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Events and Activities for Sunday, September 6 and Monday, September 7, 2009

CALGARY, September 5, 2009 -- Competitors in 45 skills have come together from 51 Member countries/regions to compete against each other and vie for the gold medals and awards. The competition part of the 40th WorldSkills event in Calgary, Alberta, Canada is now complete. About 3,500 international Delegates, visitors and Experts, more than 900 Competitors and about 3,000 volunteers are ready to celebrate.

Sunday, September 6, 2009

WHAT: Official Closing and Awards Ceremony

In addition to official speeches and awards presentations, the WorldSkills flag will be passed from WorldSkills Calgary 2009 to the next Competition host, WorldSkills London 2011. The entertainment at the ceremony provides an opportunity for Canada to showcase local talent and to thank all visitors. Expect infectious enthusiasm tinged with a bit of sadness on the part of Calgarians that, after 4 years of planning, it's all over.

• Where: Stampede Corral, Stampede Park, 1410 Olympic Way S.E.
• Time: Doors open at 5 p.m. Event runs 6 to 8 p.m.
• Filming/photography welcome in designated areas
• This is a ticketed event. Only accredited media

WHAT: Media Briefing and Reception

There will be appetizers, beer and wine and a chance to lay down the tools for an hour or so and relax with fellow print and broadcast journalists who have also been plying their skills on the world stage for the past week.

• Where: Media Centre
• When: 4 p.m., before the Closing Ceremony

WHAT: Other Awards

In addition to the official gold, silver and bronze and other special medals, a couple of other awards may be of interest.

• Albert Vidal Award -Named in memory of the late Francisco Albert-Vidal of Spain -- the founder of WorldSkills International. This prestigious award recognises the Competitor that achieves the overall highest score out of all Competitors in all Skill categories. It will be presented at the Closing Ceremony.
• Sustainability Award - All skills were invited to apply for this award to be presented at the Farewell Party. Criteria included the skill's impact on the environment and community, consideration for future growth of the skill and best practices. The "Tower Trophy" in brass and copper is a replica of the Calgary Tower, a sheet metal project at the national Skills competition in Calgary in 2008.

For more information, contact the Media Centre.

Monday, September 7, 2009

WHAT: Ultimate Tailgate Party

Hosted by Tourism Calgary, WorldSkills participants will be treated to a festive piece of Canadiana. They are invited to celebrate the successful completion of WorldSkills Calgary 2009 alongside the thousands who travelled to the Heart of the New West for this once in a lifetime event. Where: Foothills Stadium, 2255 Crowchild Trail NW (beside McMahon Stadium). When: 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

WHAT: CFL Labour Day Classic Football Game

This football game is an annual highlight for Canadians and is completely sold out. At half-time, WorldSkills champions and experts will be recognized in a brief on-field salute. This is a ticketed event.

• Accredited media who wish to cover the half-time show should contact the Media Centre for further information
• Where: McMahon Stadium, 1817 Crowchild Trail NW
• When: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

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. It will close at noon Monday. Final Competition report and press release by 11:00 p.m. MT Sunday.

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