Cambrian student tops at tech competition

Cambrian College student Johnathan Lussier will be heading to the Skills Canada National Competition in Vancouver June 5-8.

He won the right to advance to the nationals after winning a gold medal in the heavy equipment service contest at the Ontario Technological Skills Competition in Waterloo, Ont. May 6-7.

Three other Cambrian students also placed at the competition.

Damien Lafrancois received a silver in industrial mechanic millwright, Joshua Marshall received a silver in IT and network support and Ryan Letourneau received a bronze in automation and control.

The two-day competition just completed its 24th year.

Run by Skills Canada – Ontario, it encourages secondary and post-secondary students to enter into the skilled trades — a job market that is expected to face dire shortages within the next 10 years.

The event featured 63 contest areas and roughly 1,900 competitors from secondary schools and post-secondary schools across Ontario.

At the closing ceremonies of the Ontario Technological Skills Competition, students from all over Ontario were glued to their seats as Premier Kathleen Wynne spoke about how Ontario’s youth will shape the future of our economy.

“You’re showing us what you can do with robotics, with carpentry and auto body work and team building,” she said, in a press release.

“And no matter what specific skills you’re demonstrating, or where you place in the competition, I want you to know one thing: you can already do things that most people my age cannot have a hope of doing.”

Skills Canada – Ontario is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting the skilled trades and technologies as viable, first-choice career options for Ontario youth.

For more information, visit www.skillsontario.com.