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PODCAST

Skillz & Thrillz: Alberta"s Trade & Tech Youth

Skills Canada Alberta

Through in-depth conversations, we aim to provide valuable advice and insightful perspectives on the impact of the Skills Canada competitions on the careers and lives of our guests. Join us as we explore the journeys of Alumni and many others and uncover the lasting effects of their participation in the Skills Canada Competitions.The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Skills Canada Alberta or its affiliates. Our goal is to provide a

business careers

All Episodes

30:02

Forged in Fire: The Welding Journey of Team Canada's...

Skillz & Thrillz: Alberta"s Trade & Tech Youth ·

2025/10/21

Welcome to another episode of the Team Canada Podcast Series! In this episode, we sit down with Team Canada competitor Lucas Stang, who will be representing Canada in Welding at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026. Lucas’s journey began at Red Deer Polytechnic, where his trainer, Lee Yasinski, encouraged him to compete in the Skills competitions while he was completing his welding program. From that first competition to earning his spot on Team Canada, Lucas’s path has been forged through dedication, p...

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20:16

Soaring to New Heights with Team Canada: Benjamin...

Skillz & Thrillz: Alberta"s Trade & Tech Youth ·

2025/10/10

Welcome to another episode of the Team Canada Podcast Series! In this episode, we sit down with Team Canada competitor Benjamin Jamison, who will be representing Canada in Aerospace Technology. Benjamin shares his passion for aircraft and his journey through the Skills competitions, including competing at the national level twice before earning his spot on Team Canada. We talk about his training, what drives his interest in aerospace, and his excitement for taking his skills to the world stag...

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36:12

Fueling Success: Luke Emeny's Journey through Heavy...

Skillz & Thrillz: Alberta"s Trade & Tech Youth ·

2025/09/22

Welcome to the first episode of the Team Canada Podcast Series! In this episode, we sit down with Team Canada competitor Luke Emeny, who will be representing Canada in Heavy Vehicle Technology. Luke shares his Skills journey, from training and preparation to the moment he secured his spot on Team Canada. We talk about his excitement for competing on the world stage in Shanghai, China in 2026, and what he’s most looking forward to. This is just the beginning of Luke’s story—we’ll be catc...

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40:52

Sisters in Insulation: Breanne & Kehli Warrington on...

Skillz & Thrillz: Alberta"s Trade & Tech Youth ·

2025/09/17

Breanne and Kehli Warrington are sisters in the trade! Together, they’ve built their careers in Mechanical Insulation — studying side by side at NAIT, working on-site together, and most recently, competing together at the 2025 Provincial Skills Canada Competition, where they proudly brought home silver and bronze. In this episode, they share what it’s like to navigate the trades as sisters, the challenges and rewards of competing, and how their shared journey has shaped their careers. T...

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31:50

Bots, Gears, and Glory: Kade & Marek's Robotics Ride

Skillz & Thrillz: Alberta"s Trade & Tech Youth ·

2025/09/05

In this episode, we sit down with Kade Hamre and Marek Fournier from Brooks Composite High School, the robotics duo who powered their way to gold at the 2025 Provincial Skills Canada Competition—earning a spot on Team Alberta—and went on to claim silver at the 2025 Nationals in Regina. Kade and Marek share what it was like to prepare for competition, the challenges of designing and building a successful robot, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. From long hours of testing to the th...

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40:18

Amped Up: Diego's Electronics Journey from Circuits...

Skillz & Thrillz: Alberta"s Trade & Tech Youth ·

2025/07/25

In this episode, we sit down with Diego De Dominicis Barrios, gold medalist in Electronics Secondary at the 2025 Provincial Skills Canada Competition. His win earned him a spot on Team Alberta for the 2025 Skills Canada National Competition in Regina, Saskatchewan—where he also took home the Team Spirit Award alongside his Ernest Manning classmate, Amal Hussainy. Diego shares his inspiring Skills journey, what it was like to train and compete at such a high level, and the incredible support h...

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42:30

One Brick at a Time: Mikayla Hannesschlager's Journey...

