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Heidelberg named as Platinum Sponsor and Official Supplier of WorldSkills Calgary 2009

Tuesday, August 18, 2009 - WorldSkills Calgary 2009 is pleased to announce Heidelberg, the world's leading solution provider for the print media industry, as a Platinum Sponsor and Official Supplier for the Offset Printing skill category at the 40th WorldSkills Competition, September 1-7, 2009 at Calgary's Stampede Park. This is the third consecutive WorldSkills Competition that Heidelberg has been recognized as an Official Supplier; they were also an Official Supplier at the 38th (Finland) and 39th (Japan) WorldSkills Competitions.

"Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg), is very proud to support WorldSkills Calgary 2009," says Brian Ellis, Director of Marketing for Heidelberg Canada Graphic Equipment Limited. "This prestigious Competition provides the opportunity to increase awareness of the exciting and rewarding career opportunities in the graphic arts industry, especially pertaining to offset printing."

Heidelberg has contributed a Speedmaster 52 four and five colour printing press, as well as a Polar 78X paper cutter to the competition. These pieces of equipment are essential to the success of the Offset Printing competition and will help promote the printing industry to the approximately 50,000 students attending WorldSkills Calgary 2009. Fourteen skilled young people representing countries/regions such as Canada, New Zealand and Switzerland will compete in the Offset Printing skill category using Heidelberg's market leading technology.
Heidelberg will further its presence in the Offset Printing skill category by showcasing in the Global Skills Village Presented by UA Canadian Piping Trades. The Heidelberg booth will feature an introduction to this skill with the complimentary Printing Technology booklet. A large map of Canada denoting the location of WorldSkills Calgary 2009, which was printed on the Speedmaster XL 105 in their Print Media Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, will be provided to participants upon request.

"Heidelberg's sponsorship contribution and participation in the Competition is an enormous benefit for WorldSkills Calgary 2009," says Richard Walker, President and CEO of WorldSkills Calgary 2009. "The use of their technologies will enable Competitors to demonstrate their skill to their greatest potential and achieve excellence."

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, Calgary officially won the right to host the WorldSkills Competition. The successful bid was made possible through collaboration with WorldSkills International's Canadian Member organization Skills/Compétences Canada and industry, educational institutions, government and the City of Calgary. WorldSkills Calgary 2009, a not-for-profit corporation is responsible for the planning, execution and legacy for the 40th WorldSkills Competition.

For the past five 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 technologies.

 

Backgrounder: WorldSkills International

 

WorldSkills International's (WSI) mission is to promote, through the cooperative action of 51 Members countries/regions, a worldwide awareness of the essential contribution that skills and high standards of competence make to the achievement of economic success and personal fulfillment. WSI provides a unique means of exchange and comparison of world-class competency standards in the industrial trades, information technologies and service sectors of the global economy. WSI works at all levels from grassroots to senior policy makers to affect change in training procedures, policy development and international standards. Through advocacy, education and Competitions, WorldSkills International is raising the level of competences throughout the world and bringing new awareness to these crucial sectors in the global economy. Without skills there is no economy.

worldskills.org

Skills/Compétences Canada

Skills/Compétences Canada (S/CC) was founded in 1989 as a national, not-for-profit organization to actively promote careers in skilled trades and technologies to Canadian youth. S/CC works with private and public sector partners to help secure Canada's future skilled labour needs while helping Canadian youth discover rewarding careers. S/CC offers experiential learning opportunities for hundreds of thousands of young Canadians including skills, trades, and technologies competitions through regional, provincial/territorial, national and international events, as well as skills, trades, and technologies awareness programs. Headquartered in Canada's National Capital Region Skills/Compétences Canada is the Canadian Member organization of WorldSkills International and in partnership with other stakeholders created the 40th WorldSkills Competition event organizing committee WorldSkills Calgary 2009.

skillscanada.com

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: http://www.skillscanada.com/

 

WorldSkills International
Michelle Bussey
Secretariat - Communications and Marketing Director
Direct Line: +1 902 450 5412
Fax: +31 23 531 0816
Mobile: +1 902 441 7041
Email: michelle.bussey@worldskills.org
Website: http://www.worldskills.org/


More information is available at www.worldskills2009.com.