Huge WorldSkills event in Calgary will see construction trades compete

Young trainee technicians and apprentices in the construction trades will be competing at the WorldSkills Competition to be held in Calgary over four days beginning September 1. The event is one of the largest to be held in the city since the 1988 Winter Olympics and will attract over 150,000 young people from around the world.

WorldSkills as an organization began in Spain with the vision of promoting vocational training among young people. An international competition is held every two years, Calgary’s being the 40th event. The WorldSkills vision is to promote vocational training among young people and “to remind us that skilled trade and vocational professionals continue to play a critical role in the success of the modern global economy.”

The contestants in Calgary will apply their skills in 35 competition areas which will be set up as a massive “shop floor” in the Stampede Centre. For example, the trainee electrical contestants have to wire and set up a booth. In one competition last year students built a solar wind generator for developing countries.

The total cost of the WorldSkills event is estimated at $60 million, and will involve over 3,000 volunteers from Calgary.  The equipment is all donated by manufacturers. Approximately 50 countries and regions are taking part, including a team from Canada consisting of 38 individuals.

Besides the construction and building category, there are categories in manufacturing and engineering, IT, transportation, creative arts and social and personal services.  Competitors have to be 17 to 23 years of age.