Team Ontario competitors earn 29 medals at virtual Skills Canada competition

TORONTO – Competitors who represented Team Ontario at the 2021 Skills Canada Virtual National Competition, which hosted participants from across the country to compete in skilled trade and technology contests, won 29 medals in total.

The national competition ran from May 26 to 31 and the closing ceremony was held June 15. Team Ontario won nine gold medals, eleven silver medals and nine bronze medals. Those who competed at the national level had advanced after their success at the 2021 Virtual Skills Ontario Competition, where they competed provincially between April 22 and May 7.

The public competition viewing and Career Exploration Showcase were held on May 12 and the provincial closing ceremony on May 13.

Medalists in the construction fields included:

• Nickolas de Boer and Marko Gunja, mechatronics, post secondary (PS), gold medal, Humber College;
• Erik Stinson, mechanical engineering CAD, PS, silver medal, Georgian College;
• Lucas Crupi, mechanical engineering, S, silver medal, Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board;
• Dongju Son, welding, PS, silver medal, Conestoga College;
• Tyson Hergott, bricklaying, PS, gold medal, Conestoga College;
• Eric Boymans, refrigeration and air conditioning, PS, bronze medal, Centennial College;
• Rorie McConney, heavy vehicle technology, PS, bronze medal, Centennial College;
• Mark Rapsing, architectural technology amd design, PS, gold medal, Fanshawe College;
• Colin Scott, sprinkler fitter, PS, bronze medal, UA Local 853;
• Daniel Benedict, steamfitter/pipefitter, post secondary, silver medal, UA Local 527; and
• Bridgette Merry, workplace safety, S, silver medal, Upper Grand District School Board.

“We are so proud of all of our competitors,” said Ian Howcroft, CEO of Skills Ontario, in a statement. “Advancing to the National level is a massive achievement on its own, and we congratulate all Team Ontario competitors for their success. The future of Ontario is in good hands, and it’s important that we support and celebrate youth who are pursuing these fields.”