WorldSkills Calgary 2009 is a not-for-profit organization charged with delivering the 40th WorldSkills Competition in September 2009. The organization's broad mission is to engage the passion of our youth to pursue satisfying trades and technology career pathways that result in a motivated and highly skilled workforce.

Please see www.worldskills2009.com/AboutUs for further details.

Over its 50 year history, the WorldSkills Competition (formerly known as the ‘Skill Olympics’) has come to symbolize the pinnacle of excellence in skilled trades and technologies training. Every two years, hundreds of young competitors from all over the world gather to compete in this international event. Over four days of competition, over 900 competitors drawn from 49 member countries/regions test themselves against tough international standards. They come to WorldSkills to prove they are the world’s best.

The WorldSkills Competition draws hundreds of thousands of visitors including policy makers, government representatives, employers, teachers, trainers and experts from around the world.

Please see www.worldskills2009.com/Event for further details.

The Calgary Competition is proposed for the first two weeks in September 2009, with competition dates scheduled from September 1st to 6th, 2009. Additional events to the competition include Opening and Closing Ceremonies, each drawing 10,000 people, a World Leaders’ Forum and a Global Skills Village.

The name of the competition venue is Calgary Stampede Park - home to The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, the annual Calgary Exhibition and Stampede.

Please see www.worldskills2009.com/Venues for further details.

The WorldSkills Competition sets world class standards in over 40 skill categories ranging from welding to cooking, autobody repair to landscape gardening, plumbing to web design.

The final list of skill categories for the 2009 WorldSkills Competition will be decided at the WorldSkills General Assembly in Vienna, Austria in September 2008.

Please see www.worldskills2009.com/Skills for further details.

Information on how to volunteer for WorldSkills Calgary 2009 will be posted on our website at www.worldskills2009.com/Volunteers. For more information, please contact Dr. Sibylla M. Lane, Vice President Finance at (403) 210 5955.

Information on employment opportunities with WorldSkills Calgary 2009 will be posted on our website at www.worldskills2009.com/Employment. For more information, please contact Richard L.H. Walker, President and CEO at (403) 210 5950.

Information on sponsorship opportunities with WorldSkills Calgary 2009 will be posted on our website at www.worldskills2009.com/Partners. For more information, please contact Kerry Moynihan, Vice President External at (403) 210 5963.

WorldSkills Calgary 2009 ticket information - including pricing and methods of purchase will be available on our website in September 2008.

As we get closer to 2009, we will provide you with detailed information on official WorldSkills Calgary 2009 merchandise on our website.