It was a hard decision to make, the 2022 Skills Ontario Competitions would be held once more virtually via https://www.skillsontario.com/.
The last in person event was held in 2019 at the Toronto Congress Centre. While some competitions can be completed by students virtually, our IBEW readers can attest that running conduit and wiring panels are hands on.
ECAO & IBEW Stanch Supporters of Skills Ontario
For over 30 years the IBEW and the ECAO have sponsored the Ontario Skills competition. Never has it been more important to support Skills. We need a new generation to enter our workforce and educating our youth to consider a dynamic career in the electrical industry is an important step.
IBEW Local 353 steps up
Skills Ontario reached out to all union building trades for help to gauge interest in hosting a competition at their training centre. The IBEW was on the call list and Jodi Hill from Local 353 (Jodi is also the Chair of Skills Electrical Wiring Competition) was asked if the Local would consider hosting an ‘in person’ competition at their training center. If the local agreed, a team of sound and videographers would record and edit the entire event and premier the footage at the Skills Ontario Virtual Event May 3, 2022.
Meetings were held, measurements made, the training centre calendar reviewed, volunteers committed and, voila! Local 353 stepped up to the challenge and agreed to host the Post Secondary Electrical Installations Competition.
The competition
Bright and early on April 22nd at the IBEW Local 353 Orlando training centre in Mississauga, 13 apprentices arrived to compete. The entire day ran smoothly. Footage from the day’s events will be available shortly! In the meantime, check out the photos below.
It takes a village
Jodi Hill summed up his admiration for all the support which included IBEW member, industry sponsors, IBEW Local 353 employees and many volunteers.
“A special thanks to our entire membership for stepping up and allowing us to host this worthy event. It would be disappointing to say the least if we could not send a competitor to represent Ontario at the National event this year in Vancouver. It takes a lot of time and commitment from our committee to put on an event like this. We are grateful to our sponsors and in-kind donations gave all competitors gift bags as appreciation at the end of a long and stressful day. Congratulations to all our IBEW apprentices that stepped up to take on the challenge and represent their Locals. This is a very demanding and challenging day, but a great way to show off some of those skills you dedicate your time to learn and perfect. Well done and we will see you next year!”
Jodi Hill
Business Representative and Elected Board Member, IBEW Local 353
Chair, Skills Ontario Electrical Wiring Competition
Shout out to our IBEW Competitors
Thank you to the following IBEW Apprentices that participated with great enthusiasm. We also had all the non-union apprentices ask about joining the IBEW. A great day for all!
| Braeden Stevenhaagen | IBEW Local 115, working for Malette Electic in Kingston | |
| Ryan Jolley (Gold medalist) | IBEW Local 120, working for Clark Haasen Electric Inc. | |
| Spencer Johnston | IBEW Local 120, working for Canem Systems | |
| Christopher Schembri | IBEW Local 353, working for Smith & Long Ltd. | |
| Curtis Reilly (Bronze medalist) | IBEW Local 586, working for City Wye’d Electric | |
| Tomas Espinal | IBEW Local 804, working for SRB Technical Services Inc. | |
| Biagio Iannantuono | IBEW Local 804, working for Tri-Electric Solutions Inc. |
Winners
Gold Medalist: Ryan Jolley, IBEW Local 120 London (centre)
Silver Medalist: Carson Smith, Centennial College (right)
Bronze Medalist: Curtis Reilly, IBEW Local 586 (left)
Special thanks to the dedicated volunteers listed below:
Local 353: Jodi Hill, Karen Pullen, Aaron Zboch-Alves, Andrew Pereira, Martine Sevigny-Lamont, Thomas Gagnon. Adam Hicks, Alltrade Industrial Contractors. Virginia Pohler of Donald R. McNichol Consulting Inc. ECAO/IBEW CCO: Mark Watson, Patty DeMonte and Shaina Hardie. Dave Sinclair from ESA.