WorldSkills Calgary 2009 | Meeting the Need

WorldSkills Calgary 2009 is sure to raise the awareness of the importance of skilled trades and technologies in Canada and around the world.

This spectacular event provides the ultimate demonstration of the skills, craftsmanship and ingenuity these individuals bring to the economy. It is the hope of all involved that this competition will serve as an inspiration to youth – encouraging them to consider an exciting and rewarding career in the trades or technology.

As host of the 40th WorldSkills Competition, Canada will be showcasing the importance of skills development. By building on the recommendations of the Leaders' Forum in St. Gallen, Switzerland, Canada proposes to take specific steps towards positively influencing youth, teachers, business leaders, and parents alike.

Alberta: an epicentre of skills development

The Province of Alberta is the trades and skills capital of Canada
Alberta trains 20% of Canada's apprentices while having only 10% of the nation's population. It is a partnership between employers, the provincial government, and Alberta's progressive post-secondary educational institutions.
Training programs in Alberta support over 50 designated trades and occupations.
Alberta's apprenticeship and industry training system is an industry-driven system that reflects the economic prosperity of the provincial economy.
There are currently 40,000 registered apprentices in Alberta.

The Pursuit of Change

Today, WorldSkills is more important than ever, as the sector faces a number of critical challenges.

With an aging population and a wave of retirement approaching, Canada (like other member nations) is already experiencing a shortage of skilled workers. Ensuring that Canada has skilled trades people is vital to future prosperity and is essential to Canada's ability to maintain a strong economy within a global market.

As the need for skilled professionals grows, Canada realizes the importance of promoting the positive aspects of a career in the skilled trades – and the need to overcome long-held stereotypes that a university education is the only route to financial, personal and social success.

The 2009 WorldSkills Competition presents a unique opportunity to address these economic and social challenges of the Human Capital Crisis. Bringing WorldSkills to Calgary provides us with a unique opportunity to permanently change the attitudes of young Canadians and their key influencers (parents, teachers, career counselors etc.) towards vocational skills and to combat the skills shortages facing many industries.

The ultimate goal is to inspire young people to pursue a career in the trades and vocational areas – while shifting societal attitudes in the process.

We want to send a message to our youth: you are valued; you are needed; you can make a difference.

Social & Personal Services

The "Social & Personal Services" category covers all the skilled areas that are related to the service industry. This encompasses services related to the food and beverage industry as well as the hospitality and personal care. The competition areas included in this area are: Ladies/Mens hairdressing, Beauty Therapy, Confectioner/Pastry Cook, Cooking, Restaurant Service, Caring and Bakery.