RDP celebrates apprentices' achievements at Building on Excellence event

Dec 15, 2022

Photo (l-r): Stuart Cullum (President of Red Deer Polytechnic), Terry Welch (RDP Electrician Instructor and Skills Coach), Tristen Hatto (Electrician apprentice), Dayton Playford (Welding apprentice), Lee Yasinski (RDP Welding Instructor and Skills Coach), and Chris Browton (Executive Director of Skills Canada Alberta)

At the Building on Excellence Skills Canada event held today, Red Deer Polytechnic recognized an outstanding group of apprentices who demonstrated their high-level competencies at Skills Canada competitions.

Skills Canada is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of careers in technology and skilled trades across the nation and has chapters, including Skills Canada Alberta, in every province and territory.

In 2022, Red Deer Polytechnic Apprentices earned three gold, two silver, and three bronze medals at Skills Canada Alberta and two gold medals at Skills Canada National competitions. Dayton Playford (Welding) and Tristen Hatto (Electrical Installations) also represented the Polytechnic and Team Canada at WorldSkills International competitions. WorldSkills, of which Skills Canada is a member, is an organization that hosts conferences and competitions to promote the benefits of and need for skilled trades professionals around the world.

“With high-quality learning opportunities that are provided by dedicated Red Deer Polytechnic faculty and staff, our apprentices equaled their highest annual medal total in the history of the institution at the 2022 Skills Canada competitions,” says Joel Gingrich, Dean, Red Deer Polytechnic’s School of Education and Trades. “We were thrilled to gather as a Polytechnic community with alumni, employers and industry partners to celebrate their achievements.”

Red Deer Polytechnic Apprentices have progressively increased their impact at Skills Canada Alberta and Skills Canada National competitions. In 2003, RDP Apprentices won one gold medal provincially and one gold nationally. At the last two Skills competitions, they impressively earned 10 medals each year. The Polytechnic’s Apprentices have remarkably achieved a total of 73 medals at Skills Canada Alberta and Skills Canada National competitions since 2003.

While Red Deer Polytechnic’s programming and instructors contribute significantly to the development of apprentices, industry partners also provide valuable opportunities and support for students.

“Today’s event not only celebrated the accomplishments of Red Deer Polytechnic Apprentices, but it provided an opportunity for us to thank our partners for their contributions to the success of our learners,” says Stuart Cullum, President of Red Deer Polytechnic. “Each of the student’s employers, along with Skills Canada Alberta, play integral roles in the training of RDP Apprentices by providing opportunities and resources that complement the Polytechnic’s programming. These collaborations are vital in developing skilled trades workers and fulfilling labour market demands that contribute greatly to the economic prosperity of Alberta.”

The next Skills Canada Alberta competition for post-secondary students will be held at the Edmonton EXPO Centre May 3-4, 2023.

Gold medalists at Skills Canada National

Tristen Hatto, Electrical Installations
- Hatto represented Team Canada at WorldSkills International competition in Salzburg, Austria, finishing 19th among global competitors.
Dayton Playford, Welding
- Playford also represented Team Canada at WorldSkills International competition in Cleveland, Ohio, placing seventh and earning a Medallion of Excellence.

Gold medalists at Skills Canada Alberta