Media Releases
Building Trades of Alberta named as Presenting Sponsor of the Construction and Building Competitions at WorldSkills Calgary 2009
Calgary, Alberta – WorldSkills Calgary 2009 is proud to name the Building Trades of Alberta as the Presenting Sponsor of the Construction and Building Category Competitions at the 40th WorldSkills Competition, September 1-7, 2009 at Calgary Stampede Park. The Building Trades of Alberta is home to nearly 60,000 workers who work everyday in many of the same trades that will be competed in during the WorldSkills Competition.
The Construction and Building Category of the WorldSkills competition spans 13 different trades including Carpentry, Refrigeration, Painting & Decorating, Wall & Floor Tiling, Landscape Gardening, Bricklaying, Stonemasonry, Plumbing & Heating, Metal Roofing, Cabinetmaking, Electrical Installation, Industrial Control, Plastering and Joinery. Over 275 competitors from 51 different countries/regions will be competing specifically in the Construction and Building trades, making this competition category the largest of the six competing categories.
"We are extremely proud to be a major sponsor of WorldSkills Calgary 2009," says Ron Harry, Executive Director, Building Trades of Alberta. "Providing World Class Trades people is our core business. Building Trade Unions have 102 years of history that has assisted our highly skilled 60,000 plus men and women within the Building Trades to be the preferred choice of industry."
In addition to the Building Trades status as the Presenting Sponsor of the Construction and Building competitions, WorldSkills Calgary 2009 plans to utilize a cross-section of the 60,000 men and women in the Building Trades as volunteers. With a need of 2,000 community volunteers the Building Trades will give a major boost in providing skilled trades experience in the set-up and tear down phase of the competition. The Building Trades will also be providing volunteers to assist in various experiences such as the Ambassador Kiosks, helping educate the public about the trades and in the Try-A-Skill area, ensuring all those experiencing a trade first hand are doing it correctly and in a safe manner.
"The contribution from the Building Trades of Alberta is so important to us because it is one of the cornerstone sponsorships of this event," says Richard Walker, President and CEO, WorldSkills Calgary 2009. "Their leadership and dedication to promoting skills excellence has allowed WorldSkills Calgary 2009 to attract much needed additional support from industry and like-minded organizations."
WorldSkills Calgary 2009 continues to work towards the Sept. 1 Opening Ceremony at the Stampede Grandstand. With less than 190 days until that point final preparations are under way. Over 200 key executives and experts from around the world will be welcomed by WorldSkills Calgary from March 4-11, 2009 to review these preparations and ensure everything is on track. Come September 2009 WorldSkills Calgary will welcome 900 competitors and 2,500 experts and delegates bringing an estimated $82 million stimulus to the local economy.
About WorldSkills Calgary 2009
WorldSkills Calgary 2009 is a not-for-profit organization that was established to plan and host the 40th WorldSkills Competition in September 2009. The competition will take place from September 1-7, 2009, to be held at Calgary Stampede Park. 900 competitors from 51 member countries/regions will be competing in 45 different skills competitions. The organization's mission is to engage the passion of Canada's young people to pursue the trades and technology as viable and rewarding career options. Nearly 150,000 spectators and 2,500 experts, delegates and judges from around the world will attend the competition. It will require 80,000 square metres of space at Stampede Park. The Competitors will be housed and fed at the first ever Competitors' village located at SAIT Polytechnic. Operating budget is estimated to be $55 million.
About WorldSkills International
WorldSkills is a not-for-profit Membership Association open to agencies or bodies who feel a responsibility to promote vocational education and training. WorldSkills is politically and denominationally neutral. It is an international competition that provides a unique means of exchange and comparison of world-class competency standards in industry trades, skills and technology of the economy. The continued growth of WorldSkills is a testimony to the fact that traditional trades, craft skills and newer technology multi-skilled vocations provides an essential and significant contribution to the economic and social well being of people world-wide. WorldSkills provides a cost effective means for international government and industry cooperation in achieving the higher standards and status of vocational education and training on a worldwide basis.
About Building Trades of Alberta
Building Trades of Alberta is an organization consisting of 16 trade unions with 22 locals covering all trades across Alberta. The Building Trades as nearly 60,000 union members and is continuing to grow. Building Trades of Alberta unions provide various services for their members, including job referrals to all their construction and maintenance contractors through their union halls which have world class training facilities in which millions of dollars have been invested. Their unions provide pension plans, health and welfare benefits, top wages; and the best safety record in the business. Building Trades of Alberta union members give employers real value that comes from many years of experience.
