Two Sheridan Apprentices bring home medals from the Skills Canada National Competition

Building on their gold medal performances at the recent Skills Ontario competition, Graham Mills (Industrial Mechanic Millwright) and Mohamed (Ben) Rahim (Precision Machining) both produced exceptional performances again at the 20th Skills Canada National Competition held in Toronto this past week.  Graham won the Gold medal in Millwrighting, and Ben took home the Bronze in Precision Machining.

The two Sheridan apprentices were competing against provincial and territorial champions from across Canada at the two-day event.  In the Millwrighting category, the competitors were challenged with the complete teardown of a machine bedplate, including the teardown and rebuild of a centrifugal pump and a coupling alignment to an electric motor to complete the total rebuild of the bedplate; a precision bench fitting exercise; and two high pressure stainless steel tube bending exercises.   

“In the 6 yrs. I have been involved at the National level, this is the most talented group of apprentices that have assembled from across the country. The margins between a medal and nothing were very small. Graham’s attention to the tiny details in all disciplines was the difference in him taking Gold,” said Sheridan Skilled Trades Professor, Craig Brazil, and National Technical Chair for the IMM Skills Canada contest.  

Graham Mills Skills Canada Gold, Medal Winner Industrial Mechanic Millwright (Pictured above right: Ben Rahim, Skills Canada Bronze, Medal Winner Precision Machining)

In the Precision Machining category, competitors were given two piece parts to produce - one on a vertical milling machine using aluminum and one on a lathe using steel, using a variety of machining techniques, procedures and tools.  “The amount of pressure these competitors are under during the two days of competition is immense.  Ben has the ability to keep a very even keel at all times no matter the pressure, and this coupled with his high skill level is why he medaled,” said Michael Reid, Ben’s Precision Machining Advisor.

Graham and Ben will now work towards completing their given apprenticeships and take their Interprovincial Red Seal Ticket Examinations to become certified tradespersons. “These are two very talented young men who will do great things in the future,” said Reid and Brazil.