Six regional gold medalists from SD8 will represent the Kootenays at the Skills Canada BC provincial competition at the Abbotsford Trade and Exhibition Centre on April 15.

Students won their competition categories at the Skills BC Kootenay regional competition on February 27. Provincial qualifiers include Makala Burjaw (Graphic Design), Katrina Matter (Photography), Rio West and Sonny Brown (Video Production), and Flora Jewell and Hazel Johnson (2D Animation). 

Provincial qualifiers reflect a strong regional showing, with twenty SD8 students earning top-three placements and runners up in the 3D and 2D Animation, Photography, Graphic Design and Video Production (Secondary) competition at Selkirk College in Nelson. Concurrent competitions in Carpentry, Cabinetmaking, Welding, Electrical Wiring and Hairstyling (Secondary and Post-Secondary) were held at College of the Rockies in Cranbrook. 

Judges at the regional competition noted the work ethic and technical ability of SD8 competitors from Mount Sentinel Secondary (MSS), L.V. Rogers Secondary (LVR) and from two grade 8 students from Crawford Bay Elementary-Secondary School (CBESS): 

“What stood out immediately in this competition was effort. It was evident that every student involved gave this their full attention and energy. Design is not only about talent. It is about commitment to the process, and that commitment was clearly present across the board,” wrote Skills Canada Judge Darryl Jolly in his comments to competitors. Jolly is also the program chair in Digital Arts and New Media at Selkirk College. 

MSS grade 11 student Flora Jewell said she is looking forward to competing at provincials with teammate Hazel Johnson who is in grade 12. 

“Skills Canada BC is a really good place to showcase our ability to work in a faster-paced, more work-like environment than school usually provides. It’s a cool way to show how we solve problems and use our creative minds. Winning regionals showed me how much I’ve developed my time-management skills and my ability to think on the fly.”

Students say preparation for competitions like Skills Canada BC is supported by strong digital arts programs and teachers who give students opportunities to work with industry-standard software and real-world project briefs.

“At Mount Sentinel, [teachers] expect the best from students and know how to help bring that out in us,” said Jewell.

Danny Leeming is one of those teachers whose leadership in the MSS Academy of Performance and Media Program inspires students. He and teachers Martina Avis (MSS), Donovan Cavers (LVR) and Daryl-lee Schalm (CBESS) champion digital arts in their schools and across the district. 

“I’m blown away that SD8 students earned gold and silver medals in every event this year and that we saw excellent representation from grades 8 through 12 and in all three schools that competed. We are very excited to send six students to provincials in April and to see the creative path that every student pursues in the future,” said Leeming.

"I am incredibly proud of the students who represented our district. Their creativity, talent, and confidence are inspiring. Competitions like this show how career-connected learning and post-secondary partnerships with Selkirk College and College of the Rockies help students discover their strengths and imagine what’s possible beyond graduation,” said District Principal Tamara Malloff. 

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Skills Canada BC Kootenay Region Competition Results - 3D & 2D Animation, Photography, Graphic Design & Video Production (Secondary)

Video Production (Secondary)
Gold: Rio West and Sonny Brown — MSS
Silver: Lilli Perriere-Ellis and Ethan Ash — MSS
Bronze: Riin Durand and Jaxon Morris — MSS
Runner-up: Marcus Cameron and Logan Sol — CBESS

Photography (Secondary)
Gold: Katrina Matter — MSS
Silver: Isaac Chisham— MSS
Bronze: Jayde Gingras and Jakob Hadikin (tie) — MSS

Graphic Design (Secondary)
Gold: Makala Burjaw — MSS
Silver: Lola Chevalier — MSS
Bronze: Rihanna Dagsil — LVR

2D Animation (Secondary)
Gold: Flora Jewell and Hazel Johnson — MSS
Silver: Maddie Hardy and Tyler Meylove — MSS