Students Rise to the Challenge at DSBN Technological Skills Events

Over three thousand students will put their skills to the test at the 19th annual DSBN Technological Skills Challenges taking place over the next two weeks. Students will be showcasing their abilities in 30 different challenges. Events include everything from baking to construction, graphic design and welding.

“Many of these students taking part in the challenges are enrolled in the Board’s Specialist High Skill Major (SHSM) programming,” says Kevin Graham, Team Leader for Technological and Outdoor Education at the DSBN. “These students will be gaining valuable skills that help them become better prepared for a future in the skilled trades and technologies.”

On Wednesday, March 1, the secondary challenges will be held in partnership with Niagara College at the Welland, Niagara-on-the-Lake, and Maid of the Mist campuses. Over 350 secondary students representing 19 DSBN high schools will take part in 25 different challenges.

Grade 7 and 8 students have the opportunity to participate in the Elementary Techknowledge preliminaries taking place at the seven Design and Technology Centres throughout the DSBN. This challenge, in partnership with Ontario Power Generation (OPG), gives students a task based on real-life projects with OPG. The Techknowledge finals will be held at the DSBN Education Centre in St. Catharines on Monday, March 6.

The Skills Challenges will conclude with the individual and team Carpentry Challenges at Market Square in St. Catharines on Wednesday, March 8. The top 3 finalists from each DSBN Technological Skills Challenge will be recognized at the DSBN Skills Celebration to be held on April 13 at Club Italia in Niagara Falls. Gold medalists will represent the DSBN at the Skills Ontario Provincial Finals held at the Toronto Congress Centre May 2 - 3.

Gold medalists at the Provincial level will become part of Team Ontario and advance to the Skills National Finals held in Manitoba from May 29 - June 2.