Bronze skills win recognition
Student, apprentice win medals at Territorial Skills Competition
Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Monday, May 15, 2017
HAY RIVER
Two Hay River residents recently returned home with medals from the Territorial Skills Competition.
Jason Griffiths, a student at Diamond Jenness Secondary School, and James Simon, an employee of Clark Builders, both claimed bronze in the competition held on May 2 in Yellowknife.
Griffiths, who is in Grade 11, won his medal in the welding division for secondary school students.
"It's a pretty good experience for welding," he said of the territorial competition, which he was attending for the first time.
The 17-year-old noted there were 10 welders in his division, and he was the youngest.
Griffiths said welding is fun, although he doesn't think it will become his trade when he leaves high school.
However, he hopes to return to the territorials again next year.
Simon, who is originally from Jean Marie River, won his medal in the carpentry post-secondary division.
And for the 29-year-old Simon, the competition was a return to something that he experienced while going to high school in Fort Simpson.
Back then, he came third in carpentry while in Grades 10 & 11, and actually won gold in the territorial competition while in Grade 12 back in 2006, and went on to the national skills competition in Halifax.
"It brought back a lot of memories," he said of returning to the Territorial Skills Competition after 11 years, noting he wasn't as nervous as the first time he competed.
Simon, who has been living in Hay River for four years and recently began an apprenticeship with Clark Builders, has nothing but good things to say about the skills competition.
"They're awesome," he said. "They improve your skills and test your skills, and see where your weakest points are. And you just go from there."
Simon said the competitions are a great learning experience, and build a person's confidence.
Both Simon and Griffiths earned their way to the Territorial Skills Competition by winning gold at regional competitions held earlier in Hay River.
Only the gold medallists at the Territorial Skills Competition go on to the national competition, which this year will be held in Winnipeg from May 31 to June 3.
Teya Moore, the events co-ordinator with Skills Canada NWT, noted 71 people registered for the Territorial Skills Competition from all over the NWT.
"It was a good competition," she said. "Everybody was really focused."
They competed in auto service, baking, carpentry, cooking, electrical, graphic design, hairstyling, millwright, modern sewing, photography, plumbing, small powered equipment, traditional sewing, TV/video production, welding and workplace safety.
