TEAM CANADA: UP FOR THE CHALLENGE!

With just over 350 days until the WorldSkills London 2011 Competition, 35 of Canada's top talent in trades and technology begin their journey

GATINEAU, QC, Sept. 22 /CNW/ - WorldSkills Team Canada 2011 met for the first time in the Nation's Capital September 19^th - 21^st 2010.  Competitors, experts and trainers flew in from across the country to embark on their journey to WorldSkills London 2011.  The first assembly was kicked off with motivating words from the Executive Director of Skills/Compétences Canada:

"You may be the best in Canada, but you are not the best in the world at this point.  Whatever your personal goal, whether it be winning gold or achieving your best score, you can be the best in the world, but the hard work begins now!

The positive spirit continued with insightful advice and expectations from past competitors, experts and trainers.  A viewing of the WorldSkills Calgary 2009 highlight video made the experience all the more real. Skills/Compétences Canada staff was not shy to drill home the message of having 'one chance' to compete on the world stage.  Competitors were busy with a weekend of training plans, mental preparation and team building. This weekend marks a new beginning towards the road to success for Canada's elite tradesmen and women. 

"On behalf of the Government of Canada, I would like to wish Team Canada 2011 success in their preparation; you have the support of the nation," said the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.  "Last year, I had the unique privilege of attending WorldSkills Calgary 2009 and watching Team Canada achieve our country's best ever result. I witnessed first-hand the positive influence skills competitions have on the lives of participants and how they inspire many more Canadians to consider a career in the trades, technologies and service industries."

Skills/Compétences Canada is proud to present the official Team Canada Members that will compete at the 41^st WorldSkills Competition in London, UK October 5-8, 2011 and wishes them the best of luck with their training this year.

Canada hosted the most recent WorldSkills Competition in September of 2009.  Team Canada's outstanding performance at WorldSkills Calgary 2009 resulted in a record 8 medals and top 5 medal point ranking out of 51 countries/regions.

WorldSkills London 2011 represents Canada's eleventh participation in a WorldSkills International event, an international Competition which takes place every two years and brings together the world's brightest in skilled trades and technology. Next year's Competition will bring together more than 900 competitors from 52 WorldSkills International Member countries/regions who will participate in team and individual competitions. Team Canada 2011, will be the largest delegation Canada has ever sent to a WorldSkills Competition outside of Canada, competing in 32 of the 45 skills categories.

TEAM CANADA GUEST LIST

Skill name and number / Métier et numéro de concours	City/Ville	Prov.	First name / Prénom	Last name / Nom de famille	Age
Mechatronics/ Mécatronique	Repentigny	QC	Thierry	Lecours	21
Mechatronics/ Mécatronique	Brossard	QC	Gabriel	Thérien	21
Mechanical Engineering Design - CAD/ Définition de produit industriel	Chilliwack	BC	Michael	Cristensen	18
CNC Turning/CNC Tournage	St. Thomas	ON	Tyler	Hackney	19
CNC Milling/CNC Fraisage	Innisfail	AB	Luke	Moore	20
IT Software Applications /Technologie d'information applications de logiciels	Prince Albert	SK	Steven	Heidel	19
Welding/Soudage	Magog	QC	Mikael	Hudon	21
Autobody Repair/ Tôlerie - Carrosserie	Stettler	AB	Nigel	Renschler	19
Sheet Metal Technology/Tôlerie	Mirabel	QC	Marc-André	Lambert	21
Plumbing and Heating/Plomberie et chauffage	Laval	QC	Maxime	Piché	19
Electronics/Électronique	Kamloops	BC	Daniel	Hall	19
Web Design /Web design	Surrey	BC	Riley	Van Ryswyk	17
Electrical Installations / Installations électriques	Calgary	AB	Timothy	Twa	21
Industrial Control/ Contrôle industriel	Saint-Valère	QC	Michaël	Demers	19
Bricklaying/Maçonnerie	Trois-Rivières	QC	Nicolas	Richard	19
Cabinetmaking/Ébénisterie	Jordan Station	ON	Jonathan	Sinke	20
Joinery/ Meunuiserie	Saint-Justine	QC	Alex	Vocal	19
Carpentry/ Charpente	St-Célestin	QC	Dany	Montembeault	18
Ladies-Mens Hairdressing/ Coiffure dames-hommes	Regina	SK	Kaylyn	Mack	20
Beauty Therapy/Soins de beauté	Riverview	NB	Jenica	Bubar	20
Fashion Technology / Mode et création	Châteauguay	QC	Katy	Delisle	20
Confectioner-Pastry Cook/Pâtissier - Confiseur	La Prairie	QC	Marie-Ève	Lazure	20
Automobile Technology/ Technologie automobile	Mascouche	QC	Claude	Côté	20
Cooking/Cuisinier	Québec	QC	Antoine	Corriveau	19
Restaurant Service/ Service de restauration	St. Romuald	QC	Hubert	Gravel	20
Landscape Gardening/ Jardinier paysagiste	Québec	QC	Dominic	Fortin	19
Landscape Gardening/ Jardinier paysagiste	St-Augunstin	QC	Simon	Laflamme	21
Refrigeration/ Réfrigération	Leduc	AB	Sean	Donnan	20
IT PC - Network Support/ Gestion de réseaux informatiques	Québec	QC	Guillaume	Parent	20
Graphic Design /Infographie	Conception Bay South	NL	Andrew	Power	19
Aircraft Maintenance /Entretien d'aéronefs	Cambridge	ON	Ryan	Gomes	21
Mobile Robotics/ Robotique mobile	Almonte	ON	Adrian	Schut	16
Mobile Robotics/ Robotique mobile	Almonte	ON	Benjamin	Church	16
Car Painting/Peinture automobile	Wileville	NS	Aaron	Hebb	19
Offset Printing/Imprimerie offset	Guelph	ON	Tom	Middlebro	19

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. Its unique position among private and public sector partners enables it to work toward securing Canada's future skilled labour needs while helping young people discover rewarding careers. Skills/Compétences Canada offers experiential learning opportunities including skilled trades and technology competitions for hundreds of thousands of young Canadians through regional, provincial/territorial, national and international events, as well as skilled trades awareness programs. Headquartered in Gatineau, Quebec, Skills/Compétences Canada is the Canadian Member organization of WorldSkills International. For more information visit www.skillscanada.com or call 877-754-5226.

About WorldSkills International

WorldSkills International's (WSI) mission is to promote, through the cooperative action of 52 Member 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."

For further information:

Media Contacts:

Christianne Scholfield
Director, Communications for Skills/Compétences Canada
819 771-7545 or 613 282-3774
[email protected]

Natalee Lewis
Coordinator Communications/Marketing
819 771-7545
[email protected]