Skills Canada


Skills Canada is a Canadian non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of careers in technology and skilled trades. One of their major initiatives is the annual Skills Canada National Competition. This is an Olympic-style event in which competitors from across the country take part in various skilled trades and technology contests. Each Canadian province and territory has its own chapter of Skills Canada and they hold qualifying provincial competitions in their respective areas to determine their provincial and territorial candidates who will participate at the annual Canadian event. Competitors may participate at either the high-school or post-secondary level. The purpose of Skills Canada is to open the eyes of young people to the world of skilled trades. Canada is experiencing a shortage of skilled labourers, and Skills Canada hopes to fill in that gap. The baby boom generation has reached retirement age and the country is having difficulty retaining workers, adding to the shortage. Competitions are held at the provincial and territorial levels, with the best competitors from each province reaching the national event. Biannually, the top competitors in the country are invited to represent Canada at the WorldSkills competition, an international event hosted by WorldSkills International which is attended by competitors from over 80 member countries and regions.

Competition areas

Areas of competition at the annual Skills Canada National Competition are divided into six sectors. These sectors and competitions are:

Construction Sector

To date, twenty-five Skills Canada National Competitions have been held. In 2020 the event had been scheduled to be held in Vancouver, British Columbia but was cancelled due to the COVID19 pandemic.
EventCityProvinceYear
25HalifaxNova Scotia2019
24EdmontonAlberta2018
23WinnipegManitoba2017
22MonctonNew Brunswick2016
21SaskatoonSaskatchewan2015
20TorontoOntario2014
19VancouverBritish Columbia2013
18EdmontonAlberta2012
17Quebec CityQuebec2011
16WaterlooOntario2010
15CharlottetownPrince Edward Island2009
14CalgaryAlberta2008
13SaskatoonSaskatchewan2007
12HalifaxNova Scotia2006
11EdmontonAlberta2005
10WinnipegManitoba2004
9KitchenerOntario2003
8VancouverBritish Columbia2002
7EdmontonAlberta2001
6Quebec CityQuebec2000
5KitchenerOntario1999
4VancouverBritish Columbia1998
3Red DeerAlberta1997
2MontrealQuebec1996
1HamiltonOntario1994