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Recommended Events, Activities and Competitions for Day Three, Friday September 4, 2009

The 40th WorldSkills Competition in Calgary, Alberta, Canada is the first to provide a single site Competitors Village where all country/regional teams enjoy the same high quality accommodation. This fosters the notion of a "level playing field." This major 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 Three
September 4th features the continuation of the competitive events. Half-way through this four day simultaneous competition, watch the excitement build as highly-skilled, passionate Competitors participate in 45 skill categories.
• Where: Stampede Park
• Time: 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 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.

Some of the more visually interesting competitions today include:

• Mechatronics Skill #4 - Competitors will display a pneumatic flying penguin and jelly fish to show applications of the skill
o Big Four, upstairs, Hall A & B

• Plumbing and Heating Skill #15 - Competitors will install a toilet fixture after 2 p.m.
o Big Four, upstairs, Hall A & B

• Painting and Decorating Skill #22 - A speed wallpapering event will take place from approximately 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Other projects include creation of a Canadian maple leaf and a mural of Calgary's skyline. Throughout the Competition, each Competitor is preparing their "special project" where they are creating a ‘faux finish' adding layers each day towards the finale.
o Big Four, downstairs, Hall C

• Beauty Therapy Skill #30: Competitors will perform hot rocks massage. Ideal times for viewing are at 5 and at 7 p.m.
o BMO Centre, Hall A

• Cooking Skill #34 - Competitors will prepare a dish from a "mystery basket" of ingredients at 9:30 a.m., a lamb/duck dish at 2:15 p.m. and a hot dessert at 5:15 p.m.
o BMO Centre, Hall E

• Caring Skill #41 - Bed making will take place from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and first aid challenges from 1 to 4 p.m. Of interest, volunteers to receive the care are drawn from the spectators of this competition and, for many Competitors in this skill, translators are needed.
o Grandstand, 2nd Floor

• Construction Metal Works Skill #D2 - Competitors are creating a hammer crane that pivots on the base of the structure; the tongue is being created today and is being attached to the end of the crane to finish the project.
o Skills Tent 3

• Plastering and Drywall Systems Skill #D3 - Competitors will freestyle their own choice of emblem on a wall at 10:15 a.m. and at approximately 3:30 p.m. will add mouldings to their wall and plaster their doorway.
o Big Four, downstairs, Hall C

WHAT: Try-A-Skill @ Skill City Continues
Try-A-Skill @ Skill City continues in the Skill City tent near the Stampede Grandstand. Visitors can try the many skills of the competition. Come down to develop an appreciation for professionals working in skills, trades or technologies.
• Where: Stampede Park - Skill City Tent
• Time: 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Filming / photography welcome

WHAT: Information Technology Forum
Three high level executives from organizations that are world leaders in technology and information will speak between 10 and 11 a.m. -Greg Chappel from Hewlett Packard, Ron Hulse from Samsung, and Amy Christen from Cisco. Their remarks will be followed by a panel discussion on the impact of industry support for skills and a Q&A.
• Time: 9:30 a.m. to noon, Boyce Theatre on the Stampede Grounds.
• This is a ticketed event. Media access with accreditation.
• For more information, visit the official media website for WorldSkills Calgary 2009 at media.worldskills.org 

WHAT: Alberta House
Alberta House is an interactive exhibit showcasing skills, trades and technology opportunities in Alberta. At 10 a.m. daily, young inventors will demonstrate their work. September 4th features a demonstration by Hanna, Alberta's Brian Larson, 15, who will demonstrate his Pet Safe D Monitor for pets unattended in vehicles
• Where: Alberta House is attached to the trade show area called Global Skills Village
• Time: 10 a.m. (5 minutes) 

WATCH FOR THE DAILY COMPETITION REPORTS AFTER 12:00 a.m. MST TONIGHT 

Broadcast quality video is also available at CNW's Broadcast on Demand service, at www.newswire.ca. For interview requests, please call the Media Centre to be connected to the appropriate person for each skill or country/region.

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. 

 

Broadcast Quality B-Roll Available at 3:00 MT daily:
Go to www.newswire.com and select WorldSkills Calgary 2009 and follow the prompts to register to receive a password in order to download the material.

For more information, please contact:

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

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