Nailing It: Southwest Students Put Trades to the Test

By Lethbridge Herald on March 24, 2026.

Herald photo by JOE ManiO Retired Lethbridge Polytechnic instructor Lehi Heath gives 17-year-old F.P. Walshe School student Jo Foote some pointers during the Cabinet Making competition at the 2026 South West Regional Skills Canada Competion, at Lethbridge Polytechnic Saturday.

By Joe Manio

Lethbridge Herald

The quiet hum inside the trades wing at Lethbridge Polytechnic didn’t last long Saturday morning. By 8 a.m., it was all focus, fine margins and flying sawdust as nearly 75 high school students from across southwestern Alberta got down to business at the 2026 South West Regional Skills Canada Competition.
Call it the Olympics of the skilled trades, just with fewer medals and more measuring tapes.
Hosted by Career Transitions in partnership with Skills Canada Alberta, the March 21 event transformed classrooms, shops and labs into competitive arenas. Students tested their skills in areas including culinary arts, hairstyling, plumbing and electrical, alongside automotive service technology, cabinet making, carpentry, welding and more, all with a shot at provincials in Edmonton this May, and potentially nationals in Toronto.
Inside the wood shops, that reality took shape in tangible ways. In cabinet making, competitors spent six hours crafting a curio box from raw materials, complete with hand-cut dovetail joints, dowel-pinned corners and a precisely fitted lid. Just down the hall, carpentry students built a chicken coop, another project where accuracy, planning and execution left little room for error.
No shortcuts. No second chances.
Students had to interpret detailed drawings, plan their process and execute each step using hand tools and stationary equipment. Even a small miscut could cost points or require extra material, which carried a penalty. Judging was strict, with 50 percent of the score based on joinery, and dimensions and overall fit and finish making up the rest.
And yes, in the event of a tie, it comes down to the dovetails.
Strict rules prohibited personal electronics, including phones and AI tools, keeping the focus on craftsmanship. Safety was non-negotiable.
Amid the concentration and controlled chaos, there was a clear sense of purpose.
That’s by design.
The South West Regional Skills Canada Competition is one of nine held across Alberta, each aimed at spotlighting trades and technology careers while giving students a tangible goal. For many, it’s their first taste of industry-level expectations.
And for organizers, it’s about more than medals.
“This shows maturity, resilience and problem-solving, and the ability to handle pressure,” said Judy Stolk-Ingram of Career Transitions during the awards ceremony. “No matter the outcome, this is something you should add to your resume. It’s a game-changer, and it can take you places.”
She pointed to past competitors who progressed from regional to provincial, national and even world-level competitions, proof the pathway is real for students willing to step up.
That message was echoed by Kenny Corscadden, PhD, Vice-President, Academic and Research at Lethbridge Polytechnic.
“I’m always amazed when I walk through and see students working,” he said. “The level of skill on display here is really exciting.”
It is also what industry is watching for. Stolk-Ingram noted that support from local businesses, through sponsorship, judging and mentorship, connects them with the next generation of skilled workers.
“They know this is where to find future talent,” she said. “Students in this pressure situation bring more than technical skills, they bring all the qualities employers are looking for.”
By day’s end, the noise had settled, tools were packed away, and results were in. Gold medalists earned their place at provincials, one step closer to representing Alberta on a national stage.
Even for those who didn’t advance, the experience itself may prove just as valuable.
Between the first measurement and the final sanding pass, or the last screw set on a chicken coop, these students weren’t just building projects. They were building confidence, discipline and a clearer sense of where they fit in the world of work.
If Saturday was any indication, the future of the skilled trades in southwestern Alberta is in very capable hands, steady, precise, and ready for what comes next.