Niagara students compete for Skills Ontario
MICHELLE ALLENBERG
POSTMEDIA NETWORK Students from local school boards came together at Niagara College Saturday for the 2017 qualifying competitions for Skills Ontario.
About a hundred high school students competed at the Welland campus in various activities that included 2D character animation, welding and carpentry. About 10 students at the Niagara-on-theLake campus participated in a culi- nary arts competition.
Marco Giorgi, construction technologist for the college’s construction programs, said the skills competition is a great way to show high school students what the college has to offer.
About eight students competed in carpentry Saturday, gaining hands-on experience in a college environment. The students created a dog house using wood and tools provided by the college and Skills Canada.
Giorgi said it’s important to engage youth in skilled trades because there is a lack of tradespeople. He said Niagara is growing quite a bit, so there is a great need for carpenters to build houses and And yet, it’s all worth it. “My reward is a happy husband,” she says.
On Family Day, Karen and her girls crawled into bed with Jack. A photo of that moment sits front-and-centre on their kitchen table.
Emily and Meghan took their dad for a walk around the neighbourhood. Onepushinghiswheelchair,theother catching a free ride on his lap.
Then, they gathered in the backyard on what was a beautifully warm day, for some non-alcoholic beer.
On Valentine’s Day, Karen decorated their home with red hearts, and gave Jack a potted hyacinth and heart-shaped chocolate-iced cake with a red rose on top.
All done to include Jack in a family that loves him, she says.
Karen relocated their bedroom to a room in the raised basement, so Jack doesn’t have to climb stairs.
Her single bed is pushed side-byside, up against his hospital bed, so they can sleep together.
And though his bedroom window, they have created a world for him to watch.
A chunk of suet hangs low on a branch and attracts a plethora of squirrels. This winter, Meghan made two snowmen, framed in the window. And Karen planted tulips that will peek into his window when they flower in the spring. Karen is always talking to Jack. When she feeds Jack, she tells him what he’s eating. And when she helps him with any task, she explains what she’s doing.
“I think he appreciates says. keep up with growing demand.
Carly Root, on-campus recruitment co-ordinator, agreed with Giorgi, saying the competition exposes students to different trades opportunities. She said it often assists students in their decision making of what program or school they pursue after high school.
The top three school boards in each contest from Saturday’s event will move on to the Skills Ontario competition taking place May 1 to 3 at the Toronto Congress Centre. Students go head-to-head for gold, silver and bronze medals, as well as monetary awards. Some students will also receive job offers depending on the category.