Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to speak about our successful partnership with Skills Canada, a non-profit organization of business, government, labour and educational leaders who join forces to develop skilled trades and technology workers.
Skills Canada recognizes the need for young people to find out as early as high school about the opportunities available to them in trades and technology. The program goes beyond simply providing information by giving students hands-on experience in fields of interest to them. It also allows prospective employers an opportunity to participate in evaluating performance and to provide feedback that will ensure training programs meet the real needs of employers.
The success of the organization is evident, in the winning results awarded Team NWT-Nunavut at the 36th World Skills Competition in Quebec City in June. The national competition included 400 competitors in 39 events. Mr. Speaker, in the face of all that competition, our team brought home three bronze medals and a silver medal.
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Congratulations to silver medal winners Kelly Laing-Dixon and Brie-Anne Jefferson of Yellowknife. Congratulations also to bronze medal winners Calvin Korchinos, Gord Stephenson and Ryan Byrne, also of Yellowknife.
Mr. Speaker, the Skills Canada partnership provides benefits to each of the secondary and post-secondary students who competed in local skills competitions in Fort Smith and Yellowknife, as well as those who participated in the national competition. NWT employers will reap the benefits of a program that provides young people an opportunity to try their hand at an occupation that may benefit both them and the NWT in the future.
I am sure you will agree we have much to be proud of, Mr. Speaker. I would ask that my colleagues in the Legislative Assembly join me in applauding the achievements of those students who participated in the Skills Canada competition. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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