Skills Canada Alberta will host 200 post-secondary competitors in 26 unique competitions at the Provincial Skills Canada Competition on May 11-12, 2011. Visit the scopes page for a full list of events.

Post-Secondary students can apply online for consideration.  Employers and Instructors are also encouraged to recommend their students/apprentices. Individuals selected to participate in the 2011 Provincial Skills Canada Competition will be contacted by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training or their training institute by April 1, 2011.

Gold medalists at the Provincial Skills Canada Competition earn a spot on Team Alberta and will compete at the Canadian Skills Competition happening June 1-4, 2011 in Quebec City, Quebec.

At the 2010 Canadian Skills Competition, Team Canada was selected for WorldSkills London 2011. The 2013 Team Canada will be selected at the 2012 Canadian Skills Competition

To be eligible to compete in 2011 as a post-secondary student you must be:

• Born on or after January 1, 1990
• Currently apprenticing in a trade or attending a technical institute
• An Alberta resident
• A Canadian citizen

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the Provincial Skills Canada Competition?  Best described as the Olympics of Trade and Technology, the Provincial Skills Canada Competition invites students from across Alberta, to compete in a variety of trade and technical events. During the two-day competition, each student specializes in one event area and must complete a project that has been designed by experts in that field. The philosophy of the Provincial Skills Canada Competitions is to reward students for excellence, to directly involve industry in evaluating student performance and to keep training relevant to employers' needs.

Where and when is the competition? The Provincial Skills Canada Competition is on May 11-12, 2011 at the Edmonton Expo Centre, Northlands, Edmonton. The Canadian Skills Competition is on June 1-4, 2011 in Quebec City.

How are post-secondary competitors selected for the Provincial Skills Canada Competition?Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training selects apprentices for the designated trade competitions. Competitors in other events are selected by technical training institutes. In addition to the online applications, the selection committee will talk to employers and instructors to select competitors that have the skills and attitude to succeed in competition.

How old do I have to be to compete?  To compete at the 2011 Provincial Skills Competition you must have been born on or after January 1, 1990.

When do I have to have my ‘I’m interested in competing’ application in by? Applications are being accepted until January 8, 2011.

Do I need to have my employer’s support?  We strongly encourage you to obtain your employers support to ensure you can obtain the necessary time away from work to participate. The Skills Competitions are held on weekdays, and often require students to travel. Many employers will also offer financial support (travel expenses, lost wages etc.).

Do I need to have my technical institutes support?  By approaching an instructor at your technical institute you will have greater access to training support. Many technical institutions offer assistance and financial support to their students who are interested in participating. 

When will I know if I have been selected to compete?  If selected to compete you will be contacted in early April of 2011 to confirm your participation.

How do I prepare for competition?  Visit the Event Scopes page to learn about the skills that are tested, project information and the equipment specifications. We recommend visiting the website regularly for more information on this year’s projects (we also post the previous year’s projects).

How much does it cost to participate?  Students must pay $30 to compete in the competition as well as cover their travel/accommodation expenses.

What can I expect if I am selected to compete?  Competitors will register for the Provincial Skills Canada Competition on May 10, 2011 at Edmonton Expo Centre following the Opening Ceremonies. The competition runs for two-days, May 11-12, followed by an Awards Ceremony on the evening of May 12. Gold Medalists at the Provincial Skills Canada Competition earn a spot on Team Alberta and will represent the province at the Canadian Skills Competition, happening June 1-4, 2011 in Quebec City, Quebec.

Is this a WorldSkills qualifying year?  Selection for WorldSkills is done every two years. Team Canada WorldSkills London 2011 was selected at the 2010 Canadian Skills Competition. T

For more information contact Kari Zral, Event Coordinator with Skills Canada Alberta

We wish the best of luck to all Team Alberta hopefuls!