“They have these fundamental skills and are able to add value right from the start!” Assiniboine College – DiscoverWestman.com

In early June, three Assiniboine College students took home prestigious awards at the Skills Canada competition in Quebec City, where they competed against the top 500 students from across the country.

Christopher Obsniuk, a Network Administration Technology student, received a gold medal, as did Kathryn Nichol in Digital Art and Design. Nik Ross received a bronze medal in Electrical Installation.

According to a report by RBC, Canada will have a shortage of 10,000 skilled workers by 2026. The fact that Assiniboine College is receiving such accolades at the national level speaks to the high level of education these students receive, says Kevin Rogers, chair of manufacturing and agri-processing.

“I think the philosophy of ‘learning by doing’ really comes across as well,” explains Rogers. “You can see it, you can practice it and you get feedback on your performance, and that feedback has obviously been pretty good when our students have been able to win those national competitions. But it also gives the graduates the confidence that they have the skills to do what they’ve chosen to do in that profession. Whether that’s being a plumber, an electrician or an auto mechanic, they get that feedback so they have the confidence to do what they need to do and have a long and successful career.”

Rogers agrees that there is a clear gap in the skilled trades and that Assiniboine College is doing its best to fill it. He notes that when employers hire new employees, they want to be sure that this new team member has the skills and abilities to be an asset to the team. This, again, is a key goal of Assiniboine College.

Please listen to more from Kevin Rogers on this topic below.

(Photo ID: From left to right: (Kathryn Nichol, Christopher Obsniuk, Nik Ross)