FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
On Thursday, April 3, Avon Maitland District School Board (AMDSB) held its annual local Skills Ontario Competition at Listowel District Secondary School (LDSS). Students from three high schools participated in two events: Team of Two Carpentry and Welding.
In the Team of Two Carpentry event, Sarah Darou and Hayley King from LDSS competed against Dylan McNeil and Braydon Curran from Goderich District Collegiate Institute (GDCI). Both teams demonstrated exceptional talents, but McNeil and Curran were awarded the win not only for their skills, but also for completing their project within the allotted time. They will represent AMDSB at the provincial competition on May 6 at the Toronto Congress Centre.
The Welding event saw two students from LDSS and one student from St. Marys DCVI vying for two qualifying spots at Fanshawe College on April 5. Grade 12 student Julian Craiovan credited his manufacturing class and cooperative education placement at Dynamic Millwrights for his preparation. “I spent a lot of time in class working on welds and being out at co-op gave me the opportunity to continue to practice some skills that helped me in the competition”, said Craiovan. Carson Van Fleet from St. Marys DCVI felt confident due to his previous experience in the local competition last year. “I competed as a grade 11 student, so I knew what to expect. I wasn’t nervous about the competition because I did it last year.” Theo Bruhacher from LDSS, a grade 11 student, appreciated the experience and plans to compete again next year. “It was a good experience to have. I’ll be back next year,” he said.
Craiovan and Van Fleet advanced to the qualifying competition at Fanshawe College on April 5, where they represented AMDSB admirably. Van Fleet placed first overall and will advance to the provincial competition.
Logan Karges from GDCI also competed at the Fanshawe College Qualifying Competition where he won gold. Karges was no stranger to the competition as he competed at the local team of two carpentry competition last year. Since that experience he has registered as a General Carpenter through the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program where he has really honed his skills with employer McGee Construction. He will be representing AMDSB in Toronto at the provincial competition.
Luke Jackson from Stratford District Secondary School (SDSS) will also be competing at the provincial competition in the Automotive Service Technology Competition. Additionally, AMDSB will send 40 elementary students to the Skills Ontario Competition in Toronto on May 5 to compete in LEGO Robotics, VEX IQ Robotics, Technology, Character Animation and Construction.
For more information, please contact:
Chera Longston, Communications Manager
519-301-6363 (cell); [email protected]
Image 1: Dylan McNeil and Braydon Curran from Goderich District Collegiate Institute (Team of Two Carpentry)
Image 2: Sarah Darou and Hayley King from Listowel District SS (Team of Two Carpentry)
Image 3: Theo Brubacher from Listowel District SS (Welding)
Image 4: Carson Van Fleet (St Marys DCVI) and Logan Karges (GDCI) at the Fanshawe College Qualifying Competition
Image 5: All student competitors from the LDSS event
