Calgary Welcomes the World

By Jennifer Hilliker, Commuications Coordinator, WorldSkills Calgary 2009, Ltd.

Just days away from the 40th WorldSkills Competition, Calgarians and international visitors are quickly getting swept up in the excitement.

Those who have attended past WorldSkills Competitions say watching the international Competitors, who are all under the age of 23, can be just as exciting as elite-level sports.

“To witness the global skills movement in action is to develop a deeper respect and appreciation for the passion, determination and expertise embodied by these Competitors,” said Richard Walker, President and CEO of WorldSkills Calgary 2009.

“This is only the second time the WorldSkills Competition has been hosted in Canada in the 59-year history of WorldSkills International. It’s not likely to come back here anytime soon, so this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the best of the best in skills, trades and technologies up close.”

Admission to the Competition is free on September 2 – 5, with all competitions occurring simultaneously over four days. WorldSkills Calgary 2009 covers 80,000 square metres of space at Stampede Park, making it the largest independent event ever hosted there. Several interactive components, including education and career booths, showcase many promising and viable career options. Visitors can also Try-A-Skill by trying Electrical Wiring, laying a welding bead, learning the art of Bricklaying or trying out virtual painting.

With an estimated total attendance of 150,000, 40,000 hotel room nights, 3,500 international Delegates and 3,000 volunteers, the event is predicted to bring in $82 million in economic benefits to the City of Calgary.

Many employers line up to hire students who compete in the WorldSkills Competition, even during a slower economy. When Skills Finland hosted the 38th WorldSkills Competition in 2005, they developed a five-year economic development plan, culminating in the Competition. As a result of their plan, Finland saw a 20 per cent increase in applications to vocational training programs over those five years.

“Skilled tradespeople and technologists will continue to play a key role in building Alberta’s next generation economy,” said Doug Horner, Minister of Alberta Advanced Education and Technology. “That’s why, as the leading funder for this exciting Competition, we’re eager to inspire and encourage Alberta learners to pursue careers in the skills, trades and technologies, and we will continue the legacy of the Competition by distributing event equipment across Alberta to enhance hands-on learning opportunities in these high-demand fields.”

Walker said the timing of the 40th WorldSkills Competition couldn’t be better.

“Since our economy is in a reloading rather than a boom phase, people are taking time to catch a breath, retool, retrain and reload their reservoir of energy. This is an excellent time for young people to be focusing on their skills,” he said.

The Honourable Diane Finley, federal Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, agrees.

"Our Government is dedicated to making Canada’s workforce the best educated, most skilled and most flexible in the world. We are taking action to help youth reach their full potential and that's why we are very proud to support Skills/Compétences Canada and WorldSkills Calgary 2009."

Although Alberta has only 10 per cent of Canada’s labour force, the province trains more than 20 per cent of the country’s apprentices, according to research by Calgary Economic Development.

During the 2001 – 2006 period, Alberta apprenticeship registrations rose by 71 per cent. As of December 2008, there were 70,415 registered apprentices working in Alberta, and 89,200 people in Calgary working in the six skill categories represented at WorldSkills Calgary 2009.

The categories are Transportation and Logistics, Construction and Building Technology, Manufacturing and Engineering Technology, Information and Communication Technology, Creative Arts and Fashion and Social and Personal Services. For a complete listing of the 45 skills, trades and technologies in the Competition.

Competitors and Team Leaders will also be visiting schools in Calgary on Sept. 1 as part of the One School, One Country program. The program matches 159 elementary and middle schools with one of the 51 WorldSkills International Member countries/regions that have sent a team to compete at WorldSkills Calgary 2009. Throughout the 2008/2009 school year, students learned about their matched country or region’s culture and their part in the Competition. 55 of those schools will “Welcome the World to Calgary” as they host Competitors from the country or region they have been studying.

The next WorldSkills Competition is in London, United Kingdom in 2011. The WorldSkills London 2011 organizing committee is visiting Calgary in September to gain insight to assist in their planning for the London Competition. Paris, France and Leipzig, Germany have bid to host the 42nd WorldSkills Competition in 2013. The winning bid will be announced Sept. 1 in Calgary so that the country’s representatives can also learn from WorldSkills Calgary 2009 during their visit to Calgary.

 For more information please visit: www.worldskills2009.com.