Students from NAIT and SAIT earned top honours in automotive categories at the 2026 Provincial Skills Canada Competition, held May 6 and 7 at the Edmonton EXPO Centre.
The annual event, organized by Skills Canada Alberta, brings together secondary and post-secondary students from across the province to compete in skilled trades and technology disciplines. Top finishers may advance to the Skills Canada National Competition later this month in Toronto.
In the post-secondary car painting competition, Riley Fransen of NAIT earned the gold medal. Fellow NAIT students Sevastian Bedford and Harley Hitcherick finished second and third respectively. Karly Heystek and Rowdy Marshall, also representing NAIT, placed fourth and fifth, while Liam Robinson of SAIT finished sixth.
The post-secondary autobody repair category was led by SAIT students Ryder Johnston and Sadie Clarke, who captured gold and silver respectively. Andrew Balaneski of NAIT earned bronze.
At the secondary level, Matthew Slingerland of Calvin Christian School won car painting, followed by Eloy Friesen of Brooks Composite High School and Auston Wright of Hugh Sutherland School. In auto body repair, Marlow Temple of Central Memorial High School placed first, followed by Amelia Desbiens of CT Centre and Daniel Goodale of Lord Beaverbrook High School.
Full results
Autobody Repair — Post-secondary
- Ryder Johnston — SAIT
- Sadie Clarke — SAIT
- Andrew Balaneski — NAIT
Car Painting — Post-secondary
- Riley Fransen — NAIT
- Sevastian Bedford — NAIT
- Harley Hitcherick — NAIT
- Karly Heystek — NAIT
- Rowdy Marshall — NAIT
- Liam Robinson — SAIT
Auto Body Repair — Secondary
- Marlow Temple — Central Memorial High School
- Amelia Desbiens — CT Centre
- Daniel Goodale — Lord Beaverbrook High School
Car Painting — Secondary
- Matthew Slingerland — Calvin Christian School
- Eloy Friesen — Brooks Composite High School
- Auston Wright — Hugh Sutherland School
