SAIT gears up to host over 1,000

By WorldSkills Calgary 2009 Ltd.

Taking on 1,076 guests for 10 full days isn’t something they do every day, but the staff at SAIT Polytechnic who are dedicated to WorldSkills Calgary 2009 are determined to make it look easy.

Almost 30 SAIT staff from 10 departments are committed to the project, working with each other and in their own departments to ensure Competitors and Team Leaders have a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable experience while on campus.

“In addition to the committee members, SAIT and its service providers will marshal enough support staff to house, feed, entertain, and communicate with everyone,” said Patricia Rokosh, SAIT’s Skills Coordinator.

This is the first time in WorldSkills history that all Competitors will share the same high-quality accommodation at a single-site Competitor’s Village. SAIT student and WorldSkills Calgary 2009 Competitor Brad Chyz looks forward to being able to meet everyone and size up his competition in the sheet metal technology category.

“I think it’s a good thing,” he said. “We’ll be able to talk to everybody from every country. I think they will love SAIT, with all the scenery and landscaping around campus. I’m pretty sure they will think it’s a nice place.”

Competitors and their Team Leaders will be housed in two Residence Towers on the SAIT Main Campus. The East Tower, opened in 2001, features apartment-style accommodation with private bedrooms and open common areas in all suites. The Tower Residence, newly opened in 2008, features clean lines and state-of-the-art construction with single and double suites – all with private bedrooms. Both buildings showcase the city and mountain skylines.

“All units also have hard-wired internet access,” Rokosh said. “Wireless internet access will be available on campus and guests will be able to sign up for passwords on arrival. At the base of the Tower Residence, guests can access Sobey’s, the on-campus grocery store, and Starbucks for coffee and light snacks. The Campus Recreation facilities, including a swimming pool and weight room, will be available for use by all Competitor’s Village guest residents.”

On-campus meals will be served in the Heart Building, a short walk from either Residence location. Menu options will reflect cultural and religious preferences and range from Halal-certified proteins to Japanese-style rice and fish. Competitors will also access the C-Train at SAIT for transport directly to the Competition site at Stampede Park.

“The WorldSkills Calgary 2009 project is so valuable to SAIT Polytechnic that the start of the school year for full-time students was moved back to Sept. 14 in order to accommodate Competitors and Team Leaders and to allow for a well-executed move-in for the full-time residents post-event,”Rokosh said.

Rokosh adds that meetings were held with a number of visiting international Team Leaders over the past year, and the response to the housing arrangements at SAIT have been very positive.