Let the Skills Begin!

The welders provide a lot of action.

Competiton day 1.

On Wednesday, after countless months of dedicated preparation, roughly 850 Competitors from around the globe have begun their quest for gold in Calgary. The WorldSkills Competition will run over 4 days, showcasing the very best skilled young people from every corner of the world.

This is a youth event that has a unique 60 year history. Many Experts managing competitions today are former WorldSkills Competitors themselves, and can relate exactly to how the Competitors are feeling.

One such example is Roger Dähler from Switzerland, who participated as a Wall and Floor Tiling Competitor in the 35th WorldSkills Competition in Montreal, Canada (1999). He won a bronze medal then, and now he is back as a Swiss Expert with the dream of guiding his 2009 protégé to similar success.

As the Competitors focused on their first day’s work, approximately 12,000 students from Alberta visited the Competition site, Stampede Park. They toured through the competition areas, getting an up-close and personal vantage point of all the action.

A lucky volunteer gets a massage in the Beauty Therapy Competition.

Visitors also had an opportunity to try out the competition skills for themselves, with a hands-on approach to learning in ‘Skill City’. This fan favorite features skilled trades and technologies being showcased at the Competition. From hairstyling to refrigeration, there was a variety of ways to get a better understanding of what skilled trades and technology careers have to offer; not only in our country, but all over the world. Skill City is held in conjunction with the WorldSkills Competition and will run for the duration of the event.

Come check out all of the action if you haven’t already. There are so many incredible things to see and experience, as well as important connections to be made. Beside the Competition and Skill City, a wide range of Global Industry Partners and representatives are eager to promote career opportunities and information to anyone interested; meet them all in the Global Skills Village.

Remember, WorldSkills is all about learning and helping young people find success in the career they are most passionate about, and admission is free!

Click here to see the pictures from the first day of competition.