Sudbury student wins gold at Skills Canada national competition
The winners of the Workplace Safety competition at the secondary level of the employment section of the Skills Canada National Competition 2025 in Regina, Sask. Shown are gold medal winner Esohe Aibangbee from Team Ontario (centre), silver medalist Kira Simpson from Team Manitoba (right) and bronze medalist Elliot Wang from team British Columbia (left.) (Skills Canada/Flickr)
Esohe Aibangbee, a Grade 11 student from Lockerby Composite School in Greater Sudbury, has been crowned national champion in the Workplace Safety category at the Skills Canada National Competition 2025 in Regina, Sask.
Aibangbee took home the gold medal in the secondary-level of the employment award at the competition, held May 28-31.
Team Ontario - Skilled Canada National comp
Team Ontario on May 29, 2025, at the Skills Canada National Competition 2025 at the REAL District in Regina, Sask. (Skills Canada/Flickr)
She represented Team Ontario and was one of over 500 competitors vying for titles in more than 40 skilled trade and technology categories.
'A big congratulations goes out to Esohe who won the health and safety event at the national Skills Canada competition in Saskatchewan! Incredible!' said her school in a social media post.
'We are so proud of you!'
The competition
The event, hosted at the REAL District, drew thousands of student visitors and industry leaders, featuring hands-on activities and career showcases. Skills Canada CEO Shaun Thorson emphasized the competition's role in promoting skilled trades, calling it an opportunity to connect youth with 'exciting, in-demand career paths,' in a news release Saturday.
Focus on the future
Aibangbee's win highlights a growing focus on skilled trades education, as Canada faces an estimated shortage of 10,000 skilled workers by 2026, according to a recent RBC report.
The next national competition will be held in Toronto in May 2026.
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