Derek George is a Resolute Ignace sawmill apprentice, and a previous Lambton College millwright mechanical 2015 grad who has been selected to participate in the 2017 Skills Ontario Competition.
While at school Derek was a shop lead-hand promoting safety protocols and shop machine competency. Derek also volunteered as spokesperson for Lambton College Millwright program as an advocate for education and a profession within Canadian trades.
Samuel Lesperance, a student enrolled in a Resolute-sponsored trades program at Cambrian College, has also been selected to participate in the 2017 Skills Ontario Competition. Samuel enrolled in the Sudbury-based college’s industrial mechanical millwright program in January 2016. He will be graduating later this year and will begin his career at one of our operations.
Resolute encourages First Nations students to pursue trade careers and will hire graduates when they complete the program. Providing job opportunities is part of the company’s broader work to revitalize the millwright and mechanical trades programs at various colleges.
Taking place May 1-3, 2017, in Toronto, the Skills Ontario Competition is Canada’s largest skilled trade and technology competition, offering a unique opportunity for top students from eight colleges across the province to demonstrate that they are the best and brightest in their field. Students compete for gold, silver and bronze medals, as well as monetary awards and job offers. Winners will have the opportunity to compete at the Skills Canada National Competition in May/June in Winnipeg (Manitoba), and a select number of National Competition winners could also represent Canada in a WorldSkills Competition, which is held every two years.
Results for the Skills Ontario Competition will be made public after the closing ceremony on May 3.