Each year, Skills Ontario hosts a skills competition and career exploration showcase for students at the elementary level all the way to post-secondary. This year, with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in mind, the 2021 Skills Ontario Competition was hosted virtually for both competitors and spectators.
From April 22nd to May 7th, in teams or independently, students competed in various skilled trades competitions via live video calls or by submitting longer-term projects. At the closing ceremony, it was announced that three secondary and six elementary Durham District School Board (DDSB) students achieved a combination of Gold, Silver and Bronze medals.
View the charts below for a list of Skills Ontario DDSB winners and their teacher-mentors.
Elementary
| Student Name and DDSB School | Challenge | Medal Achievement | DDSB Mentor | ||||
| Lily and Meganne, William Dunbar Public School | Grade 4 to 6 Technology Design | Gold | Darren Kennedy, Teacher | ||||
| Ava and Margie, Prince Albert Public School | Grade 4 to 6 Technology Design | Silver | Katherine Miles, Teacher | ||||
| James, Northern Dancer Public School | TV/Video Production | Silver | Kathleen Bourne, Teacher | ||||
| Ayesha, Applecroft Public School | TV/Video Production | Bronze | Kathleen Bourne, Teacher |
Secondary
| Student Name and DDSB School | Challenge | Medal Achievement | DDSB Mentor |
| Matthew Bennett, Brooklin High School | Photography | Gold | Lydia Keen, Teacher |
| Sri Vanama, Pickering High School | IT Office Software Applications | Gold | Geetha Nair, Teacher |
| Saismetha Visnukumar, Pickering High School | IT Office Software Applications | Silver | Geetha Nair, Teacher |
Following Skills Ontario, secondary students who received a gold medal moved on to the Skills Canada National Competition. This year, the Skills Canada Awards Ceremony took place on June 15 and Matthew Bennett of Brooklin High School claimed his second gold medal in Photography and Sri Vanama of Pickering High School claimed a silver medal in IT Office Software Applications.
Quotes
“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I extend my sincere thanks to all students and staff who participated in the virtual Skills Ontario and Skills Canada competitions. All of you have done exceptionally well to represent the Durham District School Board provincially and nationally. Congratulations to the award winners from the Durham District School Board!” Carolyn Morton, Chair, Durham District School Board.
“Overall, 304 elementary students from across the system were supported with resources and training to take part in the Elementary Skills Ontario challenges. Even with the added challenges of COVID-
19 and learning from home, we submitted 14 projects and earned four medals. We’re proud of our students for learning new skills, collaborating, communicating, and creatively finishing their projects during lockdown,” Jennette Walton, Community Connected Experiential Learning Facilitator.
“We had 16 DDSB secondary students compete at the provincial competition as well as two students at the national competition this year. At the awards ceremonies on May 13 and June 15, DDSB secondary students proved mighty. In working with these students and their teacher-mentors throughout this year, I know how much passion they have for their skilled areas, and I am so proud of their achievements!” Jennifer Parrington, Specialist High Skills Major and Technological Education Facilitator.
SOURCE DDSB
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