, CAREERS, Industry and local businesses. Through our work together, we are able to offer some very unique placements for students like Keegan. The Skills Canada National Competition further acknowledges their learning, skill and passion in areas of interest. FMPSD is targeting increased participation in this competition for the future.”
Congratulations, Keegan, on the Skills Canada National Competition Silver Medal!
For additional information, contact:
Momin Syed
Communications Coordinator
Fort McMurray Public School Division
780-788-8009
communications@fmpsd.ab.ca