Pembina Hills students put their talents to the test this spring at the Regional and Provincial Skills Canada competitions, April 11 and May 6-7, respectively, gaining valuable hands-on experience while competing against some of Alberta’s top young trades students.

Students competed in carpentry, automotive service technology, and hairstyling, demonstrating technical knowledge, creativity, teamwork, and perseverance under pressure.

Automotive Students Earn Provincial Success

Students from R.F. Staples Secondary School (RFS) had an especially strong showing in Automotive Service Technology at both the regional and provincial levels. The competitions featured seven stations covering areas such as electrical vehicle systems, suspension, steering, diagnostics, and repair work, all completed under strict time limits.

Out of 20 provincial competitors, RFS students achieved outstanding results!

• Kole Carnegie (Grade 12) — 1st Place
• Andrew Gardon (Grade 11) — 2nd Place
• Adam Moscaluk (Grade 12) — 4th Place
• Dayce Madson (Grade 11) — 14th Place

By earning gold, Kole has secured a place on Team Alberta and will advance to the National Skills Competition in Toronto later this month, where he will compete against the top student from each province for the national title.

“Our success this year was a direct result of the dedication shown by students in our trades programs, both in school and through off-campus placements,” shared the team’s Automotive teacher, Aaron Deas (pictured above). “Students who perform well at Skills are typically very well-rounded; beyond natural mechanical talent, they must possess strong numeracy and literacy skills to excel.”

Deas also recognized the important role families play in supporting students as they pursue opportunities in skilled trades. “This year’s group came with particularly strong backgrounds, and that parental support greatly complements the work ethic and trainability we see in the shop.”

Carpentry Students Take on a New Challenge

Pembina Hills was also represented in Carpentry by RFS students Russell Marko, Katrina Monro, and a grade 11 student. Competitors were tasked with building a wooden chicken coop within a challenging five-and-a-half-hour time limit.

Although the team did not place this year, the experience provided valuable learning opportunities. None of the students had previously competed in Skills Carpentry, making the event an important introduction to the fast-paced competition environment.

“What went well was the ability to read and decipher complex blueprints,” shared the Carpentry teacher Doug Sereda. “We spent many hours in class practicing reading and understanding the prints.”

He added that the competition also tested students’ independence and time-management skills. “With only 5.5 hours, there was a lot to do,” Sereda explained. “It was tough as a coach because I was not allowed to do any coaching during the competition — they needed to be completely independent.”

Despite the challenges, the students embraced the opportunity and gained valuable experience for future competitions and careers in the trades.

Hairstyling Students Demonstrate Creativity and Professionalism

RFS students also showcased their talent in Hairstyling at both the regional and provincial levels, demonstrating strong technical skills, creativity, and professionalism.

At the regional competition, students competed across Junior and Intermediate categories with the following results:

Hairstyling Intermediate

• Ariel Noble (Grade 12) — 6th Place
• Sarah Bowman (Grade 10) — 10th Place

Hairstyling Junior

• Julia McCoy (Grade 10) — 4th Place
• Sadie Budgen (Grade 10) — 7th Place
• Catherine Cornell (Grade 10)— 11th Place

Julia advanced to the provincial competition in Junior Hairstyling, where she earned an 8th-place finish among a competitive field of students from across the province.

At the senior level, grade 11 student Karley Regimbald represented Pembina Hills at provincials, placing 4th and earning the Safety Award for her professionalism and commitment to safe practices throughout the competition.

Celebrating Student Achievement

The Skills competitions provide students with opportunities to apply classroom learning in real-world scenarios while exploring future career pathways in the skilled trades and technologies.

Congratulations to all students who participated this year, and thank you to the teachers, families, and community partners who continue to support career and technical education opportunities across the division.

We will be cheering on Kole at Nationals at the end of the month!