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Middle School Students Rock'n until WorldSkills Calgary 2009 Rolls In

Wednesday June 10, 2009, Calgary, Alberta, Canada - 100 students from 14 Calgary Board of Education junior high schools showed off their skills at the first Middle Years Skills Showcase on May 29, an event connected to WorldSkills Calgary 2009. One group showing major skills and enthusiasm was the CTS class who designed and built their very own electric guitars.

The project really struck a chord with students. It demonstrated the variety of professions available in skills, trades, and technologies. WorldSkills Calgary 2009 Director of Skills Apprenticeship and Education, Lou Keresztes, says, "It's not just the traditional skilled professions, there's really something there for everyone, and students will get to see that at WorldSkills Calgary 2009."

Wilma Hansen School's CTS Teacher, Ross Hill, supervised the electric guitar category. He explained the extensive nature of the project. Creating the guitars required an entire school-year and a combination of skills including woodwork, artistic design, and electronics.

Despite all of the hard-work involved students were eager to participate. Hill says "they were encouraged to design guitars that reinforced their playing style, so they made the guitars they wanted to use." Hill was impressed by the level of commitment. "Some students spent over 300 hours outside of class working on their guitars." The dedication of the students was not only present in the quality of their craftsmanship it also indicates a passion for their work.

The Middle Years Showcase is one way students are becoming further connected to the Skills Movement and WorldSkills Calgary 2009, where highly-skilled, passionate Competitors go head-to-head in 45 skill categories on the international stage. Hill is excited that students will be attending WorldSkills Calgary 2009. He expressed, "it's critical to focus on students' interest in skills and help them find a possibility to place them in the world."

Students developed a greater interest in skills, trades, and technologies at the Middle Years Skills Showcase and this will only increase when The 40th WorldSkills Competition comes to Calgary in September. When Skills Finland planned to host the WorldSkills Competition in 2005, they developed a five-year plan with the event as the final stage. As a result of their plan, Finland saw a 20 per cent increase in applications to vocational training programs over those five years.

Backgrounder

WorldSkills Calgary 2009

WorldSkills Calgary 2009 marks the second time Canada hosts this international event in its 59-year history. In May 2004, at the WorldSkills General Assembly in Hong Kong, Canada officially won the right to host the 40^th WorldSkills Competition. The successful bid was made possible through collaboration with Skills Canada Alberta and Skills/Compétences Canada. Shortly thereafter, WorldSkills Calgary 2009, a not-for-profit organization, was established.

For the past 5 years, WorldSkills Calgary 2009 has been working closely with legacy, government, and industry partners to make the 40th WorldSkills Competition the most successful to date. Although the event is held from September 1 – 7, 2009, WorldSkills Calgary 2009 has been working with legacy partners to actively help the global skills movement that addresses labour shortage, competency standards, and education programs designed to motivate and encourage young adults to explore successful career options in skills, trades, and technology.

worldskills2009.com

Backgrounder

WorldSkills International

WorldSkills International’s mission is to promote, through the cooperative action of Members, a worldwide awareness of the essential contribution that skills and high standards of competence make to the achievement of economic success and personal fulfillment. WorldSkills International’s principal activity is organizing the WorldSkills Competition in a different Member country/region every two years. These Competitions bring the best young professionals from trades, service and vocational programs from around the world to showcase their talents and ability at the WorldSkills Competition.

worldskills.org

Backgrounder

Skills/Compétences Canada

Skills/Compétences Canada was founded in 1989 as a national, not-for-profit organization that works with employers, educators, labour groups and governments to promote skilled trades and technology careers among Canadian youth.

Its unique position among private and public sector partners enables it to work toward securing Canada’s future skilled labour needs while helping young people discover rewarding careers.

Skills/Compétences Canada offers experiential learning opportunities including skilled trades and technology competitions for hundreds of thousands of young Canadians through regional, provincial/territorial, national and international events, as well as, skilled trades awareness programs. Headquartered in Gatineau, Quebec, Skills/Compétences Canada is the Canadian Member organization of WorldSkills International and the official legacy partner of WorldSkills Calgary 2009.

skillscanada.com

The 40th WorldSkills Competition is coming to Calgary, Alberta, Canada from September 1 - 7, 2009. The organizing committee, WorldSkills Calgary 2009 Ltd., is leading the event coordination with support from WorldSkills International, Skills/Compétences Canada, and Skills Canada Alberta.

Contact Sheet

WorldSkills Calgary 2009

Alesia Fieldberg

Media Relations Coordinator

Direct Line: 01 403 774 5138
Mobile: 01 403 818 6160
Email: alesia.fieldberg@worldskills2009.com
Website: http://www.worldskills2009.com

Skills/Compétences Canada

Christianne Scholfield

Director Pan-Canadian Partnership Development

Direct Line: 01 819 771 7545 ext. 1

Fax: 01 819 771 5575

Toll Free: 1 877 754 5226

Website: www.skillscanada.com