Toronto, Ontario — February 23, 2017 — The upcoming 2017 Skills Ontario Competition should be bigger and better than ever, thanks in part to assistance from auto parts manufacturer Magna International.
Skills Ontario will receive a $100,000 investment from Magna International in support of the 2017 Skills Ontario Competition, Skills Ontario Young Women’s Initiatives, and Skills Ontario Summer Camps. The investment from Magna International will help Skills Ontario accommodate a growing number of students who want to participate in the various skill development programs that the organization offers.
“Partnering with Skills Ontario underscores our commitment to world-class manufacturing and keeping Ontario competitive in the global marketplace,” said Marc Neeb, Chief Human Resources Officer for Magna International.
The 2017 Skills Ontario Competition will take place on May 1 to 3 at the Toronto Congress Centre. This is a new venue for the competition. The last few years saw the competition held at RIM Park in Waterloo, Ontario.
The competition’s new venue will accommodate more competitors and visitors from across the province. The central location in the Greater Toronto Area should also make travel easier for those who travel long distances to the Skills Ontario Competition each year or fly in from Northern Ontario.
The larger size is important. The Skills Ontario Competition has seen a 30 percent growth rate in the number of students registering to compete compared to last year’s event. To date, more than 3,400 students have requested competition spaces for the May 2017 competition.
In addition, the annual Young Women’s Conferences has sold out again this year within minutes of registration opening. More than 1,400 young women will attend the conferences aimed at encouraging them to consider a career in the skilled trades and technologies.
“Skills Ontario and our partners are committed to building Ontario’s skilled trades and technologies workforce,” says Gail Smyth, the Executive Director of Skills Ontario. “The investment we receive from Magna International sends a strong message to our stakeholders and the corporate community that they believe creating a skilled, knowledgeable, and diverse workforce in the skilled trades and technologies is imperative to the economic viability of Ontario.”
For more information on the 2017 Skills Ontario Competition, please visit skillsontario.com/skills-competitions.
