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Six months to the Competition: WorldSkills Calgary 2009 presents a Culinary Experience with Chef David Adjey

Calgary, Alberta – With just six months to the 40th WorldSkills Competition, Food Network's Celebrity Chef David Adjey, one of the official spokespersons, is helping to celebrate!  WorldSkills Calgary 2009 is hosting a culinary demonstration and cocktail reception for invited guests and media.  It all takes place Tuesday, March 10, 6 pm to 8 pm, at Divino's Wine and Cheese Bistro, Calgary.

"With WorldSkills Calgary 2009 around the corner, Chef Adjey's dedication to promoting the culinary trade to Canadian youth and inciting the food and beverage industry to get involved, gives us great reasons to celebrate," says Richard Walker, President and CEO of WorldSkills Calgary 2009.

Highlights of this exclusive evening will be Chef David Adjey's own succulent dishes and culinary demonstrations showcased by Skills/Compétences Canada's own 2009 Team Canada Cooking Competitor, Sébastien Laframboise, joined by the silver medallist at the 2008 Canadian Skills Competition, SAIT Polytechnic's own Jordan Clay.  The demonstration promises to offer guests a glimpse of what the "Culinary World" will bring to the WorldSkills Competition.

"I believe it's important for every chef to make better chefs; and as a skilled professional, promoting careers in skills, trades and technologies is an absolute honour," says David Adjey.  "Encouraging students to find their career passion makes my work even more gratifying.  The WorldSkills Competition this September is Canada's BEST opportunity to witness excellence in skills, trades and technologies."

At the 40th WorldSkills Competition in September, 34 Cooking Competitors from around the world will be vying for a place on the podium.  Come and see Canada's Cooking hopeful demonstrate some of the skills coming to the world stage.

"Our first rate technical experts and the support of industry have historically produced high caliber Competitors that excel on the world stage.  We feel hosting the event in our own country will raise the awareness of skilled trades and technology occupations and inspire our Team Canada Competitors to perform their best," says Shaun Thorson, Executive Director, Skills/Compétences Canada.

Event: When: Where:	Chef David Adjey Cocktail Reception Tuesday, March 10, 6pm to 8pm Divino's Wine and Cheese Bistro
	8th Avenue, Calgary, Alberta

The organizing committee, WorldSkills Calgary 2009, is leading the event coordination with support from WorldSkills International, Skills/Compétences Canada, and Skills Canada Alberta.  Along with numerous sponsors and suppliers, the major event funding partners include: Government of Canada, Government of Alberta and the City of Calgary.

BACKGROUNDER

About WorldSkills Calgary 2009 Ltd.

WorldSkills Calgary 2009 is a not-for-profit organization that was established, through Skills/Compétences Canada, to plan and host the 40th WorldSkills Competition from September 1-7, 2009, at Calgary's Stampede Park. The organization's mission is to engage the passion of Canada's young people to pursue the trades and technologies as viable and rewarding career options.  900 Competitors from 50 Member countries/regions will be participating.  Nearly 150,000 spectators and 3,000 Experts, Delegates and Observers from around the world will attend the Competition.

About WorldSkills International

WorldSkills International is a worldwide not-for-profit membership association open to agencies or bodies who have the responsibility to promote vocational education and training within their country/region.  WorldSkills International is politically and denominationally neutral.  The flagship event is the WorldSkills Competition which is held every two years in a Member country/region.  The Competition provides a unique means of exchange and comparison of world-class competency standards in industry trades, skills and technologies of the economy.  The continued growth of WorldSkills International is 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 International 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 Skills/Compétences Canada and Team Canada

Skills/Compétences Canada is a national, not-for-profit organization that promotes, through experiential learning opportunities, careers in skilled trades and technologies to youth.  As Canada's Member organization to WorldSkills International; Skills/Compétences Canada selects and prepares Competitors for the international competitions to take place every two years.  Skills/Compétences Canada established WorldSkills Calgary 2009 to host the 40th WorldSkills Competition after securing Canada as the host country for the event.

The Team that will represent Canada at the WorldSkills Competition in 2009 was selected after the 2008 Canadian Skills Competition on May 26-27, 2008 at Stampede Park in Calgary.  38 successful Canadian Competitors have been brought together to form Team Canada.  They will be participating in 35 contest areas and will represent Canada at this prestigious international event.