4 December 2009
Skills/Compétences Canada named the Official Legacy Partner of WorldSkills Calgary 2009
By Skills/Compétences Canada
After the competition, celebration, joy, friendship, fond farewells and a few tears, the skills movement lives on in Canada!
Seven years after initiating the bid to host the 40th WorldSkills Competition, Skills/Compétences Canada celebrated the success of the Competition with a look to the future, and the continuing need for highly skilled trade and technology talent.
“Supporting the 40th WorldSkills Competition was one more way our partners and volunteers demonstrated their commitment to the Skills Movement,” said Terry Cooke, President of Skills/Compétences Canada. “Canada is among an elite group of countries that has hosted a WorldSkills Competition twice and we will continue to shine a spotlight on the skilled labour opportunities that Canada has to offer.”
Skills/Compétences Canada now is rewarded with the legacy of this event and will forge new alliances and new initiatives to continue promoting skilled trades and technology careers to our youth and be the leader of the Skills Movement in Canada.
This Competition was about putting the WorldSkills Champions on the World Stage to change perceptions about skilled trade and technology occupations so that all young people can reach their full potential. The experiences shared and captured at this exceptional event will live on through WorldSkills TV and be accessible to everyone through the internet. At Skills/Compétences Canada, we pledge to carry this Competition legacy to every corner of our great country through the Skills Movement.
“Watching 150,000 people tour WorldSkills Calgary 2009 and cheer on our Team Canada members has reaffirmed the excitement and curiosity in trade and technology careers that is generated by our events,” said Shaun Thorson, Executive Director, Skills/Compétences Canada. “The enthusiasm our Team Canada members have for pursuing personal excellence has undoubtedly made many young people, parents and educators rethink their idea of a typical trade or technology career.”
Students from across Alberta and other regions of Canada toured WorldSkills Calgary 2009, gaining awareness on the opportunities available to students taking part in the Regional, Provincial and Canadian Skills Competitions. Schools and technical institutes across Alberta will benefit from receiving over $14 million in equipment and tools that was used in the Competition.
WorldSkills Calgary 2009 represents Canada’s tenth participation in the WorldSkills Competition and the second time hosted in Canada. This was Canada’s best overall results from any WorldSkills Competition receiving an impressive 8 Medals and 13 Medallions for Excellence.
Canada and the Skills Movement - It’s more than Competitions!
Skills/Compétences Canada recently launched its fourth annual Skilled Trades and Technology Week in Canada where we challenged the entire country to take part in interactive activities to showcase careers in trades and technologies. Many provinces and territories across Canada hosted activities during the course of the week to heighten the awareness of these rewarding careers. The week serves as a launch pad to keep that message orbiting around our youth for not only this week but for the other 51 weeks of the year. It’s not only about the competitions; it is about keeping the momentum of awareness programs alive throughout the year.
“For over 20 years Skills/Compétences Canada has led the Skills Movement to change perceptions about skilled trade and technology occupations in Canada through our member organisations in every province and territory,“ says, Terry Cooke, President of Skills/Compétences Canada.
We have not been alone in that endeavor! Our partners from government, business, industry, labour and education have also made this recent initiative conceivable. With this said, it will take more collaborative efforts through partnerships with public and private sectors to continue propagating our message and we are committed to leading and coordinating these initiatives across Canada. There will be challenges and obstacles to cross, but we are confident that the overall objective will be met to ensure Canada’s future economic stability.
“As an organisation that has developed national expertise in promoting skilled trades and technologies careers with sensory experiences in a very dynamic and interactive way, we believe that we are uniquely positioned to become the leader in coordinating the effort of the Skills Movement in Canada,” states Shaun Thorson, Executive Director, Skills/Compétences Canada.
In view of WorldSkills International’s interest in a new branding strategy, Skills/Compétences Canada initiated an independent analysis on how to better position its organisation as a leader of a larger venture.
“We would like to recognise the efforts and contribution of our Canadian Member organisation, Skills/Compétences Canada. They have a strong network across Canada and will benefit greatly by the legacy from this Competition. They will continue to fly the WorldSkills flag strongly and proudly in Canada for years to come,” Tjerk Dusseldorp, President, WorldSkills International.
For more information please visit: www.skillscanada.com.