Vernon Matters file photo

By Liam Verster

Trades Skills Awards

Seven medals won by OC students at provincial skills competition

Apr 25, 2024 | 7:30 AM

Okanagan College students put their skills on display at the Skills Canada Provincials competition.

Seven students took home hardware after participating in the competition held in Abbotsford on April 17.

Gold medals were won by Olivia Tinling in the IT Office Software competition, Hunter Campbell in Refrigeration, and Joel Galbraith in the IT Network Systems Administration event.

Mark Halowachuck took silver in the Sheet Metal competition, while Zachary Lwowski Ethan Seymore and Aaron Cumming earned bronze medals in the Heavy Duty Mechanics, Welding and Automotive competitions, respectively.

Tinling, Campbell and Holowachuck also qualified for Skills Nationals competition, which will be held in Quebec City this May.

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Additionally, Mount Boucherie student Jakub Polak, mentored and supported by OC, won a bronze medal in the Carpentry competition.

“We’re extremely proud of our students who represented OC across several different competitions and performed very well,” Danny Marques, Acting Dean of OC Trades and Apprenticeship, said.

“With the demand for skilled workers, these competitions are a great way to raise the profile of and really celebrate the skills that are so critical to today’s workforce. We are proud to be a regional host site as we work to continue to introduce students to fulfilling, profitable careers.”

To encourage more young people pursue careers in trades, OC will host two events this spring.

On April 25, OC and the Canadian Home Builders’ Association – Central Okanagan will host a Try a Trade event for parents and students to explore various career paths in the residential construction sector.

On May 15, OC will debut its Jill of All Trades Day event, allowing young women to learn about different trades and apprenticeship programs.