Skills Canada (French: link=no|Compétences Canada) is a Canadian non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of careers in technology and skilled trades. One of their major initiatives is the annual Skills Canada National Competition. This is an Olympic-style event in which competitors from across the country take part in various skilled trades and technology contests. Each Canadian province and territory has its own chapter of Skills Canada and they hold qualifying provincial competitions in their respective areas to determine their provincial and territorial candidates who will participate at the annual Canadian event.
Competitors may participate at either the secondary, post-secondary, or Team Canada level. The purpose of Skills Canada is to promote skilled careers in trades and technologies to youth and the future generation.
Canada is experiencing a shortage of skilled labourers, and Skills Canada hopes to fill in that gap. The baby boom generation has reached retirement age and the country is having difficulty retaining workers, adding to the shortage. Competitions are held at the provincial and territorial levels, with the best competitors from each province reaching the national event. Biannually, the top competitors in the country are invited to represent Canada at the WorldSkills competition, an international event hosted by WorldSkills International[1] which is attended by competitors from 85 member countries and regions.[2]
Areas of competition at the annual Skills Canada National Competition are divided into six sectors. These sectors and competitions are:[3]
To date, 29 Skills Canada National Competitions have been held. In 2020 the event had been scheduled to be held in Vancouver, British Columbia but it was cancelled owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. The next competition will be held in Québec City, Québec in 2024.
| Event | City | Province | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | Québec City | Québec | 2024 |
| 28 | Winnipeg | Manitoba | 2023 |
| 27 | Vancouver | British Columbia | 2022 |
| 26 | (Virtual) | 2021 | |
| 25 | Halifax | Nova Scotia | 2019 |
| 24 | Edmonton | Alberta | 2018 |
| 23 | Winnipeg | Manitoba | 2017 |
| 22 | Moncton | New Brunswick | 2016 |
| 21 | Saskatoon | Saskatchewan | 2015 |
| 20 | Toronto | Ontario | 2014 |
| 19 | Vancouver | British Columbia | 2013 |
| 18 | Edmonton | Alberta | 2012 |
| 17 | Quebec City | Quebec | 2011 |
| 16 | Waterloo | Ontario | 2010 |
| 15 | Charlottetown | Prince Edward Island | 2009 |
| 14 | Calgary | Alberta | 2008 |
| 13 | Saskatoon | Saskatchewan | 2007 |
| 12 | Halifax | Nova Scotia | 2006 |
| 11 | Edmonton | Alberta | 2005 |
| 10 | Winnipeg | Manitoba | 2004 |
| 9 | Kitchener | Ontario | 2003 |
| 8 | Vancouver | British Columbia | 2002 |
| 7 | Edmonton | Alberta | 2001 |
| 6 | Quebec City | Quebec | 2000 |
| 5 | Kitchener | Ontario | 1999 |
| 4 | Vancouver | British Columbia | 1998 |
| 3 | Red Deer | Alberta | 1997 |
| 2 | Montreal | Quebec | 1996 |
| 1 | Hamilton | Ontario | 1994 |