Calendar
The Skills Ontario Competition is a three-day event that will see over 2,300 elementary, secondary, and post-secondary students converge on the GTA to showcase and test their skills in 68 unique skilled trade and technology contests. The Skills Ontario Competition is the largest skilled trade and technology competition in Canada, and this year it will be hosted at the Toronto Congress Centre, May 1-3, 2017.
A broad range of skills and careers will be represented from across the manufacturing, transportation, construction, service, and technology sectors, as students compete for gold, silver, and bronze medals, monetary awards, and job offers in select contest areas, offered by partnered organizations. Gold medalists in select contests are also eligible to represent Team Ontario at the Skills Canada National Competition, May 31 to June 4 in Winnipeg.
Win or lose, the lives of many young competitors and visitors will be positively changed forever – from gaining new self-confidence by pushing their skills to a higher level, to winning a medal, or simply meeting a new mentor and discovering new career opportunities that they didn’t know existed. Young Women’s Conferences and a First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Student Conference are hosted by Skills Ontario in conjunction with the Skills Ontario Competition.
The focus of Day 1 (Monday, May 1st) at the Skills Ontario Competition is on Elementary student participation and skill development. Elementary Students from across the province will participate in a range of workshops and challenges designed to introduce them to career opportunities and relevant skills in the skilled trades and technologies.
The secondary and post-secondary-level contests take place on Day 1 and 2. Competitors are judged on their skills in completing their contest project, as well as their job interview skills and related soft skills.
Winners are announced at the Skills Ontario Closing Ceremony, Wednesday, May 3rd, at the Toronto Congress Centre (North Building).
“Because of the contribution from many industry, education, and government partners, including the Government of Ontario, Skills Ontario is able to offer innovative and engaging programming at the Skills Ontario Competition, in addition to the 68 contests, that promote skilled trade and technology careers to young Ontarians,” says Gail Smyth, Executive Director for Skills Ontario. “Those who compete at the Skills Ontario Competition are the future of skilled trades and technologies in Ontario.”
The competition represents a culmination of the work that Skills Ontario does in communities across Ontario yearround by getting young Ontarians involved in career exploration conferences, workshops, skill demonstrations – and of course 68 unique skilled trade and technology contests – all under one roof.
Quick Facts
- More than 22,000 students, spectators, and other guests from all over the province will visit this year’s Skills Ontario Competition.
- The Team Carpentry Contest has the largest representation of competitors, with 52 school boards from across Ontario represented.
- Skills Ontario partners provide $10 million of in-kind support for the materials needed to host the over 2,200 competitors.
About Skills Ontario
Skills Ontario is building Ontario’s skilled trades and technologies workforce. We enable and empower all youth, including
women and First Nations, Métis, and Inuit youth, to consider a career in the skilled trades and technologies. Engagement
with students, teachers, parents, volunteers, employers and mentors ensure our programs connect education,
experience, and employment. We deliver in-school presentations across Ontario, host Canada’s largest skills competition,
run summer camps for skills development and connect students to employers. We are focused on growth sectors such
as construction and infrastructure, technology innovation, and hospitality services.
