May 18, 2011: Halton District School Board is proud of the tremendous success secondary students achieved at the 2011 Ontario Skills Competition, which were held earlier this month at RIM Park in Waterloo.

Secondary students brought home five gold, three silver and three bronze medals from the May 3 event.  The competition is considered to be the largest skilled trades competition in Canada. These students went through in-school competitions and the Halton Skills Competition, then qualifying competitions at Niagara College, before placing at the Ontario Skills Competition. These competitions represented many hours of practicing by students and their coaches. Four of the five gold medal winners will be going to Quebec City to the Canadian Skills Competition from May 30-June 4, 2011. 

Jonathan VanOosten, from Acton High School, won “The Award of Excellence” and a $1,500 scholarship for getting the top mark of all secondary competitors who competed at the Ontario Skills Competition. VanOosten was required to demonstrate, through practical and theoretical application, his skills and knowledge in the field of architectural design and drafting using the medium of computer-aided drafting. VanOosten – who will be heading to the Canadian Skills Competition – competed for a total of six hours against a field of 23 competitors from across the province.

Further, Halton District School Board received the award for top combined marks of all its participating students.

At this year’s Ontario Skills Competition, more than 1,800 competitors in 63 skilled trade contest areas for elementary, secondary and post-secondary students participated.

The awards and closing ceremony were held on May 4 at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex, in Waterloo.

To view the list of winners, click here.


For additional information, contact:
      Barb Finan, OYAP and Pathways Facilitator
      Halton District School Board
      (905) 631-6120, ext. 449