The big day is here. Around 175 secondary school students from across the region have descended upon Georgetown District High School (GDHS) today (March 27) to participate in the Halton Skills Competition.
Evan Belonsky of GDHS, along with Alexa Boisbert and Annabel Hart of Acton District School are among the local teens who've been on years-long journeys to get to this point.
Boisbert and Hart have entered the competition for baking. Belonsky is in it for welding, one of the most competitive fields in the match-up.
“I'm pretty nervous, but also super excited. I've spent a lot of time, especially in the last three weeks, just inside the welding room practising all I can,” said Belonsky, who discovered that welding was a perfect fit when he first picked up an oxy-acetylene torch in grade 9.
While Boisbert acknowledged that "it does feel good to win," the competition is not about that for her.
"I'm just seeing it as a challenge I get to participate in, and if there's a chance that I do get something (for winning), then that's awesome."
Just like Belonsky, Boisbert and Hart are naturals in their field as they've been honing their crafts for years.
“I think I was 10 when I first started (cooking) and it was little things like pancakes on a stove top,” recalled Boisbert, who was introduced to baking by her mother.
At Thanksgiving and Christmas, it's all hands on deck for the Hart family. Hart's role in the familial assembly line gave her the skills she needed for the competition.
“Based on family pictures, since I was a baby,” Hart said when asked how long she has been baking. “Most family time has been in the kitchen and I'm so serious about that. We grew up making food together and chopping vegetables. My mom will be on one side, I'll be on the other side of the kitchen baking. Both sides of my family are very food-oriented.”
The Halton Skills Competition is a region-wide contest that tests the skills of students who have a passion for a discipline.
Victory means advancing to the provincial competition, which will be a stepping stone to the national one if they succeed there. Naturally, the event is a growth milestone that could lead to a successful career.
“The Halton Skills Competition champions essential skilled trades alongside modern technologies and seamlessly integrates principles of science and engineering,” said Lisa Ashenhurst, instructional program lead with the Halton District School Board.
“This competition prepares them for diverse career pathways while emphasizing the interconnectedness of these fields in today's workforce.”
One of the tasks assigned to Belonsky today was to build an item resembling a rocket. The object was not to make it flight-capable, but to provide a platform for assessing his handling and knowledge. He had to show his understanding of welding symbols, his ability to read blueprints and the quality of his welds. The whole process began with a job interview, complete with a CV and cover letter.
Hart and Boisbert were both tasked with making Italian amaretti cookies, a French pastry called a religieuse, a German kugelhopf bread and cake decorating.
The competition is an arduous and tiring experience. Hart and Boisbert’s teacher Sara Toniolo - who's acting as a coach of sorts - says she keeps them focused by reminding them “they've done the practice, they've attempted at least one of the recipes that they're going to be doing, and they have the skills.”
“Even if they don't finish everything, I just appreciate that they're putting in their full efforts to get as much done as possible to try and earn points,” Toniolo added.
If parents of elementary or high school-aged children are interested in enrolling kids in next year’s competition, more information can be found on HaltonSkills.ca.
