Sheridan students win national gold, silver at Skills Canada competition

Sheridan students captured gold and silver medals at this year's Skills Canada National Competition in Toronto, a multi-trade and technology contest that drew more than 550 students and apprentices from across the country.

Thinh Lu (Architectural Technology) won national gold in the Architectural Technology & Design event, while Christian Hills (Industrial Mechanic Millwright - Apprenticeship) placed second in the Industrial Mechanic Millwright (IMM) category. Both students qualified for the national competition after winning provincial titles last month at the Skills Ontario Competition, part of Sheridan's five-medal showing at that event.

“Moments like this speak to what is possible when students are given the opportunity to apply their learning in meaningful, real-world ways,” said Dr. Cindy Gouveia, Sheridan’s President and Vice Chancellor. “At Sheridan, we are intentional about creating experiences that build not only technical skill, but also confidence, resilience and a sense of purpose. Seeing Thinh and Christian succeed at the national level is a powerful reflection of that work, and of their commitment to their craft."

Skills Canada's Architectural Technology and Design competition challenged participants with design and drawing tasks that demonstrated understanding of architectural, sustainable and accessibility design; space-planning concepts; computer-aided design software; building codes; engineering principles; construction materials and methods; and more.

"Winning gold means the world to me and my future career. It has given me a much-needed boost in confidence, and it serves as proof of the incredible mentorship I received at Sheridan," said Lu. "My professors went above and beyond to ensure I was fully prepared before heading into both competitions. They know my strengths, always cheered me on, and provided constant support."

"Thin's journey from our Sheridan classroom to the national stage demonstrates how applied, hands-on learning builds both confidence and competence. Opportunities like Skills Canada bridge the gap between theory and practice, allowing students to truly understand how their skills perform in real conditions, exactly what our industry demands every day," added professor Grazia Nalli-Aquino, Lu's coach. "His achievement is not only a personal milestone but also a reflection of the dedication, discipline and growth we strive to cultivate in every student. It shows what becomes possible when students fully engage in experiential learning opportunities and challenge themselves beyond the classroom."

Hills' silver at Skills Canada added to a medal collection that also includes provincial bronze at last year's Skills Ontario competition. The IMM event tested technical skill, precision and problem-solving abilities through 12 hours of challenges involving welding and fabrication, layout, bearings, pumps, alignment, predictive maintenance, pneumatics and stainless steel tube-bending. "Christian did exceptionally well under very challenging conditions," said professor Stephen Jay, who supported Hills as his trainer.

"Christian is going to be an excellent millwright. He's very methodical, very steady, and he doesn't panic. Those are huge attributes in an industry where there is high pressure to repair equipment as quickly as possible," said Craig Brazil, Associate Dean of the Magna School for the Skilled Trades. "His success at Skills Canada reflects countless hours of training, dedication and commitment to excellence in his chosen trade, and is also a testament to the strength of Sheridan's Magna School for the Skilled Trades faculty and hands-on training environment. Christian serves as an inspiration to current and future skilled trades students pursuing careers as industrial mechanics."

Magna School for the Skilled Trades is Sheridan’s hub for skilled trades and apprenticeship education, preparing students for in-demand, well-paid careers as tradespeople and journeypersons. Classroom learning is reinforced by applied training using industry-standard equipment in the Magna Skilled Trades Centre, a 130,000-square-foot facility at Sheridan’s Davis Campus in Brampton. Magna Skilled Trades Centre hosted the Industrial Mechanics (IM) event of the WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition, marking just the third time that a WorldSkills discipline was contested on Canadian soil.

Photos by Marianne Sy-Lucero, Sheridan Digital Communications Officer.