Shoshawna Blair stood in front of her baking station, heart pounding. She had to compete with other student bakers, including her best friend, in front of hundreds of people at the exhibition hall in Abbotsford, British Columbia.
She closed her eyes, and took a deep breath.
“When I opened them back up, I looked at my baking station and trusted myself to do what I do best. In that moment, nothing else mattered—it was just me, the ingredients and my tools. The rest blended into the background, and the day flew by,” Blair recalls.
That was eight years ago—but Blair remembers it as if it was yesterday. That day, she won gold in baking at the provincial competitions organized by Skills Canada BC. Blair is now a Red Seal-certified baker and a proud Skills Canada BC staff member who shares stories about how the competition can lead to careers in the trades and technology.
Each year, Skills Canada BC hosts competitions in the province to give skilled students a platform to showcase their talents. This year, more than 1,800 students across the province will compete in the regional competitions, with the best advancing to the provincials.
“The moment you join the competition, you’ve already taken the first big step toward a potential successful career in the trades.”
—Shoshawna Blair, who won gold in baking at the 2017 Skills Canada BC provincial competition
Now in its 31st year, the provincial competition will be held at Tradex, Abbotsford on April 16, and will feature 54 competition areas, including animation, hairstyling, plumbing, car painting, photography and more.
The event is open to the public and offers opportunities to connect with industry leaders and experts, and gain hands-on experiences in various trades and technology skills.
“The Skills Canada BC competitions provide attendees with valuable insights into various career pathways in skilled trades and technology, helping them to make informed decisions about their futures,” says Dennis Innes, President of Skills Canada BC.
Enbridge employees will be at the provincial showdown to provide information about career opportunities in skilled trades and the pipeline industry. Enbridge has also contributed $5,000 in support of the event, as part of our Enbridge Fueling Futures program, focusing on empowering young people through education and skills development.
“Skills competitions expose students to various trades that may help them pursue a career in the future. This is especially important as the latest labour outlook for the province projects over 85,000 job openings in the skilled trades will be needed by 2033. By investing in community initiatives like this, we are able to support young people who will one day continue the work we do,” says Michaela Bjorseth, the Northwest Region Operations Director of Enbridge’s Gas Transmission business.
Winners at Skills Canada BC provincials will compete at the national finals in Regina on May 29 and 30.
Winners at provincials will compete at the national finals in Regina on May 29 and 30. The gold medalists at Regina will qualify to earn a spot on Team Canada and represent the country at WorldSkills 2026 in Shanghai, China in September next year.
Regardless of winning or losing, the competitions serve as valuable gateway for opening up career opportunities.
“The moment you join the competition, you’ve already taken the first big step toward a potential successful career in the trades. When you look at it that way, you’ve already won,” says Blair.
