"We are very proud of the hard work and training Team Canada has undertaken over the last year," said Shaun Thorson, Executive Director, Skills/Competences Canada. "They are confident and prepared to compete alongside the best skilled trade and technology students and apprentices from around the world. With support and encouragement from the Government of Canada, industry leaders and educators, these talented young individuals represent the future of Canada's skilled trade and technology workforce, and we couldn't be more proud."

This will be Canada's tenth participation in a WorldSkills Competition, which takes place every two years and brings together the world's brightest in skilled trades and technology. This is the largest team Canada has sent, with 38 competitors in the Competition. The Team Canada members will participate in 35 of the 45 skills categories. At the last WorldSkills Competition, held in Japan in 2008, Canada won six medals, eight international competency certificates and the Albert Vidal Award for the Competitor that achieves the overall highest score out of all Competitors in all skill categories.

"Our Government encourages those considering a career in the skilled trades by providing Apprenticeship Grants for eligible apprentices," said the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. "Team Canada and their fellow competitors at WorldSkills Calgary 2009 represent the future. Our country needs to prepare now for an economic recovery and the increasing skills shortages that are expected to come with it."

<< Team Canada 2009 - 'The Great 38' ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team Canada Province/ Competition Description Competitor Territory ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Autobody Repair Autobody repairers restore Devon DeBoer AB body work damage, ranging from mechanical to cosmetic, mainly caused by road accidents. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Automotive Automotive technicians are Dan Van Holst ON Technology able to understand the important functions of car systems and carry out troubleshooting, maintenance and repair work. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Car Painting Car painters remove, mark out Daniel Green AB and replace vehicle body parts, prepare vehicle surfaces, treat the vehicle with protective chemicals, apply prime coats and remove rust. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aircraft An aircraft maintenance Brian Everts BC Maintenance technician inspects, services, troubleshoots, removes, installs and repairs aircraft systems. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Plumbing and Plumbers install water, Brian Martin ON Heating drainage and heating pipes for houses and industrial sites. Their tasks can include gas and compressed air pipe installations. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Electrical Electrical installers Craig Spady AB Installations manufacture, maintain and repair electrical equipment for houses, industrial sites and power stations. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Industrial Industrial controllers Steven Dingwall AB Control install conduits, cables, devices, instruments, automated devices and control centre fittings quickly and safely. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bricklaying Bricklayers work on Kevin Jeanson QC commercial and residential projects where they cut and lay brick, stone, glass block or terra cotta to build walls, fireplaces, chimneys and other structures. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Painting and Involves preparing surfaces, Tiffany Vandermey AB Decorating selecting paints and colours, brushing, rolling or spraying paints and applying decorative finishes. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cabinetmaking A cabinetmaker works with Jonathan Arbour QC wood to produce furniture, cabinetry and architectural millwork from a variety of natural and manufactured materials. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Joinery The process of connecting or Travis Wieler MB joining two pieces of wood together through the use of various forms of wood joints. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carpentry Carpenters have expertise in Scott Blair ON a wide variety of skills that are needed in commercial construction as well as in residential building and structural maintenance. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Landscape Landscape gardeners Caroline Tanguay QC Gardening design, develop and apply Hugo Parent landscape plans, haul and spread topsoil, care for plants, mow, water, fertilize and trim. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Refrigeration Refrigeration technicians Mathieu Boily QC install components which form the refrigeration system. When your air conditioning stops working, these are the professionals you call. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Information Information Network Daniel Reid AB Network Cabling consists of the Cabling designing, installing and testing of telecommunication networks. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- IT/Software Involves various uses of Stacy DuBois ON Applications Microsoft Office software (or similar) and graphic programs. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Offset Printing Offset printers are able Simon Beauchamp QC to fit printing plates or cylinders on presses, mix the inks that go on them and adjust the color flow to the image. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Web Design Web designers use computer Jason Valdron QC programs to produce web pages that include links to other pages, graphic elements, text and photographs. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- IT/PC Network Consists of assembling Matthew Chadder AB Support personals computers (PCs) with accessories and network devices for home and business environments. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mechatronics Technicians build, maintain, Andrew Marcolin ON repair and program equipment Jamie Feenstra control systems for the automation industry. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mechanical Covers the use of computer- Germain-Samuel QC Engineering aided design (CAD) technology Sauve Design - CAD to produce documentation in manufacturing, including product drawings, paperwork and 3D models. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- CNC Turning A process used to produce Guillaume Grenier QC cylindrical components through metal cutting using computer numerically controlled (CNC) lathes. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- CNC Milling Involves cutting metal Karl Loos YK materials with computer numerically controlled (CNC) milling machines. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Welding Involves the fusing and Marc-Olivier QC separation of materials Belanger using a variety of processes. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Electronics Involves manufacturing, Jud Tofflemire ON testing and troubleshooting electronic equipment. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mobile Robotics A team competition that Pavlo Tovaryanskyy MB requires competitors to Myles Robinson assemble, set-up, manage and maintain mechanical systems within a mobile robot. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sheet Metal Sheet metal technologists Brad Chyz AB Technology fabricate and install a wide variety of construction-related items using sheet metal or plastic material components. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Floristry The art of creating bouquets Elisa Paquet QC and compositions from flowers, -Lessard foliages, ornamental grasses and other botanical materials. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fashion Fashion designers develop Daisy Liang BC Technology and create new clothing and accessory designs, as well as analyze fashion trends, choose the colours and fabrics and work closely with production, marketing and sales departments. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Graphic Design Graphic designers research David Boivin QC Technology and manage virtual design projects, with a primary focus on electronic media. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ladies/Men's Hairdressers must demonstrate Samuel Chabot QC Hairdressing the correct cutting techniques, curling, colouring and barbering with creativity, imagination and technical ability. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Beauty Therapy A beauty therapist is a Isabelle Collin NB specialist in skin care, skin care advice, massage and makeup. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Confectioner/ Confectioners and pastry Caitlin Mayo BC Pastry Cook cooks create delicious products for all kinds of events, needing artistic flair and talent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cooking A cook is trained to manage Sebastien Laframboise QC commercial kitchens, plan menus and prepare appealing and nutritious meals according to health and safety regulations. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Restaurant Professional restaurant Pierre-Luc Cote QC Service servers are skilled in serving food and drinks, mixing international drinks and working behind the bar. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- WorldSkills Calgary 2009 >>

The Canadian Skills Competition is an important training opportunity for representatives from Team Canada 2009 who were chosen at last year's Canadian Skills Competition, and who will be competing at WorldSkills Calgary 2009. This four-day international competition, which is the biggest of its kind in the world, takes place September 1-7, 2009 at Stampede Park where more than 900 skilled young people from trade, service and technology programs from 50 member regions/countries will gather to compete. WorldSkills Calgary 2009, the 40th WorldSkills Competition, will be the city's largest international competitive event since the 1988 Olympic Winter Games. The organizing committee, WorldSkills Calgary 2009 is leading the event coordination with support from WorldSkills International, Skills/Competences Canada, and Skills Canada Alberta. Along with numerous sponsors and suppliers, the major event funding partners include: Government of Canada, Government of Alberta and The City of Calgary.

About Skills/Competences Canada

Skills/Competences 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/Competences 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/Competences Canada is the Canadian Member organization of WorldSkills International. For more information visit www.skillscanada.com or call 877-754-5226.

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