Skills Canada National Competition takes place in Regina, enticing next generation of workers
The National Skills Trade Convention took place at the Real District in Regina on Thursday. (Damian Smith / CTV News)
It was a big day for the skilled trades job sector on Thursday, as the National Skills Trade Convention took place at the Real District.
Five hundred Canadians representing the 10 provinces and three territories made their way to compete in more than 40 skilled trades areas to be named best in the country.
'People probably know these common ones as occupations, such as a carpenter, a plumber, an electrician,' Skills Canada CEO Shaun Thorson said. 'But we also have a lot from the transportation sector, automotive service, car painting, and aircraft maintenance.'
About 30 years old, this is the first time that the event has been hosted in Regina. Skills Canada is looking to market some of the best tradespeople from around the country, hoping to entice the future generations.
According to Employment and Social Development Canada, about 700,000 of the four million Canadians who work in the trades are set to retire by the end of the decade.
'As you know, we have our journey, people in our trades, people phasing out and retiring,' said Alora Heinrich, the Youth Program Manager at Saskatchewan Apprenticeship. 'They're understanding that there's a big space open for a lot of them to enter into the trades.'
'So, we see a lot of youth becoming more interested and more encouraged and finding their passion in terms of that type of career,' she added.
Some say there is still work to be done to encourage more youth to start their career in the skilled trades.
'There are still some challenges in trying to get to try and get people and engage young people in skilled trades,' Thorson said. 'Still, many of them are not aware of the opportunities that are available.'
'Ultimately we're trying to encourage all sorts of demographics that they're welcome and encouraged to join the trades because we are really, really pointing out that it's [a] necessary component in our day-to-day world and in our society,' Heinrich said.
The second day will continue Friday from 9 p.m. to 5 p.m., with the closing ceremonies taking place on Saturday morning.
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