Shaping Nova Scotia’s future workforce through skills competition

For many youth, deciding on a career path can be tricky business.

But for participants of the Nova Scotia Skills Competition, getting hands-on trades and technology skills is a great way to test drive potential career paths.

“This is my second year competing in photography and I won silver last year and this year I’m aiming for gold,” said 17-year-old, Arthur Dodsworth of Brookfield, N.S.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "This is my second year competing in photography and I won silver last year and this year I'm aiming for gold," said 17-year-old, Arthur Dodsworth of Brookfield, N.S.

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He’s one of the high school students who came to the NSCC Waterfront campus for the day to partake in the competition.

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Nearly 300 competitors partook in more than 40 different events.

“Skills Canada Nova Scotia is a not-for-profit organization and we provide career exploration opportunities for youth in skilled trades and technologies,” said Courtney Gouthro, executive director of Skills Canada Nova Scotia.

Each event has its own criteria that competitors need to follow for success.

Nick Hirtle competed for years in the electrical event and now runs his own electrician business.

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I’ve gone to nationals last year which was hosted in Saskatchewan and I always said once I’m done competing I’ll be there every year and I’ll never miss it till the day I die,” said Hirtle.

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He’s now a judge and knows first-hand just how tough the tasks can be.

“They have six hours to complete this task and if you fool around you’re not going to finish,” said Hirtle. “It’s a pretty intense competition.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "They have six hours to complete this task and if you fool around you're not going to finish," said Hirtle. "It's a pretty intense competition."

Winners of the provincial competitions will go on to compete at the national level this June in Moncton, New Brunswick.

Pursuing a career in trades is an opportunity that Hirtle feels is vital to Nova Scotia’s workforce.

“The world revolves around trades, without trades there’d be nothing,” Hirtle. “Carpentry builds the house you live in and electrical wires it and plumbing makes the water so without trades there’d be nothing, in my opinion.”