G.P. Vanier Secondary School will host the annual Skills Canada regional event for the first time.In fact, this year will be the first year the event has been hosted anywhere in the Comox Valley, according to organizer Randy Grey.For the past 10 years, the event has been held at the Campbell River campus of North Island College.About 100 students from Port Alberni, Parksville/Qualicum, Campbell River and other schools in the Comox Valley will compete throughout the school on Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 2:30 or 3 p.m."The event gives students an opportunity to compete against other students from across the North Island. The intention of the regional competition is to bring notice to the skilled trades and technologies and recognize youth that excel in 'hands-on' type careers," Grey said in an e-mail. "It's one of the largest events in the province and we cover a wide variety of competition areas."The competition areas are: computer animation, automotive service, cabinetmaking, carpentry, culinary arts, electronics, junior sumo robot, TV/video production, welding, baking and hairdressing. Winners from the events will qualify to the next level of competition, which will be in Abbotsford on April 18.The competitions at Vanier will happen in classrooms around the school, and parents and interested individuals from the community are welcome to attend.Grey said the day will also act as a professional development experience for teachers as it brings them together to see other teaching areas.Furthermore, younger students at Vanier will have a chance to see what these programs are like, according to Grey."We'll have kids from other classes coming for tours through the event so they can see 鈥� a Grade 9, 10 or 11 student 鈥� may see that tv/video is really cool or welding or culinary or baking," he said.
