Thompson students made a pretty good showing at the 21st annual Skills Manitoba Competition back in April at Red River College in Winnipeg.
In total, seven students from R.D. Parker Collegiate competed in this provincial contest that’s meant to test their abilities in in 42 different skilled trades, including autobody repair, baking, welding, carpentry and hairstyling, to name a few.
Grade 10 student Reid McDonald stood apart from the rest of his fellow RDPC pupils by capturing a gold medal in the “outdoor power and recreation equipment” category. This represents a significant step-up over his fifth place finish in last year’s skills competition.
According to McDonald, this particular event tasked him with taking apart small engines and putting them back together within a four-hour time limit. Once that time ran out, his performance was evaluated by different industry professionals and educators.
This kind of activity almost comes as second nature to McDonald, since he’s used to tinkering around with his own motorized vehicles at home.
“I’ve always loved snowmobiling and dirt biking and stuff,” he told the Thompson Citizen June 13. “I’m usually working on my dirt bike or my snowmobile all the time.”
RDPC power mechanics teacher Mick Slack wasn’t that surprised by McDonald’s success at provincials, since his student’s understanding of the subject matter has been on a dramatic increase over the last two years.
“You can see the knowledge of him being able to know what the parts are and what they do, besides just tearing it apart and putting it back together,” said Slack. “He now knows why the parts are there … he’s starting to get the knowledge behind why it’s constructed the way that it is.”
Because of his success in Winnipeg, McDonald rerpresented Manitoba in the 24th Skills Canada National Competition June 3−6 in Edmonton.
This time around, McDonald encountered a couple problems with some of the engines and machinery he was asked to work with and ended up placing seventh in his category.
“Everything that was there was new to me,” he said. “I wasn’t really prepared for what I had to do, but I feel like I did all right.”
Slack said McDonald is still way ahead of his competition, since he was the youngest participant in an event full of seasoned Grade 12 students.
Over the next two years, Slack aims to help McDonald iron out his weaknesses and return to these provincial and national skills competitions better than ever.
“That’s what we’re going to be working in the next six to eight months,“ said Slack. “Getting him ready for the provincials in Winnipeg, and hopefully, if he’s successful there, we’ll move on to the nationals in Halifax next year.”
Other RDPC students who competed at this year’s Skills Manitoba Competition include: C.J. Hamel (outdoor power and recreation equipment), Gabe Brightnose (cabinet making), Kailyn Koutecky (hairstyling), Chaira Beardy (hairstyling), Julia Davidson (hairstyling) and Hailey Cordell (hairstyling).
