Competitors for WorldSkills Canadian Trials Announced - Outcome to determine WorldSkills Team Canada 2015 competing in Brazil

OTTAWA, Aug. 28, 2014 /CNW/ - Today, Skills Canada announced the names of the 31 young men and women who will participate in the WorldSkills Canadian Trials taking place throughout Canada in January and February 2015.

The selection is based on the highest ranked and age eligible medalist in each applicable contest area from the recent Skills Canada National Competition (SCNC), held in June, in Toronto. SCNC hosted over 500 competitors from across Canada in 43 different skilled trade and technology areas.

At the upcoming WorldSkills Canadian Trials, competitors reaching pre-established Canadian standards will be named to WorldSkills Team Canada 2015 and will participate in the 43rd WorldSkills Competition, in São Paulo, in August 2015. The WorldSkills São Paulo 2015 Competition will be held from August 11-16 at the Anhembi Park, one of the largest conference centres in Latin America. More than 1,000 competitors from over 65 countries and regions, 1,000 experts, 3,000 volunteers and over 200,000 visitors are expected.

The WorldSkills Canadian Trials represent a new step in the Team Canada selection process.

"By introducing the Trials, we will ensure that those competing on the international stage have met a minimum standard and this will better prepare them to be successful at the WorldSkills Competition," said Shaun Thorson, Skills Canada's CEO. "We are raising the bar for Team Canada and we feel confident that this will result in even better international performances."

Participants at the 2015 WorldSkills Canadian Trials are:

Competitor Name	Contest	Hometown	Province
Samuel Daoust	4 - Mechatronics	Terrebonne	QC
Olivier Vandal	4 - Mechatronics	Mascouche	QC
Carson Gutafson	5 - Mechanical Engineering Design CAD	Lashburn	SK
Trevor Fandrick	6 - CNC Turning	Calmar	AB
Tyler Magri	7 - CNC Milling	Churchill	ON
Tommy St-Martin	10 - Welding	Notre-Dame-des-Prairies	QC
Justin Dambitis	13 - Autobody Repair	Rocky View County	AB
Ryan Leedham	14 - Aircraft Maintenance	Yellowknife	NT
Kendrick Howe	15 – Plumbing and Heating	Monarch	AB
Winston Lord	16 - Electronics	Mississauga	ON
Gabriel Santerre	17 – Web Design	Mascouche	QC
Jacob Fluker	18 – Electrical Installations	Fort Saskatchewan	AB
Brennan Roy-Bertin	19 – Industrial Control	Edmonton	AB
Marc-Olivier Roy	20 - Bricklaying	Laurierville	QC
Phillip Bélanger	23 – Mobile Robotics	Hearst	ON
Maxime Marineau	23 - Mobile Robotics	Hearst	ON
Rylan Dekok	24 - Cabinetmaking	Picture Butte	AB
Maxime Gauvreau	26 - Carpentry	Terrebonne	QC
Jessica Pruneau	29 – Hairdressing	Québec	QC
Kaitlyn Hoiles	30 – Beauty Therapy	Kingston	ON
Patricia Roque	31 – Fashion Technology	Richmond	BC
Karine Ouelette	32 - Confectioner/Pastry Cook	Québec	QC
Brandon Liang	33 – Automobile Technology	Camrose	AB
Sébastien Rémillard	34 - Cooking	Québec	QC
Kassandra Bilodeau	36 – Car Painting	St-Bernard	QC
Gabriel Tessier	37 – Landscape Gardening	Marieville	QC
Gabriel Lévesque	37 - Landscape Gardening	Beloeil	QC
Marc-Antoine Bettez	38 – Refrigeration and Air Conditioning	Hébertville	QC
William Lebel	39 - IT - Network Systems Administration	Québec	QC
Roxanne Kanak	40 – Graphic Design Technology	Quill Lake	SK
Peter Lauser	D3 – Industrial Mechanics Millwright	Calgary	AB
TBC	D4 - Heavy Vehicle Maintenance	TBC	TBC

About Skills/Compétences Canada
Skills/Compétences Canada was founded in 1989 as a national, not‐for‐profit organization that works with employers, educators, labour groups and governments to promote skilled trades and technology careers among Canadian youth. For information on Skills Canada's programs and competitions visit www.skillscanada.com.

SOURCE: Skills/Compétences Canada

Michèle Rogerson, [email protected], 613-266-4771