UPPER CANADA DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

May 5, 2023 (Iroquois, ON) – A team of four Seaway District High School students earned second place this week in Shed Building at the 2023 Skills Ontario Competition in Toronto.

The annual event, held May 1 and 2, saw students from across the province demonstrate their knowledge and practical skills in multiple different areas, from carpentry to aesthetics.

Yesterday, Grade 10 student Evan Adams and Grade 12 students Wyatt Barkley, Connor McMillan and Cameron Stewart were presented their silver medals at the school.

“We were ecstatic and surprised to hear that we came second,” says McMillan.

The group of carpentry students said they were given blueprints to build the shed and had 10 minutes to review the plans before starting. They began with the floor, then moved to the walls and roof before sheeting the whole project.

“We worked as a team for the most part, but sometimes would assign a group member with a specific task if they were really good at it,” says Stewart.

The team was picked earlier this year to participate at the provincial level and they won second place at the Eastern Ontario SKLZ competition in Cornwall last month.

“I am proud of the dedication, determination and honesty this talented group of young men have shown me over the past few weeks,” says Construction Teacher Henry Looyen, who has been helping the group prepare for the challenge. “Being second place out of over 30 of the top teams in the province is a big deal,” adds Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) Learning Partner Ashley Grant, who accompanied the group and ten other UCDSB students to the competition earlier this week.

Adams plans to continue participating in skilled trades competitions throughout the rest of his high school career and Barkley, McMillan and Stewart are all interested in pursuing careers in the skilled trades, including carpentry, welding and mechanics.

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