The Independent

LCCVI’s Ryan Beattie is bringing home silver for welding the national skills competition.

Over the weekend, Beattie competed against students from across the country at the Skills Canada competition in the GTA. Over 500 students and apprentices from across the country competed for the title of national champions in more than 40 skilled areas. The top competitors were awarded medals in six sectors: transportation, construction, manufacturing and engineering, information technology, services and employment and were evaluated based on strict industry standards.

Beattie won silver in the welding competition for secondary students. Alberta’s Logan Swanson won gold and Nolan Hildebrand took bronze home to Manitoba.

Beattie has been honing his craft at St. Clair Mechanical in Brigden this semester where he has a full-day co-op placement. In a recent interview with The Independent, he creditted it for his advanced skills which are taking him to the Canadian Skills competition.

“They’ve given me pretty much all the tools I need to succeed,” Beattie says. “They’re constantly giving me more materials to practice.” The company also uses the same welders as the students use in competition, which is a big advantage.

“So they just set me up with that, and then when I get there to Toronto, it’ll be the same welder that I’m used to. So it’s the resources they give me I’m very grateful for.”