OKM students share results from Skills Ready showcase

Recently, a group of Okanagan Mission Secondary School students gathered to share the results of their recent works at a Skills Ready Showcase Event.

Showcase Events connect industry members with youth and the teachers that help to guide them as they develop their skills through applied learning.

OKM's career coordinators and shop teachers Rick Kurath and Travis Drobot, recognized the benefits to providing an event for their students to showcase the skills they are learning, to a group of employers.

"It was a great "mixer", getting to watch the students meet the industries best and be able to talk about real life skills was incredible," stated Jill Robinson, career coordinator for OKM.

The event brought together 44 students with 24 employers and many other supporters which included representatives from the Southern Interior Construction Association, Canadian Home Builders Association, Industry Training Authority to name a few.

During post showcase discussions, students appreciated that the skills and knowledge they learn in the shop classes translate, not only, into many different trades, but all careers and life.

"The team at OKM is dedicated to enabling all levels of success for their students," shared Skills Ready Career Catalyst, Dave Lovisa.

"The work coming out of the carpentry and metal shops is fantastic. These young people are developing skills that will last them a lifetime and they made quite an impression on the employers that came out,"

Skills Ready is an initiative of the Construction Foundation of BC and is focused on helping to create bridges between industry and educators. Their Showcase Events are produced in partnership with schools and educators to bring industry professionals into shop classes.

These events provide a great opportunity for students to pitch their design-build process and demonstrate their skills.