Skills/Compétences Canada, Skills Canada Alberta and Stanley Black & Decker have announced the donation of a collection of Stanley and DEWALT tools used at the 2012 Skills Canada National Competition to five schools in Alberta. This donation provides students and educators with industry-leading tools that will help ensure that classroom training is relevant to the needs of employers that service Canada's skilled trades industries.

Recipients will receive a package of Stanley & DEWALT tools such as cordless power tools, miter saws, scroll saws, and accessories valued at up to $10,000 for use in their Career and Technology Studies (CTS) labs.

"Stanley Black & Decker is proud to be involved with the 2012 Skills Canada National Competition. Our presentation of professional tool collections from Stanley and DEWALT will give students at five Alberta schools the advantage of transferring classroom knowledge to hands-on experience," says Jocelyn Stephen, brand manager with Stanley Black & Decker Inc. "We believe that helping young Canadians develop the skills necessary for successful careers ultimately benefits all of us by ensuring our country will have the strong, skilled workforce it needs going forward."

This donation builds upon other provincial and national initiatives being spearheaded by Skills/Compétences Canada and Skills Canada Alberta to help schools continue to deliver hands-on training and education programs that prepare students for careers in the skilled trades.

"Employers in Alberta, specifically in the energy sector, are in dire need of talented, young workers," said Chris Browton, executive director of Skills Alberta. "We hope that donations like these support students interested in skilled trades across Alberta and we can continue to attract more youth to successful careers in skilled trade and technology areas."

This year, more than 650 students from across Alberta participated in the Provincial Skills Alberta Competition, which took place May 10 to 11, 2012. Sixty-one winners from Alberta proceeded to the Skills Canada National Competition and 11 will be representing Alberta on Team Canada for WorldSkills Leipzig 2013, the largest event of its kind and considered the pinnacle of excellence in skilled trades and technologies training

The Skills Canada National Competition, which took place May 14-15th at the Edmonton EXPO Centre in Edmonton City, Alberta, recognized Canada's top champions in six skilled trade and technology categories: transportation, construction, manufacturing, information and technology, service and employment.
www.skillscanada.com