Team Nova Scotia Heads to Nationals

For the first time ever, a Nova Scotian team will test their skills in a national trades and technologies competition. Fifteen students and apprentices from across the province will be in Vancouver next week competing against more than 700 students in the fourth annual Canadian Skills Competition.

The event gives participants the opportunity to test their skills against industry standards and their peers from across the country. Winners in Vancouver will have a further opportunity to take additional training and compete in the International Skills Competition being held in Montreal in 1999.

The competition is sponsored by the Department of Education and Culture and Human Resources Development Canada through Skills Canada-Nova Scotia, a not-for-profit provincial association of businesses, government, labour groups, educators and students.

The Skills Canada-Nova Scotia Team represents the top students in selected trades and technologies. Many of the participants were chosen through provincial and regional competitions held early in April.

The following people will represent Nova Scotia: Nadine Gray, Men's Hairdressing; Jeff Pineault, CNC Turning; Marvin Douglas Withrow, Welding; Rebecca Park, Ladies Hairdressing; David Wyman, Welding; Curtis Giles, Autobody Repair; Steven Silver, Welding; Dana McCarthy, Plumbing; Brad Tait, Refrigeration; Nathan Krane, Mechanical Design CAD; Peter Banks, Carpentry; Charles Maillet, Mechanical Design CAD; Patrick Doucette, Carpentry; Kate MacEachern, Baking; Shawn McKerness, Culinary Arts.

Tina Kelly-Garnett, executive director of Skills Canada-Nova Scotia said students competing in Vancouver have an extraordinary opportunity.

"Not only will this event give the students a chance to measure their skills against the rest of Canada, they will also be part of history as the first Nova Scotian competitors. The contest will provide significant building blocks toward their future careers."

Note: The following is intended for broadcast media:

Fifteen top students and apprentices from across the

province will be in Vancouver next week to test their skills in a

national trades and technologies competition.

The first ever Nova Scotia team will compete against 700

peers from across the country.

The competition is sponsored by the Department of Education

and Culture and Human Resources Development Canada.

Note to editors:

A meeting for Nova Scotian participants will be held at 8 p.m., tonight (Thursday, May 7)at the Institute of Technology, Leeds Street, Halifax.

To arrange a photo opportunity or an interview with one of the participants, please contact Doug Hadley at 424-3999 or [email protected]