Skillz & Thrillz: Alberta"s Trade & Tech Youth ·

2025/07/11

In this episode, we chat with Mikayla Hannesschlager, gold medalist in Bricklaying at the 2025 Provincial Skills Canada Competition and proud member of Team Alberta at the 2025 Skills Canada National Competition in Regina. Mikayla shares her journey into the skilled trades, growing up in a family of bricklayers and finding her own path in refractory work—carving a unique space in a field where her family specializes in red brick. She opens up about the training and mentorship that shaped her ...

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44:13

In Focus: Rachel Turner's Lens on Success

Skillz & Thrillz: Alberta"s Trade & Tech Youth ·

2025/06/27

In this episode, we sit down with Rachel Turner, gold medalist at the 2018 Provincial Skills Canada Competition in Photography and bronze medalist at Nationals—as she shares her inspiring journey through the world of Skills competitions and beyond. Rachel opens up about the challenges she faced and the lessons she learned, including how overcoming self-doubt played a major role in her success. She reflects on the invaluable mentorship she received from Lance Burns and how his guidance helped ...

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51:23

Currents of Change: Zack Hartle on Competing,...

Skillz & Thrillz: Alberta"s Trade & Tech Youth ·

2025/06/06

In this episode, we sit down with Zack Hartle, a Skills Canada Alberta alumnus, two-time gold medalist in Industrial Control, Electrical Trades Instructor at SAIT, and co-host of the Watts the Word podcast. Zack shares his inspiring journey from competing in Skills competitions to representing Canada at WorldSkills Germany, and how those experiences shaped his career path. Now a Provincial Technical Committee member and passionate educator, Zack discusses launching a podcast with Jason ...

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48:10

Nailing the Interview: Veronica Kjolberg's Job Search...

Skillz & Thrillz: Alberta"s Trade & Tech Youth ·

2025/05/16

In this episode, we sit down with Veronica Kjolberg, a proud Skills Canada Alberta alumna whose journey is nothing short of inspiring. Veronica competed in 2022 and 2023, capturing gold at the 2023 Skills Canada National Competition in Winnipeg. In 2024, she took her passion even further by representing Team Alberta at the Skills for Success Youth Assembly in Quebec. Veronica walks us through the highs, the lessons, and the unforgettable moments of her Skills experience. She also shares her b...

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9:15

Pro Tips for Provincial Success: Advice from Skills...

Skillz & Thrillz: Alberta"s Trade & Tech Youth ·

2025/04/28

Send us a text In this episode, we’re taking a look back at some of the incredible advice shared by Skills Canada Alberta alumni featured in past episodes. Whether you're gearing up for the 2025 Provincial Skills Canada Competition or preparing for future competitions, these tips are here to help you feel confident, calm your nerves, and set you up for success on your skills journey. Remember, you’ve got this! Good luck from all of us at Skills Canada Alberta!

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51:53

Wired, Crafted, & Connected: Laine and Taylor's...

Skillz & Thrillz: Alberta"s Trade & Tech Youth ·

2025/04/25

Send us a text In our first-ever joint episode, we’re joined by Laine Van Hardeveld and Taylor Desjardins, two standout Skills alumni whose paths crossed in the most inspiring way. Laine, a Mechatronics and Millwrights competitor and Skills Canada Alberta’s 2024 Alumni of the Year, and Taylor, a Cabinet Making competitor who went on to represent Canada at WorldSkills Russia, share how their friendship began and blossomed through the Skills competitions. From competing at the 2018 Provincial S...

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40:10

Fake Cuts, Real Skills: Brittany's Job Skill Demo and...

Skillz & Thrillz: Alberta"s Trade & Tech Youth ·

2025/04/18

Send us a text In this episode, we sit down with Brittany Kellow, a Teaching Assistant at the Aesthetics Institute, whose Skills story began in 2018 with a creative special effects makeup demonstration in the Job Skill Demonstration competition. After refining her approach and simplifying her presentation the following year, Brittany struck gold—earning her a spot on Team Alberta and a trip to the 2019 Skills Canada National Competition in Halifax. Brittany shares her path from crafting and p...

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29:47

Manufacturing the Future: Tim Wong on Competition,...

