Darrin Crouse can build on his future after winning a silver medal in brick masonry at the 19th Skills Canada National Skills Competition, held June 5 to 8 at BC Place in Vancouver.
Crouse, 24, a student at Conestoga College, was one of 67 students representing Team Ontario, competing against secondary and post-secondary students from across the country.
The students had the chance to show off their future employment skills in various contest areas, including welding, automation, culinary and others.
“The experience was awesome,” Crouse said. “It was a really well run and organized event.”
To qualify for the national competition, students first competed in their chosen skill contests at The Ontario Technological Skills Competition in Waterloo, which ran from May 6 to 8.
“My teachers at Conestoga chose me to represent the school at the Ontario qualifying competition,” said Crouse. “I won that, and thus earned my spot to represent Ontario at Nationals.”
Forty of the 67 Ontario students returned home with gold, silver and bronze medals.
“We had 12 hours to complete a project,” explained Crouse, noting there were seven competitors in his class.
“We had to interpret a set of plans that were given to us and complete the project in the given time frame.”
For his efforts, Crouse earned a silver medal.
The event was hosted by Skills Canada as a way to promote skilled trade occupations to young people.
It is expected that in the next 10 years, skilled trade labour will be in a shortfall, despite a high demand.
On hand for the event, guest speaker and celebrity contractor Mike Holmes, of the television show Holmes on Holmes, told the participants, “If you love what you do, you will do well.”
Crouse is currently working as an apprentice under the mentorship of Scott Marshall, owner of Marshall Masonry in Elora.
“I hope to one day own my own masonry business,” Crouse said.
