Secondary students encouraged to compete in Virtual Skills Ontario Contests

TORONTO—Skills Ontario is hosting the 2020 Virtual Skills Ontario Contests, an initiative that allows secondary students to test their skills through online contests related to skilled trades and technology and virtually participate in a manner similar to the Skills Ontario competition.

While the contests are not a replacement for the 2020 Skills Ontario Competition, which was cancelled in light of COVID-19, Skills Ontario has modified contests for a virtual at-home setting in order for students to develop and test their skills in their chosen field, indicates a release.

The competition will include contests in culinary arts, mechanical CAD, coding, welding, fashion design, and more. While not all contest areas typically represented at the Skills Ontario Competition can be available virtually, Skills Ontario has provided this initiative in as many areas as possible, adds the release.

Registration officially opened for students to participate in the 2020 virtual competition June 2 and it closes June 7. Submissions are due June 17 to 18, dependent on the contest-specific rules. Students can access the scope of the contests, as well as safety checklists and other required documents, on the Skills Ontario website skillsontario.com/2020-virtual-skills-ontario-contests. 

On June 25, Skills Ontario will host a live virtual Awards Ceremony to award first, second and third place for each contest, as well as four scholarships: Award of Excellence for the Best Overall Score, valued at $1,000, and three valued at $500.

“Our virtual contests are one of the many ways we’re continuing to encourage youth to pursue the skilled trades and technologies,” said Ian Howcroft, CEO of Skills Ontario, in a statement. “We’re proud to have developed and delivered many online initiatives to encourage experiential learning while Ontarians stay safe at home. As we’ve seen both at our in-person events and through our virtual initiatives, the future of Ontario is in good hands, and contests like these highlight that and help to support and celebrate Ontario’s future skilled workforce.”