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Recommended Events, Activities and Competitions for Day One, September 2, 2009

Wednesday, September 02, 2009- The 40th WorldSkills Competition in Calgary, Alberta, Canada is the largest independent event ever to be held at Stampede Park. This international Competition focuses attention on 900 of the best skills, trade and technologies professionals under the age of 23, from 51 Member countries/regions, competing against each other in 45 skill categories.

 

WHAT: Competition Day One September 2nd marks the kickoff of the competitive events. Watch as highly-skilled, passionate competitors participate in 45 skill categories.
• Where: Stampede Park
• Time: 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Filming / photography welcome in designated areas
• Media requests for competitor interviews must be coordinated through the Team Leader for each country / region. Details available through the media centre.

WHAT: Opening of Shell Launch Pads A new addition to WorldSkills, the Shell Launch Pads will ensure that visitors get a safe and efficient orientation to WorldSkills Calgary 2009. The 50,000 Alberta high school students who are visiting WorldSkills Calgary will all enter through one of the launch pads.
• Where: located inside each entrance to Stampede Park
• Time: Grey Launch Pad opens at 9:00 a.m. located on SE side of the park, behind the Agriculture Building
• Filming / photography welcome
• Interview availabilities:
o MP for Calgary East, Deepak Obhrai
o Manager of Labour Relations, Oil Sands Projects, Shell Canada, Terry Burton
o WorldSkills Calgary 2009 Chairman, Guy Mallabone

WHAT: Opening of Skill City tent with Try-A-Skill interactive exhibits In the Skill City tent near the Stampede Grandstand, visitors can Try-A-Skill. Come down to develop an appreciation for professionals working in skills, trades or technologies.
• Where: Stampede Park - Skill City Tent
• Time: 9:30 a.m. opening
o Open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Filming / photography welcome
• Interview availabilities:
• MLA, Calgary-Foothills, Len Webber
• MP, Calgary Centre, Lee Richardson
• Calgary Herald VP Marketing and Audience Development, Siobhan Vinish

WHAT: Opening of Global Skills Village The Village will be used to showcase the wares and skills of 120 exhibitors including industry leaders, educational institutions, WorldSkills International Member organizations and sponsors. Alberta House and Canada House are part of the Global Skills Village.
• Where: Stampede Park
• Time: 10:00 a.m. opening
• Media can access with accreditation
• Interview availabilities:
o MP for Calgary Northeast, Devinder Shory
o MLA for Calgary Montrose, Manmeet Bhullar
o Deputy Mayor, Andre Chabot
o Executive Director, Canadian Affairs , UA Canadian Piping Trades, John Telford

WHAT: Opening of Canada House Canada House will profile numerous Canadian skills and technology, learning and working opportunities.
• Where: Stampede Park in the Global Skills Village
• Time: Canada House - 10:30 a.m. opening
• Filming / photography welcome

WHAT: Global Skills Marketplace (GSM) GSM is a half-day series of workshops addressing important global issues. More than 150 individuals from regional and international organizations will be participating.
• Where: Hyatt Regency
• Time: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
• This is a ticketed event. Media can access with accreditation.
• Interview availabilities: Minister of Alberta Employment and Immigration, Hector Goudreau, will be participating in the workshop.

WHAT: United Way of Calgary and Area - Photo Opportunity September 2 is the kick-off day for the annual fundraising campaign of the Calgary and Area United Way. Witness United Way President, Ruth Ramsden-Wood, test her mettle at the Try-A-Skill @ Skill City.
• Where: Stampede Park - Skill City Tent
• Time: 1:45 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• Filming / photography welcome
• Interviews upon request 

Media Centre: The Media Centre located at Stampede Park in the Agriculture Building offers equipment and staff resources to enable accredited media to cover these and other stories effectively and efficiently.
• Daily briefings take place at 9:30 a.m. MST
• Daily competition results by 12:00 a.m. MST
Off-site media are also encouraged to tap into the resources offered either virtually ‘on line' or by contacting the Media Centre directly at 403-617-4798. 

STAY TUNED FOR THE DAILY COMPETITION RESULTS BY 12:00 a.m. MST 

For questions about accreditation, please contact:

Karissa Boley, WorldSkills Media Centre, Phone: 403-988-2888

For all other media requests, please contact: Laurie Stretch, WorldSkills Media Centre, Phone: 403-617-4798

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