Skillz & Thrillz: Alberta"s Trade & Tech Youth ·

2025/03/31

Send us a text In this episode, we sit down with Tim Wong, whose Skills journey began in high school and continued into post-secondary. In 2016, he competed at the Provincial Skills Canada Competition, placing 1st and earning a spot on Team Alberta. He went on to represent Alberta at the Skills Canada National Competition in New Brunswick. Tim’s dedication to Skills didn’t stop there. In 2023, he was named Alumni of the Year for his contributions to the Skills community and through his ...

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26:03

Sew It Begins: Amy Herndon's Rise in Fashion & Film

Skillz & Thrillz: Alberta"s Trade & Tech Youth ·

2025/03/14

Send us a text In this episode, we sit down with Amy Herndon, a Skills Canada Alberta alum whose passion for fashion has taken her from competition runways to film and television sets! Amy competed in Fashion Technology in 2012/2013, winning gold at the Provincial Skills Canada Competition and silver at Nationals in Vancouver. Since then, her career has evolved in incredible ways—starting with high-fashion runway designs and leading to a thriving career in costume specialty builds for film an...

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37:14

Cool Under Pressure: Tyler Cherkowski's Path from...

Skillz & Thrillz: Alberta"s Trade & Tech Youth ·

2025/02/25

Send us a text In this episode, we sit down with Tyler Cherkowski, a passionate and talented competitor in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning. Tyler’s journey through Skills competitions has been nothing short of incredible—he won gold at the 2023 Provincial Skills Canada Competition, competed at Nationals, and represented Canada on the world stage at the 2024 WorldSkills Competition in Lyon, France. Tyler shares how he discovered his passion for refrigeration, fascinated by the science behin...

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48:29

The Final Cut: Sierrah Bennett's Creative Journey in...

Skillz & Thrillz: Alberta"s Trade & Tech Youth ·

2025/02/14

Send us a text In this episode, we sit down with Sierrah Bennett, a gold medalist in video production at both the provincial and national Skills Canada competitions. Growing up in Lloydminster, Sierrah never let the size of her hometown define the scope of her dreams. She shares how she pushed past doubts, proved her talent on the Skills stage, and embraced the mindset that you can achieve anything you set your mind to. We dive into her transition from video production to photography, her cre...

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39:06

Mastering the Art of Speaking with Lubna: Confidence,...

Skillz & Thrillz: Alberta"s Trade & Tech Youth ·

2025/01/28

Send us a textIn this episode, we’re joined by the inspiring Lubna Ismail, a Public Speaking alumna who captivated audiences with her eloquence and energy. After earning silver at provincials, Lubna went on to achieve national success, winning gold at the 2024 Skills Canada National Competition in Quebec. Lubna shares her journey from competing on the provincial stage to excelling at the national level, offering valuable insights and advice for aspiring speakers. As she says, "It’s not about ...

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40:52

Pipes, Pressure, & Perseverance: Euan MacKinnon's...

Skillz & Thrillz: Alberta"s Trade & Tech Youth ·

2025/01/10

Send us a textIn today’s episode, we chat with Euan MacKinnon, a determined pipefitter whose journey through the Skills Canada competitions is nothing short of inspiring. After placing fourth at the 2023 National Skills Canada Competition in Winnipeg, Euan set his sights on gold—and achieved it at the 2024 Nationals in Quebec! Euan takes us through his experience learning his trade, the dedication it took to train for these competitions, and the invaluable lessons he’s gained along the way. H...

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46:14

From Sauté to Soufflé: Paisley’s Culinary and Baking...

Skillz & Thrillz: Alberta"s Trade & Tech Youth ·

2024/12/20

Send us a textIn this episode, we’re joined by the exceptionally talented Paisley Gatfield, an alumna who has mastered both the culinary and baking worlds. Paisley’s impressive competition history includes gold medals in both Culinary and Baking, as well as national accolades with a silver in Culinary and bronze in Baking. She shares her inspiring journey, revealing how these competitions ignited her passion and shaped her career. From lessons learned under the guidance of skilled chefs to he...

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43 results

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